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How Helicobacter pylori acquired its name, and how it overcomes gastric defence mechanisms
Author(s) -
GOODWIN C. S.
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
journal of gastroenterology and hepatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.214
H-Index - 130
eISSN - 1440-1746
pISSN - 0815-9319
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-1746.1994.tb01292.x
Subject(s) - helicobacter pylori , medicine , mucus , bacteria , spirillaceae , gastric mucosa , urease , helicobacter infections , immune system , helicobacter , gastric biopsy , genus , microbiology and biotechnology , stomach , biology , zoology , immunology , gastroenterology , gastritis , enzyme , ecology , genetics , biochemistry
At Royal Perth Hospital, Western Australia in April 1982, spiral bacteria were first cultured from a gastric biopsy specimen. Several important taxonomic features were identified which indicated that these bacteria represented a new genus. In October 1989 the new genus name Helicobacter was published. Helicobacter pylori overcomes gastric defence mechanisms by means of its powerful urease enzyme, by its spiral shape allowing it to penetrate mucus, by adherence to the gastric mucosa and by various mechanisms which enable it to evade the immune response.