Helicobacter pylori Infection

Synonyms

Campylobacter pylori; Campylobacter pyloridis

Definition

Helicobacter pylori are gram-negative, spiral-shaped, microaerophilic bacteria that colonize the human stomach. Although the presence of bacteria in the human stomach has been known for more than a century, only about 30 years ago, H. pylori was successfully isolated and cultured from a gastric biopsy specimen. This discovery, together with studies on the implication of H. pylori as an etiologic agent in gastritis and peptic ulcer disease, resulted in the awarding of the 2005 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine to Barry Marshall and Robin Warren.

Before acquisition of its current name, the microorganisms were first named “Campylobacter pyloridis,” then “Campylobacter pylori,” and finally assigned to the genus Helicobacter. Since the discovery of H. pylori, many new species that infect human or animal hosts have been described, and the Helicobacter genus now includes at least 33 formally named species.

H. pyloriis a...