Effects of Helicobacter pylori infection on gastric mucosal microbiota.

BACKGROUND

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a Gram-negative obligate pathogen that colonizes the human gastric environment. Its identification fundamentally altered the historical perception of the stomach as sterile, marking a pivotal shift in gastric microbial research. For 30 years, the dynamic interplay between this bacterium and the gastric lining has been a key research focus.

DATA SOURCES: The development of next-generation sequencing and advanced bioinformatics has provided powerful, culture-independent tools for probing the intricate diversity of the gastric microbiome. Current investigations extensively cover microbe-microbe interactions within the stomach, the relationship between the resident microbiota and H. pylori, and the dialogue between the microbiome and the host.

RESULTS

This article reviews current evidence detailing how H. pylori infection reshapes the microbial community on the human gastric mucosa.

CONCLUSION

Future research employing integrated multi-omics strategies is essential to unravel the long-term consequences of H. pylori on the mucosal ecosystem and host physiology.