The bacterium Helicobacter pylori makes its living in the acidic interior of the human stomach, where it causes most cases of peptic ulcers. Scientists suspect that the bacteria travel on a fecal-oral transmission route, infecting people early in childhood and then fluorishing in the stomach for the lifetime of the host. H. pylori is associated with gastritis, peptic ulcers, and stomach cancer. An infection can be eliminated with a regimen of antibiotics. View the animation to learn more about this bacterium.
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In 1997, the complete genome sequence of H. pylori was published. Go to article...
The website for the Helicobacter Foundation—founded by one of the two scientists who discovered the connection between ulcers and H. pylori—provides a wealth of information about this bacterium. Go to website...
Barry J. Marshall and J. Robin Warren were awarded the 2005 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their discovery of the bacterium Helicobacter pylori and its role in gastritis and peptic ulcer disease. Go to website...