The way in which bacteria sense chemicals in their environment could provide clues as to how they infect the stomach lining and ultimately cause stomach ulcers in some people, according to research by UK scientists published in the September issue of Microbiology.“We have identified some of the proteins in Helicobacter pylori that are responsible for transmitting chemical signals from the cell surface to the flagellum - a motor and propeller structure - which drives these bugs towards favorable chemicals and away from harmful ones,” says Professor David Kelly of Sheffield University.
Helicobacter pylori is known to be the cause of most stomach and duodenal ulcers in humans, and it is also thought to be a risk factor in gastric cancer.
The bacterium was only discovered in 1982 and it has since been recognized as one of man’s most common infections. It affects approximately 50% of people in the Western world and virtually 100% of people in some developing countries.
Professor Kelly says, “Since the H. pylori genome was first sequenced in 1997, a novel set of chemotaxis genes have been identified. We have been studying mutants, which are defective in these che genes, and have shown that we can prevent H. pylori bacteria from swimming around and sensing their environment.”
According to Professor Kelly, “Interfering with the ability of H. pylori to swim could be one way to stop infection from taking place, and this may help to define targets for future anti H. pylori drugs.”
Kelly works in the Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology at the University of Sheffield.
Microbiology is a peer-reviewed journal published by the Society for General Microbiology (SGM).
SGM is an international learned society with over 5,500 members worldwide. The Society provides a common meeting ground for scientists working in research and in fields with applications in microbiology including medicine, veterinary medicine, pharmaceuticals, numerous industries, agriculture, food, the environment and education.
SGM is committed to representing the science and profession of microbiology to government, the media and the general public; supporting microbiology education at all levels and encouraging the uptake of careers in microbiology.
(Reference: Chemotaxis in the human gastric pathogen Helicobacter pylori: different roles for CheW and the three CheV paralogues, and evidence for CheV2 phosphorylation. Microbiology (2001) Volume 147, 2493-2504)
Related website:
Society for General Microbiology
[Contact: Professor David Kelly]
30-Aug-2001
