Accumulation of polyphosphate granules in Helicobacter pylori cells under anaerobic conditions

Detection of Helicobacter pylori in faeces by culture, PCR and enzyme immunoassay

“…However, another study found that the DNA composition was similar in two forms, suggesting that the coccoid form was probably viable [24]. A recent study demonstrated that in an anaerobic environment H. pylori exists predominantly in the coccoid form, but a signi®cant proportion of bacterial cells retain viability as judged by acridine orange staining and the accumulation of polyphosphates [25]. The coccoid form of H. pylori has been reported to induce gastritis in BALB/c mice [26], but these results have not been reproduced in pigs [27], further illustrating the controversy as to the pathological signi®cance of the coccoid form.…”

Multilocus sequence typing of DNA from faecal specimens for the analysis of intra-familial transmission of Helicobacter pylori

“…After H. pylori organisms reach the anaerobic environment of the intestine, the micro-organisms are unable to grow and change morphology to their coccoid forms, which are non-culturable (Shirai et al, 2000). However, the DNA of H. pylori has been reported to be detected by PCR using faecal specimens from infected patients (Scaletsky et al, 2011) and animals (Oshio et al, 2009).…”

“…An H. pylori MLST database is available online, consisting of seven housekeeping genes (http://pubmlst.org/helicobacter/), with over 2000 alleles detected at each locus. The genetic identity of various pathogenic strains can be analysed by MLST, which is tied in with information on the geographical sources of H. pylori, exposing major events in the history of human settlement (Achtman et al, 1999;Falush et al, 2001Falush et al, , 2003Linz et al, 2007;Moodley et al, 2009;Wirth et al, 2004).After H. pylori organisms reach the anaerobic environment of the intestine, the micro-organisms are unable to grow and change morphology to their coccoid forms, which are non-culturable (Shirai et al, 2000). However, the DNA of H. pylori has been reported to be detected by PCR using faecal specimens from infected patients (Scaletsky et al, 2011) and animals (Oshio et al, 2009).…”

Acute inflammatory response in the stomach of BALB/c mice challenged with coccoidal Helicobacter pylori

“…It has been described that coccoid form may play a role in the transmission of bacteria and may be involved in the recrudescence or relapse of infection after antimicrobial therapies (Janas et al 1995, Shirai et al 2000. Some authors have related that coccoid forms can be found attached to severely damaged gastric epithelial cells and are prevalent around margins of gastric tumors (Chan et al 1994, Cole et al 1997.…”