Association between Helicobacter pylori infection and dental pulp reservoirs in Japanese adults

Abstract

BackgroundHelicobacter pylori (H. pylori) colonize the stomach and are considered an etiological agent of gastric cancer. The oral cavity is a transmission route to the stomach, but the exact site of colonization has not yet been explicated. Our study investigated the association between H. pylori infection and presence in oral samples.MethodsDental pulp, supragingival plaque, and saliva from 192 patients visiting the Dentistry’s outpatient clinic were collected for testing. The H. pylori ureA gene was identified via Nested PCR. Urine anti-H. pylori antibody test was utilized to detect infection.ResultsTwenty-five subjects were found to be antibody-positive. PCR analysis of dental pulp revealed that 23 subjects possessed the ureA gene. Twenty-one subjects were positive for both antibodies and genes in dental pulp. PCR testing revealed that 2 subjects were positive in dental plaque but negative for saliva. The subjects positive for H. pylori in dental pulp expressed clinical signs of severe dental caries.ConclusionsH. pylori infected subjects expressed H. pylori in samples from the oral cavity. The main reservoir for infection within the oral cavity was determined to be dental pulp. Moreover, H. pylori are likely transmitted from dental caries to the root canal.

The cross-kingdom interaction between Helicobacter pylori and Candida albicans

“…The fecaloral and the oral-oral routes are considered as the main transmission routes of H. pylori [3]. Nevertheless, only H. pylori genes have been detected in saliva and dental plaques, but culturable H. pylori has not been isolated yet in large quantities [4], indicating that there may be some new strategies of H. pylori to implement its transmission through oral cavity.…”

“…pylori genes have been detected in saliva and dental plaques, but culturable H . pylori has not been isolated yet in large quantities [ 4 ], indicating that there may be some new strategies of H . pylori to implement its transmission through oral cavity.…”

“…The fecaloral and the oral-oral routes are considered as the main transmission routes of H. pylori [3]. Nevertheless, only H. pylori genes have been detected in saliva and dental plaques, but culturable H. pylori has not been isolated yet in large quantities [4], indicating that there may be some new strategies of H. pylori to implement its transmission through oral cavity.Candida albicans, a dimorphic fungus, is one of the most common fungi in the human body [5]. It was noteworthy that C. albicans and H. pylori were abundant in certain human niches, such as the root canal necrotic pulp, stomach, duodenum, and vagina [6], suggesting that C. albicans may interact with H. pylori to promote the growth, spread, and infection of H. pylori in some nonadaptive condition, such as the oral cavity and vagina.…”

Nutrient Deficiency Promotes the Entry of Helicobacter pylori Cells into Candida Yeast Cells

“…Despite the nutritional and environmental demands required by H. pylori , this bacterium can be detected using molecular techniques in the oral cavity, amplifying specific genes of this microorganism in dental plaque, saliva, dental pulp, and in 30% of cases of severe cavities in children between 4 and 7 years [ 17 , 18 , 19 ]. Furthermore, the genes of H. pylori have been amplified by PCR from environmental sources such as tap water, insects (e.g., flies and blowflies), raw sheep meat, feces and raw milk from cows, buffaloes and sheep [ 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 ].…”

“…It has been reported that H. pylori in extra-gastric environments is capable of varying its morphology from helical to coccoid (viable non-culturable stage) [ 24 , 25 ]. It has also been observed that under specific environmental stimuli such as cold stress, pH, aerobiosis, and aging, its metabolism of ATP, polyphosphate and RNA can vary, and its urease activity decreases [ 18 , 19 ]. Under FBS starvation, the bacterium, in addition to decreasing its metabolism, is capable of forming biofilms to ensure its survival [ 25 , 26 ].…”