Gut Microbiota Changes During Helicobacter Pylori Eradication with Vonoprazan-Containing Triple Therapy Among Adolescents: A Prospective Multicenter Study in Japan

Abstract

Background: Whether the screening and treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection are safe for children is debated in Japan. This study aimed to evaluate the safety of Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy by examining long-term changes in the gut microbiota during therapy among children.Methods: Children with anti-Helicobacter pylori antibody in the urine and Helicobacter pylori antigen in the feces were enrolled in this study. Their stool samples were collected at three time points, which were as follows: prior to treatment, 1–2 days after treatment, and time of judgment of eradication therapy. After treatment, the relative abundance, alpha-diversity, and beta-diversity of the gut microbiota were assessed.Results: In 16 students finally included in the study, the number of Actinobacteria isolated decreased immediately after eradication therapy, and it returned to pretreatment condition at the judgment point. There was no change at the genus level. The alpha-diversity was lost immediately after eradication therapy. However, it recovered at the time of eradication judgment, and it was restored before eradication therapy. Meanwhile, there was no change in beta-diversity, and none of the participants experienced serious adverse events.Conclusion: Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy is safe even for children in the view point of gut microbiota. Thus, further long-term evaluations of changes in the gut microbiota after eradication therapy and an assessment of healthy children without Helicobacter pylori must be performed. These will in turn promote screening and treatment among adolescents to prevent gastric cancer.Trial registration: This study was registered with the University Hospital Medical Information Network Clinical Trials Registry (no. UMIN000028726, https://upload.umin.ac.jp/cgi-bin/ctr_e/ctr_view.cgi?recptno=R000032873) on 18 August 2017.

Therapeutic immunization againstHelicobacter pyloriinfection in BALB/c mice induced by a multi-epitope vaccine based on computer-aided design

“…Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is the most important etiologic factor for gastric diseases including chronic gastritis, peptic ulcers, and gastric malignancies 1,2 . To date, the major antibiotic-based triple regimen has caused the increased antimicrobial resistance and intestinal flora disturbance 3,4 . Therefore, the development of potential vaccines is a tremendous priority for controlling H. pylori infection.…”