Helicobacteris preserved in yeast vacuoles! Does Koch's postulates confirm it?

Abstract

The manuscript titled “Vacuoles of Candida yeast behave as a specialized niche for Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori)” not only has not been prepared in a scientific manner but the methodology used was not adequate, and therefore the conclusion reached was not correct. First of all, “yeast” is a broad terminology covering a great number of genera and species of unicellular micro-organisms. The authors should have defined the organism with its binary scientific name. This measure would allow experiment reproduction by the scientific community. Moreover, the criteria established by Robert Koch to identify a specific microorganism or pathogen was not adopted in the methodology used. Regarding the methodology applied, use of the chicken egg-yolk (IgY) antibody and PCR of the apparently tainted yeast population to prove H. pylori existence in the yeast vacuoles might be main factors for their wrong conclusions. Bacterial tropism toward yeast extract is a known phenomenon, and yeast extract is one of the main ingredients in culture media. Their internalization through phagocytosis or similar pathways does not seem possible or practical because of the thick and cellulosic yeast wall. While the small size of yeast cells does not support their ability in harboring several H. pylori, other observations such as inefficiency of anti-fungal therapy as anti-Helicobacter therapy strongly reject the conclusion reached by the above-mentioned article.

Ability of Helicobacter pylori to internalize into Candida

“…We read with interest the December 2017 letter to the editor “ Helicobacter is preserved in yeast vacuoles! Does Koch’s postulates confirm it?” by Alipour and Gaeini[ 1 ], and the February 2018 response letter “ Candida accommodates non-culturable Helicobacter pylori in its vacuole-Koch’s postulates aren’t applicable” by Siavoshi and Saniee[ 2 ]. The argument originated from the review article “Vacuoles of Candida yeast behave as a specialized niche for Helicobacter pylori ” by Siavoshi and Saniee[ 3 ].…”

“…The argument originated from the review article “Vacuoles of Candida yeast behave as a specialized niche for Helicobacter pylori ” by Siavoshi and Saniee[ 3 ]. To ensure clarity and comprehension, we have designated the authors of this review[ 3 ] and the response letter[ 2 ] as proponents, while referring to the authors of the December 2017 letter[ 1 ], who hold a contrasting viewpoint, as opponents.…”

“…The opponents[ 1 ], however, have argued that the review article[ 3 ] was not prepared in a scientific manner, and the methodology used was inadequate; therefore, they felt that the conclusion reached was incorrect. Subsequently, 11 months later, the proponents published a “letter to the editor” in response to all comments by the opponents[ 2 ].…”

Transmission routes and patterns of helicobacter pylori

“…67 However, this discovery was contested in later reports. 68,69 Taken together, even though H. pylori has been shown to be transmitted via anal-oral and genital-oral transmission, this cannot be considered a principal route of H. pylori transmission. The current evidence is insufficient even to confirm these hypothesizes.…”

“…Moreover, in 2014, H. pylori was confirmed to exist in the vesicles of pseudo‐filamentous yeast 67 . However, this discovery was contested in later reports 68,69 . Thus, the hypothesis of genital–oral H. pylori transmission has not yet been validated.…”