Probiotic Mechanisms in H. pylori Infection

Helicobacter pylori is a Gram-negative, microaerophilic, spiral-shaped bacterium that has coexisted with humans for thousands of years. Its remarkable ability to survive in the acidic gastric environment is largely attributed to the activity of urease, an enzyme that hydrolyzes urea into ammonia and carbon dioxide [1]. The released ammonia neutralizes gastric acid in the immediate vicinity, forming a microenvironment that enables the bacterium to persist on the gastric mucosa. However, this persistent colonization is not innocuous. Continuous stimulation of the host immune system results in chronic gastric inflammation, which may progress to peptic ulcer disease, gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma, or even gastric adenocarcinoma. Thus, eradication of H. pylori infection is a critical clinical goal for preventing long-term complications [2].