Challenges and Prospects for Eradication of <i>Helicobacter pylori</i>: Targeting Virulence Factors, Metabolism, and Vaccine Innovation
<i>Helicobacter pylori</i> is a Gram-negative bacterium that infects almost half of the global population and is linked to gastric conditions like peptic ulcers and gastric cancer, as well as other diseases such as neurological disorders, cardiovascular problems, and iron deficiency anem...
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MDPI AG
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Pathogens |
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| author | Adrian Bakiera Anita Solarz Marika Kowalczyk Halina Cichoż-Lach Izabela Korona-Głowniak |
| author_facet | Adrian Bakiera Anita Solarz Marika Kowalczyk Halina Cichoż-Lach Izabela Korona-Głowniak |
| author_sort | Adrian Bakiera |
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| description | <i>Helicobacter pylori</i> is a Gram-negative bacterium that infects almost half of the global population and is linked to gastric conditions like peptic ulcers and gastric cancer, as well as other diseases such as neurological disorders, cardiovascular problems, and iron deficiency anemia. Its survival in the acidic stomach environment is due to virulence factors like urease, flagella, and adhesion proteins (BabA, SabA). Current treatments involve a combination of antibiotics (clarithromycin, metronidazole, amoxicillin, tetracycline) and proton pump inhibitors, but increasing antibiotic resistance, especially to clarithromycin and metronidazole, poses a major challenge. Resistance mechanisms include mutations in drug targets, efflux pump overexpression, and enzymatic degradation of antibiotics. This has prompted exploration of alternative therapies targeting bacterial processes like urease activity, biofilm formation, and metabolic pathways (energy production, amino acid synthesis, iron acquisition). Natural compounds, such as chitosan and plant extracts, show promise in combating <i>H. pylori</i> growth and virulence. Vaccine development is also ongoing, with DNA vaccines showing potential for broad immune responses. However, no vaccine is yet close to widespread clinical use. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-9d76fb00cc084159bd9bb78b9aefd556 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2076-0817 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Pathogens |
| spelling | doaj-art-9d76fb00cc084159bd9bb78b9aefd5562025-08-20T03:32:32ZengMDPI AGPathogens2076-08172025-06-0114761910.3390/pathogens14070619Challenges and Prospects for Eradication of <i>Helicobacter pylori</i>: Targeting Virulence Factors, Metabolism, and Vaccine InnovationAdrian Bakiera0Anita Solarz1Marika Kowalczyk2Halina Cichoż-Lach3Izabela Korona-Głowniak4Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Medical University of Lublin, 20-093 Lublin, PolandDepartment of Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Medical University of Lublin, 20-093 Lublin, PolandStefan Cardinal Wyszynski District Specialist Hospital, 20-718 Lublin, PolandDepartment of Gastroenterology with Endoscopic Unit, Medical University of Lublin, 20-953 Lublin, PolandDepartment of Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Medical University of Lublin, 20-093 Lublin, Poland<i>Helicobacter pylori</i> is a Gram-negative bacterium that infects almost half of the global population and is linked to gastric conditions like peptic ulcers and gastric cancer, as well as other diseases such as neurological disorders, cardiovascular problems, and iron deficiency anemia. Its survival in the acidic stomach environment is due to virulence factors like urease, flagella, and adhesion proteins (BabA, SabA). Current treatments involve a combination of antibiotics (clarithromycin, metronidazole, amoxicillin, tetracycline) and proton pump inhibitors, but increasing antibiotic resistance, especially to clarithromycin and metronidazole, poses a major challenge. Resistance mechanisms include mutations in drug targets, efflux pump overexpression, and enzymatic degradation of antibiotics. This has prompted exploration of alternative therapies targeting bacterial processes like urease activity, biofilm formation, and metabolic pathways (energy production, amino acid synthesis, iron acquisition). Natural compounds, such as chitosan and plant extracts, show promise in combating <i>H. pylori</i> growth and virulence. Vaccine development is also ongoing, with DNA vaccines showing potential for broad immune responses. However, no vaccine is yet close to widespread clinical use.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/14/7/619<i>Helicobacter pylori</i>anti-<i>H pylori</i> treatmentantibiotic resistanceantibacterial agents |
| spellingShingle | Adrian Bakiera Anita Solarz Marika Kowalczyk Halina Cichoż-Lach Izabela Korona-Głowniak Challenges and Prospects for Eradication of <i>Helicobacter pylori</i>: Targeting Virulence Factors, Metabolism, and Vaccine Innovation Pathogens <i>Helicobacter pylori</i> anti-<i>H pylori</i> treatment antibiotic resistance antibacterial agents |
| title | Challenges and Prospects for Eradication of <i>Helicobacter pylori</i>: Targeting Virulence Factors, Metabolism, and Vaccine Innovation |
| title_full | Challenges and Prospects for Eradication of <i>Helicobacter pylori</i>: Targeting Virulence Factors, Metabolism, and Vaccine Innovation |
| title_fullStr | Challenges and Prospects for Eradication of <i>Helicobacter pylori</i>: Targeting Virulence Factors, Metabolism, and Vaccine Innovation |
| title_full_unstemmed | Challenges and Prospects for Eradication of <i>Helicobacter pylori</i>: Targeting Virulence Factors, Metabolism, and Vaccine Innovation |
| title_short | Challenges and Prospects for Eradication of <i>Helicobacter pylori</i>: Targeting Virulence Factors, Metabolism, and Vaccine Innovation |
| title_sort | challenges and prospects for eradication of i helicobacter pylori i targeting virulence factors metabolism and vaccine innovation |
| topic | <i>Helicobacter pylori</i> anti-<i>H pylori</i> treatment antibiotic resistance antibacterial agents |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/14/7/619 |
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