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Background: Helicobacter Pylori (H. Pylori) is a pathogen that may invade the human stomach. This bacterial strain is now causing widespread concern and considerable health issues worldwide. In contrast to antibiotic treatment, which may lead to drug resistance, vaccination therapy is emerging as a possible immunotherapy option for H. Pylori. DNA vaccines are a potential option to traditional vaccines among vaccine research methods. Furthermore, the multiepitope DNA vaccination may induce a broader immune response to suppress H. Pylori infection. Methods: Four target antigenic proteins (outer membrane beta-barrel, outer membrane beta, HofA, and hcp beta-lactamase-like protein) were used to identify epitopes. The best B and T cell epitopes were selected to induce humoral and cellular immune responses and were connected using the HEYGAEALERAG and GGGS linkers. The peptide's physicochemical characteristics, secondary and tertiary structures, antigenicity, and allergenicity were evaluated utilizing several bioinformatics tools. The multiepitope peptide was successfully inserted into the pcDNA3.1 expression vector. The immunological responses of both the vaccinated and control groups were evaluated by measuring cytokines and antibodies. Results: Based on the data, the multiepitope peptide consists of 278 amino acid residues and has an average molecular weight (MW) of 28643.61 Da. The peptide residues were mainly situated within the preferred and permitted areas of the Ramachandran plot, accounting for 92.86 % of the total. The VaxiJen server has calculated that the multiepitope peptide has an antigenicity score of 1.0067. BALB/c mice vaccinated with the DNA vaccine produced significantly higher levels of specific IgG antibodies (p

Introduction: The United Arab Emirates (UAE) serves as an effective epidemiological site for assessing Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection due to its diverse population. However, comprehensive studies on the prevalence of H. pylori in the UAE are notably scarce. In depth prevalence studies are needed as a preventive measure against gastric cancer and other emerging extra gastric diseases associated with H. pylori infection. Aim: This study aimed to assess H. pylori infection and its virulent oncoprotein, the Cytotoxin-Associated Gene (Cag A) and its association with ferritin and vitamin B12 deficiencies. Methods: The study was conducted on 1094 healthy asymptomatic volunteers residents in the Sharjah Emirate, UAE. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was performed to assess H. pylori infection using H. pylori antibodies (IgG), and detection of CagA protein using Cag A antibody (IgG) in the human serum. Ferritin and vitamin B12 serum levels were assessed and correlated to H. pylori infection. Results: This study focuses mainly on the assessment of H. pylori and its virulent factor CagA, in relation to vitamin B12 and ferritin deficiencies. Remarkably, 49.6 % of the participants were detected positive for H. pylori, with over half of these cases involving CagA positive strains. Notably, among Emirati participants, 76.11 % of those with H. pylori infection were CagA positive. Statistical analysis revealed a significant correlation between H. pylori, CagA level, and ferritin/vitamin B12 deficiencies. Conclusion: These findings emphasize the importance of timely detection and eradication of H. pylori not only as a preventive strategy against gastric cancer but also as an effective strategy to rescue the adverse effects from ferritin and vitamin B12 deficiencies, thereby improving the overall health outcomes of individuals affected by H. pylori infection.

Thyme oil (TO) is a valuable essential oil believed to possess a variety of bioactivities, including antibacterial, anticancer, and antioxidant properties. These attributes grant TO the excellent capability to treat a wide range of diseases, particularly the effective eradication of Helicobacter pylori infection in the stomach. However, its practical use is limited by its low stability under atmospheric conditions. Our current research aims to encapsulate TO in eudragit (EGT) microsponges to enhance its stability and improve its effectiveness against H. pylori. The TO microsponges were prepared using EGT as a polymer, polysorbate 80 as a stabilizer, and dichloromethane (DCM) as a solvent via the quasi-emulsion solvent evaporation method. The product yield, particle size, surface morphology, entrapment efficiency, drug-polymer interaction, in-vitro floating, and in-vitro drug release of the microsponges were evaluated. The most promising microsponge was tested against H. pylori ATCC 43504 strains. The results showed that the microsponges exhibited a high product yield (ranging from 41 % ± 0.75–81.27 % ± 1.13), excellent entrapment efficiency (ranging from 63.01 % ± 0.79–88.64 % ± 0.98), prolonged in-vitro floating time (more than 12 h) and sustained in-vitro drug release for 18 h (81.53 %). Scanning electron microscopy results indicated that the microsponges were spherical in shape with a spongy surface. The average particle size of the selected microsponges was determined to be 49.79 ± 1.4 μm, and their average pore size was measured to be 0.81 ± 0.14 μm. DSC study results revealed that TO was physically entrapped in the microsponges. In-vitro anti-H. pylori activity studies demonstrated that TO in microsponge was more effective against H. pylori than pure TO. In conclusion, the developed microsponges containing thyme oil provide a promising alternative for the efficient targeting and eradication of H. Pylori infection.

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is mainly considered for causing chronic gastritis, which can lead to several secondary complications like peptic ulcer and pre-malignant lesions for example atrophic gastritis, intestinal dysplasia and metaplasia, with the etiological factor of developing gastric cancer. Recent research demonstrates that H.pylori colonizes the stomach mucosa of more than fifty populations around the globe. This research focuses on unveiling hub genes, and diagnostic and drug targets against said organism by utilizing various types of networking biology and biophysical approaches. In data retrieval, the GSE19826 dataset was obtained from the gene expression omnibus database and microarray data set from array express. Geo2r analysis predicted a total number of 7 DEGs and 10 hub genes, next functional protein association network analysis (STRING) unveiled that among 10 Hub genes only 3 genes were found more interactive with other genes and involved in pathogenesis, The shortlisted three genes were further analyzed for survival analysis using Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA) and predicted the survival rate of targeted genes. Moreover, functional enchainment analysis was done using the ToppFun server, the server predicted that COL11A1 and COL10A1 were more involved in the pathogenesis of the H. pylori infection. Furthermore, the COL10A1 gene was subjected to protein structure prediction. In molecular docking analysis, the asinex antibacterial library was screened for potential inhibitors, and one compound was predicted as a strong inhibitor with the best binding at −10.23 kcal/mol. The docking results were further validated through molecular dynamic simulation analysis and the MD simulation analysis evaluated the dynamic movement of the docked complex in various nanoseconds, the MD simulation results predicted that the docked complexes are stable throughout the simulation and can be used as a potential inhibitor against the said pathogen, however experimental study is required to further validate the predicted results and design drug against targeted pathogen.

Background: Amoxicillin resistance in Helicobacter pylori is mainly associated with mutations in penicillin-binding protein-1A (PBP-1A). However, the specific amino acid substitutions in PBP-1A that confer amoxicillin resistance in H. pylori remain to be investigated. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the molecular mechanism underlying amoxicillin resistance in patients with refractory H. pylori infection. Methods: Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) was performed in patients with persistent H. pylori infection after at least two courses of H. pylori eradication therapy between January-2018 to March-2021. Refractory H. pylori was cultured from the gastric biopsy specimens. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was conducted to determine the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs). Sequence analysis of pbp-1A was performed for amoxicillin-resistant strains. Results: Thirty-nine successfully cultured isolates were classified as refractory H. pylori isolates, and seventeen isolates were resistant to amoxicillin (MIC > 0.125 mg/L). Sequence analysis of resistant strains showed multiple mutations in the C-terminal region of PBP-1A that conferred amoxicillin resistance in H. pylori. However, the number of PBP-1A mutations did not correlate with the high MICs of amoxicillin-resistant isolates. Notably, some amino acid substitutions were identified in all Taiwanese isolates with history of eradication failure but not in published amoxicillin-susceptible strains, suggesting that the mutations may play a role in conferring antibiotic resistance to these strains. Conclusions: Our results show that amoxicillin resistance in refractory H. pylori is highly correlated with numerous PBP-1A mutations that are strain specific. Continuous improvements in diagnostic tools, particularly molecular analysis approaches, can help to optimize current antimicrobial regimens.

Objectives: The main objective of this study is to analyze the relationship of H. pylori vacuolating gene in gastric cancer. Methods: H. pyroli strains were isolated from the biopsy specimens collected from 50 patients suspected of gastritis, gastric carcinoma and peptic ulcer disease. H. pylori JK was identified and the virulence gene was determined. The presence of vacuolating cytotoxin A gene was amplified using a polymerase chain reaction. The growth kinetics of the strain JK were evaluated up to 96 h at 37 °C and the culture was used for the determination of VacA gene expression. Results: The screened H. pylori JK was positive for vacA gene and showed heterogeneity among H. pylori. Bacterial growth increased up to 48 h incubation and declined after 48 h. The isolated strain showed maximum growth after 72 h incubation, whereas, the toxic protein reached maximum yield after 96 h incubation and was not associated with growth. It was resistant to antibiotics such as ceftriaxone, cefuroxime, cefalexin, and co-trimoxazole. The intracellular H. pylori culture extracts induced vacuolation in HeLa cell lines in vitro. The isolated H. pylori strain showed more than 43% vacuolating activity after 24 h incubation. Immunoblotting assay revealed the presence of an immuno-reactive protein band in the culture supernatant of H. pylori JK. These results indicated the pathogenic activity of the VacA gene and toxin production. Conclusions: Generally, H. pylori persists for the lifetime of the individual, revealing the significance of eradication from the host.

Gastric ulcers significantly impact the quality of life of patients, the pathogenesis of which is closely associated with Helicobacter pylori (HP) infection. Oxidative stress is involved in the pathological mechanism of gastric ulcers. Recently, adenosine A2B Receptor (A2BR) was reported to activate the p38MAPK pathway. However, the role of A2BR in gastric ulcers remains unknown. In the present study, the biological function of A2BR in HP-induced gastric ulcers was investigated to explore novel targets for gastric ulcers. GES-1 cells were infected with HP, followed by incubation with 10 μM BAY60-6583 (A2BR agonist) and 25 nM PSB1115 (A2BR antagonist). In HP-infected GES-1 cells, an increased apoptotic rate, enhanced migration ability, excessive release of reactive oxygen species (ROS), increased malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, and decreased superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity were observed, accompanied by the activation of p38MAPK signaling, which were dramatically aggravated by BAY60-6583 and alleviated by PSB1115. In animal experiments, rats were treated with 2 mg/kg BAY60-6583 and 10 mg/kg PSB1115, followed by gastric ulcer modeling 30 min later. In HP-infected rats, increased ulcer area, elevated pepsin activity, increased hematoxylin and eosin (HE) pathological scores, increased MDA levels, and decreased SOD activity were observed, which were further aggravated by BAY60-6583 and ameliorated by PSB1115. Finally, the effects of A2BR activation on apoptosis, migration, oxidative stress, and p38MAPK signaling in HP-infected GES-1 cells were reversed by an inhibitor of the p38MAPK pathway. Collectively, A2BR facilitated the pathogenesis of HP-induced gastric ulcers by inducing oxidative stress through p38MAPK activation.

Recently, nanotechnology has been considered one of most frontiers in scientific sector, which increasingly attracts researchers’ interest due to its variable and valuable applications in all areas. The synthesis of nanoparticles represents a promising era in therapeutic research that may lead to the development of new approaches in pharmaceutical studies. Selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) share a status of high repute owing to their remarkable therapeutic potential. Biological synthesis of environment-friendly SeNPs using plant extracts has emerged as a beneficial alternative approach to chemical synthesis. In this regard, we have synthesized biogenic PG-SeNPs using pomegranate peels aqueous extract (PPAE) as a stabilizing and reducing agent. The PG-SeNPs were evaluated for their anti-Helicobacter pylori and anti-stomach cancer potential. The PG-SeNPs were efficacious against H. pylori. The PG-SeNPs showed dose-dependent restriction of the growth of H. pylori. The anti-stomach cancer ability of the PG-SeNPs was evaluated against SNU-16 stomach cancer. As evident from the MTT results, PG-SeNPs reduced cell viability in a dose-dependent manner. Briefly, the PG-SeNPs evolved with synergistically emerging attributes that were effective against H. pylori; Moreover, the PG-SeNPs and SeNPs@CuO embody intriguing anticancer potential against stomach cancer cells.

Background: H. pylori infection is a common bacterial infection worldwide, but its prevalence varies widely between different regions and populations. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of H. pylori infection and associated risk factors among HIV-positive and HIV-negative individuals in northern Ethiopia., Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from June to September 2020 in four randomly selected health facilities located in the Tigray region of Ethiopia. A total of 463 study participants were enrolled, of whom 288 were HIV-positive and 175 were HIV-negative individuals. H. pylori stool antigen tests were performed to detect H. pylori infection. Additionally, CD4 + T cell counts were measured from only a certain number of participants., Results: The overall prevalence of H. pylori infection among enrolled study participants was 39.7 %. Notably, the H. pylori infection rate was significantly higher in HIV-positive patients (43.4 %) compared to HIV-negative individuals (33.7 %); χ 2  = 4.27, p = 0.039. Higher H. pylori prevalence was observed in participants with higher CD4 + T cell counts in both HIV-positive and HIV-negative individuals. Khat chewing habit, education, and monthly income levels were significantly associated with H. pylori infection in HIV-negative individuals, while the association between Body mass index (BMI) and H. pylori infection was observed in HIV-positive patients, but not HIV-negative individuals., Conclusion: This study demonstrates a higher prevalence of H. pylori infection in HIV-positive patients compared to HIV-negative individuals, emphasizing the importance of comprehensive diagnostics, patient care, and management of H. pylori infection in HIV-positive individuals., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors have no potential conflict of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2024 Japanese Society of Chemotherapy, Japanese Association for Infectious Diseases, and Japanese Society for Infection Prevention and Control. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

MTAN is an attainable therapeutic target for H. pylori because it may minimize virulence production, limit resistance, and impair quorum sensing without affecting gut flora. Here, 457 compounds with anti-H. pylori activity were methodically analyzed, revealing a diverse array of chemical classes and unique compounds. Molecular docking studies identified three potential compounds with high binding affinities, Dehydrocostus lactone, keramamine B, and ZINC00013531409, each having binding affinity of -7.9, -9.2, and -8.3 kcal/mol, respectively. Molecular dynamics simulations of the ZINC00013531409-MTAN interactions in comparison with Apo-MTAN demonstrated stability and interactions of 300 ns, with key residues involved in protein-ligand binding illuminated. Analysis of hydrogen bonds (Ile52, Met174, and Arg194) and secondary structure variations further elucidated the binding interactions and conformational changes within the complex. Binding free energy calculations shed light on the energetics and interactions governing the complex formation of the ZINC00013531409-MTAN complex. PCA elucidated the dominant modes of motion, along with FEL revealed the energetically favorable states and then DCCM shed light on the correlated motions between residues. Overall, this study offers a detailed computational evaluation of ZINC00013531409 with anti-H. pylori activity, highlighting toxicity profile, conformational stability, and binding interactions, providing a foundation for further drug development efforts toward bacterial resistance., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The microaerophilic Gram-negative bacterium H. pylori is associated with various gastric complications and affects nearly half of the global population. Current sero-diagnostic methods for H. pylori diagnosis are often insensitive or lack specificity. This study aimed to detect H. pylori immunoreactive proteins to improve diagnostic tools. H. pylori isolates from biopsy samples were characterized using biochemical and molecular techniques. An immunoproteomics approach involving immunoprecipitation and mass spectrometry identified three immunoreactive proteins: Transcription antitermination protein NusB, Isoprenyl transferase, and a hypothetical protein associated with a transposase gene. Bioinformatics analysis revealed that these proteins are involved in RNA binding, termination of DNA-templated transcription, cell and energy metabolism, transferase activity, regulation, and ribosomal biosynthesis pathways. CD4 T cell and Class-I immunogenicity predictions highlighted NusB's strong potential to stimulate an immune response. Immune simulations demonstrated robust antibody production, particularly in response to NusB. Additionally, molecular docking studies with phenolic compounds (Gnetol, Isohomovanillic acid, Licoisoflavone A, and Chrysosplenol D) against the three proteins, followed by molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, confirmed the stability and favorable interactions of these protein-phenolic compound complexes. This integrative approach, combining immunoproteomics, bioinformatics, molecular docking, and MD simulations, underscores the potential of these immunoreactive proteins for vaccine development and improved diagnostic methods., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest Authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

1-(2-((4-Bromophenyl)amino)-2-oxoethyl)pyridin-1-ium chloride Schiff base (CH-Py) was prepared via reacting (CH) with pyridine-3-carboxaldehyde, followed by reacting the product with N-(4-bromophenyl)-2-chloroacetamide. The structure of the resulting CH derivative was determined via 1 HNMR and FTIR. The CH-Py derivative was converted into nanoparticles (CH-Py-Cl NPs) using sodium tripolyphosphate (TPP). Additionally, the nanocomposites (CH-Py-Cl NPs) were prepared discretely by dispersion of 3.0 % Se and 3.0 % Fe 2 O 3 nanoparticles into the CH-Py-Cl NPs matrix to derive the products denoted as CH-Py-Cl/Se and CH-Py-Cl/Fe, respectively aiming to develop innovative effective chitosan Schiff base nanocomposites towards H. pylori. Anti-H. pylori activity of CH-Py-Cl NPs, CH-Py-Cl/Fe, and CH-Py-Cl/Se were found to be at a minimal inhibitory concentrations MIC value of 62.5, 31.25, and 15.62 μg/mL, indicating that CH-Py-Cl/Se possessed the highest biological activity in our investigation. Finally, the CH-Py-Se-NPs nanocomposite was examined for its in vitro cytotoxicity against colon cancer cell lines (Caco-2). The results obtained indicated that the developed CH-Py-Cl/Se showed toxic effects on Caco-2 cells, with an IC 50 value of 124.52 ± 1.15 μg/mL., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no competing interests., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background and Aims: Helicobacter pylori remains an important risk factor for noncardia gastric cancer and a spectrum of disease from H. pylori infection to gastric cancer. As a step toward improved clinical strategies for gastric cancer prevention, we assessed racial differences in prevalence of H. pylori from studies across the United States. This systematic review provides a comprehensive evaluation of the literature regarding racial differences in H. pylori in the United States. Methods: MEDLINE, Embase, and Web of Science database searches were performed through May 26, 2021. Ultimately, 25 studies that reported H. pylori infection prevalence by race were included. Results: All studies included in the review documented higher H. pylori prevalence in Blacks and Hispanics than in whites. The ratio of H. pylori prevalence for Blacks compared to non-Hispanic whites ranged from 1.3 to 5.4, and the ratio for Hispanics compared to non-Hispanic whites ranged from 1.8 to 4.4. Of the 5 studies that examined H. pylori CagA prevalence by race, 4 found higher prevalence among Blacks and Hispanics compared to whites, with CagA prevalence ranging from 19% to 77% in whites, 62% to 90% in Blacks, and 64% to 74% in Hispanics. Conclusion: In this review, across 25 studies, varying in underlying population, time period, and geographic location, Blacks and Hispanics appeared to have a higher prevalence of H. pylori infection than whites. This increased prevalence of H. pylori among populations also at a higher risk of gastric cancer is relevant in the clinical setting for decision-making related to H. pylori testing and gastric cancer prevention.

Background: It is probable that humans can acquire H. pylori and nonH. pylori Helicobacter infections via domestic animals. The prevalence and risk factors of infections of Helicobacter species in canines of Taipei city were therefore analysed in this study. Materials and methods: A total of 95 canine faecal samples were collected from different animal shelters and hospitals in Taipei city. Total DNA was extracted for semi-nested PCR detection of Helicobacter species. The PCR products were sequenced for further comparative database and phylogenetic analyses. Results: The overall prevalence of Helicobacter species in canines of Taipei city was 75.79% (72/95). Two gastric, seven enterohepatic and two unclassified Helicobacter species were identified, all of which have been implicated in the aetiology of human diseases. The predominant species detected included H. canis (27.78%), H. pylori (26.39%), H. canicola (18.06%), and H. bilis (13.89%) in decreasing order, while H. canadensis and H. typhlonius were identified for the first time in canines. The genotypes in H. pylori and H. canicola clusters grouped together, with their respective reference strains, showed a close evolutionary distance in the phylogenetic tree, indicating a common ancestry may have existed in these clusters respectively. The residential region of canines, dog living status (pet or stray) and breed (purebred or mixed-breed) are the risk factors associated with Helicobacter infections in the canines examined. Conclusion: The high prevalence of Helicobacter infections in canines highlights a potential public health risk of zoonotic transmission among dogs, humans and other animals, and therefore, the need for proper methods in controlling the transmission routes. In addition, the 16S rRNA gene amplification method was found to be useful for bacterial identification and phylogenetic analysis.

After almost 40 years of the discovery and successful culture of the Helicobacter pylori, scientists are facing its resistance strategies that have challenged the world of biomedicine. Nanotechnology, on the other hand, has come to the aid of developing more efficient strategies against this bacterium in the arms race that we are involved in. Metallic nanoparticles with their fascinating properties, such as magnetism, ease of synthesis, biocompatibility, and wide range of sizes and shapes, have attracted lots of attention. The present review provides crucial information on these nanoparticles and the possible ways of their use for the eradication of H. pylori.

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is the strongest risk factor for the occurrence and development of gastric carcinoma. However, the molecular mechanism underlying H. pylori-induced pathogenesis has not yet been fully characterized. Here, we explored whether H. pylori upregulates semaphorin 5A to promote gastric cancer progression via the extracellular regulated protein kinases/matrix metalloproteinase (ERK/MMP9) signaling pathway. In this study, H. pylori upregulated semaphorin 5A expression in vitro and in vivo. Using the human gastric carcinoma cell lines SGC7901, SGC7901-siScrambled, and SGC7901-siSema 5A, our studies showed that H. pylori increased the proliferation, growth, migration, and invasiveness of gastric cancer cells via its effects on semaphorin 5A and that H. pylori increased the expression of MMP9 in gastric cancer cells via the semaphorin 5A-mediated ERK signaling pathway. Further analysis revealed that the ERK inhibitor PD98059 and MMP9 antibody (Ab) attenuated H. pylori-induced gastric cancer cell invasion and metastasis in vitro through a semaphorin 5A-dependent mechanism. In conclusion, H. pylori could promote gastric cancer progression in a semaphorin 5A-dependent manner via the ERK/MMP9 signaling pathway. Semaphorin 5A and its related signaling molecules potentially represent latent targets for H. pylori-related gastric cancer therapy.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to analyze functionally significant polymorphisms of matrix metalloproteinases genes (MMP-1, -2, -3, -8, -9) for their association with duodenal ulcer (DU) in the Caucasian population from Central Russia. Methods: The study sample included 364 DU patients (208 had H. pylori and 156 were uninfected) and 347 controls (H. pylori-negative). Ten polymorphisms of the MMP-1, -2, -3, -8, -9 genes were examined for association with DU by the logistic regression analysis (used the three main genetic models). The polymorphisms of the MMP-9 gene associated with DU and 59 proxy variants (r2 ≥ 0.80) were studied in silico for their functionality. Results: Allele G of rs17576 and haplotype GG [rs17576-rs3787268] of the MMP-9 gene may increase risk for DU (adjOR = 1.46–2.09, pperm ≤ 0.006 and adjOR = 1.60, pperm = 0.016 respectively). Five SNPs of the MMP-9 gene may increase risk for H. pylori-positive DU: alleles T of rs3918242 (adjOR = 1.95, pperm = 0.007), G of rs17576 (adjOR = 1.68–2.81, pperm ≤ 0.002), and A of rs17577 (adjOR = 1.96, pperm = 0.008), haplotypes GG [rs17576-rs3787268] (adjOR = 1.95, pperm = 0.006) and GGC [rs17576-rs3787268-rs2250889] (adjOR = 1.96, pperm = 0.006). These loci and 59 proxy SNPs may have functionally significant epigenetic effects, amino acid replacements in the MMP9, and correlate with the expression and alternative splicing of 17 and 6 genes respectively. Conclusions: Polymorphisms rs17576 and rs3787268 of the MMP-9 were associated with DU and five MMP-9 gene SNPs were associated with H. pylori-related DU in Caucasians of Central Russia.

Oral administration remains the main treatment for H. pylori infection, but the acidic environment of the stomach, the biofilm and drug resistance of H. pylori severely impair the antibacterial effect of orally clinical drugs. Here, a multifunctional nanodrug, composed of rhamnolipid-assisted black phosphorus nanocomposite (RHL@BP), is engineered for drug resistant H. pylori (H. pylori-R) treatment. The nanosystem is utilized to efficiently deliver isolinderalactone (ISL), a kind of sesquiterpenoids compound purified from traditional Chinese medicine, exhibiting significantly enhanced antibacterial ability against H. pylori-R under near-infrared (NIR) irradiation. The acid sensitivity of BP and photothermal instability of RHL could trigger the controlled and efficient release of ISL, exhibiting significant synergistic antibacterial activity against H. pylori-R in combined with NIR irradiation. In an H. pylori-R infected mice model, the amount of remnant H. pylori-R in the combination of RHL@BP/ISL and NIR irradiation without antacid group was significantly lower than that of in the conventional triple therapy group (P

Background: Helicobacter pylori causes the most common human gastric infection. H. pylori Stool Antigen Lateral Flow Immunochromatography assay (HpSA-LFIA) is considered one of the most cost-effective and rapid non-invasive assays (active tests). Evaluating HpSA-LFIA is of crucial for ensuring accuracy and utility assurance. This study aimed to evaluate the polyclonal antibody-based HpSA-LFIA in comparison to a monoclonal antibody-based ELISA kit. Methodology: Stool samples were collected from 200 gastric patients for HpSA-LFIA and semiquantitative HpSA-ELISA tests. A statistical analysis of the diagnostic performance was performed using MedCalc software. Chi-square tests were performed to determine the effects of gender and age. Results and conclusion: The results showed that HpSA-LFIA achieved remarkable sensitivity (93.75%) and NPV (98.00%). However, it had poor specificity, PPV, and accuracy of 59.76%, 31.25%, and 65.31%, respectively. LR+ and LR-were 2.33% & 0.1%, respectively. Gender didn't affect the diagnostic performance of HpSA-LFIA. Age groups had irrelevant sensitivity; however, specificity was significantly higher in patients aged >45 years. We can conclude that HpSA-LFIA was not accurate enough to be the sole test for diagnosis and suggest developing other confirmatory tests in case of positive conditions.

Background: Limited studies have reported the association between dietary patterns and Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection in Sabah., Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess the association between dietary pattern and H. pylori infection among patients aged 18 years and above that went for first esophagogastroduodenoscopy (OGDS) in 2021 at Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH), Kota Kinabalu., Methods: Dietary intake of positive H. pylori was compared with healthy subjects by using questionnaire adapted from Malaysian Adult Nutrition Survey (MANS) 2014. Using logistic regression models, we evaluated the association between dietary pattern and H. pylori infection risk., Findings: Our finding identified four dietary patterns, namely "high carbohydrate pattern", "high fiber pattern", "high fat/cholesterol pattern" and "high salt pattern". After adjustment for potential confounders, the highest quartile of "high salt pattern" showed greater odds of H. pylori infection (OR = 1.26; 95% Cl: 1.032-1.459; P = 0.045) than lowest quartile, while highest quartile of "high fiber pattern" demonstrated lower odd of the infection (OR = 0.69; 95% Cl: 0.537-0.829; P = 0.008) than those in lowest quartile. If compared with Recommended Nutrient Intake (RNI) 2017, positive H. pylori consumed high carbohydrates and sodium with insufficient fiber intake., Conclusion: To conclude, "high fiber pattern" lowers the risk of H. pylori infection while "high salt pattern" increases the infection risk. Our study also highlighted the importance of nutrient intake within daily allowances., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest Authors declare no potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Asian Surgical Association and Taiwan Society of Coloproctology. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Hypereosinophilic syndromes (HES) are a group of uncommon disorders characterized by persistent eosinophils overproduction which can lead to tissue damage and organs dysfunction secondary to eosinophils tissue infiltration and inflammatory mediators’ release. Causes of secondary HES include parasitic infection, some solid tumors, underlying connective tissue disease, allergic conditions and T cell lymphoma. Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) has been reported only once as a cause of secondary HES in the literature. We report the second case of H. pylori infection in 29-year-old male patient who presents with HES and secondary Immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). This case is different from the first reported case by the presence of HES complication on presentation manifesting as portal vein thrombosis, which was further complicated by ischemic colitis. H, pylori eradication therapy alone was successful in a resolution of hypereosinophilia and platelets recovery without the need of corticosteroids or any other treatment.

Background: Anogeissus pendula Edgew (Combretacae) is a traditional Indian medicinal plant with antiulcer, anti-inflammatory, anti-hepatoprotective and other pharmacological effects. A. pendula is commonly used by tribal groups to treat gastric disorders, and this may be due to phenolic compounds. Purpose: The aim of this study is to determine the antiulcer activity of Anogeissus pendula in pylorus ligated albino Wistar rats, and the biochemical function in ulcer protection via various biochemical studies. Study Design: The study was conducted on albino Wistar rats using a pylorus ligation ulcer model. Ranitidine (20 mg/kg b.w) and APHAE (200 and 400 mg/kg b.w) were given orally to different groups of rats (n = 6), 1 h before pylorus ligation. The studied parameters were the amount of gastric juice, pH, total and free acidity, and ulcer index. The antioxidant parameters like LPO, GSH, CAT, SOD, and total protein were also studied. Results: At doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg, Anogeissus pendula stem hydroalcoholic extract (APHAE) demonstrated substantial inhibition of gastric lesions. In the pretreated animals, there was a decrease in ulcer index (P < 0.001) and a decrease in gastric volume, free and total acidity (P

Objective: H. pylori infection remains a major public health challenge. Our study aimed to determine the prevalence of H. pylori infection among the local population of the Timergara city in Lower Dir District of Pakistan and investigating the common risk factors associated with disease development. Methods: Between September 2016 to January 2017, 520 individuals have involved in this study. A venous blood sample along with questionnaire data was collected from each participant and H. pylori infection investigated using Indirect Enzyme-Linked ImmunoSorbent Assay. Results: Out of 520 persons studied, 115 (22.1%) were positive and 405 (77.9%) were negative. The majority of infected individuals were males 79 (29.4%) compared to females 34 (14.3%), P value˂0.000. The probability of H. pylori infection was more among smokers 32 (33%), snuff addictive 29 (35.8%), and regular soft drinks takers 57 (43.5%). Furthermore, the logistic regression revealed that the odds of developing H. pylori infection were significantly higher in males (AOR:2.1, 95%CI:1.0–4.7), smokers (AOR:1.7, 95%CI:0.4–2.1), snuff addiction (AOR:5.5, 95%CI:1.2–24.1), no regular toothpaste users (AOR:16.1, 95%CI:8.7–29.8), and regularly soft drinks takers (AOR:4.5, 95%CI:1.7–12.0). Likewise, it was greater in no formal (AOR:3.3, 95%CI:3.7–2.9), primary school (AOR:1.7,95%CI:0.0–0.0), and secondary school (AOR:5.5,95%:2.3–13.2) educated persons compared to individuals of University education level. Conclusions: Our study has highlighted the epidemiology and risk factors associated with H. pylori infection in Timergara city and revealed the need for further studies to a better understanding of the epidemiology of H. pylori infection, which is helpful in diagnosis and prevention of disease.

In 2015, the Nobel Committee for Physiology or Medicine, in its only award for treatments of infectious diseases since six decades prior, honoured the discovery of ivermectin (IVM), a multifaceted drug deployed against some of the world’s most devastating tropical diseases. Since March 2020, when IVM was first used against a new global scourge, COVID-19, more than 20 randomized clinical trials (RCTs) have tracked such inpatient and outpatient treatments. Six of seven meta-analyses of IVM treatment RCTs reporting in 2021 found notable reductions in COVID-19 fatalities, with a mean 31% relative risk of mortality vs. controls. During mass IVM treatments in Peru, excess deaths fell by a mean of 74% over 30 days in its ten states with the most extensive treatments. Reductions in deaths correlated with the extent of IVM distributions in all 25 states with p

Objective: Helicobacteriosis is worldwide infection caused by Helicobacter species that affects both humans and animals. The current work correlated the zoonotic and public health repertoire of Helicobacter species in companion animals (dogs and cats). Methods: Samples were collected from apparently healthy dogs (70), cats (65), and 70 human patients who had been in contact with these animals in the Cairo and Giza governorates. The samples included serum, feces, and stool samples and biopsies of gastric fundus fragments (~5 mm). All samples were examined by culture, biochemical analysis, serology, and molecular identification. Results: Helicobacter species were detected at a rate of 43.4% by PCR. H. heilmannii was more predominant, with a rate of 16%, whereas H. pylori was detected at 6%. H. pylori and H. heilmannii were isolated from both human and companion samples, whereas all samples were negative for H. felis. Conclusion: Dogs and cats were reservoirs and played a major source in human helicobacters infection.

Background: Helicobacter pylori infection represents a major gastrointestinal complaint associated with gastritis, gastric ulcer and stomach tumors. It is present in 90 % of developing countries population. H. pylori diagnosis in these countries, where resources are limited, is accomplished with simple non-invasive tests such as stool antigen and serum antibody tests. The aim of this study was to evaluate the serum antibody test in the diagnosis of current H. pylori infection. Subject and methods: A total of 117 patients were included in this prospective diagnosis accuracy testing study, who clinically presented with dyspepsia, heartburn, abdominal pain, diarrhea, or halitosis. A stool sample was collected from each patient and tested for H. pylori antigen using immunochromatographic method.Blood sample was also collected, half of which was EDTA-sampled and analyzed for complete blood count, while the remaining half was left to clot, the separated serum was tested for antibodies against H. pylori with immunochromatographic cassette. Results: About 35 % of sixty six patients who were positive for stool antigen test gave a negative for serum antibodies test. Meanwhile, the non-consistent results within 51 negative stool antigen test patients was exhibited by 47 % of them. The discrepancies were not affected by age or disease duration. The calculated sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive values were 50 %, 65 %, 65 % and 50 % respectively. Conclusion: The serum antibody test is not reliable in the diagnosis of current H. pylori infection. In developing countries, with limited facilities and primary care units, stool antigen test diagnosis is useful for diagnosis.

Helicobacter pylori and intestinal parasites cause gastrointestinal diseases with a high prevalence in children in resource limited developing countries. There is paucity of information in Nigeria on co-infection of H. pylori and intestinal parasites. The study was conducted to determine the prevalence of H. pylori and parasite co-infection in children from selected low-income communities in Lagos, Nigeria. Fecal samples were collected from 151 healthy children aged ≤11 years across six low-income communities in Lagos. H. pylori was detected using stool antigen test and conventional PCR assay, intestinal parasites were detected using formol-ether concentration and nested PCR assay. Structured questionnaires were administered to parents and legal guardians of the children by an interviewer to collect relevant data on demographic and lifestyle factors. The prevalence of H. pylori was 31.79% (48), with a higher prevalence in children aged 2-3 years. The prevalence of intestinal parasites was 21.19% (32) with the lowest frequency found in children aged 8-9 years. The parasites detected include: A. lumbricoides (10.6%), G. intestinalis (7.3%), hookworm (1.99%), E. histolytica (0.66%), S. mansoni (0.66%). There was co-infection prevalence of 10.6% (16) which was associated with the parasites: G. intestinalis (7.3%) and A. lumbricoides (3.97%). Polyparasitism with G. intestinalis and A. lumbricoides was reported in 2 children infected with H. pylori. This study which is the first reported in Lagos established a low prevalence of H. pylori and intestinal parasite co-infection in children and provides better understanding of the epidemiology of H. pylori infection associated with intestinal parasites in Nigeria., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Two chitosan Schiff bases were synthesized by condensation of chitosan with 2-(4-formylphenoxy)-N-phenylacetamide and N-(4-bromophenyl)-2-(4-formylphenoxy) acetamide denoted as Cs-SBA and Cs-SBBr, respectively. The molecular structures of the resulting chitosan derivatives were characterized using FTIR and 1 HNMR and their thermal properties were investigated by TGA. These derivatives were treated with sodium tripolyphosphate (TPP) to produce Cs Schiff base nanoparticles. The nanoparticles physicochemical properties were determined by FTIR, XRD, TEM, and zeta potential analysis. The antimicrobial action against Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) was evaluated and the results indicated that the anti-H. pylori activity had minimal inhibitory concentration MIC values of 15.62 ± 0.05 and 3.9 ± 0.03 μg/mL for Cs-SBA and Cs-SBBr nanoparticles (Cs-SBA NPs and Cs-SBBr NPs), respectively. The better biologically active nanoparticles, Cs-SBBr NPs, were tested for their cyclooxygenases (COX-1 and COX-2) inhibitory potential. Cs-SBBr NPs demonstrated COX enzyme inhibition activity against COX-2 (IC 50 4.5 ± 0.165 μg/mL) higher than the conventional Indomethacin (IC 50 0.08 ± 0.003 μg/mL), and Celecoxib (IC 50 0.79 ± 0.029 μg/mL). Additionally, the cytotoxicity test of Cs-SBBr NPs showed cytotoxic effect on Vero cells (CCL-81) with IC 50  = 17.95 ± 0.12 μg/mL which is regarded as a safe compound. Therefore, Cs-SBBr NPs may become an alternative to cure H. pylori and prevent gastric cancer., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no competing interests. The authors declare that no funds, grants, or other support were received during the preparation of this manuscript., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Gut microbiota dysfunction is associated with multiple gastrointestinal and extra-gastrointestinal diseases, thus the possibility of its modulation with prebiotics, probiotics and symbiotics has gained interest in the last years. Many probiotics are available on the market and products characterized by combination of multiple strains have been proposed as particularly effective. However, evidences supporting their efficacy are often inadequate and not homogenous. We reviewed available data on clinical efficacy of multistrain probiotics and symbiotics in gastrointestinal diseases in adults, focusing on data from randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials. Twenty-nine multistrain products satisfied inclusion criteria. The principal areas of application are irritable bowel syndrome, Helicobacter pylori eradication and antibiotic-associated diarrhoea. The most represented probiotic species in the different probiotic formulations was L. acidophilus. The combination of L. paracasei, L. plantarum, L. acidophilus, L. delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus, B. longum, B. infantis, B. breve and S. thermophilus (VSL#3) showed the highest number of RCTs.

Pathological over production of nitric oxide (NO), induced by Helicobacter pylori, has been known as a risk factor for development of gastritis and gastric cancer. The current study investigated the effect of high-sulforaphane (SFN) broccoli sprouts powder on serum NO metabolites in H. pylori infected patients. Eighty-six patients with positive H. pylori stool antigen test (HpSAg) were randomized to receive one of the three following regimens: Standard triple therapy (STT) for 14 days, 6 g/d broccoli sprouts powder (BSP) for 28 days, and combination of these as STT (for 14 days) + BSP (for 28 days). Fasting serum NO metabolites were assessed at baseline and again after treatment. There was a significant decrease in serum NOx levels in BSP (25.2 vs. 51.6 μmol/L, P

The production of novel natural medicines for the treatment of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) has lately attracted a lot of interest. Some bacterial infections have traditionally been alleviated by terpenes. The present work intended to examine the impact of several chitosan menthone Schiff base nanocomposites on the treatment of H. pylori infection as well as on its anti-inflammatory capacity. Chitosan (Cs) was condensed with menthone with different molar ratios of Cs:menthone (1:0.5, 1:1, and 1:2) to produce chitosan Schiff bases namely; Cs-SB1, Cs-SB2, and Cs-SB3, respectively. Cs-SB3 Schiff base nanocomposites were prepared individually by adding 2%Ag, 2%Se, (1%Ag + 1%Se), and 2%Fe 2 O 3 nanoparticles to produce compounds denoted as Cs-SB-Ag, Cs-SB-Se, Cs-SB-Ag/ Se, and Cs-SB-Fe, respectively. The anti-H. pylori activity of Cs-SB-Se was detected at a minimal inhibitory concentration MIC of 1.9 μg/mL making it the most biologically active compound in our study. Cs-SB-Se nanocomposite was tested for its cyclooxygenases (COX-1 and COX-2) inhibitory potential which demonstrated inhibitory efficacy towards COX enzymes with inhibition value against COX-1 (IC 50  = 49.86 ± 1.784 μg/mL) and COX-2 (IC 50  = 12.64 ± 0.463 μg/mL) which were less than the well-known Celecoxib (22.65 ± 0.081 and 0.789 ± 0.029 μg/mL) and Indomethacin (0.035 ± 0.001 and 0.08 ± 0.003 μg/mL) inhibitors. The selectivity index SI = 3.94 for tested nanocomposites indicated higher selectivity for COX-1. The cytotoxicity of the Cs-SB-Se nanocomposite was evaluated in Vero cells (CCL-81) and it showed that at a concentration of 62.5 μg/mL, cell viability was 85.43 %., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no competing interests. The authors declare that no funds, grants, or other support was received during the preparation of this manuscript., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a causative agent of various gastrointestinal diseases and eradication mainly relies on antibiotic treatment, with (AMX) being a key component. However, rising antibiotic resistance in H. pylori necessitates the use of antibiotics combination therapy, often disrupting gut microbiota equilibrium leading to further health complications. This study investigates a novel strategy utilizing AMX-loaded chitosan nanoparticles (AMX-CS NPs), co-administered with prebiotic inulin to counteract H. pylori infection while preserving microbiota health. Following microbroth dilution method, AMX displayed efficacy against H. pylori, with a MIC 50 of 48.34 ± 3.3 ng/mL, albeit with a detrimental impact on Lactobacillus casei (L. casei). The co-administration of inulin (500 μg/mL) with AMX restored L. casei viability while retaining the lethal effect on H. pylori. Encapsulation of AMX in CS-NPs via ionic gelation method, resulted in particles of 157.8 ± 3.85 nm in size and an entrapment efficiency (EE) of 86.44 ± 2.19 %. Moreover, AMX-CS NPs showed a sustained drug release pattern over 72 h with no detectable toxicity on human dermal fibroblasts cell lines. Encapsulation of AMX into CS NPs also reduced its MIC 50 against H. pylori, while its co-administration with inulin maintained L. casei viability. Interestingly, treatment with AMX-CS NPs also reduced the expression of the efflux pump gene hefA in H. pylori. This dual treatment strategy offers a promising approach for more selective antimicrobial treatment, minimizing disruption to healthy microbial communities while effectively addressing pathogenic threats., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this article., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Both Helicobacter pylori (HP) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections are endemic in Egypt. This work aimed to investigate the presence of HP in the liver of patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) and explore the relation between HP infection, liver histopathology and HCV viral load. The study included 60 patients with CHC. Virological, biochemical, liver biopsy and testing for anti-Hp and anti-schistosomal antibodies in serum were done. Liver tissues were examined for histopathological and presence of Hp by detection of HP 16S rRNA gene by PCR and sequence analysis. Anti-schistosomal and anti HP antibody was found in 45% and 61.7%, respectively. Low stages of fibrosis (F0–F3) were found in 73.3% and advanced fibrosis (F4–F6) in 26.7%. HP DNA was found in 10% of the liver specimens. Although the frequency HP antibodies was equally high in patients with advanced and low fibrosis (68.8% and 59.1%, P > 0.05), the HP DNA in liver tissue was significantly more frequent in patients with advanced fibrosis (31.25% vs. 2.7%, P = 0.004). Meanwhile, the median viral load of HCV was higher in patients with HP DNA in liver tissue compared to patients with no HP DNA in liver tissue (337.000 vs. 165.000, P = 0.3491). HCV RNA titer, fibrosis score and history of blood transfusion, are independent factors associated with HP DNA in liver tissue. In conclusion, the presence of HP in liver tissue of patients with advanced fibrosis suggests a potential relation between HP infection and progression of liver fibrosis due to HCV.

The human body is home to a complex microbial community, living in symbiosis. However, when an imbalance occurs, known as dysbiosis, it can lead to organic diseases such as cancers. Helicobacter pylori is commonly recognized as the causative agent of gastric cancer. Numerous studies have explored the potential role of other microorganisms in cancers. For example, the role of intestinal microbiota in the hepatocellular carcinoma formation and progression, the microbiota in breast cancer and the interaction between the microbiome and TP53 in human lung carcinogenesis. In this review, we highlight the latest findings on the microbiome involved in the most common cancers and the suggested mechanisms of carcinogenesis., (Copyright © 2023 Société Française du Cancer. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Helicobacter pylori plays an important role in the etiology of peptic ulcer disease. Its prevalence appears to be higher in developing countries. We evaluated the seroprevalence of H. pylori and risk factors associated with infection in voluntary blood donors who attended the main blood center of the city of Salvador, Brazil. The subjects responded to an epidemiological questionnaire, with information about sex, age, race, lifestyle, social-economic level indicators, and residence and hygiene conditions. Anti-H. pylori antibody was determined by ELISA (Cobas Core, Roche). Three hundred and seven subjects were included in the study. Anti-H. pylori antibody results were indeterminate in 33 individuals (10.8%), who were excluded from analysis. Among the remaining 274 subjects, 187 (68.2%) were anti-H. pylori positive. Based on multivariate logistic regression analysis three variables were found to be significantly associated with a higher prevalence of H. pylori infection: absence of plumbing in the residence during childhood, a history of rainwater invading the dwelling during childhood, and low ingestion of milk.

Ferroptosis is a newly discovered form of regulatory cell death induced by iron-dependent lipid peroxidation. Infection with Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is regarded as a high-risk factor for the development of gastric cancer (GC) and is associated with an increase in the levels of reactive oxygen species with activation of oncogenic signaling pathways. However, whether GC arising in the context of infection with H. pylori is correlated with ferroptosis is still unknown. In this study, we demonstrate that H. pylori infection increased the sensitivity of GC cells to RSL3 (RAS-selective lethal3)-induced ferroptosis. The molecular subtypes mediated by ferroptosis-related genes are associated with tumor microenvironment (TME) cell infiltration and patient survival. Importantly, we identified that the expression of phosphorylase kinase G2 (PHKG2) was remarkably correlated with H. pylori infection, metabolic biological processes, patient survival and therapy response. We further found the mechanism of H. pylori-induced cell sensitivity to ferroptosis, which involves PHKG2 regulation of the lipoxygenase enzyme Arachidonate 5-Lipoxygenase (ALOX5). In conclusion, PHKG2 facilitates RSL3-induced ferroptosis in H. pylori-positive GC cells by promoting ALOX5 expression. These findings may contribute to a better understanding of the unique pathogenesis of H. pylori-induced GC and allow for maximum efficacy of genetic, cellular, and immune therapies for controlling ferroptosis in diverse contexts., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Strains of Helicobacter pylori that are positive for the oncoprotein CagA (cytotoxin-associated gene A) are associated with gastric cancer and might be related to the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Casein kinase 2 (CK2) is a serine/threonine protein kinase that plays a major role in tumorigenesis through signaling pathways related to the EMT. However, the role played by the interaction between CagA and CK2 in gastric carcinogenesis is poorly understood. Although CK2α protein expression remained unchanged during H. pylori infection, we found that CK2α kinase activity was increased in gastric epithelial cells. We also found that the CK2β protein level decreased in H. pylori-infected gastric cancer cells in CagA-dependent manner and demonstrated that CagA induced CK2β degradation via HDM2 (human double minute 2; its murine equivalent is MDM2). We observed that CagA induced HDM2 protein phosphorylation and that p53 levels were decreased in H. pylori-infected gastric cancer cells. In addition, downregulation of CK2β induced AKT Ser473 phosphorylation and decreased the AKT Ser129 phosphorylation level in gastric cancer cells. We also found that the downregulation of CK2β triggered the upregulation of Snail levels in gastric cancer cells. Furthermore, our in vivo experiments and functional assays of migration and colony formation suggest that CK2β downregulation is a major factor responsible for the EMT in gastric cancer. Therefore, CK2 could be a key mediator of the EMT in H. pylori-infected gastric cancer and could serve as a molecular target for gastric cancer treatment., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Helicobacter pylori infection is very common and affects more than one-third of adults in Italy. Helicobacter pylori causes several gastro-duodenal diseases, such as gastritis, peptic ulcer and gastric malignancy, and extra-gastric diseases. The eradication of the bacteria is becoming complex to achieve due to increasing antimicrobial resistance. To address clinical questions related to the diagnosis and treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection, three working groups examined the following topics: (1) non-invasive and invasive diagnostic tests, (2) first-line treatment, and (3) rescue therapies for Helicobacter pylori infection. Recommendations are based on the best available evidence to help physicians manage Helicobacter pylori infection in Italy, and have been endorsed by the Italian Society of Gastroenterology and the Italian Society of Digestive Endoscopy., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest None declared., (Copyright © 2022. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Background: The rates and routes of Helicobacter pylori transmission, in a high-prevalent country like Iran, with gastric cancer as the leading cause of male cancer mortality, are of great essence. Here, we have studied the H. pylori-associated risk factors and the likelihood of interspousal transmission., Methods: In a cohort of 686 young prewed couples, questionnaires were self-administered and serum samples were collected, for assessment of risk factors and H. pylori serostatus, at baseline and follow-up. Of the 475 H. pylori single- or double-seronegative couples, 201 returned for follow-up. The average follow-up duration was 2.2 (SD 0.6) years, with a total of 560.1 person-years. Logistic regression and Cox regression models were used to estimate the odds ratios (ORs) and hazard ratios (HRs)., Results: The risk of infection was higher in men than women (OR: 1.3, 95% CI: 1.0-1.8) and among metropolitan than rural residents (OR = 1.4, 95% CI: 1.1-1.9). It was also significantly higher among those with three (OR = 1.6, 95% CI: 1.1-2.2), and four or more siblings (OR = 1.4, 95% CI: 1.0-1.9), in reference to those with one or no siblings. Adult H. pylori acquisition occurred in 10.9% (27/247) of the seronegative participants. The risk of the acquisition was significantly associated with age (P value for trend=0,000). It was also significantly lower among participants who had various degrees of education as compared to illiterate subjects (HR = 0.2, 95% CI: 0.1-0.9). Nevertheless, our analysis did not find any evidence for interspousal transmission (HR = 1.0, 95% CI: 0.4-2.2)., Conclusion: Whilst H. pylori acquisition was detected in the young adult Iranian population, our findings did not support interspousal transmission, as a mode of acquisition., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest Authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Institut Pasteur. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Background Acute upper gastrointestinal (GIT) bleeding is a common medical emergency clinically manifested by hematemesis and/or melena. This study aimed to elucidate the roles of Helicobacter pylori and the platelet-spleen ratio as risk factors for variceal bleeding in patients with portal hypertension secondary to liver cirrhosis. Methods The study was conducted on 200 patients with liver cirrhosis of various etiologies who were divided into two groups: group 1 included 100 patients with liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension with or without a history of upper GIT bleeding, and group 2 included 100 patients with liver cirrhosis without portal hypertension. Upper GIT endoscopy was performed, and biopsy samples were taken from the gastric antral mucosa for rapid urease testing. The platelet-spleen diameter ratio was calculated for all patients. Results In group 1, most patients who had a history of variceal bleeding were H. pylori-negative whereas most patients without a history of variceal bleeding were H. pylori-positive, implying that H. pylori may play a significant role as a protective factor against variceal bleeding. The calculated odds ratio for the rapid urease test was low (0.851), whereas the calculated odds ratio for the platelet-spleen diameter ratio was higher (9.766) than that for the rapid urease test. Thus, the rapid urease test plays a significantly higher role than the platelet-spleen ratio as a risk factor for bleeding (p-value = 0.001). Conclusions H. pylori has a more significant relationship with upper GIT bleeding than the platelet-spleen diameter ratio., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors have none to declare., (Copyright © 2022. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

With the apparent stagnation in the antibiotic discovery and the propagation of multidrug resistance, Helicobacter pylori associated gastric infections are hard to eradicate. In pursuance of alternative medicines, in this study, covalent modification of chitosan (CS) polymer with curcumin (Cur) was accomplished. Proton Nuclear Magnetic Resonance and Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy elucidated the covalent interaction between Cur and CS with characteristic peak of imine functional group (C=N). Scanning Electron Microscopy provided visual proof for surface topology, while size and zeta potential values further affirmed the development of curcumin functionalized chitosan nanosystems (Cur-FCNS). The complexation efficiency of CS with Cur was found as 70 ± 3% at an optimal ratio of 5:1 for CS and Cur, respectively. Cur-FCNS developed with ionic gelation and ultrasonication method demonstrated synergistic anti-H. pylori activity in growth-kinetics and anti-biofilm assays, which was superior to free Cur and even chitosan nanosystems. Under simulated gastric conditions, Cur-FCNS revealed cumulative-release of only 16 ± 0.8% till 40 h, which indicated its improved stability to interact with H. pylori. In silico findings affirmed high binding affinity of Cur-FCNS with multiple bacterial virulence factors. Thus, our results affirmed the exceptional potential of Cur-FCNS as next-generation alternative-medicine to treat resistant H. pylori., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Aim: An enormous presence and their identified role as stress managers, antibiotic resistance, persistence, and biofilm formation is the reason why the research on Toxin-Antitoxin (TA) loci is getting more and more emphasis. These set of genes consist of poison (Toxin) and its antidote (Antitoxin) expressing in an operon where the toxin inhibits the cellular process and antitoxin which can be a protein or non-coding RNA, rescues the toxin. Most recent progress in genomics and in silico studies have revealed new TA families, and types of TA on bacterial chromosome. However, there is almost no or very little is known about the TA in H. pylori. Therefore, this study aims to identify the TA genes in human pathogen using a comprehensive in silico approach., Methodology: Here, we have collected the genome-wide data of TA in H. pylori 26695 using TASmania, a new TA database. Further, entire TA dataset was validated with several other databases available for TA, operon analysis and experimental data available., Key Findings: The study revealed the presence of 80 putative TA genes in H. pylori and highlighted their similarity as well as uniqueness in comparison to other three known TA carrying human pathogens., Significance: The present study indicates the presence of a large number of TA genes in H. pylori which make biofilm and goes into persistence. Hence, our innovative approach unlocks the prospect for characterizing these putative TA genes and their role as stress managers., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Marine-derived fungi can usually produce structurally novel and biologically potent metabolites. In this study, a new diketopiperazine alkaloid (1) and two new polyketides (10 and 11), along with 8 known diketopiperazine alkaloids (2-9) were isolated from marine-derived fungus Penicillium sp. TW58-16. Their structures were fully elucidated by analyzing UV, IR, HR-ESI-MS, 1D, and 2D NMR spectroscopic data. The absolute configurations of the new compounds 1, 10 and 11 were ascertained by X-ray diffraction (Cu Kα radiation) and comparing their CD data with those reported. In addition, the antibacterial activities of these compounds against Helicobacter pylori in vitro were assessed. Results showed that compounds 3, 6, 8 and 9 displayed moderate antibacterial activity against standard strains and drug-resistant clinical isolates of H. pylori in vitro. This result demonstrates that diketopiperazine alkaloids could be lead compounds to be explored for the treatment of H. pylori infection., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Invasive as well as non-invasive conventional techniques for the detection of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) have several limitations that are being overcome by the development of novel, rapid and reliable biosensors. Herein, we describe several biosensors fabricated for the detection of H. pylori. This review aims to provide the principles of biosensors and their components including in the context to H. pylori detection. The major biorecognition elements in H. pylori detection include antigen/antibodies, oligonucleotides and enzymes. Furthermore, the review describes the transducers, such as electrochemical, optical and piezoelectric, also including microfluidics approaches. An overview of the biomarkers associated with H. pylori pathogenesis is also discussed. Finally, the prospects of advancement and commercialization of point-of-care tools are summarized., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Gastric cancer (GC) is a significant global health problem, with Helicobacter pylori infection estimated to be responsible for 89% of non-cardiac GC cases, or 78% of all GC cases. The International Agency for Research on Cancer has called for Helicobacter pylori test-and-treat strategies in countries with high rates of GC. However, for countries with low rates of GC, such as most Western countries, the balance between benefits, harms and costs of screening is less clear-cut. GC is a disease with a well-characterized precancerous process, providing the basis for primary and secondary prevention efforts. However, rigorous data assessing the impact of such interventions in Western countries are lacking. In the absence of clinical trials, modelling offers a unique approach to evaluate the potential impact of various screening and surveillance interventions. In this paper, we provide an overview of modelling studies evaluating the cost-effectiveness of GC screening and surveillance in Western countries., (Copyright © 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)