Regulation of Helicobacter pylori Urease and Acetone Carboxylase Genes by Nitric Oxide and the CrdRS Two-Component System

The role of miRNAs in pathogenesis, diagnosis, and therapy of Helicobacter pylori infection, gastric cancer-causing bacteria: Special highlights on nanotechnology-based therapy

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection and consequent inflammation in the stomach are widely recognized as major contributors to gastric cancer (GC) development. Recent investigations have placed considerable emphasis on uncovering the controlling influence of small RNA molecules known as microRNAs (miRNAs) in H. pylori-related diseases, particularly gastric cancer. This review aims to offer a comprehensive understanding of the intricate roles fulfilled by miRNAs in conditions associated with H. pylori infection. Exploring miRNA biogenesis pathways reveals their intimate connection with H. pylori infection, shedding light on the underlying molecular mechanisms driving disease progression and identifying potential intervention targets. An examination of epidemiological data surrounding H. pylori infection, including prevalence, risk factors, and transmission routes, underscores the imperative for preventive measures and targeted interventions. Incorporating insights from miRNA-related research into these strategies holds promise for enhancing their efficacy in controlling H. pylori spread. The symptoms, underlying mechanisms, and virulent characteristics of the bacteria highlight the intricate relationship between H. pylori and host cells, influencing the course of diseases. Within this complex web, miRNAs play pivotal roles, regulating various facets of H. pylori's development. MicroRNAs intricately involved in directing the immune response against H. pylori infection serve as key players in molding host defense mechanisms and impacting the bacterium's evasion tactics. Utilizing this knowledge holds the potential to drive forward groundbreaking therapeutic strategies. The diagnostic and prognostic capabilities of miRNAs in H. pylori infection highlight their effectiveness as non-invasive indicators for identifying diseases and evaluating risk. Integration of miRNA signatures into diagnostic algorithms holds promise for enhancing early detection and management of H. pylori-related diseases. MiRNA-based therapeutics offer a promising avenue for combatting H. pylori-induced gastric cancer, targeting specific molecular pathways implicated in tumorigenesis. H. pylori infection induces dysregulation of several miRNAs that contribute to antibiotic resistance, inflammation, and gastric cancer progression, including downregulation of tumor-suppressive miR-7 and miR-153 and upregulation of oncogenic miR-671-5p and miR-155-5p, which promote carcinogenesis and inflammation. Additionally, H. pylori manipulates host immune responses by upregulating miRNAs such as let-7f-5p, let-7i-5p, miR-146b-5p, and miR-185-5p that suppress HLA class II expression and antigen presentation, facilitating immune evasion and chronic gastritis that predispose to gastric cancer. Future research endeavors should focus on refining these therapeutic modalities and identifying novel targets to optimize clinical outcomes. By elucidating the multifaceted roles of miRNAs in H. pylori infection, this review provides invaluable insights into disease pathogenesis, diagnostics, and therapeutics, and the role of some nanoparticles in combating the H. pylori infection. Continued research efforts are imperative for translating these insights into clinical practice and addressing the global burden of H. pylori-related diseases.

Novel therapeutic regimens against Helicobacter pylori: an updated systematic review

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a strict microaerophilic bacterial species that exists in the stomach, and H. pylori infection is one of the most common chronic bacterial infections affecting humans. Eradicating H. pylori is the preferred method for the long-term prevention of complications such as chronic gastritis, peptic ulcers, gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma, and gastric cancer. However, first-line treatment with triple therapy and quadruple therapy has been unable to cope with increasing antibacterial resistance. To provide an updated review of H. pylori infections and antibacterial resistance, as well as related treatment options, we searched PubMed for articles published until March 2024. The key search terms were "H. pylori", "H. pylori infection", "H. pylori diseases", "H. pylori eradication", and "H. pylori antibacterial resistance." Despite the use of antimicrobial agents, the annual decline in the eradication rate of H. pylori continues. Emerging eradication therapies, such as the development of the new strong acid blocker vonoprazan, probiotic adjuvant therapy, and H. pylori vaccine therapy, are exciting. However, the effectiveness of these treatments needs to be further evaluated. It is worth mentioning that the idea of altering the oxygen environment in gastric juice for H. pylori to not be able to survive is a hot topic that should be considered in new eradication plans. Various strategies for eradicating H. pylori, including antibacterials, vaccines, probiotics, and biomaterials, are continuously evolving. A novel approach involving the alteration of the oxygen concentration within the growth environment of H. pylori has emerged as a promising eradication strategy.

A Structural Proteome Screen Identifies Protein Mimicry in Host-Microbe Systems

Host-microbe systems are evolutionary niches that produce coevolved biological interactions and are a key component of global health. However, these systems have historically been a difficult field of biological research due to their experimental intractability. Impactful advances in global health will be obtained by leveraging in silico screens to identify genes involved in mediating interspecific interactions. These predictions will progress our understanding of these systems and lay the groundwork for future in vitro and in vivo experiments and bioengineering projects. A driver of host-manipulation and intracellular survival utilized by host-associated microbes is molecular mimicry, a critical mechanism that can occur at any level from DNA to protein structures. We applied protein structure prediction and alignment tools to explore host-associated bacterial structural proteomes for examples of protein structure mimicry. By leveraging the Legionella pneumophila proteome and its many known structural mimics, we developed and validated a screen that can be applied to virtually any host-microbe system to uncover signals of protein mimicry. These mimics represent candidate proteins that mediate host interactions in microbial proteomes. We successfully applied this screen to other microbes with demonstrated effects on global health, Helicobacter pylori and Wolbachia , identifying protein mimic candidates in each proteome. We discuss the roles these candidates may play in important Wolbachia -induced phenotypes and show that Wobachia infection can partially rescue the loss of one of these factors. This work demonstrates how a genome-wide screen for candidates of host-manipulation and intracellular survival offers an opportunity to identify functionally important genes in host-microbe systems.

Profiling of the Helicobacter pylori redox switch HP1021 regulon using a multi-omics approach

The gastric human pathogen Helicobacter pylori has developed mechanisms to combat stress factors, including reactive oxygen species (ROS). Here, we present a comprehensive study on the redox switch protein HP1021 regulon combining transcriptomic, proteomic and DNA-protein interactions analyses. Our results indicate that HP1021 modulates H. pylori's response to oxidative stress. HP1021 controls the transcription of 497 genes, including 407 genes related to response to oxidative stress. 79 proteins are differently expressed in the HP1021 deletion mutant. HP1021 controls typical ROS response pathways (katA, rocF) and less canonical ones, particularly DNA uptake and central carbohydrate metabolism. HP1021 is a molecular regulator of competence in H. pylori, as HP1021-dependent repression of the comB DNA uptake genes is relieved under oxidative conditions, increasing natural competence. Furthermore, HP1021 controls glucose consumption by directly regulating the gluP transporter and has an important impact on maintaining the energetic balance in the cell.

Biofilm of Helicobacter pylori: Life Cycle, Features, and Treatment Options

Helicobacter pylori is a gastric pathogen that infects nearly half of the global population and is recognized as a group 1 carcinogen by the Word Health Organization. The global rise in antibiotic resistance has increased clinical challenges in treating H. pylori infections. Biofilm growth has been proposed to contribute to H. pylori's chronic colonization of the host stomach, treatment failures, and the eventual development of gastric diseases. Several components of H. pylori have been identified to promote biofilm growth, and several of these may also facilitate antibiotic tolerance, including the extracellular matrix, outer membrane proteins, shifted morphology, modulated metabolism, efflux pumps, and virulence factors. Recent developments in therapeutic approaches targeting H. pylori biofilm have shown that synthetic compounds, such as small molecule drugs and plant-derived compounds, are effective at eradicating H. pylori biofilms. These combined topics highlight the necessity for biofilm-based research in H. pylori, to improve current H. pylori-targeted therapeutic approaches and alleviate relative public health burden. In this review we discuss recent discoveries that have decoded the life cycle of H. pylori biofilms and current biofilm-targeted treatment strategies.