This book gathers a wealth of contributions on the virulence factors and pathogenic mechanism of Helicobacter pylori, prepared by leading international experts. In addition, it explores the epidemiology, diagnosis, treatment with drugs and probiotics, and prophylaxis by vaccination, reflecting the latest advances.H. pylori is a Gram negative microaerophilic bacterium that can produce various gastric diseases including gastritis, gastroduodenal ulceration, gastric cancer and gastric MALT lymphoma. Although efforts to combat H. pylori using a combination of proton pump inhibitor and several antimicrobial drugs have significantly decreased the burden of these gastric diseases, the microbial epidemiology and gastric pathogenesis following H. pylori infection are still not fully understood.Given its scope, the book offers a valuable resource not only for basic microbiologists, but also for researchers in the fields of pathology, biochemistry and genomics, as well as medical students/scientists.

Reviews the virulence factors and pathogenic mechanisms of H. pylori

From the contents: 1. Genomic diversity of Helicobacter pylori and human migrations.- 2. Epidemiology, diagnosis and risk factors of Helicobacter pylori infections.- 3. Activities and functional importance of Helicobacter pylori virulence factors.- 4. Structural and functional aspects of the Helicobacter pylori proteome.- 5. Role of adhesion to epithelial cells in gastric colonization by H. pylori.- 6. Interplay of Helicobacter pylori with immune cells: impact on gastric pathology.- 7. Helicobacter pylori infection of children.- 8. Non-malignant Helicobacter pylori-associated diseases.- 9. Malignant Helicobacter pylori-associated diseases: gastric cancer and MALT lymphoma.- 10. Host genetic polymorphisms in gastric disease outcome.- 11. Helicobacter pylori genetic polymorphisms in gastric disease development.- 12. Crosstalk of Helicobacter pylori withthe gastrointestinal microbiota.- 13. Treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection.- 14. Role of probiotics in eradication therapy for Helicobacter pylori infection.- 15. Immunity and vaccine development against Helicobacter pylori.