09 Mar Gut Bacteria – Helicobacter Pylori
Thanks to science! The human microbiome is increasingly recognized as a key component in human development, health, and disease. How they will affect our toxicology and more specifically alter our digestion and absorption. Also their role in metabolism, genes, environment, and pathways of response.
Mechanism of the microbiome
The outer part of the microbiome is located on the external side of the interface. Between the environment and the portals of entry, such as the skin, gut, and lung called gatekeeper and watchman.
The gatekeeper functions as ‘‘first pass’’ metabolism, prior to absorption. Thereby, it influences the nature and number of agents that will be absorbed. And distributed to the host’s internal physiological and cellular systems.
The watchman at these portals of entry, generating signals that are transduced to distal organs and organ systems. Through cross-talk between the circulating immune system. The endothelial cells that form the physiological barriers of skin, gut, and lung. As a watchman, the microbiome also responds to signals from the host that are transduced through the immune system.
Just imagine the outer layer of the microbiome controls and sends signals to the internal layers. This is to determine what should happen with incoming traffic. The internal microbiome is where the sustenance of life is rapidly occurring.
The internal microbiome is literally made up of trillions of different bacteria that are both good and bad. Each of these bacteria feeds off the things we knowingly put into our bodies like food, drink, perfumes, skin creams etc. And they feed off the things we do not knowingly put in. Through the application of molecular and cellular microbiology. We now recognize the diversity and dominance of microbial life forms that exist in all environments on our planet. These microbes have many important planetary roles. But for humans, a major problem is their ability to colonize our tissues and cause disease like the gut bacteria Helicobacter pylori.
Gut Bacteria – Helicobacter pylori (H.pylori) Infection
Helicobacter pylori is a micro-aerophilic and spiral-shaped. A Gram-negative bacterium that sets up its home in the human stomach. The epidemiology of infection reveals that given the right circumstances it is readily contagious and transferrable amongst people. Transmission can occur through medical treatment, fecal-oral, and oral-oral routes.
Heliobacter Pylori infection with this pathogen causes chronic gastritis. Which can give rise to peptic ulcers of stomach and duodenum. Also, gastric atrophy, adenocarcinoma, and mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma. It can damage the stomach’s lining, making it more vulnerable to stomach acid.
How to avoid infections from H. pylori
The best ways to avoid infection are to ensure that you wash your hands after going to the bathroom. Avoid contaminated food and water and to stop kissing people 😊 (just kidding – sort of).
There are plenty of ways to test for Helicobacter Pylori including, breath testing, stool sample, blood testing, physical exam and an endoscopy. Always seek medical advice from a professional if you are concerned with your overall health.
References:
Helicobacter pylori in the 21st Century
- Sutton, and H. Mitchell
The Microbiome: Modulator of Pharmacological and Toxicological Exposures and Responses
Ellen K. Silbergeld1
