A better method for confirming Helicobacter pylori infection in Mongolian gerbils

Role of energy sensor TlpD of Helicobacter pylori in gerbil colonization and genome analyses after adaptation in the gerbil

Helicobacter pylori maintains colonization in its human host using a limited set of taxis sensors. TlpD is a proposed energy taxis sensor of H. pylori and dominant under environmental conditions of low bacterial energy yield. We studied the impact of H. pylori TlpD on colonization in vivo using a gerbil infection model which closely mimics the gastric physiology of humans. A gerbil-adapted H. pylori strain, HP87 P7, showed energy-dependent behavior, while its isogenic tlpD mutant lost it. A TlpD-complemented strain regained the wild-type phenotype. Infection of gerbils with the complemented strain demonstrated that TlpD is important for persistent infection in the antrum and corpus and suggested a role of TlpD in horizontal navigation and persistent corpus colonization. As a part of the full characterization of the model and to gain insight into the genetic basis of H. pylori adaptation to the gerbil, we determined the complete genome sequences of the gerbil-adapted strain HP87 P7, two HP87 P7 tlpD mutants before and after gerbil passage, and the original human isolate, HP87. The integrity of the genome, including that of a functional cag pathogenicity island, was maintained after gerbil adaptation. Genetic and phenotypic differences between the strains were observed. Major differences between the gerbil-adapted strain and the human isolate emerged, including evidence of recent recombination. Passage of the tlpD mutant through the gerbil selected for gain-of-function variation in a fucosyltransferase gene, futC (HP0093). In conclusion, a gerbil-adapted H. pylori strain with a stable genome has helped to establish that TlpD has important functions for persistent colonization in the stomach.

Assessment of methods for detection of Helicobacter pylori in animal models

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a major risk factor for chronic gastritis and peptic ulcer and is closely related to the occurrence of gastric cancer and gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma. Rational use of animal models is very helpful for the clinical and preclinical investigation of H. pylori. However, the methods for detection of H. pylori in animal models were less reported. Most of the reported methods require the animal to be executed, and those not requiring killing the animal were less developed. This review will introduce seven methods for detection of H. pylori in animal models. These methods can meet the requirements for appropriate and accurate detection of H. pylori in different investigation conditions.

Rapid paper disk test for identification of Helicobacter pylori in mixed cultures of gerbil gastric homogenates

A method denominated rapid paper disk test (RPDT) was developed to identify H. pylori colonies in complex cultures obtained from gerbil gastric homogenates. Identification is based on a characteristic reaction pattern (RP) for H. pylori colonies given by the combination of the urease-oxidase activities on a paper disk. Compared to the RPs obtained from gerbil's intestinal tract isolated bacteria, H. pylori RP is completely distinguishable, even from those of bacteria that share one or both activities as are Aerococcus urinae, Bacillus sphaericus, Bacillus brevis, Corynebacterium pseudogenitalium, and Staphylococcus simulans, as well as from those produced by collection strains Proteus vulgaris and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. This method allows the practical quantification of H. pylori colonies in highly contaminated plates. RPDT has the following advantages over other methodologies that use indicators in the medium: it employs two of the three routinely used H. pylori biochemical identification tests, the reagents do not interfere with bacterial viability, there are no restrictions in relation to the medium used, and it is a simple, fast, and low-cost method.