Characterization of the cell envelope of H. pylori has identified a number of important features that distinguish it from other bacterial pathogens. These are the simple structure of its peptidoglycan, its unusual cellular fatty acid and lipid profile, molecular mimicry of Lewis antigens by LPS, and the presence of cytoplasmic proteins such as urease and catalase on the cell surface. In addition to these characteristics, polar flagella and a unique repertoire of outer membrane proteins are all likely to contribute to the ability of the organism to colonize the stomach and cause disease. The significance of the outer membrane components, many of which are likely to function as adhesins, is highlighted by the fact that H. pylori devotes a significantly high proportion of its coding capacity to them. Many of the vaccine candidates for H. pylori are proteins found on the cell surface, underlining the importance of further characterization of these proteins and of elucidating the precise mechanism of interaction of the H. pylori cell surface with gastric mucosa.
Copyright © 2001, ASM Press.