Laboratory maintenance of Helicobacter species

Helicobacter species are Gram-negative bacteria that colonize the gastric or intestinal mucosa of many mammalian and avian hosts and induce histologic inflammation. The association of H. pylori with gastritis, peptic ulcer disease, and gastric cancers makes it a significant human pathogen. Animal models for these diseases are being used to explore the pathogenesis of H. pylori infection and in vaccine development. Both bacterial and host factors contribute to Helicobacter pathogenesis; therefore, the microbiology is very important. This unit describes how to culture the most commonly used gastric Helicobacter species, H. pylori, H. mustelae, and H. felis.