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Neonatal infection with Helicobacter pylori affects stomach and colon microbiome composition and gene expression in

Katrine B Graversen1, Bella Bjarnov-Nicolau1, Sigri Kløve1

  • 1Center for Evolutionary Hologenomics, Globe Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.

Infection and Immunity
|September 22, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Neonatal Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection in mice alters the gut microbiome and stomach gene expression, potentially accelerating development. This early-life infection impacts gastrointestinal tract composition and function.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Gastroenterology
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Helicobacter pylori infection affects global health, with infection age influencing outcomes.
  • Neonatal H. pylori infection in mice serves as a model for studying metabolic and immunological effects.
  • The dynamic first month of life is crucial for understanding early host-microbe interactions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare the gastrointestinal tract microbiome and stomach gene expression in neonatally H. pylori-infected mice versus uninfected controls.
  • To investigate the impact of early-life H. pylori infection on the developing host.
  • To explore changes in microbiome composition and gene expression during the first month of life.

Main Methods:

  • Explorative study design focusing on the first month of life in mice.
  • Analysis of gastrointestinal tract microbiome composition (stomach and colon).
  • Stomach gene expression profiling using pathway enrichment analysis.

Main Results:

  • H. pylori was primarily found in the stomach, with loads increasing post-weaning.
  • Gastrointestinal microbiome composition and alpha diversity were significantly altered by H. pylori infection, despite low bacterial abundance.
  • Stomach gene expression related to extracellular matrix, muscle contraction, and metabolism was affected, suggesting accelerated development in infected mice.

Conclusions:

  • Neonatal H. pylori infection significantly impacts the developing gastrointestinal microbiome and host gene expression.
  • Early-life H. pylori infection may lead to accelerated physiological development in mice.
  • Further research is warranted to elucidate the long-term metabolic and immunological consequences of early-life H. pylori infection.

Keywords:
Helicobacter pyloriearly-life infectionmicrobiome

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