ADHERENCE OF HELICOBACTER-PYLORI TO THE GASTRIC-MUCOSA

Bacterial adhesion to the intestinal epithelium is a critical initial step in the pathogenesis of many enteric diseases. Helicobacter pylori is a duodenal pathogen that adheres to the gastric epitheium and caus es gastritis and peptic ulceration. The mechanism by which H pylori ca uses disease has not yet been elucidated but adherence to the gastric mucosa is thought to be an important virulence determinant of the orga nism. What is known about adherence of H plori to the gastric mucosa i s summarized. Topics discussed are the mechanism of H pylori adherence ; in vitro and in vivo models of H pylori infection; and adherence and potential adhesins and receptors for H pylori.