Time to talk about the most widespread infection in the world, Helicobacter pylori. Following the accidental abandonment of incubated plates, H. Pylori colonies were discovered, launching a larger investigation into the microbiology of the human stomach. More research is needed on this disease-causing gram-negative bacterium, but our hosts provide the basics of its characteristics, transmission routes, and prevention in this episode. More about Helicobacter pylori: Persistence strategies of the bacterial pathogen Helicobacter pyloriGastroenteritis and Transmission of Helicobacter pylori Infection in HouseholdsNobel prize is awarded to doctors who discovered H pyloriPathogen Safety Data SheetsTrends in Hospitalizations for Peptic Ulcer DiseaseH pylori finds its home Stay tuned for more episodes, posting on the first Thursday of each month. Subscribe to our show wherever you get your podcasts and find more info at weebeastiespodcast.com The Wee Beasties podcast is a production of Nephros, Inc., a company committed to improving the human relationship with water through leading, accessible technology. *** SHOW TRANSCRIPT: Christian: I am back with Dr. Kimothy Smith. Kimothy, welcome back! Kimothy: Thanks, Christian. Christian: All right…how are we doing today Kimothy? How’s life? Kimothy: I’m feeling a lot of stress, and I’ve got a pain in my stomach. I think I’m getting an ulcer. Christian: Today’s the right day to have this conversation, I think. We’re talking about pathogens on this podcast, so I hear? Kimothy: Cool! Let’s go. Christian: I was watching that documentary, Human Nature, last night. Have you seen it yet? It’s about genomics, personalized medicine using CRISPR cas9 and the scope of genetic and molecular engineering to cure disease, but also do wild projects like bringing back a wooly mammoth. Cool stuff. Worth a watch if you have some time. Kimothy: I’ll check it out, but I tend to be a bit old school. And, I don’t mean to go too deep on the old school stuff here, but, have you seen Jurassic Park? Do you really want to bring back a wooly mammoth? Christian: What is that line from Jeff Golblum in Jurassic Park? “Your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn’t stop to think if they should?” Kimothy: Yeah, definitely. Christian: Well, what’s our next waterborne pathogen? Kimothy: Apropos to my ulcer generation, it is Helicobacter pylori. Christian: H. pylori, I’m not super familiar with this one, but if memory serves this is spiral-shaped bacteria that makes a home in your stomach and can cause ulcers and even stomach cancer in some cases, right? Kimothy: Yeah, you’re on the right track, Christian. According to a 2013 report1 in Nature, H. pylori is the most widespread infection in the world, infecting at least half of the global population. The World Health Organization (WHO) recognized H. pylori as a group 1 carcinogen in 1994, but the backstory on this little bug isn’t that straight forward. H. pylori was discovered more recently, in comparison to the other microorganisms we’ve discussed – it was discovered in 1983 – and, interestingly enough, it was first found as a colony in the human stomach in a really unexpected stroke of luck after two doctors were trying to demonstrate a connection between the severity of gastric distress experienced by their patients and the number of bacteria present. In part, this discovery prompted scientists to begin a larger investigation into the microbiology of the human stomach using 16S rRNA analysis – and now we know that the stomach and the rest of the human gut has an extraordinarily diverse microbiome of bacteria which is critical to our immune response and other autonomic faculties. And I must tell you, Christian, as a side note, I’ve heard an urban legend that your microbiome can determine if you have a sweet tooth or not. Have you heard that? Christian: I have not, but I’ve got a horrible sweet tooth. I’m always wanting sweets. So, I’m sort of wondering if we should run a 16S rRNA analysis of my gut biopsy. Kimothy: Keep your microbiome to yourself, please. Christian: Yeah, so this was part of what catalyzed the gut microbiome frenzy in the 90’s. But wait, what was the stroke of luck? And, if good bacteria is so critical to our gut and immune response how is H. pylori, a pathogenic bacterium, able to stay alive in there? Kimothy: Yeah, Christian, I’m glad you asked. So, the stroke of luck was in the successful culture. The two Australian doctors credited with the discovery just mistakenly left a plate in the incubator a lot longer than they had intended, and they just happen to get H. pylori colonies on it. Those that have worked with H. pylori before ...
