Helicobacter

This chapter focuses on Helicobacter pylori within the genus and reviews its characteristics, interaction with host environment, and pathogenesis in gastric disease. As gastric cancer remains a significant contributor to cancer-related death, prevention of infection and treatment of gastric cancer represent important aspects of cancer control. Since H. pylori was discovered to play a major causative role in chronic gastritis and gastric carcinogenesis, several attempts have been made to treat and prevent the lesions. Discovery of H. pylori from the human stomach opened a new avenue to clarify the mechanism of gastric lesions including chronic atrophic gastritis, intestinal metaplasia, and gastric carcinogenesis. Eradication of H. pylori is most effective in the earlier stages of infection, as evidenced by studies on the prevention of gastric carcinogenesis carried out in both humans and animals. A large number of case-control and ecological studies have shown salt and salted foods, among various other food ingredients, as probable risk factors for gastric cancer.