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The coccoid forms of Helicobacter pylori. Criteria for their viability

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 May 2009

G. Bode ,
F. Mauch  and
P. Malfertheiner
G. Bode
Affiliation:
Department of Internal Medicine I, University of Ulm, Robert-Koch-Str. 8, D-89070 Ulm, Germany
F. Mauch
Affiliation:
Department of Internal Medicine I, University of Ulm, Robert-Koch-Str. 8, D-89070 Ulm, Germany
P. Malfertheiner
Affiliation:
Department of Internal Medicine I, University of Ulm, Robert-Koch-Str. 8, D-89070 Ulm, Germany
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Summary

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The fact that Helicobacter pylori can revert to a coccoid form has stimulated speculation about its role in transmission and as a possible cause of reinfection in duodenal ulcer disease. Bismuth subcitrate (32 μg/ml), bismuth subsalicylate (64 μg/ml), amoxicillin (0·05 μg/ml) and erythromycin (4 μg/ml) inhibited the growth of H. pylori and stimulated the formation the formation of basically respiring but non-culturable coccoid structures. The presence of polyphosphates as energy and phosphorus source permits a certain level of endogenous metabolism to preserve RNA and DNA, as well as structural components like cell wall, cell membrane and cytoplasma for at least 3 months. However, the applied standard laboratory methods were insufficient for regrowth of H. pylori out of the coccoid form.

Type
Research Article
Information
Epidemiology & Infection , Volume 111 , Issue 3 , December 1993 , pp. 483 - 490
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1993

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