Mucoid and coccoid Helicobacter pylori with fast growth and antibiotic resistance

Abstract

Background In this study, one Helicobacter pylori isolate, from gastric biopsy of a dyspeptic patient that turned into mucoid‐coccoid (MC) form upon consecutive subcultures, was identified. The culturability, antibiotic resistance, and lipid contents of MC were compared with those of non‐mucoid (NM) spiral H pylori. Materials and Methods Mucoid‐coccoid and NM H pylori were subcultured on Brucella blood agar (BBA) and incubated under aerobic and microaerobic atmospheres at 37°C. Cultures were examined for colony characteristics and bacterial morphology after 1‐3 days. The isolates were identified by biochemical tests and detection of H pylori‐16S rDNA. Antibiogram was performed with currently used antibiotics for H pylori eradication. Cellular lipid contents were extracted and analyzed by gas chromatography. Results Compared with pin‐pointed and glistening colonies of NM H pylori that appeared under microaerobic conditions, MC H pylori grew well in consecutive subcultures under aerobic and microaerobic atmospheres and produced white patches of mucoid colonies. MC exhibited coccoid and NM spiral morphology. Both isolates were catalase, oxidase, and urease positive and contained 16S rDNA. Compared with NM that was susceptible to almost all the antibiotics, MC was resistant to all the antibiotics. Lipid analyses showed high frequency of unsaturated fatty acids and cholesterol in MC. Conclusions Coccoid forms with high fatty acid and cholesterol contents that show resistance to antibiotics might resist against other stressful conditions such as gastric acidity and immune response. Moreover, mucoid property may enhance resistance of coccoids to stresses. With mucoid‐coccoid lifestyle, H pylori may establish a chronic infection refractory to antimicrobial therapy.

SpoT-Mediated NapA Upregulation Promotes Oxidative Stress-Induced Helicobacter pylori Biofilm Formation and Confers Multidrug Resistance

“…Biofilms protect the bacteria against the toxic effects of ROS produced by the host immune cells ( 19 ). The extracellular matrix of H. pylori is a physical barrier that prevents the diffusion of ROS ( 20 ).…”

Transformation of Helicobacter pylori into Coccoid Forms as a Challenge for Research Determining Activity of Antimicrobial Substances

“…Moreover, these forms have been shown to be able to avoid immune responses [33,34], promote carcinogenesis [31,35], and take part in therapeutic failures [30,32]. Additionally, Kadkhodaei et al were able to obtain a culturable H. pylori strain occurring only as coccoids and, unlike the spiral-shaped parental strain, the former was characterized by mucus overproduction and resistance to all tested antibiotics [36]. These results suggest the importance of expanding awareness about the presence of spherical H. pylori forms and their impact on the activity of antimicrobial substances.The current state of knowledge about the role of coccoid H. pylori forms is insufficient.…”

Helicobacter pylori in gastric cancer: Features of infection and their correlations with long-term results of treatment

“…It is known that the coccoid forms of H. pyl ori can arise in response to unfavorable environmental factors, such as AT [ 47 , 48 ]. These forms are resistant to AT[ 49 , 50 ] and are able to form biofilms[ 51 ] and avoid the immune system[ 50 ]. They express a higher rate of cagE mRNA than their spiral counterparts[ 52 ], and by increasing the synthesis of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α)-inducing protein (Hps), which is introduced into the cytosol and cell nuclei, they can activate nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB) and the expression of TNF-α and other cytokines involved in carcinogenesis[ 53 , 54 ].…”