Stomach Receptor for H. Pylori Discovered

For about a month now, we have been studying the gastrointestinal tract exclusively – its normal function and some of the diseases associated with it. Earlier today, this article was posted on Scientific Daily – and discusses a new finding that will hopefully pave the way to battling stomach ulcers.

Helicobacter Pylori is a spiral shaped bacterium that lives in the stomach and duodenum of the human body – having a notably unique way to adapt to the harsh environment of the stomach (this bacteria was presented in student lecture). Being across the stomach lining from the normal immune response, the body really has no real effective way of combating it. It is transmitted orally and believed to be in about 80-90 percent of the population of the underdeveloped world asymptomatically.
Just recently, scientists have found that the protein decay-accelerating factor (DAF) acts as a receptor for the aforementioned bacteria to the epithelial cells of the stomach. When H. Pylori binds to the inner lining of the stomach, an immune response occurs and the morphology and behavior of the epithelial cells are altered. This can, therefore, increase acid production of the parietal cells and – if allowed to continue – can result in peptic ulcer disease. This important finding opens up an entire branch of drug research that can be explored. Instead of simply blocking the protein pumps or the histamine receptors, a drug could theoretically be manufactured to prevent the interaction between DAF and H. Pylori. If this were somehow blocked, the risk of peptic ulcer disease could be decreased by a new set of these more specific and efficient drugs.