Biofilm and Quorum Sensing in Helicobacter pylori

Abstract

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a gram-negative bacterium living in the human gastrointestinal tract considered as the most common cause of gastritis. H. pylori was listed as the main risk factor for gastric cancer. Triple therapy consisting of a proton pump inhibitor and combinations of antibiotics is the main treatment used. However, this line of therapy has proven less effective mainly due to biofilm formation. Bacteria can regulate and synchronize the expression of multiple genes involved in virulence, toxin production, motility, chemotaxis, and biofilm formation by quorum sensing (QS), thus contributing to antimicrobial resistance. Henceforth, the inhibition of QS called quorum quenching (QQ) is a promising target and alternative to fight H. pylori resistance to antimicrobials. Many phytochemicals as well as synthetic compounds acting as quorum quenchers in H. pylori were described in vitro and in vivo. Otherwise, many other compounds known as quorum quenchers in other species and inhibitors of biofilm formation in H. pylori could act as quorum quenchers in H. pylori. Here, we summarize and discuss the latest findings on H. pylori’s biofilm formation, QS sensing, and QQ mechanisms.