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A bacterium which is found in various parts of human stomach ensures its survival by manipulating the immune system cells of human body, a discovery which can open the way for a more effective treatment against the bacterium.
About half of the world's population carries the bacterium Helicobacter pylori. Most of the infected individuals never experience any symptoms, but around 10% get peptic ulcers and around 1% develop stomach cancer.
"Carriers were often infected as children and if not treated with antibiotics, the bacterium remains in the body for life. The immune system alone is unable to eliminate the bacterium, and now we understand better why," says biologist Bert Kindlund of Sahlgrenska Academy, Sweden and the author of the thesis.
The study shows that certain types of cells in the immune system called regulatory T cells down-regulate the body's defence against H. pylori and thereby enable the bacterium to develop a chronic infection.
According to Kindlund, if the regulatory T cells can be controlled then the immune system can be strengthened and this will help in the elimination of this bacterium. He also added that this can help in the development of a new treatment for this bacterium infection.
