Helicobacter pylori Research Group

Group Head

Prof John Atherton

Staff

Dr Kim Hardie, Darren Letley, Dr Richard Argent, Dr Karen Robinson, Dr Rob Delahay, Dr Neil Doherty, Rupert Kenefack, James Hale, Charlotte Masters, Nawfal Hussein.

Lay persons guide to Helicobacter pylori:

Helicobacter pylori is a bacterium present in the stomach of about 30% of people in the U.K. and most people in developing countries. Usually it lives harmlessly in the stomach, like many other gut bacteria, but in some people it causes stomach or duodenal ulcers. If the bacterium is eradicated, these get better and do not recur. Infection with certain strains of the bacterium slightly increases the risk of developing stomach cancer, but it is thought that infection may also protect against cancer of the oesophagus (foodpipe). Research in the Institute of Infections and Immunity focuses on why some infections result in disease whilst the majority do not. In particular, we are investigating a toxin produced by some strains, how proteins (including the toxin) are produced by the bacterium, and what makes the bacterium produce factors which cause damage in the stomach and duodenum. We are also interested in genetic differences between individual strains of Helicobacter pylori and how H. pylori survives the harsh environment of the stomach. We hope that our research will help doctors decide which individuals would benefit from having H. pylori treated, and how that treatment can most efficiently and safely be delivered.

Helicobacter pylori research in the Institute of Infections and Immunity

The Helicobacter pylori Research Group in the Institute of Infections and Immunity includes six post-doctoral investigators who collaborate closely; Professor John Atherton, Dr Kim Hardie, Darren Letley, Dr Neil Doherty, Dr Rob Delahay, Dr Karen Robinson and Dr Richard Argent. The group is funded by the MRC (it is an integral part of the MRC Co-operative Group on Cell Signalling in Infection and Inflammation), BBSRC, Wellcome Foundation, British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy and the University of Nottingham. Professor John Atherton, Darren Letley, Dr Richard Argent, Joanne Rhead, and Geetha Narayanan, work on the vacuolating cytotoxin, genetic diversity, expression of virulence determinants and molecular analysis of specific therapeutic targets. Dr Kim Hardie, studies protein secretion by . H. pylori whilst Dr Klaus Winzer and Dr Kim Hardie are investigating the H. pylori quorum sensing system.

The group is fortunate in collaborating with an active clinical and basic research group in the Division of Gastroenterology, which includes Professor John Atherton, but additionally includes Professor Chris Hawkey (interest in H. pylori/ NSAID interactions, clinical sequelae of infection and treatment strategies), Professor Richard Logan (epidemiology and health care strategy) Dr. Robin Spiller and Dr. Paul Sherwood (antibiotic delivery and novel therapeutic agents), and Dr. Yash Mahida (mucosal immunology). The group has many other collaborations within the University, in particular through Dr Kim Hardie with The Pharmacy School, and through Professor John Atherton with the Institute of Cell Signalling and Institute of Genetics. In addition recent links have been created through Michael Rittig with the Department of Anatomy and with Prof Paul O'Shea in Biomedical Sciences.