<i>In Vivo</i> Genome and Methylome Adaptation of <i>cag</i> -Negative Helicobacter pylori during Experimental Human Infection
Iratxe Estibariz, Florent Ailloud, Sabrina Woltemate, Boyke Bunk, Cathrin Spröer, Jörg Overmann, Toni Aebischer, Thomas F. Meyer, Christine Josenhans, Sebastian Suerbaum
Abstract
Exceptional genetic diversity and variability are hallmarks of Helicobacter pylori , but the biological role of this plasticity remains incompletely understood. Here, we had the rare opportunity to investigate the molecular evolution during the first weeks of H. pylori infection by comparing the genomes and epigenomes of H. pylori strain BCS 100 used to challenge human volunteers in a vaccine trial with those of bacteria reisolated from the volunteers 10 weeks after the challenge. The data provide molecular insights into the process of establishment of this highly versatile pathogen in 10 different human individual hosts, showing, for example, selection for changes in host-interaction molecules as well as changes in epigenetic methylation patterns. The data provide important clues to the early adaptation of H. pylori to new host niches after transmission, which we believe is vital to understand its success as a chronic pathogen and develop more efficient treatments and vaccines.