Abstract

It has been estimated that 4.4 billion individuals are infected with Helicobacter pylori and the prevalence of the infection varies globally ranging from the highest reported in Africa (70.1%) to lowest in Switzerland (18.9%). The prevalence is still abundant in developing countries and is due to the outcome of low socioeconomic status and poor sanitation. Helicobacter pylori infection is implicated in several pathological states and is confronting a gigantic challenge to the global health community. This review provides an extensive picture of Helicobacter pylori infection prevalence and its association with disease outcomes using myriad sample studies, emphasizing detection using gastric biopsy. Moreover novel molecular mechanisms unveiled to date are also presented to better comprehend the underlying events that triggers the epidemiological effects. Data and mechanistic pathways presented in this review aid in improved regulation of Helicobacter pylori infection and assists in designing and crafting new drugs to treat the associated clinical conditions.

Key words: miRNA, Cancer, H.pylori, CagA