article · Nature Communications
The Helicobacter pylori Genome Project (HpGP) investigated the population structure of H. pylori, a bacterium co-evolving with humans and linked to varying gastric disease risks. Researchers collected 1011 clinical strains from 50 countries and generated high-quality genome sequences. This dataset, combined with 255 reference genomes, was analysed to understand ancestral contributions to Eurasian, African, and American H. pylori populations. Key findings include significant contributions from hpNorthAsia and hspUral in Northern European H. pylori, and distinct genetic patterns in H. pylori from northern versus southern Indigenous Americans. A clonal, cag pathogenicity island-negative North American subpopulation was also identified.
Understanding the global genetic diversity and population structure of H. pylori is crucial because different strains are associated with varying disease risks. This research provides fundamental insights into how the bacterium has evolved with humans, which could inform the development of more effective diagnostic tools and targeted therapies for H. pylori infections.
This research provides a valuable dataset and corresponding strains for H. pylori genomics, which could support the identification of new therapeutic targets. This is early-stage research, potentially useful for pharmaceutical companies or biotechnology firms developing novel drugs or diagnostic tools for H. pylori-related diseases. The abstract does not indicate a direct, near-market application.
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Helicobacter pylori, a dominant member of the gastric microbiota, shares co-evolutionary history with humans. This has led to the development of genetically distinct H. pylori subpopulations associated with the geographic origin of the host and with differential gastric disease risk. Here, we provide insights into H. pylori population structure as a part of the Helicobacter pylori Genome Project (HpGP), a multi-disciplinary initiative aimed at elucidating H. pylori pathogenesis and identifying new therapeutic targets. We collected 1011 well-characterized clinical strains from 50 countries and generated high-quality genome sequences. We analysed core genome diversity and population structure of the HpGP dataset and 255 worldwide reference genomes to outline the ancestral contribution to Eurasian, African, and American populations. We found evidence of substantial contribution of population hpNorthAsia and subpopulation hspUral in Northern European H. pylori. The genomes of H. pylori isolated from northern and southern Indigenous Americans differed in that bacteria isolated in northern Indigenous communities were more similar to North Asian H. pylori while the southern had higher relatedness to hpEastAsia. Notably, we also found a highly clonal yet geographically dispersed North American subpopulation, which is negative for the cag pathogenicity island, and present in 7% of sequenced US genomes. We expect the HpGP dataset and the corresponding strains to become a major asset for H. pylori genomics.
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-43562-y
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