Ecological models of gastric microbiota dysbiosis: Helicobacter pylori and gastric carcinogenesis

Abstract

In recent years new approach has been taken on characterization of gastric carcinogenesis, aiming at understanding the underlying pathogenesis mechanism from the study of gastric microbiota. According to Liebig's minimum law and Shelford's Tolerance law, recent discoveries indicated the Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is closely associated with the change of diversity of the gastric microbial community (dysbiosis), and plays an important role in progression of precursor lesions to gastric cancer (GC). The idea that GC arises from the breakdown of the equilibrium relationship within the gastric ecosystem by H. pylori infection, together with the main patho-physiological changes in the Correa's precancerous cascade are discussed. Understanding the origin of the GC from the point of view of ecological system, and knowing the biological characteristics that regulate the gastric microbiota balance will bring perspectives on development of new strategy for amelioration of GC pathogenesis.