Once H. pylori is in a host's stomach, the bacteria move away from the acidic stomach lumen toward the neutral mucus-secreting epithelial layer. This movement helps the bacteria to evade the harsh acidic environment of the stomach and find a more hospitable environment to colonize and thrive in.
By moving towards the neutral mucus-secreting epithelial layer, H. pylori can attach to the stomach lining and initiate the process of causing inflammation and damage to the gastric mucosa. This attachment allows the bacteria to persist in the stomach, leading to chronic infections that can result in various gastrointestinal conditions, such as gastritis, peptic ulcers, and even stomach cancer.
Understanding this migration pattern of H. pylori is crucial in comprehending how the bacteria establish infection in the stomach and the subsequent impact on the host's health.
