Human and Helicobacter pylori coevolution shapes the risk of gastric disease

• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1318093111
• Publication Date: 2014-01-14T02:39:11Z
• Authors: Nuri Kodaman; Alvaro Pazos; Barbara G. Schneider; M. Blanca Piazuelo; Robertino Mera; Rafal S. Sobota; Liviu A. Sicinschi; Carrie L. Shaffer; Judith Romero-Gallo; Thibaut de Sablet; Reed H. Harder; Luis E. Bravo; Richard M. Peek; Keith T. Wilson; Timothy L. Cover; Scott M. Williams; Pelayo Correa
• Keywords: Adult; Evolution, Molecular; 0303 health sciences; 03 medical and health sciences; Helicobacter pylori; Stomach Diseases; Humans; Disease Susceptibility; Middle Aged; Aged; Helicobacter Infections; 3. Good health

Significance

Theory predicts that chronic pathogens with vertical or familial transmission should become less virulent over time because of coevolution. Although transmitted in this way, Helicobacter pylori is the major causative agent of gastric cancer. In two distinct Colombian populations with similar levels of H. pylori infection but different incidences of gastric cancer, we examined human and pathogen ancestry in matched samples to assess whether their genomic variation affects the severity of premalignant lesions. Interaction between human Amerindian ancestry and H. pylori African ancestry accounted for the geographic disparity in clinical presentation. We conclude that coevolutionary relationships are important determinants of gastric disease risk and that the historical colonization of the Americas continues to influence health in modern American populations.