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Stomach cancer risk increased by mismatched microbes and humans
Article By:
Pierce, Marcia M. Department of Biological Sciences, Eastern Kentucky University, Richmond, Kentucky.
Last reviewed:2015
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1036/1097-8542.YB150672
Helicobacter pylori colonizes the human stomach. Although this microorganism is found in approximately half of all people on Earth, it rarely causes symptoms. However, on occasion, it can lead to stomach tumors. Helicobacter pylori coevolved with humans, changing over time to better coexist with diverse populations. A recent study examining stomach cancer rates in two diverse populations in South America shows that the historical European colonization of the Americas has interfered with this coevolution, leading to an increase in the prevalence of stomach cancer in individuals whose H. pylori strains do not share their ancestry.
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