Sodium chloride affects Helicobacter pylori growth and gene expression

Epidemiological evidence links high-salt diets and Helicobacter pylori infection with increased risk of developing gastric maladies. The mechanism by which elevated sodium chloride content causes these manifestations is unclear. Here we characterize the response of H. pylori to temporal changes in sodium chloride concentration and show that growth, cell morphology, survival, and virulence factor expression are all altered by increased salt concentration.