Leading article From genes to genome biology: a new era in Helicobacter pylori research

In August 1997 the complete annotated genome sequence of Helicobacter pylori was published, just 15 years after the organism was first cultured. This is an important milestone in gastroenterology research as H pylori is the first enteropathogen to be fully sequenced. The availability of a complete genetic data set heralds a new era in H pylori research as it will provide a framework for global studies of virulence and other aspects of the organism’s biology. In this article we outline the genomics approaches that can now be applied and highlight the potential practical benefits of this research in terms of eradication therapy and disease prevention.