Resumen

CAVA, Felipe  y  COBAS, Guillermo. Coccoid forms of Helicobacter pylori: viable or degenerative forms. Vaccimonitor [online]. 2003, vol.12, n.2, pp.7-12. ISSN 1025-028X.

From the work on Helicobacter pylori coccoid forms, a much bigger controversy than the simple clinical study of this microorganism is inferred. It seems clear that there is a conversion between spiral forms and coccoid forms, which occurs both in vivo and in vitro. Several factors such as prolonged culture; physical and chemical stresses and antimicrobial agents induce this conversion. In this review we examine the points of view that have divided researchers working in this field into two well-defined groups. One group considers coccoid forms as a non-viable product of cellular degeneration and the other considere that these forms are viable structures: latent or resistance forms to face adverse environmental conditions. Such disagreement causes that questions concerning the link between disease transmission and these coccoid forms still remain unanswered.

Palabras clave : Helicobacter pylori; coccoid forms; viability; cultivability.

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