C2 FUUAST: The young and dynamic microbiologist Dr Sikandar K. Sherwani of Federal Urdu University of Arts, Science and Technology, Karachi identified Biofilm as a tool of infection in World’s first cancer causing bacterium – H. pylori, while working on Helicobacter pylori biofilm formation aspect in his Deans’ granted research project.

He identified Biofilm a sugary slimy layer-for protective measure produced by the organism that helps it to cause full blown severe disease and difficult to treat. According to his finding, this Biofilm is as one of the potential virulence factor-indeed a tool that determines the severity of infection.

H. pylori is the first known bacterium in the world hat causes peptic ulcer and cancer. Dr. Sherwani has a vast experience in exploring the various diseases that are spread by contaminated food and water.

According to him, Karachi city has large infectious rate owning to poor sanitary conditions. He identified in his research study that the infection becomes severe especially in case if the bug starts to produce biofilm that adhere other fellows stick together.

This nasty organism loves to grow in the stomach however; stomach is usually considered as sterile but organism is blessed with urease gene that neutralizes acid and form ammonia cloud, thus organism enjoys and destroys the epithelial surface. Later, organism crosses the stomach wall causing serious inflammation.

Dr. Sherwani has already identified earlier biofilm formation strategy of bacteria in contact lens infection and has published in high impact factor journal. He showed his concerned about rising morbidity rate of infection as for treatment triple antibiotics were given for around 14 days and if biofilm starts to develop so quite difficult to control infection as antibiotics fail to penetrate via biofilm and to kill. He said, the study is in early stages more will be needed to explore the mechanism of pathogenesis of diseases and role of biofilm in the severity of H.pylori infection.

Helicobacter pylori (H-pylori), previously Campylobacter pylori, is a gram-negative, microaerophilic bacterium found usually in the stomach. It was identified in 1982 by Australian scientists Barry Marshall and Robin Warren, who found that it was present in a person with chronic gastritis and gastric ulcers, conditions not previously believed to have a microbial cause. It is also linked to the development of duodenal ulcers and stomach cancer. However, over 80% of individuals infected with the bacterium are asymptomatic, and it may play an important role in the natural stomach ecology.