The key difference between Campylobacter and Helicobacter is that Campylobacter is a genus of gram-negative bacteria that are comma or s-shaped and have a single polar flagellum, while Helicobacter is a genus of gram-negative bacteria that are curved or spiral rods and have multiple sheathed flagella.
Campylobacter and Helicobacter are two genera of gram-negative, microaerophilic bacteria. Both genera consist of rod-shaped bacteria. But Campylobacter species are comma or s-shaped rods while Helicobacter species are curved or spiral rods. Both types of bacteria are motile and have flagella. Most importantly, they are human gastrointestinal pathogens. They cause diarrheal illnesses, systemic infection, chronic superficial gastritis, peptic ulcer disease, and gastric carcinoma.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Campylobacter
3. What is Helicobacter
4. Similarities Between Campylobacter and Helicobacter
5. Side by Side Comparison – Campylobacter vs Helicobacter in Tabular Form
6. Summary
What is Campylobacter?
Campylobacter is a genus of gram-negative and microaerophilic bacteria that survive in environments with low oxygen. There are 17 species and 6 subspecies in this genus. They are motile bacteria having a single polar flagellum. These bacteria are comma or s-shaped rods. Moreover, they are non-fermenting and oxidase and catalase positive bacteria. Their optimum growth can be achieved in 42 0C.
Figure 01: Campylobacter
Campylobacter is the most common bacterium that causes human gastroenteritis. They cause acute gastroenteritis with diarrhoea, abdominal pain, fever, nausea and vomiting. Generally, Campylobacter infections cause mild diseases. But, their infections can be fatal for young ones, adults and immune-compromised people. C. coli and C. jejuni are the most frequently reported bacteria that cause human illnesses. These bacteria easily die under high temperature. Infections of Campylobacter can be prevented by following hygienic practices when preparing foods since Campylobacter is a food-borne pathogen and transmission mainly occurs via undercooked meat, meat products, raw or contaminated milk.
What is Helicobacter?
Helicobacter is a genus of gram-negative bacteria which are microaerophilic. They are helical shaped bacteria which are motile, having multiple sheathed flagella. Usually, they have four to six flagella at the same time. They produce urease as well. They are usually found in the stomach.
Figure 02: Helicobacter sp
Helicobacter is responsible for chronic superficial gastritis (stomach inflammation) and peptic ulcer disease. Hence, Helicobacter is known as ulcer bacteria as well. H. pylori cause gastric carcinoma and lymphoma. The gastric epithelium is damaged due to the production of urease, a vacuolating cytotoxin, and the cagA-encoded protein by H. pylori.
What are the Similarities Between Campylobacter and Helicobacter?
- Campylobacter and Helicobacter are two genera of bacteria.
- They are normal flora of the gastrointestinal tract.
- They become opportunistic pathogens under certain conditions.
- Both genera consist of gram-negative bacteria.
- They are oxidase-positive bacteria.
- Moreover, they are microaerophilic bacteria.
What is the Difference Between Campylobacter and Helicobacter?
Campylobacter is a genus of gram-negative bacteria that are curved and have a single polar flagellum. On the other hand, Helicobacter is a genus of gram-negative bacteria that are helical shaped rods and have multiple sheathed flagella. So, this is the key difference between Campylobacter and Helicobacter.
Campylobacter species have a single polar flagellum while Helicobacter species have multiple flagella. Moreover, Campylobacter species cause acute gastroenteritis with diarrhoea, abdominal pain, fever, nausea, and vomiting, while Helicobacter species cause chronic superficial gastritis, peptic ulcer disease, gastric carcinoma and lymphoma, vomiting and upper gastrointestinal pain.
Below infographic shows more comparisons of the difference between Campylobacter and Helicobacter.
Summary – Campylobacter vs Helicobacter
Campylobacter and Helicobacter are two genera of gram-negative, motile, microaerophilic bacteria. Both types of bacteria are oxidase positive. Moreover, they are rod-shaped bacteria. Most importantly, they are human gastrointestinal tract pathogens. The key difference between Campylobacter and Helicobacter is that Campylobacter species have a single polar flagellum while Helicobacter species have four to six flagella at the same location. Moreover, Campylobacter bacteria are curved shaped, while Helicobacter bacteria are helical shaped.
Reference:
1. Perez-Perez, Guillermo, and Martin Blaser. “Campylobacter And Helicobacter”. Ncbi.Nlm.Nih.Gov, 2020, Available here.
2. “Campylobacter”. Who.Int, 2020, Available here.
Image Courtesy:
1. “ARS Campylobacter jejuni” By De Wood, Pooley, USDA, ARS, EMU. – Agricultural Research Service (ARS) is the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s chief scientific research agency (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Helicobacter sp 01” (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia