Microbial Association of Gastroduodenal Diseases with Special Reference to Epstein–Barr Virus and Helicobacter pylori and their Effect on Expression of miRNAs: A Review

Abstract

Gastroduodenal diseases are very commonly encountered among patients who attend hospital with the complaints of dyspepsia. These diseases range from inflammatory ones like gastritis and peptic ulcer disease to neoplastic ones like gastric carcinoma and lymphoma. Gastroduodenal diseases may be caused by various factors of which microbial association with a bacterium called Helicobacter pylori and a virus called Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) is noteworthy. It has also been noted in various studies that the coinfection by these two organisms may also play a significant role in an exaggerated inflammatory response in cases of gastritis which may ultimately lead to carcinoma (Correa’s cascade of carcinogenesis). As a result, it appears critical to identify both H. pylori and EBV in samples taken for biopsy in various gastroduodenal illnesses. Recent research has also suggested that these two separate etiologies may work together to cause gastric cancer, with miRNAs playing a key part in this process. This review presents the status of the current research on the association of gastroduodenal diseases with EBV and H. pylori along with the emerging context of the connection with miRNA expression. This will help to understand these complex etiologies having significant bearing on human health as well as highlight the need for intensive research in the subject.