Helicobacter pylori: expect the unexpected.

Helicobacter pylori is one of the most common bacterial infections worldwide, and virtually all infected persons develop coexisting gastritis, a signature feature of which is the capacity to persist for decades. In support of its lifestyle, H. pylori has evolved to express an array of diverse phenotypes, including enzyme functional diversity, that help to subvert obstacles presented by the human host, which permits long-term microbial colonization. The versatility of the newly discovered enzyme LpxJ may allow H. pylori to quickly adapt to dynamic and hostile conditions present within its cognate gastric niche.