Why don’t most other types of bacteria produce ulcers?

Answer 1

The characteristics that determine if, where and how a bacteria causes a disease are called virulence factors.

In the case of H. pylori, these virulence factors include

1. Flagella which allows motility and enables it to colonize under the usually protective layer of gastric mucous
2. .Production of exotoxins and secretory enzyme that damage the gastric mucosa.
3. a secretion system which enables injection of chemicals into gastric cells
4. production of urease which produces ammonia which decreases the acid pH of the stomach. This is a critical virulence factor which is unique to H. pylori.