Hello,
I am Helicobacter pylori and I cause stomach ulcers.
I have several long flagella that I use to move about, drilling myself into the mucus layer in the stomach. I am pretty tough and can survive in the acidic conditions found in your stomach.
People used to think that stress was responsible for causing stomach ulcers, but in fact its usually my fault. Up to 80% of ulcers are down to me, so treating with antibiotics can usually help an ulcer victim recover.
It is thought that stomach cancer might also be my fault in some cases, but I am innocent until proven guilty! Some people even think that I might help in preventing another type of cancer by regulating the acidity of the stomach contents. See, I produce an enzyme called urease which helps me to neutralize the acidic stomach juices to help me survive under these tough conditions. So maybe I am a good guy after all.
