Washington, May 23 : A Louisiana State University scientist has found that the stomach bacteria H. pylori that causes ulcers could also play a role in the development of Parkinson''s disease.

"Infection of late middle-aged mice with a particular strain of the bacteria Helicobacter pylori results in development of Parkinson''s disease symptoms after 3-5 months," said Traci Testerman of Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Shreveport.

"Our findings suggest that H. pylori infection could play a significant role in the development of Parkinson''s disease in humans," he said.

Testerman and her colleagues developed an animal model to more effectively understand the role of H. pylori and its modified cholesterol in Parkinson''s disease.

They infected young and aged mice with three different strains of the bacteria and monitored their locomotor activity and dopamine levels in the brain. Mice infected with one of the strains showed significant reductions in both.

In order to determine whether the modified cholesterol or other substances could be responsible for Parkinson''s disease development, they fed aged mice with H. pylori extracts.

The mice did not become infected but developed the same symptoms as those infected with the bacteria, suggesting that the modified cholesterol or some other product contained within the bacteria contribute to disease development.

"Our mouse model demonstrates a direct effect of H. pylori infection on the development of Parkinson''s disease," said Testerman.

The study was presented at the 111th General Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology. (ANI)