. H. pylori altruistic autolysis. This model predicts that H. pylori responds to specific environmental signals to activate genetically programmed bacterial autolysis. Specific protein autolysins degrade the H. pylori peptidoglycan layer to lyse the cell envelope and release cytoplasmic proteins such as urease and catalase. Released urease is subsequently adsorbed to the surface of the neighboring bacteria and is important for H. pylori survival in the acid environment and colonization of the gastric mucosa.