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Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are a major widespread health issue that affects millions of patients globally every year. These infections are not only uncomfortable, but also challenging to treat, as they may often reoccur after the first infection. A new research study has now provided, leveraging a mathematical model, a deeper understanding of the complex interactions between different bacterial populations within the bladder and their responses to physiological and therapeutic interventions. This study shed some light into promising pathways for new treatment strategies.
In collaboration with the Dioscuri Center for Physics and Chemistry of Bacteria, researchers from the MPI for Evolutionary Biology have published a significant study on the ecological and evolutionary dynamics of UTIs. The study utilizes a mathematical model to examine how bacteria adapt and persist within the urinary tract.
Bacteria are not only present in the urine, but exist in various states in the bladder: free-floating in the bladder lumen, attached to the bladder wall, or even within the bladder’s epithelial cells. These different bacterial populations are subjected to different selective pressures, such as immune response and micturition, and antibiotic treatments.
When considering persistent, recurrent infections, that need to be treated with antibiotics, there is a higher likelihood that bacteria can adapt and develop resistance during treatment.
This study showed that the different bacterial populations increase the risk of a persistent infection, which then may increase the risk of development of antibiotic resistance. These findings highlight the importance of addressing the diverse bacterial populations and their interactions when treating UTIs.
Another key finding from the study concerns the potential of competitive inoculation as a possible treatment. By introducing a fast-growing, non-pathogenic bacterial strain, pathogenic bacteria can be suppressed. This approach may control the pathogenic population, and increases the effectiveness of antibiotic treatment, when antibiotics are used with moderation.
This study, published in the ISME Journal, stresses the importance of considering bacterial compartments in understanding UTIs. By considering the various niches bacteria occupy, and their responses to therapies, this model provides a more realistic view of infection dynamics. It offers valuable insights that could guide and improve future UTI treatments.
Dr. Amanda de Azevedo-Lopes
Postdoktorandin
Abteilung für Theoretische Biologie
Max-Planck-Institut für Evolutionsbiologie
Pathogen non-planktonic phases within the urinary tract impact early infection and resistance evolution
https://doi.org/10.1093/ismejo/wrae191
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