Escherichia coli bacteria have their own method of causing urinary infections (or cystitis). Explanations.
- Each year, around 800,000 cases of cystitis are recorded in France.
- This disease, also known as “urinary tract infection”, is not serious but can be very debilitating.
- Researchers have made significant progress regarding the development of this pathology.
How do Escherichia coli bacteria acquire the power to cause urinary tract infections? A new search just gave the answer.
The study published in PNAS revealed how the bacteria Escherichia coli (or E. coli), responsible for most urinary tract infections, is able to use host nutrients to reproduce at an extraordinarily rapid rate for infection, despite the almost sterile environment of fresh urine.
Urinary tract infection and Escherichia coli: the role of “transport systems”
Hosted by the University of Michigan, researchers in Harry Mobley’s lab began by studying mutant strains that did not replicate as well in mouse models, to identify bacterial genes that might be important for establishing of infection.
In doing so, they identified a group of genes controlling transport systems.
“When bacteria need something to grow, for example an amino acid, they can get it in two ways,” explains Harry Mobley, professor of microbiology and immunology. “They can make it themselves or steal it from their host using what we call a transport system,” he continues.
The scientists then compared a library of transport proteins from E. coli to other species of UTI pathogens to see which ones were important for the infection. They then discovered that a type of transporter called ABC (for ATP-binding cassette) played an essential role.
Urinary tract infection and Escherichia coli: towards new therapies?
These results open the door to new therapies, which is particularly interesting given the increase in antibiotic resistance around the world.
“If we inhibit these transport systems, we can perhaps inhibit the rapid growth of these bacteria,” concludes Harry Mobley.
Urinary infection due to Escherichia coli: incidence and symptoms
Each year, around 800,000 cases of cystitis are recorded in France. Women are more affected than men by this infection, the main symptoms of which are:
– burning or pain when urinating;
– a feeling of weight in the lower abdomen or pain in the lower abdomen;
– urgent needs to urinate (feeling of not being able to hold back);
– need to urinate very often without being able to pass a lot of urine (pollakiuria);
– cloudy urine, giving off an unusual odor and possibly containing traces of blood.
