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Possible role of L-form switching in recurrent urinary tract infection

Lookup NU author(s): Dr Katarzyna Mickiewicz, Dr Yoshikazu Kawai, Lauren Drage, Frances Davison, Rob Pickard, Dr Judith HallORCiD, Dr Phillip AldridgeORCiD, Professor Jeff ErringtonORCiD

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).


Abstract

Recurrent urinary tract infection (rUTI) is a major medical problem, especially in the elderly and infirm, but the nature of the reservoir of organisms responsible for survival and recolonisation after antibiotic treatment in humans is unclear. Here, we demonstrate the presence of cell-wall deficient (L-form) bacteria in fresh urine from 29 out of 30 older patients with rUTI. In urine, E. coli strains from patient samples readily transition from the walled state to L-form during challenge with a cell wall targeting antibiotic. Following antibiotic withdrawal, they then efficiently transition back to the walled state. E. coli switches between walled and L-form states in a zebrafish larva infection model. The results suggest that L-form switching is a physiologically relevant phenomenon that may contribute to the recurrence of infection in older patients with rUTI, and potentially other infections.


Publication metadata

Author(s): Mickiewicz KM, Kawai Y, Drage L, Gomes MC, Davison F, Pickard R, Hall J, Mostowy S, Aldridge PD, Errington J

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Nature Communications

Year: 2019

Volume: 10

Issue: 1

Online publication date: 26/09/2019

Acceptance date: 28/08/2019

Date deposited: 07/10/2019

ISSN (electronic): 2041-1723

Publisher: Nature Publishing Group

URL: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-019-12359-3

DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-12359-3

PubMed id: 31558767


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Funding

Funder referenceFunder name
670980
NIHR

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