isolation-of-l-form-bacteria-from-urine-using-filtration-method

Isolation of L-form Bacteria from Urine using Filtration Method

Transition of bacteria to the L-form state is thought to play a possible role in immune evasion and bacterial persistence during treatment with cell ...

Newcastle University

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.

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

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.

Article	Year
Possible role of L-form switching in recurrent urinary tract infection. Nature communications\| PubMed ID: 31558767	2019
Author Correction: Possible role of L-form switching in recurrent urinary tract infection. Nature communications\| PubMed ID: 31748529	2019

Frances Davison

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