Interplay between Bladder Microbiota and Urinary Antimicrobial Peptides: Mechanisms for Human Urinary Tract Infection Risk and Symptom Severity Journal Article


Authors: Nienhouse, V.; Gao, X; Dong, Q; Nelson, D. E.; Toh, E; McKinley, K.; Schreckenberger, P.; Shibata, N.; Fok, C. S.; Mueller, E. R.; Brubaker, L; Wolfe, A. J.; Radek, K. A.
Article Title: Interplay between Bladder Microbiota and Urinary Antimicrobial Peptides: Mechanisms for Human Urinary Tract Infection Risk and Symptom Severity
Abstract: Resident bacterial communities (microbiota) and host antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are both essential components of normal host innate immune responses that limit infection and pathogen induced inflammation. However, their interdependence has not been investigated in the context of urinary tract infection (UTI) susceptibility. Here, we explored the interrelationship between the urinary microbiota and host AMP responses as mechanisms for UTI risk. Using prospectively collected day of surgery (DOS) urine specimens from female pelvic floor surgery participants, we report that the relative abundance and/or frequency of specific urinary microbiota distinguished between participants who did or did not develop a post-operative UTI. Furthermore, UTI risk significantly correlated with both specific urinary microbiota and beta-defensin AMP levels. Finally, urinary AMP hydrophobicity and protease activity were greater in participants who developed UTI, and correlated positively with both UTI risk and pelvic floor symptoms. These data demonstrate an interdependency between the urinary microbiota, AMP responses and symptoms, and identify a potential mechanism for UTI risk. Assessment of bacterial microbiota and host innate immune AMP responses in parallel may identify increased risk of UTI in certain populations.
Journal Title: PloS one
Volume: 9
Issue: 12
ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
Publisher: Unknown  
Journal Place: United States
Date Published: 2014
Start Page: e114185
Language: eng
DOI/URL:
Notes: LR: 20141216; JID: 101285081; OID: NLM: PMC4259481; 2014 [ecollection]; 2014/08/13 [received]; 2014/11/05 [accepted]; 2014/12/08 [epublish]; epublish
LUC Authors
  1. Linda Brubaker
    144 Brubaker
  2. Alan Jeffrey Wolfe
    151 Wolfe
  3. Katherine Amanda Radek
    15 Radek
  4. Xianlong Gao
    21 Gao
  5. Elizabeth Mueller
    104 Mueller
  6. Qunfeng Dong
    20 Dong
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