Researchers from Texas A&M University have discovered a groundbreaking way to combat urinary tract infections (UTIs) using a harmless strain of E. coli bacteria. This innovative approach could provide a much-needed alternative to the overuse of antibiotics, which can have lasting negative effects on gut health.
Enter the Good E. coli
Scientists have known for years that a harmless variety of E. coli could prevent UTIs. Yet a major obstacle has been trying to figure out how to get this good bacteria in the urinary tract for a continuous period of time so that patients can enjoy lasting relief.
But a team of researchers from the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (CVM) and the College of Engineering has developed an innovative solution. The team produced a special gel that releases the beneficial E. coli bacteria in the bladder over time, however slowly.
This novel delivery system, called an engineered living material (ELM) comes in the form of a soft contact lens that resides in the bladder and over time delivers protective bacteria into the urinary tract. Led by the researchers say their living biomedical platform is a “game changer” in the development of new treatments for recurrent UTIs, particularly among populations most affected by these types of infections — menopausal women and individuals with spinal cord injuries.
The Beneficial Bacteria Power
And the key to how this innocuous E. coli species does its job is in the special abilities it brings to bear. This strain can colonize the urinary tract and outcompete the damaging E. coli that cause UTIs for vital nutrients
Scientists found that this benign strain of E. coli not only works against standard E. coli but also can prevent the growth of other bacteria, including strains like Staphylococcus — another common UTI culprit.
The answer to this is still not fully understood, but what we think may be happening is these bacteria are so closely related that they need the same resources to live. The friendly E. coli allows the dangerous bacteria to pass out of the body without developing a hold in urinary tract by monopolizing on available nutrients.
Even more remarkable is that this nontoxic E. coli strain, originally detected during follow-up of schoolchildren in Sweden in the 1970s, Thus, when just one female came down with a UTI, her unique E. coli strain was identified in the urinary tract recruiting population of bacteria that — through sheer persistence — seemed immune from causing infection at all. This finding has allowed for the valuation of its potential and helped in this current exploration which aims to exploit it in order to create an unprecedented administration for recurrent UTIs.
Conclusion
Findings have shown that this breakthrough, harmless, ELM-based treatment using a non-pathogenic strain of E. coli could be key to combating urinary tract infections. Using beneficial bacteria, we may achieve extended remission in a high UTI risk population and reduce the collateral effects of chronic antibiotic use on gut health. Apart from having the ability to improve lives of million worldwide, this technique provides a design space for living systems to be used in targeted, self-healing biomedical devices.
