Virus responsible ‘damages bladder lining for years’

October 31, 2016

The bacteria that causes cystitis can ‘reprogram’ the lining of the bladder
These change to the cells means the bug can come back and strike again
Experts say the findings could lead to the development of a vaccine to protect people who repeatedly suffer from the disease

Colin Fernandez Science Correspondent For The Daily Mail

Published:
14:13 EDT, 31 October 2016

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Updated:
14:26 EDT, 31 October 2016

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Women who suffer the agonising condition cystitis could face repeated bouts of the disease if they don’t get it treated rapidly, a study suggests.

Some women repeatedly suffer urinary tract infections, and medical science has been at a loss to understand why they are more susceptible.

Now research has found that the bug that causes cystitis, a type of e Coli bacteria can ‘reprogram’ the lining of the bladder.

These change to the bladder’s cells means the bug can come back and strike more easily.

The bug that causes cystitis, a type of e Coli bacteria, can reprogram the lining of the bladder

The authors believe that the new understanding of why the infections repeatedly strike could lead to the development of a vaccine to protect people who repeatedly suffer the disease.

Sixty percent of women will have one bladder infection in their lifetime, and 25 per cent of these will have a further repeat infection by the same bug in the following six months.

The research by Valerie O’Brien colleagues at Washington University in St Louis said that the reason for the repeat infections is poorly understood.

The disease is ‘a significant health, financial and quality of life burden worldwide’, they said.

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In a study of mice they found that there were two outcomes when mice were infected with the bacteria.

Either the mice resisted the infection after the first 14 days, or they suffered a persistent bladder infection.

The key issue was whether the infection was treated with antibiotics.

If it was not treated within 14 days, the scientists found that this allowed time for the e Coli to ‘remodel’ the lining of the bladder.

This allowed the bugs to more easily multiply on the bladder wall, the research published in Nature Microbiology found.

Experts believe that the new understanding of why the infections repeatedly strike could lead to the development of a vaccine to protect people who repeatedly suffer the disease

The treated mice were ‘highly resistant to challenge infection’, while the ones treated later were ‘sensitised’ and ‘became predisposed to developing severe recurrent cystitis.’

The bladders of the affected mice were ‘irreversibly altered.’

But the authors said the changes to the bladder wall meant that a vaccination could be developed to prevent repeat infections.

Initial tests in monkeys showed that the animals suffering repeated bladder infections could be treated with a vaccine which strengthened the altered cells in the bladder lining that had been hijacked by the bacteria.

The authors write that the study could reveal ‘vulnerabilities’ in the way the disease develops which could lead to new drug treatments.

Louise de Winter, chief executive of The Urology Foundation, a charity which is dedicated to combating UTIs, said: ‘UTIs are the bane of people’s lives. Most women will have at least one UTI during their lifetime and many will have repeated attacks.

‘UTIs are painful and debilitating and can have a significant impact on a patient’s quality of life.

CRANBERRIES DON’T HELP FIGHT UTIS

Cranberries are often regarded as a superfood but they may not be as good as scientists first thought.

Experts say the fruit – which contains a high amount of beneficial compounds known as flavonoids – can improve heart health and the immune system.

It is also thought to reduce urinary tract infections (UTIs) of the bladder, kidneys and the tubes among elderly women.

But the berries had little effect on reducing any such infections, evidence earlier this week suggested.

‘Any research that shows the potential to solve this problem that affects so many of us, in this instance potentially via a vaccine, is to be welcomed.

‘We need to wait and see what this research fully delivers but we welcome research in this area.’

Professor Christopher Fry, chair in Applied Physiology and Head of School of Physiology and Pharmacology at University of Bristol, speaking on behalf of The Urology Foundation, said:

‘The message with UTIs is that they are very difficult to treat. We know that they reoccur and are extremely uncomfortable.

‘The difficulty of treatment is a feature of UTIs with conventional antibiotics and this and their tendency to re-occur has been understood for quite a while now.

‘What is novel about this research is that it has identified a way in which UTIs can reoccur and become resistant to conventional antibiotic treatment.

‘This gives a clue as to why they are so difficult to treat and reoccur so readily, leaving a residual effect that is not going to be tackled by conventional antibiotics.’