THE URINARY MICROBIOTA
A capital discovery
It is by using very advanced analysis techniques that the researchers were able to highlight the presence of bacteria in the bladder. These microorganisms, referred to as urinary microbiota , have long been ignored because of their peculiarities in growing in very specific environments, impossible to reproduce in the laboratory, or because of their presence in too small quantities.
The urinary microbiota: a protective role…
Now identified, it remains to discover the functions performed by this urinary microbiota. Like the intestinal microbiota, which acts as a barrier against undesirable microorganisms present in the digestive tract and intestines, the urinary microbiota would also play a protective role in the bladder . It could in particular inhibit the growth and adhesion of bacteria likely to cause urinary discomfort.
… and a balance to preserve!
This bacterial ecosystem must now be taken into consideration and it is imperative to ensure its proper balance . Indeed, dysbiosis , that is to say an imbalance of this urinary microbiota, could be a factor favoring the appearance of urinary and bladder discomfort . The researchers are considering new strategies to preserve the balance of this microbiota, in particular the supply of active lactic ferments which could favor the growth of good bacteria while limiting the proliferation of undesirable microorganisms.
How serious is bacteria in urine?
Most infections involve the lower urinary tract — the bladder and the urethra. Women are at greater risk of developing a UTI than are men. If an infection is limited to the bladder, it can be painful and annoying. But serious health problems can result if a UTI spreads to the kidneys.
Where are most microbiota found?
the intestine
The human body's largest population of microorganisms resides in the intestine and is collectively called the gut microbiota. Although initially it was thought that there were more microbial than human cells in the body, recent estimates show microbial and human cells are present in comparable numbers.
How do you identify microbiota?
The most widely used method in microbiome analysis is 16s rRNA sequencing2. The 16s rRNA gene is highly conserved in all bacteria and sequencing of its regions of hyper- variability allows the identification of different bacterial species.
What does the microbiota consist of?
The human microbiota consists of the 10-100 trillion symbiotic microbial cells harbored by each person, primarily bacteria in the gut; the human microbiome consists of the genes these cells harbor.
What are urinary tract infection bacteria?
Bacterial infections are diseases that can affect your skin, lungs, brain, blood and other parts of your body. You get them from single-celled organisms multiplying or releasing toxins in your body. Common bacterial diseases include UTIs, food poisoning, STIs and some skin, sinus and ear infections.
What does microbes in urine mean?
When a significant number of bacteria show up in the urine, this is called "bacteriuria." Finding bacteria in the urine can mean there is an infection somewhere in the urinary tract. The urinary tract is the system that includes: The kidneys, which make urine.
What is the most common bacteria in urine?
A UTI occurs when bacteria from another source, such as the nearby anus, gets into the urethra. The most common bacteria found to cause UTIs is Escherichia coli (E. coli).
What bacteria grows in urine culture?
Clinical isolates of Enterococcus faecalis, Proteus vulgaris, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus saprophyticus, and Streptococcus agalactiae have been shown to grow in human urine .
What is the role of microbiota in urinary tract?
Commensal bacteria of the urinary tract are believed to serve as a barrier for uropathogens by blocking access to urothelium, producing antimicrobial compounds, or out-competing pathogenic bacteria for common resources .
Why is microbiota important?
The gut microbiota provides essential capacities for the fermentation of non-digestible substrates like dietary fibres and endogenous intestinal mucus. This fermentation supports the growth of specialist microbes that produce short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and gases.
What are the two types of microbiota?
The dominant gut microbial phyla are Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria, Fusobacteria, and Verrucomicrobia, with the two phyla Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes [13] representing 90% of gut microbiota.
What is microbiota and its function?
The gut microbiota is the system of microorganisms in a person's gastrointestinal system. This includes many bacteria, fungi, viruses, and other organisms. The gut microbiota exists symbiotically within the human digestive system and helps support energy harvesting, digestion, and immune defense.
Does the urinary tract have a microbiome?
Most genera are shared in the urinary microbiome of healthy men and women. Common genera are Prevotella, Escherichia, Enterococcus, Streptococcus or Citrobacter among others, while genus Pseudomonas has only been described in men (Modena et al., 2017).
What microbes are in the urinary system?
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are a severe public health problem and are caused by a range of pathogens, but most commonly by Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus mirabilis, Enterococcus faecalis and Staphylococcus saprophyticus.
What are the normal microbiota of the urinary tract?
The healthy MUM is characterized by genera such as Lactobacillus, Sneathia, Veillonella, Corynebacterium Prevotella, Streptococcus and Ureaplasma, and these are also found on urethral swabs .
