May 9, 2013
http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/350277/description/News_in_Brief_Gut_bacteria_adapt_to_life_in_bladder
Summary:
Although humans may be mutualists with bacteria living in
the gut, such bacteria can still cause infections in humans. Normally, E. coli
bacteria live in the small intestine and aid in digestion. The E. coli benefits
from this as well, for they receive food and more importantly, nutrients from
the food the host human eats. In the intestine, E. coli is viewed as helpful
bacteria and don't cause infections. However, recent research shows that E.
coli may sometimes travel from the intestine all the way through the bladder,
where they can cause dangerous infectious diseases. This transition from gut to
bladder is aided by the fact that the bacteria use sticky nubs to cling to the
organ's walls. By clumping together and hiding between individual bladder cells,
the E. coli bacteria can prevent antibodies from reaching them and destroying
them, which is why they can cause disease. Also, such bacteria are easily able
to travel from bladder to gut (where they are not attacked by bodily defenses)
in both directions, allowing large quantities of such bacteria to grow and
cause urinary tract infections.
This was discovered by Jeffrey Gordon of Washington State University by analyzing urine and fecal matter of four woman with urinary tract infections and this discovery may lead to doctors monitoring bacteria levels in the body to determine the risk of such infections.
This was discovered by Jeffrey Gordon of Washington State University by analyzing urine and fecal matter of four woman with urinary tract infections and this discovery may lead to doctors monitoring bacteria levels in the body to determine the risk of such infections.
Relevance:
This article is highly relevant to the systems we are
discussing in class in many ways. First of all, the E. coli play a very
important role in the digestive system, which we talked about last unit. In the digestive system, E. coli helps break down certain foods, getting nutrients and food in return. Also,
the article talks about how the bacteria can avoid the antibodies of the immune
system, which is the system we are discussing right now. Lastly, the article
also mentions the bladder, which is part of the excretory system, a later part
of this unit.
How do the E. coli harm the bladder and cause homeostasis imbalance?
ReplyDeleteUrine is normally sterile, so when E. coli enters the bladder, it is just a typical bacterial infection. But, it is believed that it may also produce a toxin.
DeleteHow can urinary tract infections be treated?
ReplyDeleteSince UTIs are bacterial, they can be usually treated with antibiotics. Also, cranberry juice appears to be effective in preventing UTIs.
DeleteDo you think men also have the same problem? As in your summary it says that Jeffrey Gordon only tested 4 women so is it as prevalent in men?
ReplyDeleteUTIs actually are more prevalent in women than men, because women have a shorter urethra, giving bacteria a shorter distance to travel to the bladder.
Delete