Emma Jackson

• BSc (Hons) Biomedical Sciences
• Investigating in vitro the adherence of Proteus mirabilis clinical isolates to bladder cells

Urinary tract infection (UTI) in which bacteria infect the bladder and cause pain is a common infection with more than 150 million cases reported annually. Treatment involves taking antibiotics, but the over-use of antibiotics has caused antibiotic resistance making some UTIs very difficult to treat.

Clinical data suggests that some patients suffering UTIs carry bacteria in their urine called Proteus mirabilis and that carriage is associated with reduced numbers of infections. The project aim was to investigate these bacteria.

The bacteria were isolated from patient urines and engineered so they fluoresced and could be easily studied. Data in the laboratory showed they did not attach to or invade bladder cells, indicating why they did not cause infections. However, they were able to outcompete and kill other known uropathogens. These data suggest that establishing a stable therapeutic urobiome may be alternative treatment to antibiotics in managing patients suffering rUTIs. 

Funding source: Wellcome Trust

Project supervisor: Dr Judith Hall