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Bacterial pathogenesis

Epigenetic modifications influence urinary tract infection outcome

Nature Microbiology volume 8, pages 764–766 (2023)Cite this article

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Bladder epithelial cells exposed to uropathogenic Escherichia coli infection have long-lasting epigenetic modifications linked with inflammation that influence host susceptibility to subsequent infections.

Urinary tract infections (UTIs), caused by bacteria such as uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC), are common in women and children. Approximately 25% of women with uncomplicated UTI suffer at least one follow-up infection within 6 months. These recurrent UTIs (rUTIs) are of particular concern as they are associated with adverse implications for patient quality of life and can lead to more severe and potentially fatal infections including sepsis. Multidrug resistance among infecting bacteria can also worsen the situation, as it leaves patients without treatment options. Targeting the pathways involved in recurrence has the potential to provide much-needed alternatives to address this major health problem.

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Fig. 1: Mice challenged with UPEC either self-resolve infection (resolved/resistant) or are unable to clear primary infection and develop recurrent chronic infection (sensitized/susceptible).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Division of Clinical Microbiology, Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden

    Soumitra Mohanty, John Kerr White & Annelie Brauner

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  1. Soumitra Mohanty
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  2. John Kerr White
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  3. Annelie Brauner
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All authors contributed equally to the writing of this manuscript.

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Correspondence to Annelie Brauner.

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The authors declare no competing interests.

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Mohanty, S., White, J.K. & Brauner, A. Epigenetic modifications influence urinary tract infection outcome. Nat Microbiol 8, 764–766 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41564-023-01371-5

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