title: Intracellular bacterial biofilm-like pods in urinary tract infections.
abstract: Escherichia coli entry into the bladder is met with potent innate defenses, including neutrophil influx and epithelial exfoliation. Bacterial subversion of innate responses involves invasion into bladder superficial cells. We discovered that the intracellular bacteria matured into biofilms, creating pod-like bulges on the bladder surface. Pods contained bacteria encased in a polysaccharide-rich matrix surrounded by a protective shell of uroplakin. Within the biofilm, bacterial structures interacted extensively with the surrounding matrix, and biofilm associated factors had regional variation in expression. The discovery of intracellular biofilm-like pods explains how bladder infections can persist in the face of robust host defenses.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 South Euclid Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.
authors.forename: Gregory G
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: Joseph J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Palermo
authors.forename: Joel D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Schilling
authors.forename: Robyn
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Roth
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Heuser
authors.forename: Scott J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Hultgren
mesh_terms: D018829:Adhesins, Bacterial; D018830:Adhesins, Escherichia coli; D000818:Animals; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D018441:Biofilms; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000382:microbiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000254:growth & development / Q000276:immunology / Q000472:pathogenicity* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; D005260:Female; D010861:Fimbriae, Bacterial / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005614:Freeze Fracturing; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000032:analysis; D051379:Mice; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D001743:Urinary Bladder / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D001745:Urinary Bladder Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D019459:Urothelium / Q000382:microbiology / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: D018829:Adhesins, Bacterial; D018830:Adhesins, Escherichia coli; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial; C118376:antigen 43, E coli