title: The bladder is not sterile: History and current discoveries on the urinary microbiome.
abstract: In the human body, there are 10 bacterial cells for every one human cell. This fact highlights the importance of the National institutes of Health's initiative to map the human microbiome. The Human Microbiome Project was the first large-scale mapping of the human microbiome of 5 body sites: GI tract, mouth, vagina, skin and nasal cavity using culture-independent methods. The bladder was not originally tested because it was considered to be sterile and there were complexities regarding sample collection. Over the last couple years our team along with other investigators have shown that a urinary microbiome exists and for most individuals it plays a protective role.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University, Chicago, Illinois, USA.
authors.forename: Krystal
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Thomas-White
authors.affiliation: Departments of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Urology, Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, Illinois, USA.
authors.forename: Megan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brady
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University, Chicago, Illinois, USA.
authors.forename: Alan J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Wolfe
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor, Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Urology, Division of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery, Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University Chicago, 2160 South First Avenue, Maywood, IL 60153, , FAX: (708) 216-4305.
authors.forename: Elizabeth R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Mueller
keywords: Urinary microbiome; bacteria; urgency incontinence