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Article
Bacteriophages of the Lower Urinary Tract
Nature Reviews Urology
  • Andrea Garretto, Loyola University Chicago
  • Taylor Miller-Ensminger, Loyola University Chicago
  • Alan J. Wolfe, Loyola University Chicago
  • Catherine Putonti, Loyola University Chicago
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
5-9-2019
Pages
422-432
Publisher Name
Nature Research
Disciplines
Abstract

Phages are vital members of the microbiota, having critical roles in shaping bacterial metabolism and community structure. Although phages have been discovered in the urinary tract, such as phages that infect Escherichia coli, sampling them is challenging owing to low biomass, possible contamination when using non-invasive methods and the invasiveness of methods that reduce the potential for contamination. Phages could influence bladder health, but an understanding of the association between phage communities, bacterial populations and bladder health is in its infancy. However, evidence suggests that phages can defend the host against pathogenic bacteria and, therefore, modulation of the microbiome using phages has therapeutic potential for lower urinary tract symptoms. Furthermore, as natural predators of bacteria, phages have garnered renewed interest for their use as antimicrobial agents, for instance, in the treatment of urinary tract infections.

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Author Posting. © Springer Nature 2019. This is the author's version of the work. It is posted here by permission of Nature Research for personal use, not for redistribution. The article was published in Nature Reviews Urology, 2019, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41585-019-0192-4

Creative Commons License
Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0
Citation Information
Andrea Garretto, Taylor Miller-Ensminger, Alan J. Wolfe and Catherine Putonti. "Bacteriophages of the Lower Urinary Tract" Nature Reviews Urology Vol. 16 (2019)
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/catherine-putonti/60/