Early invasion of the bladder wall by solitary bacteria protects UPEC from antibiotics and neutrophil swarms in an organoid model

TY - JOUR

T1 - Early invasion of the bladder wall by solitary bacteria protects UPEC from antibiotics and neutrophil swarms in an organoid model

AU - Sharma, Kunal

AU - Thacker, Vivek V

AU - Dhar, Neeraj

AU - Clapés Cabrer, Maria

AU - Dubois, Anaëlle

AU - Signorino-Gelo, François

AU - Mullenders, Jasper

AU - Knott, Graham W

AU - Clevers, Hans

AU - McKinney, John D

N1 - Copyright © 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

PY - 2021/7/20

Y1 - 2021/7/20

N2 - Recurrence of uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) infections has been attributed to reactivation of quiescent intracellular reservoirs (QIRs) in deep layers of the bladder wall. QIRs are thought to arise late during infection following dispersal of bacteria from intracellular bacterial communities (IBCs) in superficial umbrella cells. Here, we track the formation of QIR-like bacteria in a bladder organoid model that recapitulates the stratified uroepithelium within a volume suitable for high-resolution live-cell imaging. Bacteria injected into the organoid lumen enter umbrella-like cells and proliferate to form IBC-like bodies. In parallel, single bacteria penetrate deeper layers of the organoid wall, where they localize within or between uroepithelial cells. These "solitary" bacteria evade killing by antibiotics and neutrophils and are morphologically distinct from bacteria in IBCs. We conclude that bacteria with QIR-like properties may arise at early stages of infection, independent of IBC formation and rupture.

AB - Recurrence of uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) infections has been attributed to reactivation of quiescent intracellular reservoirs (QIRs) in deep layers of the bladder wall. QIRs are thought to arise late during infection following dispersal of bacteria from intracellular bacterial communities (IBCs) in superficial umbrella cells. Here, we track the formation of QIR-like bacteria in a bladder organoid model that recapitulates the stratified uroepithelium within a volume suitable for high-resolution live-cell imaging. Bacteria injected into the organoid lumen enter umbrella-like cells and proliferate to form IBC-like bodies. In parallel, single bacteria penetrate deeper layers of the organoid wall, where they localize within or between uroepithelial cells. These "solitary" bacteria evade killing by antibiotics and neutrophils and are morphologically distinct from bacteria in IBCs. We conclude that bacteria with QIR-like properties may arise at early stages of infection, independent of IBC formation and rupture.

U2 - 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.109351

DO - 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.109351

M3 - Article

C2 - 34289360

SN - 2211-1247

VL - 36

SP - 109351

JO - Cell Reports

JF - Cell Reports

IS - 3

ER -