Skip to main content
Top
Published in: Current Urology Reports 1/2018

01-01-2018 | Pediatric Urology (D Weiss, Section Editor)

The Role of the Genitourinary Microbiome in Pediatric Urology: a Review

Authors: Daniel Gerber, Catherine S. Forster, Michael Hsieh

Published in: Current Urology Reports | Issue 1/2018

Login to get access

Abstract

Purpose of Review

In this review, we highlight the effects of the microbiome on urologic diseases that affect the pediatric patient.

Recent Findings

Perturbations in the urinary microbiome have been shown to be associated with a number of urologic diseases affecting children, namely urinary tract infection, overactive bladder/urge urinary incontinence, and urolithiasis.

Summary

Recently, improved cultivation and sequencing technologies have allowed for the discovery of a significant and diverse microbiome in the bladder, previously assumed to be sterile. Early studies aimed to identify the resident bacterial species and demonstrate the efficacy of sequencing and enhanced quantitative urine culture. More recently, research has sought to elucidate the association between the microbiome and urologic disease, as well as to demonstrate effects of manipulation of the microbiome on various urologic pathologies. With an improved appreciation for the impact of the urinary microbiome on urologic disease, researchers have begun to explore the impact of these resident bacteria in pediatric urology.
Literature
3.
go back to reference Alfano M, et al. The interplay of extracellular matrix and microbiome in urothelial bladder cancer. Nat Rev Urol. 2015;13:77–90.CrossRefPubMed Alfano M, et al. The interplay of extracellular matrix and microbiome in urothelial bladder cancer. Nat Rev Urol. 2015;13:77–90.CrossRefPubMed
4.
go back to reference • Pearce MM. et al. The female urinary microbiome: a comparison of women with and without urgency urinary incontinence. MBio. 2014;5. Pearce et al. (2014) was of importance because it not only demonstrated differences in the urinary microbiome between patients with and without UUI but it also showed that there was variation in species of Lactobacillus in these patients. Importantly, Lactobacillus species that produce more lactic acid are more common in patients without UUI, while those that produce less lactic acid are more common in UUI sufferers. This suggests acification of the bladder microbiome could be protective, mirroring a similar hypothesis in the vaginal microbiome. • Pearce MM. et al. The female urinary microbiome: a comparison of women with and without urgency urinary incontinence. MBio. 2014;5. Pearce et al. (2014) was of importance because it not only demonstrated differences in the urinary microbiome between patients with and without UUI but it also showed that there was variation in species of Lactobacillus in these patients. Importantly, Lactobacillus species that produce more lactic acid are more common in patients without UUI, while those that produce less lactic acid are more common in UUI sufferers. This suggests acification of the bladder microbiome could be protective, mirroring a similar hypothesis in the vaginal microbiome.
8.
go back to reference • Hilt EE, et al. Urine is not sterile: use of enhanced urine culture techniques to detect resident bacterial flora in the adult female bladder. J Clin Microbiol. 2014;52:871–6. Hilt et al. was of importance because it was instrumental in establishing the protocol for expanded quantitative urine culture (EQUC) and showing strong concordance between bacterial species identified by sequencing and expanded cultureCrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral • Hilt EE, et al. Urine is not sterile: use of enhanced urine culture techniques to detect resident bacterial flora in the adult female bladder. J Clin Microbiol. 2014;52:871–6. Hilt et al. was of importance because it was instrumental in establishing the protocol for expanded quantitative urine culture (EQUC) and showing strong concordance between bacterial species identified by sequencing and expanded cultureCrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
13.
go back to reference • Asnicar F, et al. Studying Vertical Microbiome Transmission from Mothers to Infants by Strain-Level Metagenomic Profiling. mSystems. 2017;2:e00164–16. Asnicar et al. was of importance because it used metatranscriptomics to demonstrate that vertical transmission of the microbiome results in an active microbiome in various sites in the infant. These results demonstrate the importance of vertical transmission of the microbiome and may allow for future studies examining the role of vertical transmission in the urinary microbiomeCrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral • Asnicar F, et al. Studying Vertical Microbiome Transmission from Mothers to Infants by Strain-Level Metagenomic Profiling. mSystems. 2017;2:e00164–16. Asnicar et al. was of importance because it used metatranscriptomics to demonstrate that vertical transmission of the microbiome results in an active microbiome in various sites in the infant. These results demonstrate the importance of vertical transmission of the microbiome and may allow for future studies examining the role of vertical transmission in the urinary microbiomeCrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
15.
go back to reference • Hickey, RJ, et al. Vaginal microbiota of adolescent girls prior to the onset of menarche resemble those of reproductive-age women. MBio. 2015;6. Hickey et al. was of importance because it demonstrates that Lactobacillus exists in the vaginal microbiome of premenarcheal girls. This finding is in contrast to much of the other literature in the area that suggests that Lactobacillus is rarely a member of the premenarcheal vaginal microbiome. Hickey et al. do note, however, that pubertal development is associated with more representation by lactic acid-producing bacteria in the vaginal microbiome, with a corresponding decrease in vaginal pH. This suggests that the acquisition of the female “adult-form” microbiome is more of a maturation of the microbiome, rather than a transition in the species representation as had been previously asserted. • Hickey, RJ, et al. Vaginal microbiota of adolescent girls prior to the onset of menarche resemble those of reproductive-age women. MBio. 2015;6. Hickey et al. was of importance because it demonstrates that Lactobacillus exists in the vaginal microbiome of premenarcheal girls. This finding is in contrast to much of the other literature in the area that suggests that Lactobacillus is rarely a member of the premenarcheal vaginal microbiome. Hickey et al. do note, however, that pubertal development is associated with more representation by lactic acid-producing bacteria in the vaginal microbiome, with a corresponding decrease in vaginal pH. This suggests that the acquisition of the female “adult-form” microbiome is more of a maturation of the microbiome, rather than a transition in the species representation as had been previously asserted.
16.
go back to reference •• Barr-Beare E, et al. The interaction between enterobacteriaceae and calcium oxalate deposits. PLoS One. 2015;10. Barr-Bear et al. was of outstanding importance because it is the only study examined that analyzed the microbiome of uroliths from pediatric patients. Further, it demonstrated that the microbiome of stones may exist independent of the bacteria of the upper tract urine, and providing evidence that bacteria may contribute to formation of all stone types rather than solely struvite stones. •• Barr-Beare E, et al. The interaction between enterobacteriaceae and calcium oxalate deposits. PLoS One. 2015;10. Barr-Bear et al. was of outstanding importance because it is the only study examined that analyzed the microbiome of uroliths from pediatric patients. Further, it demonstrated that the microbiome of stones may exist independent of the bacteria of the upper tract urine, and providing evidence that bacteria may contribute to formation of all stone types rather than solely struvite stones.
19.
go back to reference •• Nienhouse V, et al. Interplay between bladder microbiota and urinary antimicrobial peptides: mechanisms for human urinary tract infection risk and symptom severity. PLoS One. 2014;9. Nienhouse et al. was of outstanding importance because it provides evidence for the pathophysiological basis for dysbiosis of the urinary microbiome associated with urinatry tract infection. They describe the interplay between the microbiome and innate immunity. •• Nienhouse V, et al. Interplay between bladder microbiota and urinary antimicrobial peptides: mechanisms for human urinary tract infection risk and symptom severity. PLoS One. 2014;9. Nienhouse et al. was of outstanding importance because it provides evidence for the pathophysiological basis for dysbiosis of the urinary microbiome associated with urinatry tract infection. They describe the interplay between the microbiome and innate immunity.
20.
go back to reference Chapman CMC, Gibson GR, Rowland I. Anaerobe effects of single- and multi-strain probiotics on bio fi lm formation and in vitro adhesion to bladder cells by urinary tract pathogens. Anaerobe. 2014;27:1–6.CrossRef Chapman CMC, Gibson GR, Rowland I. Anaerobe effects of single- and multi-strain probiotics on bio fi lm formation and in vitro adhesion to bladder cells by urinary tract pathogens. Anaerobe. 2014;27:1–6.CrossRef
22.
go back to reference Xu W, Yang L, Lee P, Huang WC, Nossa C, Ma Y, et al. Mini-review: perspective of the microbiome in the pathogenesis of urothelial carcinoma. Am J Clin Exp Urol. 2014;2(1):57–61.PubMedPubMedCentral Xu W, Yang L, Lee P, Huang WC, Nossa C, Ma Y, et al. Mini-review: perspective of the microbiome in the pathogenesis of urothelial carcinoma. Am J Clin Exp Urol. 2014;2(1):57–61.PubMedPubMedCentral
27.
go back to reference Horwitz D, et al. Decreased microbiota diversity associated with urinary tract infection in a trial of bacterial interference. J Inf Secur. 2015;71:358–67. Horwitz D, et al. Decreased microbiota diversity associated with urinary tract infection in a trial of bacterial interference. J Inf Secur. 2015;71:358–67.
31.
33.
go back to reference Cadieux PA, Burton JP, Devillard E, Reid G. Lactobacillus by-products inhibit the growth and virulence of uropathogenic Escherichia coli. J Physiol Pharmacol. 2009;60:13–8.PubMed Cadieux PA, Burton JP, Devillard E, Reid G. Lactobacillus by-products inhibit the growth and virulence of uropathogenic Escherichia coli. J Physiol Pharmacol. 2009;60:13–8.PubMed
39.
go back to reference Bossa L, Kline K, McDougald D, Lee BB, Rice SA. Urinary catheter-associated microbiota change in accordance with treatment and infection status. PLoS One. 2017;12:1–20.CrossRef Bossa L, Kline K, McDougald D, Lee BB, Rice SA. Urinary catheter-associated microbiota change in accordance with treatment and infection status. PLoS One. 2017;12:1–20.CrossRef
43.
go back to reference • Karstens L, et al. Does the urinary microbiome play a role in urgency urinary incontinence and its severity? Front Cell Infect Microbiol. 2016;6. Karstens et al. was of importance because it was instrumental in showing the variation in species of the urinary microbiome associated with urge urinary incontinence. Importantly, they found that the bladder microbiome of women with UUI symptoms was overrepresented by at least 5 known uropathogens, suggesting a possible causative role of the microbiome in the pathology of UUI/OAB. • Karstens L, et al. Does the urinary microbiome play a role in urgency urinary incontinence and its severity? Front Cell Infect Microbiol. 2016;6. Karstens et al. was of importance because it was instrumental in showing the variation in species of the urinary microbiome associated with urge urinary incontinence. Importantly, they found that the bladder microbiome of women with UUI symptoms was overrepresented by at least 5 known uropathogens, suggesting a possible causative role of the microbiome in the pathology of UUI/OAB.
45.
go back to reference Santos JC, Telo E. Solifenacin: scientific evidence in the treatment of overactive bladder. Arch Esp Urol. 2010;63:197–213.PubMed Santos JC, Telo E. Solifenacin: scientific evidence in the treatment of overactive bladder. Arch Esp Urol. 2010;63:197–213.PubMed
51.
go back to reference Tavichakorntrakool R, Prasongwattana V, Sungkeeree S, Saisud P, Sribenjalux P, Pimratana C, et al. Extensive characterizations of bacteria isolated from catheterized urine and stone matrices in patients with nephrolithiasis. Nephrol Dial Transplant. 2012;27(11):4125–30. https://doi.org/10.1093/ndt/gfs057.CrossRefPubMed Tavichakorntrakool R, Prasongwattana V, Sungkeeree S, Saisud P, Sribenjalux P, Pimratana C, et al. Extensive characterizations of bacteria isolated from catheterized urine and stone matrices in patients with nephrolithiasis. Nephrol Dial Transplant. 2012;27(11):4125–30. https://​doi.​org/​10.​1093/​ndt/​gfs057.CrossRefPubMed
52.
go back to reference Knight J, Deora R, Assimos DG, Holmes RP. The genetic composition of Oxalobacter formigenes and its relationship to colonization and calcium oxalate stone disease. Urol Res. 2013;41:187–96. Knight J, Deora R, Assimos DG, Holmes RP. The genetic composition of Oxalobacter formigenes and its relationship to colonization and calcium oxalate stone disease. Urol Res. 2013;41:187–96.
60.
go back to reference •• Miller AW, Dale C, Dearing MD. The induction of oxalate metabolism in vivo is more effective with functional microbial communities than with functional microbial species. mSystems. 2017;2:e00088–17. Miller et al. was of outstanding importance because it not only demonstrated an effective probiotic treatment that may reduce urolithiasis, but established a new path for future research on the use of probiotics to target the urinary system. Authors demonstrated that in rats, fecal transplants with complete microbial communities containing oxalate-metabolizing bacteria were significantly more effective in reducing oxalate excretion. Further, this benefit was maintained after reduction in dietary oxalate, suggesting formation of a stable community of bacteria following fecal transplant CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral •• Miller AW, Dale C, Dearing MD. The induction of oxalate metabolism in vivo is more effective with functional microbial communities than with functional microbial species. mSystems. 2017;2:e00088–17. Miller et al. was of outstanding importance because it not only demonstrated an effective probiotic treatment that may reduce urolithiasis, but established a new path for future research on the use of probiotics to target the urinary system. Authors demonstrated that in rats, fecal transplants with complete microbial communities containing oxalate-metabolizing bacteria were significantly more effective in reducing oxalate excretion. Further, this benefit was maintained after reduction in dietary oxalate, suggesting formation of a stable community of bacteria following fecal transplant CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
62.
go back to reference Kelly JP, Curhan GC, Cave DR, Anderson TE, Kaufman DW. Factors related to colonization with oxalobacter formigenes in U.S. adults. J Urol. 2011;186:577–8. Kelly JP, Curhan GC, Cave DR, Anderson TE, Kaufman DW. Factors related to colonization with oxalobacter formigenes in U.S. adults. J Urol. 2011;186:577–8.
Metadata
Title
The Role of the Genitourinary Microbiome in Pediatric Urology: a Review
Authors
Daniel Gerber
Catherine S. Forster
Michael Hsieh
Publication date
01-01-2018
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Current Urology Reports / Issue 1/2018
Print ISSN: 1527-2737
Electronic ISSN: 1534-6285
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11934-018-0763-6

Other articles of this Issue 1/2018

Current Urology Reports 1/2018 Go to the issue

Kidney Diseases (G Ciancio, Section Editor)

Perianesthetic Management of Laparoscopic Kidney Surgery

Female Urology (L Cox, Section Editor)

Pharmacotherapy for Nocturia