Recurrent Escherichia coli Urinary Tract Infection Triggered by Gardnerella vaginalis Bladder Exposure in MiceValerie P. O'Brien 1,2,6, Matthew S. Joens 3,7, Amanda L. Lewis 1,2,4,8, Nicole M. Gilbert 2,5
1Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine in Saint Louis, 2Center for Women’s Infectious Disease Research, Washington University School of Medicine in Saint Louis, 3Center for Cellular Imaging, Washington University School of Medicine in Saint Louis, 4Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University School of Medicine in Saint Louis, 5Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine in Saint Louis, 6Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, 7TESCAN USA, Inc., 8University of California San Diego
A mouse model of uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC) transurethral inoculation to establish latent intracellular bladder reservoirs and subsequent bladder exposure to G. vaginalis to induce recurrent UPEC UTI is demonstrated. Also demonstrated are the enumeration of bacteria, urine cytology, and in situ bladder fixation and processing for scanning electron microscopy.