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Harnessing the Power of Antimicrobial Peptides: A New Frontier in Infection Prevention

Harnessing the Power of Antimicrobial Peptides: A New Frontier in Infection Prevention 1024 602 Pam Georgiana

Research offers promising solutions for urinary tract infection treatment and antibiotic resistance.

Urinary tract infections affect millions of people and can contribute to significant morbidity. Research into innate immunity mechanisms has shown great promise for improving urinary tract infection prevention and treatment strategies, especially in populations at high risk, such as patients with insulin resistance.

Laura L. Schwartz, PhD, principal investigator at the Kidney and Urinary Tract Center in the Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, recently presented her groundbreaking research at the Kidney and Urinary Tract Center Symposium.

“Our research focuses on how our natural immune defenses, specifically the action of antimicrobial peptides, contribute to limiting bacterial growth in the bladder and kidneys,” explains Dr. Schwartz, who is also an assistant professor of Pediatrics at The Ohio State University.

The epithelial cells lining the urinary tract form a critical physical barrier to pathogens. The immune response within these epithelial cells involves antimicrobial peptides, small peptides that kill bacteria or inhibit their growth. Two specific antimicrobial peptides, RNase 4 and RNase 7, rupture bacterial membranes, eliminating harmful pathogens in the urinary tract and bladder.

In her presentation, Dr. Schwartz discussed how genetics can influence antimicrobial peptide production and innate immunity. “In studies of children with recurrent urinary tract infections, those with a certain RNase 7 genetic mutation showed a suppressed antimicrobial peptide response,” Dr. Schwartz says. “These patients were more susceptible to frequent infections, which suggests that genetics play a role.”

The study of antimicrobial peptides, including RNase 4 and RNase 7, is in its early stages, but the potential is substantial. Dr. Schwartz notes, “Understanding the regulation of antimicrobial peptides in the body and identifying ways to boost their expression could lead to significant advancements in preventing urinary tract infections.”

Given the global threat of antibiotic resistance, the ability to leverage antimicrobial peptides for urinary tract infection prevention could be a critical strategy.

“I am particularly excited about our ongoing research, a collaboration with Northwestern University, which uses nanoparticles that we are designing to deliver RNase 7 directly to the site of infection,” Dr. Schwartz says. “This approach provides a focused, localized treatment that may help overcome the challenges posed by broad-spectrum antibiotics,” she explains.

Dr. Schwartz’s research suggests that antimicrobial peptides could play a role in diagnostic and treatment applications. Future work will further explore the genetic aspects of antimicrobial peptide regulation and expand the drug screening efforts to identify more antimicrobial peptide-boosting compounds.

“Antimicrobial peptides-based therapies offer new hope for patients who suffer from frequent urinary tract infections and those at increased risk due to underlying health conditions,” Dr. Schwartz concludes.

 

Reference:

Schwartz L. “Epithelial immunity in UTI” Kidney and Urinary Tract Symposium, Feb 22, 2025. Nationwide Children’s Hospital.

Image credit: Nationwide Children’s

About the author

Pam Georgiana is a brand marketing professional and writer located in Bexley, Ohio. She believes that words bind us together as humans and that the best stories remind us of our humanity. She specialized in telling engaging stories for healthcare, B2B services, and nonprofits using classic storytelling techniques. Pam has earned an MBA in Marketing from Capital University in Columbus, Ohio.

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