UCL is consistently ranked as one of the top ten universities in the world (QS World University Rankings 2010-2022) and is No.2 in the UK for research power (Research Excellence Framework 2021).

A lab-grown micro bladder may explain why urinary tract infections (UTIs) return so frequently, according to a study by researchers at UCL, the University of Oxford and the University of Leicester.

Catheter-associated urinary tract infections are the most common nosocomial infection in the United States, and Candida albicans is one of the most frequently isolated organisms from these infections. Despite this high prevalence, few molecular studies have examined C. albicans biology in the urinary environment, and recommendations for clinical management lack robust evidence. Here, we show that clinical catheter-associated isolates of C. albicans identified as susceptible to fluconazole by standard clinical microbiology testing were resistant when grown in human or artificial urine. We identified transcriptional responses intrinsic to the urinary environment that produce this environment-specific resistance phenotype. Biofilm growth in the urinary environment induces cellular processes for efflux and detoxification. These findings suggest that standard susceptibility testing may not predict fluconazole efficacy in the urinary tract and underscore the need for niche-informed approaches to antifungal management of these common infections.

Aileen Jung explains how various microplastic types affect rhizosphere microbiome, plant health and crop performance. #FascinatingMicrobes