NU 2010-012 

Inventors

Praveen Thumbikat 

Anthony Schaeffer* 

Short Description

Novel bacterial strain for research of chronic pelvic pain

Abstract

Northwestern researchers have discovered uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) that causes chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain (CP/CPP). Despite an urgent need for a greater understanding of this disease, animal models that are being used for research are inadequate. Presently, mouse models of infectious prostatitis utilize UPEC strains isolated from cystitis or acute prostatitis patients, so they do not account for development of chronic pelvic pain, which is a hallmark of CP/CPP in humans. This novel UPEC strain is unique since it was isolated from a patient with CP/CPP and is able to produce a disease in mice that is identical to that seen in human patients. Therefore, this UPEC strain could facilitate the development of better animal models as well as inform our understanding of chronic pelvic pain from infectious prostatitis. 

Applications

• Research tool for study of chronic pelvic pain
• Establishment of animal models

Advantages

• Fully recapitulates CP/CPP disease in mouse models

Publications

Rudick C, Berry R, Johnson J, Johnston B, Klumpp D, Schaeffer A, Thumbikat P (2011)  Uropathogenic Escherichia coli Induces Chronic Pelvic Pain.  Infection and Immunity. 79: 628-35.