Urinary microbiome (Urobiome)

The urinary microbiome, or urobiome, refers to the complex community of microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, and viruses, that inhabit the human urinary tract. Long considered sterile in healthy individuals, advanced sequencing techniques like 16S rRNA sequencing have revealed a diverse resident microbiota that plays a crucial role in maintaining urogenital health [1]. These commensal organisms, particularly species of Lactobacillus, contribute to the host's defense by producing antimicrobial compounds, maintaining an acidic pH, and competing with uropathogens for adhesion sites on the urothelium [2]. Dysbiosis, or an imbalance in this microbial community, is increasingly linked to various urological conditions, including recurrent urinary tract infections (rUTIs), overactive bladder, and interstitial cystitis [3]. Therapeutic strategies targeting the urobiome range from traditional antibiotics to novel approaches like probiotics and microbial ecosystem transplants aimed at restoring a healthy microbial balance [4]. Understanding the urobiome is essential for developing precision medicine approaches for urological diseases and minimizing the systemic impact of broad-spectrum antimicrobial treatments.

Other names

UrobiomeUrinary tract microbiotaUrinary microbiotaBladder microbiome

Modulation of microbial community composition, competitive exclusion of uropathogens, restoration of commensal bacterial populations, and maintenance of urothelial health through antimicrobial metabolite production.