The role of Transient Receptor Potential (TRP) channels in modulating bladder function, as an innate defence mechanism against urinary tract infections.

Bacterial infections of the urinary tract are amongst the most common infections in human. These infections can induce significant bother in affected patients and represent a high cost to our healthcare system. Moreover, many patients suffer from recurrent urinary tract infections, without a clear underlying cause, whereas resistance to antibiotics in the causative bacteria has rapidly increased over the last decades. It has recently been proven that increasing fluid intake can reduce the susceptibility to recurrent urinary tract infections. However, the relationship between the functionality of the bladder and susceptibility to urinary tract infections has never been studied. In this research project we will modulate bladder function by altering the function of ion channels that regulate bladder physiology. Using this approach, we will test if bladder dysfunction is linked to urinary tract infections and these ion channels are part of an innate defence mechanism of the urinary tract that protects us against UTIs. This would offer the opportunity to modulate these ion channels as a novel therapy to prevent (recurrent) urinary tract infections.