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Amniotic Membrane Preparation Crucially Affects Its Broad-Spectrum Activity Against Uropathogenic Bacteria
Taja Železnik Ramuta1, Marjanca Starčič Erjavec2, Mateja Erdani Kreft1
1Institute of Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Frontiers in Microbiology
|April 9, 2020
Summary
Amniotic membrane (AM) homogenates show broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity against uropathogenic bacteria, including antibiotic-resistant strains. AM patches, however, retain antibiotics, suggesting potential as a drug delivery vehicle for urinary tract infections.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology and Infectious Diseases
- Biomaterials Science
- Regenerative Medicine
Background:
- Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are common, recurrent, and increasingly antibiotic-resistant.
- Amniotic membrane (AM) exhibits antimicrobial properties, but findings are inconsistent and its effect on uropathogenic bacteria is unexplored.
- The impact of AM preparation and storage on antimicrobial activity is unknown.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the antimicrobial properties of fresh (fAM) and cryopreserved (cAM) human AM.
- To evaluate the effect of AM preparation and storage on antimicrobial activity against uropathogenic bacteria.
- To explore the potential of AM as a drug delivery vehicle.
Main Methods:
- Prepared fAM and cAM as patches and homogenates.
- Tested antimicrobial activity against 14 uropathogenic bacterial strains using novel assays.
- Investigated antibiotic retention in AM patches prepared using standard ophthalmology procedures.
Main Results:
- AM homogenates demonstrated broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity against tested uropathogenic bacteria, including multi-drug resistant *Escherichia coli*, but not *Serratia marcescens*.
- AM patches showed no intrinsic antimicrobial effect but could retain added antibiotics.
- Gentamicin-resistant *E. coli* confirmed that antibiotic-treated AM patches' efficacy relies solely on the antibiotic.
Conclusions:
- Novel protocols for AM preparation and storage preserve its antimicrobial factors.
- AM homogenates possess significant antimicrobial activity against uropathogenic bacteria.
- AM patches can serve as a drug delivery vehicle for antibiotics, offering a potential new approach for treating UTIs.
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