Alternating pH and Mannose for Urinary Tract Infection Treatment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current treatments for urinary tract infections (UTIs), particularly those caused by antibiotic-resistant Escherichia coli, face challenges such as bacterial resistance to antibiotics and adverse effects on normal flora, necessitating an alternative and effective prevention or treatment method.
Innovation Solution
A composition comprising a pH increasing agent, a pH decreasing agent, and mannose or its analogue mannitol, administered alternately to create pH stress in the urinary tract, inhibiting bacterial growth and adhesion, thereby treating, inhibiting, or preventing UTIs without contributing to antibiotic resistance or disrupting normal flora.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If antibiotics are used to treat UTI, then bacterial infection is eliminated, but antibiotic resistance develops and normal flora is disrupted
Solution Approach 1:
Mannose acts as an intermediary substance that binds to bacterial adhesion molecules (lectins) on E. coli, preventing the bacteria from attaching to urinary tract cells. This mediates the treatment effect without using antibiotics, thereby eliminating the harmful side effects of antibiotic resistance and flora disruption while maintaining treatment effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The patent alternates between alkaline (pH 8.0) and acidic (pH 5.0) conditions in the urinary tract. This parameter change creates a stress environment that inhibits bacterial growth and adhesion, enhancing the overall treatment effect while avoiding antibiotic use
2Object-affected harmful factors
If pH is altered to inhibit bacterial growth, then bacterial adhesion is reduced, but bacterial growth may be affected between pH changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic alternation between alkaline and acidic pH conditions in the urinary tract. This periodic action prevents bacteria from adapting to a single pH environment, continuously inhibiting bacterial growth and adhesion while maintaining treatment effectiveness over time
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The alternating pH administration pattern effectively reduces bacterial growth and adhesion, potentiating the anti-adhesion effect of mannose, providing an efficient treatment for UTIs that does not lead to antibiotic resistance and minimizes side effects on the gastrointestinal microflora, as demonstrated by experimental data showing reduced bacterial levels and prevention of UTI recurrence.
Implementation Method 1
mannose seems to prevent UTI-causing bacteria from attaching and binding to the walls of the urinary tract and bladder. Mannose binds to lectin molecules on the cell walls of UTI-causing bacteria
Implementation Method 2
the unexpected discovery that the effect of mannose and analogues thereof with regard to UTI can be significantly improved by exposing the UTI-causing bacteria to a stress to inhibit cell growth. This inhibition of cell growth is, according to the embodiments, achieved by exposing the UTI-causing bacteria to changes in pH in the urinary tract system
Data Source
AI summary
The embodiments relate to compositions useful in the treatment, inhibition or prevention of urinary tract infection in a subject. The compositions comprise a pH increasing agent, a pH decreasing agent and man nose or an analogue thereof. The pH increasing agent and the pH decreasing agent are provided to be alternately administered to the subject.