Â鶹ֱ²¥ researchers have combined elements of earth and medical science in an innovative study that they say has offered important insights into the treatment of gallstone disease.<\/p>\n
New research, published in the journal Scientific Reports<\/em>, studied human gallstones, their chemical and bacterial composition and how the genes present in the bacteria may aid their survival in the gallbladder.<\/p>\n Lead author PhD candidate Sureyya Kose, from Curtin’s School of Molecular and Life Sciences and WA-Organic and Isotope Geochemistry Centre (WA-OIGC), said while previous research in this field had indirectly associated bacterial processes with gallstone formation and identified bacteria present in gallstones, the new research went a step further.<\/p>\n “We were able to make in-roads into identifying the genes that bacteria harbour and which enable them to survive in the human gallbladder. The by-product of these survival mechanisms may be the key factor behind gallstone disease,” Ms Kose said.<\/p>\n “We identified a number of genes in these bacteria, mostly associated with the known pathogen Klebsiella,<\/em> which are associated with stress responses, multi-drug resistance and the formation of protective layers created by bacteria called biofilms.<\/p>\n “The formation of biofilms is a growing concern to clinicians due to their ability to provide resistance to antibiotics. This protective measure by strong pathogens like Klebsiella<\/em> may provide the ‘glue’ that initiates gallstone formation.<\/p>\n “This pilot study provides a framework to study bacterial processes that play a potential role in gallstone formation across markedly different types of stones and patient backgrounds.”<\/p>\n Co-author Associate Professor Marco Coolen, from Curtin’s School of Earth and Planetary Sciences and WA-OIGC, said the research was done using a combination of bacterial genetics and cholesterol analyses.<\/p>\n “Our findings are a step forward to developing methods for fighting these bacteria and helping to combat gallstone disease and infections,” Associate Professor Coolen said.<\/p>\n “Gallstone surgery is one of the most common types of elective surgery and our research could lead to a reduction in the need for this.”<\/p>\n The research paper was co-authored by project lead John Curtin Distinguished Professor Kliti Grice, from Curtin’s School of Earth and Planetary Sciences and WA-OIGC, along with Professor William Orsi from Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitat Munchen and Associate Professor Mohammed Ballal from Fiona Stanley Hospital.<\/p>\n