CTSI-supported study finds that bacteria play key role in kidney stones

For years, scientists believed that most kidney stones formed purely through chemical processes, with bacteria playing a role only in a small fraction of cases.

However, new emerging research from UCLA is challenging that assumption. A team of researchers led by Kymora Scotland, MD, PhD and Gerard Wong, MD, have found that bacteria can be present not only on the surface but also deep inside kidney stones. This also include in common calcium-based kidney stones that were previously thought to be bacteria-free. Using advanced microscopy and sterile surgical samples, the researchers discovered bacterial biofilms within many stones, even from patients who showed no signs of urinary tract infection.

These findings suggest that bacteria may actively contribute to kidney stone formation by creating environments where minerals can cluster and harden. The discovery could reshape how scientists understand and treat kidney stones moving forward.

Scotland, who is senior author on the study and a CTSI K12 scholar utilized biostatics services from the CTSI's Biostatistics, Epidemiology, and Research Design (BERD) Program to support her groundbreaking study, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) earlier this year.

This research was also featured in the NIH Research Matters Newsroom which highlights cutting-edge NIH-supported research. To learn more about how this study was conducted and what it could mean for future therapies targeting kidney stones, visit the NIH Newsroom to read the full story.  

Photo caption: Doctor looking for kidney stones with ultrasound scanner

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