A Battle of Microscopic Proportions: An Interpretive Dance of a Urinary Tract Infection

This dance is a supplement to an undergraduate thesis titled

"SAVE THE VAGINA FOREST!: Exploring the Challenges in Sustainably Treating Acute and Chronic Urinary Tract Infection, Bacterial Vaginosis, and Vulvovaginal Candidiasis"

and completed at the New College of Florida, in April 2011, by Leandra Argyros. It is a simplified portrayal of a chronic urinary tract infection caused by uropathogenic E. coli, including the mechanisms of two distinct treatment options. The dance is summarized as follows:

I. Healthy Bladder Cell
II. Infection: Enter E. coli
• Adhesion of Pathogen
• Exfoliation of Bladder Cell Layers
• Intracellular Replication
III. Treatment 1: Ciprofloxacin Antibiotics
• Followed by Yeast Overgrowth
• Temporary Remission of UTI
IV. Recurrence of Infection
• Mediated by Intracellular Reservoirs
V. Treatment 2: D-Mannose Sugar
VI. Remission of Infection
VII. Healthy Bladder Cell

The music was composed specifically for the dance piece by Leandra.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• girl power
• d-mannose
• mannose
• urogenital infections
• antibiotics
• UTI
• vagina forest
• microbiome
• microbiota
• candida
• candida albicans
• yeast infections
• E. coli
• ciprofloxacin

[kerry5101971]

At 1st I was all "face: meet palm" being all grinchy thinking to myself, "self, I wish these college kids had a darned clue..." then I realized that you most certainly have more than a clue & this is probably the most brilliant way to explain UTIs; what goes on before, during & after treatment, to the average person & those in pre-med/nursing classes. BRAVA chica, brava! :) Drinking no sugar added fruit juice high in tannins (cranberry, purple grape, blueberry, etc.) helps w/ UTI prevention.

[echthroi9]

The intersection of your interests is incredible to watch. That was a fun-looking performance!

[abelink1]

@abelink1 I have watched this now like 5 times, I am proud of you...this is good...