The inside of the mesh is coated with urethral cells while the outside gets muscle cells.

CNN: Scientists 'seed' cells, make new organs

Both infections are hard to diagnose, although sufferers have eye and urethral inflammation and tender, swollen, joints.

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Cells are scraped from the biopsied tissue, allowed to multiply, after which muscle cells are separated from urethral cells.

CNN: Scientists 'seed' cells, make new organs

In tests on female volunteers, the Umea team showed that L. plantarum is capable of colonising common sites of infection, such as the urethral opening and the perineum.

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"This is an exciting study showing that tissue engineering can be a viable option for complex urethral repairs, " said David A. Vorp, a professor of bioengineering and cardiothoracic surgery at the University of Pittsburgh, who was not involved with this study.

CNN: Scientists 'seed' cells, make new organs