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Ozcan G, Vatansever C, Paerhati E, Turgal M, Gursoy T, Cekic SG, Unal C, Ozek MA, Gürsoy A, Keskin Ö, Can F, Celik E. The vaginal microbiome composition during pregnancy in a region compromising different ethnic origins. Arch Gynecol Obstet 2024; 310:369-375. [PMID: 38771532 DOI: 10.1007/s00404-024-07560-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The vaginal microbiota plays a significant role in pregnancy outcomes and newborn health. Indeed, the composition and diversity of the vaginal microbiota can vary among different ethnic groups. Our study aimed to investigate the composition of the vaginal microbiome throughout the three trimesters of pregnancy and to identify any potential variations or patterns in the Turkish population compromising mixed ethnicities. METHOD We conducted a longitudinal study to characterize the vaginal microbiota of pregnant women. The study included a total of 25 participants, and the samples were collected at each trimester: 11-13 weeks, 20-24 weeks and 28-34 weeks gestation. RESULTS Lactobacillus species were consistently found to be dominant in the vaginal microbiota throughout all trimesters of pregnancy. Among Lactobacillus species, L. crispatus had the highest abundance in all trimesters (40.6%, 40.8% and 44.4%, respectively). L. iners was the second most prevalent species (28.5%, 31% and 25.04, respectively). Our findings reveal that the dominant composition of the vaginal microbiota aligns with the CST-type I, commonly observed in the European population. CONCLUSIONS This suggests that there are shared mechanisms influencing the microbial communities in the vagina, which are likely influenced by factors such as genetics, lifestyle, and cultural behaviors rather than ethnicity alone. The complex interplay of these factors contributes to the establishment and maintenance of the vaginal microbiota during pregnancy. Understanding the underlying mechanisms and their impact on vaginal health across diverse populations is essential for improving pregnancy outcomes. The study was approved by the Koc University Ethical Committee (no:2019.093.IRB2.030) and registered at the clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gulin Ozcan
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
- Koç University İşBank Research Center for İnfectious Diseases (KUISCID), Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Cansel Vatansever
- Koç University İşBank Research Center for İnfectious Diseases (KUISCID), Istanbul, Turkey
| | | | - Mert Turgal
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Koc University, Zeytinburnu, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Tugba Gursoy
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Koc University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Sebile Güler Cekic
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Koc University, Zeytinburnu, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Ceren Unal
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Koc University, Zeytinburnu, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Murat Aykut Ozek
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Koc University, Zeytinburnu, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Attila Gürsoy
- College of Engineering, Koç University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Özlem Keskin
- College of Engineering, Koç University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Fusun Can
- Koç University İşBank Research Center for İnfectious Diseases (KUISCID), Istanbul, Turkey
- Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Medicine, Koc University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Ebru Celik
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Koc University, Zeytinburnu, Istanbul, Turkey.
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Cheng V, Chi-Shing WT, Lee A, Lee R. The effects of a real-time temperature monitoring non-ablative monopolar radiofrequency technology on vulvovaginal atrophy symptoms in postmenopausal Chinese women. J Cosmet Dermatol 2024; 23:2030-2043. [PMID: 38450826 DOI: 10.1111/jocd.16251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2023] [Revised: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Vulvovaginal atrophy (VVA) includes a wide range of conditions affecting the reproductive and urinary systems, often requiring careful evaluation and management for optimal health. AIMS This study aims to evaluate the symptom management effects of a real time temperature-monitored non-ablative RF device for the treatment of postmenopausal Chinese women with VVA symptoms. METHODS This pilot study involved 24 postmenopausal Chinese women with one or more VVA symptoms, who wished to remain sexually active. VHIS, VAS, and FSFI were used to track and evaluate various aspects of the patient's condition. Analyses were conducted at the end of the study to verify the statistical significance of the treatment's results. RESULTS All patients reported substantial, statistically significant, improvements on every VVA symptom tracked. Approximately 80% of the patients reported total symptom reversal at 12-week post-treatment follow-up. CONCLUSION This pilot study demonstrated that non-ablative, monopolar RF technology equipped with real time temperature monitoring is feasible and safe in the treatment of postmenopausal women with VVA symptoms, and efficacious at up to 12 weeks post-treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - William Tai Chi-Shing
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
- The Laboratory for Probiotic and Prebiotic Research in Human Health, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
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Stennett CA, France M, Shardell M, Robbins SJ, Brown SE, Johnston ED, Mark K, Ravel J, Brotman RM. Longitudinal profiles of the vaginal microbiota of pre-, peri-, and postmenopausal women: preliminary insights from a secondary data analysis. Menopause 2024; 31:537-545. [PMID: 38787353 DOI: 10.1097/gme.0000000000002358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Menopause is often accompanied by lowered Lactobacillus spp. relative abundance and increased abundance of diverse anaerobic/aerobic bacteria in the vaginal microbiota due in part to declines in estrogen. These microbiota are associated with urogenital symptoms and infections. In premenopause, vaginal microbiota can fluctuate rapidly, particularly with menstrual cycles and sexual activity; however, the longitudinal dynamics of vaginal microbiota are understudied in peri- and postmenopause. We described vaginal community stability across reproductive stages. METHODS Pre- (n = 83), peri- (n = 8), and postmenopausal (n = 11) participants provided twice-weekly mid-vaginal samples (total, 1,556; average, 15 per participant) over 8 weeks in an observational study. Composition of the vaginal microbiota was characterized by 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing, and a community state type (CST) was assigned to each sample. Clustering of longitudinal CST profiles, CST transition rates, duration of low-Lactobacillus/high bacterial diversity CSTs, and other metrics of bacterial community dynamics were assessed across reproductive stages. RESULTS The proportion of participants with longitudinal CST profiles characterized by low-Lactobacillus CSTs was similar among pre- (38.6%), peri- (37.5%), and postmenopausal (36.4%) participants (P = 0.69). CST transition rates between consecutive samples were 21.1%, 16.7%, and 14.6% for pre-, peri-, and postmenopausal participants, respectively (P = 0.49). Low-Lactobacillus CST tended to persist for at least 4 weeks, irrespective of reproductive stage. CONCLUSIONS Findings from this small yet frequently sampled cohort revealed vaginal bacterial fluctuations over 8 weeks that were similar across reproductive stages. Larger and longer-term studies based on these preliminary data could provide insights into the influence of microbiota dynamics on urogenital outcomes during menopause.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Elizabeth D Johnston
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
| | - Katrina Mark
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
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Challa A, Maras JS, Nagpal S, Tripathi G, Taneja B, Kachhawa G, Sood S, Dhawan B, Acharya P, Upadhyay AD, Yadav M, Sharma R, Bajpai M, Gupta S. Multi-omics analysis identifies potential microbial and metabolite diagnostic biomarkers of bacterial vaginosis. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol 2024; 38:1152-1165. [PMID: 38284174 DOI: 10.1111/jdv.19805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2022] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/30/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a common clinical manifestation of a perturbed vaginal ecology associated with adverse sexual and reproductive health outcomes if left untreated. The existing diagnostic modalities are either cumbersome or require skilled expertise, warranting alternate tests. Application of machine-learning tools to heterogeneous and high-dimensional multi-omics datasets finds promising potential in data integration and may aid biomarker discovery. OBJECTIVES The present study aimed to evaluate the potential of the microbiome and metabolome-derived biomarkers in BV diagnosis. Interpretable machine-learning algorithms were used to evaluate the utility of an integrated-omics-derived classification model. METHODS Vaginal samples obtained from reproductive-age group women with (n = 40) and without BV (n = 40) were subjected to 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing and LC-MS-based metabolomics. The vaginal microbiome and metabolome were characterized, and machine-learning analysis was performed to build a classification model using biomarkers with the highest diagnostic accuracy. RESULTS Microbiome-based diagnostic model exhibited a ROC-AUC (10-fold CV) of 0.84 ± 0.21 and accuracy of 0.79 ± 0.18, and important features were Aerococcus spp., Mycoplasma hominis, Sneathia spp., Lactobacillus spp., Prevotella spp., Gardnerella spp. and Fannyhessea vaginae. The metabolome-derived model displayed superior performance with a ROC-AUC of 0.97 ± 0.07 and an accuracy of 0.92 ± 0.08. Beta-leucine, methylimidazole acetaldehyde, dimethylethanolamine, L-arginine and beta cortol were among key predictive metabolites for BV. A predictive model combining both microbial and metabolite features exhibited a high ROC-AUC of 0.97 ± 0.07 and accuracy of 0.94 ± 0.08 with diagnostic performance only slightly superior to the metabolite-based model. CONCLUSION Application of machine-learning tools to multi-omics datasets aid biomarker discovery with high predictive performance. Metabolome-derived classification models were observed to have superior diagnostic performance in predicting BV than microbiome-based biomarkers.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Challa
- Department of Dermatology and Venereology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - J S Maras
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Medicine, Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - S Nagpal
- TCS Research, Tata Consultancy Services Ltd, Pune, India
- CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, New Delhi, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, India
| | - G Tripathi
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Medicine, Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - B Taneja
- CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, New Delhi, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, India
| | - G Kachhawa
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - S Sood
- Department of Microbiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - B Dhawan
- Department of Microbiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - P Acharya
- Department of Biochemistry, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - A D Upadhyay
- Department of Biostatistics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - M Yadav
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Medicine, Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - R Sharma
- CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, New Delhi, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, India
| | - M Bajpai
- Department of Transfusion Medicine, Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - S Gupta
- Department of Dermatology and Venereology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
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Xiao L, Zuo Z, Zhao F. Microbiome in Female Reproductive Health: Implications for Fertility and Assisted Reproductive Technologies. GENOMICS, PROTEOMICS & BIOINFORMATICS 2024; 22:qzad005. [PMID: 38862423 PMCID: PMC11104452 DOI: 10.1093/gpbjnl/qzad005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Revised: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/13/2024]
Abstract
The microbiome plays a critical role in the process of conception and the outcomes of pregnancy. Disruptions in microbiome homeostasis in women of reproductive age can lead to various pregnancy complications, which significantly impact maternal and fetal health. Recent studies have associated the microbiome in the female reproductive tract (FRT) with assisted reproductive technology (ART) outcomes, and restoring microbiome balance has been shown to improve fertility in infertile couples. This review provides an overview of the role of the microbiome in female reproductive health, including its implications for pregnancy outcomes and ARTs. Additionally, recent advances in the use of microbial biomarkers as indicators of pregnancy disorders are summarized. A comprehensive understanding of the characteristics of the microbiome before and during pregnancy and its impact on reproductive health will greatly promote maternal and fetal health. Such knowledge can also contribute to the development of ARTs and microbiome-based interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liwen Xiao
- CAS Key Laboratory of Systems Biology, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou 310024, China
- Beijing Institutes of Life Science/Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Zhenqiang Zuo
- Beijing Institutes of Life Science/Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Fangqing Zhao
- CAS Key Laboratory of Systems Biology, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou 310024, China
- Beijing Institutes of Life Science/Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
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Burris HH, Yang N, Riis V, Valeri L, South EC, Ravel J, Elovitz MA. The role of neighborhood deprivation in the cervicovaginal microbiota. Am J Obstet Gynecol MFM 2024; 6:101291. [PMID: 38246324 PMCID: PMC10948309 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajogmf.2024.101291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2023] [Revised: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lactobacillus-deficient cervicovaginal microbiota is associated with spontaneous preterm birth and is more common among Black individuals. Persistent racial segregation in the United States has led to differential neighborhood exposures by race that can affect pregnancy outcomes. The extent to which neighborhood exposures may explain racial differences in the cervicovaginal microbiota is unknown. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to determine whether neighborhood deprivation, defined as material community deprivation, is associated with a Lactobacillus-deficient cervicovaginal microbiota in a prospective cohort of pregnant individuals. Our hypothesis was that racial differences in neighborhood deprivation may explain the higher prevalence of Lactobacillus-deficient cervicovaginal microbiota in Black birthing people. STUDY DESIGN This study analyzed data from Motherhood and Microbiome, a prospective pregnancy cohort enrolled from prenatal clinics in a single hospital system 2013-2016 in which a Lactobacillus-deficient cervicovaginal microbiota was previously shown to be associated with spontaneous preterm birth. This study geocoded addresses to obtain census tract neighborhood deprivation data from the Brokamp Nationwide Community Deprivation Index that uses weighted proportions of poverty, income, public assistance, lack of health insurance, and vacant housing. Generalized linear mixed models quantified associations of deprivation with the cervicovaginal microbiota accounting for geographic clustering by census tract and potential confounders. Because of different distributions of neighborhood deprivation and the cervicovaginal microbiota, race-stratified models were used. Mediation analyses quantified the extent to which deprivation may contribute to racial differences in the cervicovaginal microbiota. RESULTS Higher neighborhood deprivation was associated with a Lactobacillus-deficient cervicovaginal microbiota. Per standard deviation increment of deprivation, participants had 28% higher adjusted odds (adjusted odds ratio, 1.28; 95% confidence interval, 1.04-1.58) of a Lactobacillus-deficient microbiota. Black participants had higher odds of a Lactobacillus-deficient microbiota than White participants (adjusted odds ratio, 4.00; 95% confidence interval, 2.05-8.26), and mediation analysis revealed that deprivation accounted for 22% (P=.046) of that disparity. CONCLUSION Neighborhood deprivation was associated with Lactobacillus-deficient cervicovaginal microbiota and may partially explain Black-White disparities in the cervicovaginal microbiota. Mechanistic studies to explore how environmental exposures modify the cervicovaginal microbiota are warranted to identify novel opportunities for future interventional strategies to prevent preterm birth. As the findings demonstrate a potential biological effect from neighborhood conditions, policies that drive urban planning should be explored to improve pregnancy outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather H Burris
- Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA (Dr Burris); Department of Pediatrics, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA (Dr Burris); Leonard Davis Institute for Health Economics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA (Dr Burris).
| | - Nancy Yang
- University of California San Francisco Medical School, San Francisco, CA (Ms. Yang)
| | - Valerie Riis
- Women's Biomedical Research Institute, Icahn School of Medicine, New York, NY (Ms. Riis and Dr. Elovitz)
| | - Linda Valeri
- Department of Biostatistics, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY (Dr. Valeri)
| | - Eugenia C South
- Penn Urban Health Lab, Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA (Dr. South)
| | - Jacques Ravel
- Institute for Genome Sciences and Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD (Dr. Ravel)
| | - Michal A Elovitz
- Women's Biomedical Research Institute, Icahn School of Medicine, New York, NY (Ms. Riis and Dr. Elovitz); Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine, New York, NY (Dr. Elovitz)
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Fong Amaris WM, de Assumpção PP, Valadares LJ, Moreira FC. Microbiota changes: the unseen players in cervical cancer progression. Front Microbiol 2024; 15:1352778. [PMID: 38389527 PMCID: PMC10881787 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1352778] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Cervical cancer ranks among the most prevalent cancers globally with high-risk human papillomaviruses implicated in nearly 99% of cases. However, hidden players such as changes in the microbiota are now being examined as potential markers in the progression of this disease. Researchers suggest that changes in the vaginal microbiota might correlate with cervical cancer. This review provides a comprehensive look at the microbiota changes linked with the advancement of cervical cancer. It also scrutinizes the databases from past studies on the microbiota during healthy and cancerous stages, drawing connections between prior findings concerning the role of the microbiota in the progression of cervical cancer. Preliminary findings identify Fusobacterium spp., Peptostreptococcus spp., Campylobacter spp., and Haemophilus spp., as potential biomarkers for cervical cancer progression. Alloscardovia spp., Eubacterium spp., and Mycoplasma spp. were identified as potential biomarkers for HPVs (+), while Methylobacterium spp. may be indicative of HPV (-). However, the study's limitations, including potential biases and methodological constraints, underscore the need for further research to validate these findings and delve deeper into the microbiota's role in HPV development. Despite these limitations, the review provides valuable insights into microbiota trends during cervical cancer progression, offering direction for future research. The review summarizes key findings from previous studies on microbiota during healthy and cancerous stages, as well as other conditions such as CIN, SIL, HPV (+), and HPV (-), indicating a promising area for further investigation. The consistent presence of HPV across all reported cervical abnormalities, along with the identification of distinct bacterial genera between cancerous and control samples, suggests a potential link that merits further exploration. In conclusion, a more profound understanding of the microbial landscape could elucidate the pathogenesis of cervical diseases and inform future strategies for diagnosis, prevention, and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- W M Fong Amaris
- Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, Brazil
| | - Paulo Pimentel de Assumpção
- Núcleo de Pesquisas em Oncologia, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, Brazil
- Hospital Universitário João de Barros Barreto, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, Brazil
| | - Leonardo Jacomo Valadares
- Núcleo de Pesquisas em Oncologia, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, Brazil
- Hospital Universitário João de Barros Barreto, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, Brazil
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Zhang Z, Ma Q, Zhang L, Ma L, Wang D, Yang Y, Jia P, Wu Y, Wang F. Human papillomavirus and cervical cancer in the microbial world: exploring the vaginal microecology. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2024; 14:1325500. [PMID: 38333037 PMCID: PMC10850380 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2024.1325500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024] Open
Abstract
The vaginal microbiota plays a crucial role in female reproductive health and is considered a biomarker for predicting disease outcomes and personalized testing. However, its relationship with human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and cervical cancer is not yet clear. Therefore, this article provides a review of the association between the vaginal microbiota, HPV infection, and cervical cancer. We discuss the composition of the vaginal microbiota, its dysbiosis, and its relationship with HPV infection, as well as potential mechanisms in the development of cervical cancer. In addition, we assess the feasibility of treatment strategies such as probiotics and vaginal microbiota transplantation to modulate the vaginal microbiota for the prevention and treatment of diseases related to HPV infection and cervical cancer. In the future, extensive replication studies are still needed to gain a deeper understanding of the complex relationship between the vaginal microbiota, HPV infection, and cervical cancer, and to clarify the role of the vaginal microbiota as a potential biomarker for predicting disease outcomes, thus providing a theoretical basis for personalized testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhemei Zhang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Gansu Provincial Hospital, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
- Gansu Provincial Clinical Research Center for Laboratory Medicine, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
| | - Qingmei Ma
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Gansu Provincial Hospital, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
- Gansu Provincial Clinical Research Center for Laboratory Medicine, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
| | - Lei Zhang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Gansu Provincial Hospital, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
- Gansu Provincial Clinical Research Center for Laboratory Medicine, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
| | - Li Ma
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Gansu Provincial Hospital, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
- Gansu Provincial Clinical Research Center for Laboratory Medicine, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
| | - Danni Wang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Gansu Provincial Hospital, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
- Gansu Provincial Clinical Research Center for Laboratory Medicine, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
| | - Yongqing Yang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Gansu Provincial Hospital, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
- Gansu Provincial Clinical Research Center for Laboratory Medicine, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
| | - Pengxia Jia
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Gansu Provincial Hospital, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
- Gansu Provincial Clinical Research Center for Laboratory Medicine, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
| | - Yang Wu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Gansu Provincial Hospital, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
- Gansu Provincial Clinical Research Center for Laboratory Medicine, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
| | - Fang Wang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Gansu Provincial Hospital, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
- Gansu Provincial Clinical Research Center for Laboratory Medicine, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
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Bommana S, Hu YJ, Kama M, Wang R, Kodimerla R, Jijakli K, Read TD, Dean D. Unique microbial diversity, community composition, and networks among Pacific Islander endocervical and vaginal microbiomes with and without Chlamydia trachomatis infection in Fiji. mBio 2024; 15:e0306323. [PMID: 38117091 PMCID: PMC10790706 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.03063-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct) is the most common sexually transmitted bacterium globally. Endocervical and vaginal microbiome interactions are rarely examined within the context of Ct or among vulnerable populations. We evaluated 258 vaginal and 92 paired endocervical samples from Fijian women using metagenomic shotgun sequencing. Over 37% of the microbiomes could not be classified into sub-community state types (subCSTs). We, therefore, developed subCSTs IV-D0, IV-D1, IV-D2, and IV-E-dominated primarily by Gardnerella vaginalis-to improve classification. Among paired microbiomes, the endocervix had a significantly higher alpha diversity and, independently, higher diversity for high-risk human papilloma virus (HPV) genotypes compared to low-risk and no HPV. Ct-infected endocervical networks had smaller clusters without interactions with potentially beneficial Lactobacillus spp. Overall, these data suggest that G. vaginalis may generate polymicrobial biofilms that predispose to and/or promote Ct and possibly HPV persistence and pathogenicity. Our findings expand on the existing repertoire of endocervical and vaginal microbiomes and fill in knowledge gaps regarding Pacific Islanders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sankhya Bommana
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Francisco, Oakland, California, USA
| | - Yi-Juan Hu
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Mike Kama
- Ministry of Health and Medical Services, Suva, Fiji
| | - Ruohong Wang
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Francisco, Oakland, California, USA
| | - Reshma Kodimerla
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Francisco, Oakland, California, USA
| | - Kenan Jijakli
- Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Timothy D. Read
- Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Deborah Dean
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Francisco, Oakland, California, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, Joint Graduate Program, University of California San Francisco and University of California Berkeley, San Francisco, California, USA
- Bixby Center for Global Reproductive Health, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
- University of California San Francisco, Benioff Center for Microbiome Medicine, San Francisco, California, USA
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Sacinti KG, Razeghian H, Awad-Igbaria Y, Lima-Silva J, Palzur E, Vieira-Baptista P, Verstraelen H, Bornstein J. Is Vulvodynia Associated With an Altered Vaginal Microbiota?: A Systematic Review. J Low Genit Tract Dis 2024; 28:64-72. [PMID: 37963335 DOI: 10.1097/lgt.0000000000000780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Vulvodynia is defined as vulvar pain of at least 3 months' duration, without clear identifiable cause, which may have potential associated factors. It can have a significant impact on women's quality of life due to a combination of physical pain, emotional distress, and limited treatment options. Despite affecting a considerable number of women worldwide, the causes and underlying mechanisms of vulvodynia remain poorly understood. Given the recognized association of the vaginal microbiota with various gynecologic disorders, there has been growing interest in exploring the potential role of the vaginal microbiota in the etiology of vulvodynia. This systematic review aims to evaluate the current literature on the association between the vaginal microbiota and vulvodynia. MATERIAL AND METHODS A systematic search of multiple databases, including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Ovid MEDLINE, was conducted to identify relevant peer-reviewed studies up to May 12, 2023. The following search terms were used across these databases: "vulvodynia," "vestibulodynia," "vulvar vestibulitis," "microbiome," "microbiota," and "flora." RESULTS A total of 8 case-control studies were included, the quality of which was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Data extraction and synthesis were performed using a standardized protocol. In most studies, no major differences were found between the vaginal bacterial composition of women with vulvodynia and that of controls. No specific bacterial taxa were consistently associated with vulvodynia. The relationship between vaginal microbiota diversity and vulvodynia remains to be fully understood. CONCLUSIONS The role of vaginal microbiota in vulvodynia, if any, remains unclear. Because of the cross-sectional nature of the included studies, it is not possible to make any causal inferences. Further research, using larger and more diverse study populations and advanced sequencing techniques, is necessary to gain a better understanding of the potential relationship between the vaginal microbiota and vulvodynia.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Joana Lima-Silva
- Lower Genital Tract Unit, Centro Hospitalar de São João, Porto, Portugal
| | - Eilam Palzur
- The Research Institute of Galilee Medical Center, Galilee Medical Center, Nahariya, Israel
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11
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Davies R, Minhas S, Jayasena CN. Next-Generation Sequencing to Elucidate the Semen Microbiome in Male Reproductive Disorders. MEDICINA (KAUNAS, LITHUANIA) 2023; 60:25. [PMID: 38256286 PMCID: PMC10819355 DOI: 10.3390/medicina60010025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2023] [Revised: 12/12/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
Mean sperm counts are declining at an accelerated rate and infertility is increasingly becoming a public health concern. It is now understood that human semen, previously considered to be sterile, harbours its own specific microbiome. Via activated leucocytes and the generation of reactive oxygen species, bacteria have the capability of evoking an immune response which may lead to sperm damage. Men with infertility have higher rates of both reactive oxygen species and sperm DNA damage. Due to the lack of sensitivity of routine culture and PCR-based methods, next-generation sequencing technology is being employed to characterise the seminal microbiome. There is a mounting body of studies that share a number of similarities but also a great range of conflicting findings. A lack of stringent decontamination procedures, small sample sizes and heterogeneity in other aspects of methodology makes it difficult to draw firm conclusions from these studies. However, various themes have emerged and evidence of highly conserved clusters of common bacteria can be seen. Depletion or over-representation of specific bacteria may be associated with aberrations in traditional and functional seminal parameters. Currently, the evidence is too limited to inform clinical practice and larger studies are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rhianna Davies
- Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Imperial College London, London W12 0HS, UK;
| | - Suks Minhas
- Department of Urology, Charing Cross Hospital, Imperial College NHS Trust, London W6 8RF, UK;
| | - Channa N. Jayasena
- Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Imperial College London, London W12 0HS, UK;
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12
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Tsamir-Rimon M, Borenstein E. A manifold-based framework for studying the dynamics of the vaginal microbiome. NPJ Biofilms Microbiomes 2023; 9:102. [PMID: 38102172 PMCID: PMC10724123 DOI: 10.1038/s41522-023-00471-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The vaginal microbiome plays a crucial role in our health. The composition of this community can be classified into five community state types (CSTs), four of which are primarily consisted of Lactobacillus species and considered healthy, while the fifth features non-Lactobacillus populations and signifies a disease state termed Bacterial vaginosis (BV), which is associated with various symptoms and increased susceptibility to diseases. Importantly, however, the exact mechanisms and dynamics underlying BV development are not yet fully understood, including specifically possible routes from a healthy to a BV state. To address this gap, this study set out to characterize the progression from healthy- to BV-associated compositions by analyzing 8026 vaginal samples and using a manifold-detection framework. This approach, inspired by single-cell analysis, aims to identify low-dimensional trajectories in the high-dimensional composition space. It further orders samples along these trajectories and assigns a score (pseudo-time) to each analyzed or new sample based on its proximity to the BV state. Our results reveal distinct routes of progression between healthy and BV states for each CST, with pseudo-time scores correlating with community diversity and quantifying the health state of each sample. Several BV indicators can also be successfully predicted based on pseudo-time scores, and key taxa involved in BV development can be identified using this approach. Taken together, these findings demonstrate how manifold detection can be used to successfully characterize the progression from healthy Lactobacillus-dominant populations to BV and to accurately quantify the health condition of new samples along the route of BV development.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Elhanan Borenstein
- Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
- School of Computer Science, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
- Santa Fe Institute, Santa Fe, NM, USA.
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13
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Väinämö S, Saqib S, Kalliala I, Kervinen K, Luiro K, Niinimäki M, Halttunen-Nieminen M, Virtanen S, Nieminen P, Salonen A, Holster T. Longitudinal analysis of vaginal microbiota during IVF fresh embryo transfer and in early pregnancy. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0165023. [PMID: 37882794 PMCID: PMC10715154 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.01650-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Infertility is a global public health issue which leads many couples to seek fertility treatments, of which in vitro fertilization (IVF) is considered to be the most effective. Still, only about one-third of the women achieve live birth after the first IVF embryo transfer (IVF-ET). Factors affecting embryo implantation are poorly known, but the female reproductive tract microbiota may play a key role. Our study confirms the beneficial role of vaginal lactobacilli, especially Lactobacillus crispatus, in the probability of achieving clinical pregnancy and live birth following IVF-ET. Our findings regarding the intra-individual shift of vaginal microbiota between non-pregnancy and pregnancy states are novel and provide new information about the dynamics of microbiota in the early steps of human reproduction. These findings may help clinicians in their attempts to optimize the conditions for ET by microbiota screening or modulation and timing the ET when the microbiota is the most favorable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofia Väinämö
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Schahzad Saqib
- Human Microbiome Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Ilkka Kalliala
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
- Human Microbiome Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Kaisa Kervinen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Kaisu Luiro
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Maarit Niinimäki
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland
- Medical Research Center, Oulu University Hospital and University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Mervi Halttunen-Nieminen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Seppo Virtanen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
- Human Microbiome Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Pekka Nieminen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Anne Salonen
- Human Microbiome Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Tiina Holster
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
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14
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Cortés-Ortíz IA, Puente-Rivera J, Ordaz-Pérez G, Bonilla-Cortés AY, Figueroa-Arredondo P, Serrano-Bello CA, García-Moncada E, Acosta-Altamirano G, Artigas-Pérez DE, Bravata-Alcántara JC, Sierra-Martínez M. Brachybacterium conglomeratum Is Associated with Cervicovaginal Infections and Human Papilloma Virus in Cervical Disease of Mexican Female Patients. Microorganisms 2023; 11:2769. [PMID: 38004780 PMCID: PMC10673253 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11112769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2023] [Revised: 10/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Brachybacterium conglomeratum, traditionally considered an environmental bacterium, has recently garnered attention for its potential involvement in human health. While prior research hinted at its pathogenic role in humans, our study aims to determine its prevalence and associations in diverse clinical contexts. We examined vaginal swabs from three distinct patient groups: patients with low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (LSIL), patients with cervicovaginal infections, and patients with a history of precancerous lesions undergoing follow-up. B. conglomeratum was present in all three patient groups, with the highest prevalence observed in the LSIL group. Statistically significant associations were primarily identified in the LSIL group, where B. conglomeratum was present in 60% of cases. Notably, the LSIL group exhibited coinfections with multiple high-risk oncogenotypes of human papillomavirus (HPV), suggesting potential synergistic effects, and understanding these microbial relationships and their influence on viral persistence, particularly with HPV, holds promise for mitigating HPV-related carcinogenesis. Furthermore, Gardnerella vaginalis and Atopobium vaginae were frequently detected in this group, along with Ureaplasma parvum as the predominant sexually transmitted bacterium. In all cases, B. conglomeratum was found in association with these microorganisms rather than as a sole pathogen. This coexistence underscores the intricate microbial interactions within cervicovaginal infections and precancerous lesions. This study marks the first report of B. conglomeratum prevalence in women with these clinical conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iliana Alejandra Cortés-Ortíz
- Genetic and Molecular Diagnostic Laboratory, Hospital Juárez de México, Instituto Politécnico Nacional 5160, Col. Magdalena de las Salinas, Mexico City 07360, Mexico; (I.A.C.-O.); (G.O.-P.); (E.G.-M.)
| | - Jonathan Puente-Rivera
- División de Investigación, Hospital Juárez de México, Instituto Politécnico Nacional 5160, Col. Magdalena de las Salinas, Mexico City 07360, Mexico;
| | - Guiedaana Ordaz-Pérez
- Genetic and Molecular Diagnostic Laboratory, Hospital Juárez de México, Instituto Politécnico Nacional 5160, Col. Magdalena de las Salinas, Mexico City 07360, Mexico; (I.A.C.-O.); (G.O.-P.); (E.G.-M.)
| | - Alejandra Yareth Bonilla-Cortés
- Escuela Nacional de Medicina y Homeopatia, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Av. Guillermo Massieu Helguera 239, La Purísima Ticomán, Gustavo A. Madero, Mexico City 07320, Mexico;
| | - Paula Figueroa-Arredondo
- Escuela Superior de Medicina, Instituto Politecnico Nacional, Salvador Diaz Mirón esq. Plan de San Luis S/N, Miguel Hidalgo, Casco de Santo Tomas, Mexico City 11340, Mexico;
| | - Carlos Alberto Serrano-Bello
- Servicio de Unidad Patológica, Hospital Juárez de México, Instituto Politécnico Nacional 5160, Col. Magdalena de las Salinas, Mexico City 07360, Mexico;
| | - Eduardo García-Moncada
- Genetic and Molecular Diagnostic Laboratory, Hospital Juárez de México, Instituto Politécnico Nacional 5160, Col. Magdalena de las Salinas, Mexico City 07360, Mexico; (I.A.C.-O.); (G.O.-P.); (E.G.-M.)
| | - Gustavo Acosta-Altamirano
- Unidad de Investigación en Salud, Hospital de Alta Especialidad Ixtapaluca, Carr Federal México-Puebla Km 34.5, Ixtapaluca 56530, Mexico;
| | - Daniel Ernesto Artigas-Pérez
- Genetic and Molecular Diagnostic Laboratory, Hospital Juárez de México, Instituto Politécnico Nacional 5160, Col. Magdalena de las Salinas, Mexico City 07360, Mexico; (I.A.C.-O.); (G.O.-P.); (E.G.-M.)
| | - Juan Carlos Bravata-Alcántara
- Unidad de Investigación en Salud, Hospital de Alta Especialidad Ixtapaluca, Carr Federal México-Puebla Km 34.5, Ixtapaluca 56530, Mexico;
| | - Mónica Sierra-Martínez
- Unidad de Investigación en Salud, Hospital de Alta Especialidad Ixtapaluca, Carr Federal México-Puebla Km 34.5, Ixtapaluca 56530, Mexico;
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15
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Tsamir-Rimon M, Borenstein E. A Manifold-Based Framework for Studying the Dynamics of the Vaginal Microbiome. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.09.06.556518. [PMID: 37732273 PMCID: PMC10508760 DOI: 10.1101/2023.09.06.556518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/22/2023]
Abstract
The vaginal bacterial community plays a crucial role in preventing infections. The composition of this community can be classified into five main groups, termed community state types (CSTs). Four of these CSTs, which are primarily consisted of Lactobacillus species, are considered healthy, while the fifth, which is composed of non-Lactobacillus populations, is considered less protective. This latter CST is often considered to represent a state termed Bacterial vaginosis (BV) - a common disease condition associated with unpleasant symptoms and increased susceptibility to sexually transmitted diseases. However, the exact mechanisms underlying BV development are not yet fully understood, including specifically, the dynamics of the vaginal microbiome in BV, and the possible routes it may take from a healthy to a BV state. This study aims to identify the progression from healthy Lactobacillus-dominant populations to symptomatic BV by analyzing 8,026 vaginal samples and using a manifold-detection framework. This approach is inspired by single-cell analysis and aims to identify low-dimensional trajectories in the high-dimensional composition space. This framework further order samples along these trajectories and assign a score (pseudo-time) to each sample based on its proximity to the BV state. Our results reveal distinct routes of progression between healthy and BV state for each CST, with pseudo-time scores correlating with community diversity and quantifying the health state of each sample. BV indicators, including Nugent score, positive Amsel's test, and several Amsel's criteria, can also be successfully predicted based on pseudo-time scores. Additionally, Gardnerella vaginalis can be identified as a key taxon in BV development using this approach, with increased abundance in samples with high pseudo-time, indicating an unhealthier state across all BV-development routes on the manifold. Taken together, these findings demonstrate how manifold detection can be used to successfully characterizes the progression from healthy Lactobacillus-dominant populations to BV and to accurately quantify the health condition of new samples along the route of BV development.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Elhanan Borenstein
- Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
- School of Computer Science, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
- Santa Fe Institute, Santa Fe, NM, USA
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16
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Romero R, Theis KR, Gomez-Lopez N, Winters AD, Panzer JJ, Lin H, Galaz J, Greenberg JM, Shaffer Z, Kracht DJ, Chaiworapongsa T, Jung E, Gotsch F, Ravel J, Peddada SD, Tarca AL. The Vaginal Microbiota of Pregnant Women Varies with Gestational Age, Maternal Age, and Parity. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0342922. [PMID: 37486223 PMCID: PMC10434204 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.03429-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2022] [Accepted: 06/25/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2023] Open
Abstract
The composition of the vaginal microbiota is heavily influenced by pregnancy and may factor into pregnancy complications, including spontaneous preterm birth. However, results among studies have been inconsistent due, in part, to variation in sample sizes and ethnicity. Thus, an association between the vaginal microbiota and preterm labor continues to be debated. Yet, before assessing associations between the composition of the vaginal microbiota and preterm labor, a robust and in-depth characterization of the vaginal microbiota throughout pregnancy in the specific study population under investigation is required. Here, we report a large longitudinal study (n = 474 women, 1,862 vaginal samples) of a predominantly African-American cohort-a population that experiences a relatively high rate of pregnancy complications-evaluating associations between individual identity, gestational age, and other maternal characteristics with the composition of the vaginal microbiota throughout gestation resulting in term delivery. The principal factors influencing the composition of the vaginal microbiota in pregnancy are individual identity and gestational age at sampling. Other factors are maternal age, parity, obesity, and self-reported Cannabis use. The general pattern across gestation is for the vaginal microbiota to remain or transition to a state of Lactobacillus dominance. This pattern can be modified by maternal parity and obesity. Regardless, network analyses reveal dynamic associations among specific bacterial taxa within the vaginal ecosystem, which shift throughout the course of pregnancy. This study provides a robust foundational understanding of the vaginal microbiota in pregnancy and sets the stage for further investigation of this microbiota in obstetrical disease. IMPORTANCE There is debate regarding links between the vaginal microbiota and pregnancy complications, especially spontaneous preterm birth. Inconsistencies in results among studies are likely due to differences in sample sizes and cohort ethnicity. Ethnicity is a complicating factor because, although all bacterial taxa commonly inhabiting the vagina are present among all ethnicities, the frequencies of these taxa vary among ethnicities. Therefore, an in-depth characterization of the vaginal microbiota throughout pregnancy in the specific study population under investigation is required prior to evaluating associations between the vaginal microbiota and obstetrical disease. This initial investigation is a large longitudinal study of the vaginal microbiota throughout gestation resulting in a term delivery in a predominantly African-American cohort, a population that experiences disproportionally negative maternal-fetal health outcomes. It establishes the magnitude of associations between maternal characteristics, such as age, parity, body mass index, and self-reported Cannabis use, on the vaginal microbiota in pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Romero
- Pregnancy Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
| | - Kevin R. Theis
- Pregnancy Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Nardhy Gomez-Lopez
- Pregnancy Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
- Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Andrew D. Winters
- Pregnancy Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Jonathan J. Panzer
- Pregnancy Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Huang Lin
- Biostatistics and Bioinformatics Branch, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Jose Galaz
- Pregnancy Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
- Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Jonathan M. Greenberg
- Pregnancy Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Zachary Shaffer
- Pregnancy Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
- Department of Physiology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - David J. Kracht
- Pregnancy Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Tinnakorn Chaiworapongsa
- Pregnancy Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Eunjung Jung
- Pregnancy Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Busan Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, Busan, Republic of Korea
| | - Francesca Gotsch
- Pregnancy Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Jacques Ravel
- Institute for Genome Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Shyamal D. Peddada
- Biostatistics and Bioinformatics Branch, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Adi L. Tarca
- Pregnancy Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
- Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
- Department of Computer Science, Wayne State University College of Engineering, Detroit, Michigan, USA
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17
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Doroftei B, Ilie OD, Armeanu T, Stoian IL, Anton N, Babici RG, Ilea C. A Narrative Review Discussing the Obstetric Repercussions Due to Alterations of Personalized Bacterial Sites Developed within the Vagina, Cervix, and Endometrium. J Clin Med 2023; 12:5069. [PMID: 37568471 PMCID: PMC10419759 DOI: 10.3390/jcm12155069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Revised: 07/19/2023] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The reproductive tract microbiota that evolved as an integrative component has been studied intensively in the last decade. As a result, novel research, clinical opportunities, and perspectives have been derived following the close investigation of this microecological environment. This has paved the way for an update to and improvement of the management strategies and therapeutic approaches. However, obscurities, contradictions, and controversies arise regarding the ascension route from the vagina to the endometrium via the cervix, with finality in adverse obstetric outcomes. METHODS Starting from these considerations, we aimed to gather all existing data and information from four major academic databases (PubMed, ISI Web of Knowledge, Scopus, and ScienceDirect) published in the last 13 years (2010-2023) using a controlled vocabulary and dedicated terminology to enhance the coverage, identification, and sorting of potentially eligible studies. RESULTS Despite the high number of returned entries (n = 804), only a slight percentage (2.73%) of all manuscripts were deemed eligible following two rounds of evaluation. Cumulatively, a low level of Lactobacillus spp. and of other core microbiota members is mandatory, with a possible eubiosis-to-dysbiosis transition leading to an impairment of metabolic and endocrine network homeostasis. This transposes into a change in the pro-inflammatory landscape and activation of signaling pathways due to activity exerted by the bacterial lipopolysaccharides (LPSs)/endotoxins that further reflect a high risk of miscarriage in various stages. While the presence of some pathogenic entities may be suggestive of an adverse obstetric predisposition, there are still pros and cons of the role of specific strains, as only the vagina and cervix have been targeted as opposed to the endometrium, which recently started to be viewed as the key player in the vagina-cervix-endometrium route. Consequently, based on an individual's profile, diet, and regime, antibiotics and probiotics might be practical or not. CONCLUSIONS Resident bacteria have a dual facet and are beneficial for women's health, but, at the same time, relaying on the abundance, richness, and evenness that are definitory indexes standing as intermediaries of a miscarriage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bogdan Doroftei
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Grigore T. Popa”, University Street No. 16, 700115 Iasi, Romania
- Clinical Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology “Cuza Voda”, Cuza Voda Street No. 34, 700038 Iasi, Romania
- Origyn Fertility Center, Palace Street No. 3C, 700032 Iasi, Romania
| | | | - Theodora Armeanu
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Grigore T. Popa”, University Street No. 16, 700115 Iasi, Romania
- Clinical Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology “Cuza Voda”, Cuza Voda Street No. 34, 700038 Iasi, Romania
- Origyn Fertility Center, Palace Street No. 3C, 700032 Iasi, Romania
| | - Irina-Liviana Stoian
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Grigore T. Popa”, University Street No. 16, 700115 Iasi, Romania
| | - Nicoleta Anton
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Grigore T. Popa”, University Street No. 16, 700115 Iasi, Romania
| | - Ramona-Geanina Babici
- Department of Genetics, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Grigore T. Popa”, University Street No. 16, 700115 Iasi, Romania
| | - Ciprian Ilea
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Grigore T. Popa”, University Street No. 16, 700115 Iasi, Romania
- Clinical Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology “Cuza Voda”, Cuza Voda Street No. 34, 700038 Iasi, Romania
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18
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Costello EK, DiGiulio DB, Robaczewska A, Symul L, Wong RJ, Shaw GM, Stevenson DK, Holmes SP, Kwon DS, Relman DA. Abrupt perturbation and delayed recovery of the vaginal ecosystem following childbirth. Nat Commun 2023; 14:4141. [PMID: 37438386 PMCID: PMC10338445 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-39849-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Accepted: 06/28/2023] [Indexed: 07/14/2023] Open
Abstract
The vaginal ecosystem is closely tied to human health and reproductive outcomes, yet its dynamics in the wake of childbirth remain poorly characterized. Here, we profile the vaginal microbiota and cytokine milieu of participants sampled longitudinally throughout pregnancy and for at least one year postpartum. We show that delivery, regardless of mode, is associated with a vaginal pro-inflammatory cytokine response and the loss of Lactobacillus dominance. By contrast, neither the progression of gestation nor the approach of labor strongly altered the vaginal ecosystem. At 9.5-months postpartum-the latest timepoint at which cytokines were assessed-elevated inflammation coincided with vaginal bacterial communities that had remained perturbed (highly diverse) from the time of delivery. Time-to-event analysis indicated a one-year postpartum probability of transitioning to Lactobacillus dominance of 49.4%. As diversity and inflammation declined during the postpartum period, dominance by L. crispatus, the quintessential health-associated commensal, failed to return: its prevalence before, immediately after, and one year after delivery was 41%, 4%, and 9%, respectively. Revisiting our pre-delivery data, we found that a prior live birth was associated with a lower odds of L. crispatus dominance in pregnant participants-an outcome modestly tempered by a longer ( > 18-month) interpregnancy interval. Our results suggest that reproductive history and childbirth in particular remodel the vaginal ecosystem and that the timing and degree of recovery from delivery may help determine the subsequent health of the woman and of future pregnancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth K Costello
- Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.
| | - Daniel B DiGiulio
- Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Anna Robaczewska
- Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Laura Symul
- Department of Statistics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Ronald J Wong
- Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Gary M Shaw
- Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - David K Stevenson
- Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Susan P Holmes
- Department of Statistics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Douglas S Kwon
- Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT, and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
| | - David A Relman
- Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.
- Section of Infectious Diseases, Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, CA, 94304, USA.
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19
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Čeprnja M, Hadžić E, Oros D, Melvan E, Starcevic A, Zucko J. Current Viewpoint on Female Urogenital Microbiome-The Cause or the Consequence? Microorganisms 2023; 11:1207. [PMID: 37317181 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11051207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2023] [Revised: 05/01/2023] [Accepted: 05/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/16/2023] Open
Abstract
An increasing amount of evidence implies that native microbiota is a constituent part of a healthy urinary tract (UT), making it an ecosystem on its own. What is still not clear is whether the origin of the urinary microbial community is the indirect consequence of the more abundant gut microbiota or a more distinct separation exists between these two systems. Another area of uncertainty is the existence of a link between the shifts in UT microbial composition and both the onset and persistence of cystitis symptoms. Cystitis is one of the most common reasons for antimicrobial drugs prescriptions in primary and secondary care and an important contributor to the problem of antimicrobial resistance. Despite this fact, we still have trouble distinguishing whether the primary cause of the majority of cystitis cases is a single pathogen overgrowth or a systemic disorder affecting the entire urinary microbiota. There is an increasing trend in studies monitoring changes and dynamics of UT microbiota, but this field of research is still in its infancy. Using NGS and bioinformatics, it is possible to obtain microbiota taxonomic profiles directly from urine samples, which can provide a window into microbial diversity (or the lack of) underlying each patient's cystitis symptoms. However, while microbiota refers to the living collection of microorganisms, an interchangeably used term microbiome referring to the genetic material of the microbiota is more often used in conjunction with sequencing data. It is this vast amount of sequences, which are truly "Big Data", that allow us to create models that describe interactions between different species contributing to an UT ecosystem, when coupled with machine-learning techniques. Although in a simplified predator-prey form these multi-species interaction models have the potential to further validate or disprove current beliefs; whether it is the presence or the absence of particular key players in a UT microbial ecosystem, the exact cause or consequence of the otherwise unknown etiology in the majority of cystitis cases. These insights might prove to be vital in our ongoing struggle against pathogen resistance and offer us new and promising clinical markers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Čeprnja
- Biochemical Laboratory, Special Hospital Agram, Polyclinic Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Edin Hadžić
- Department of Biochemical Engineering, Faculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology, Zagreb University, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Damir Oros
- Department of Biochemical Engineering, Faculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology, Zagreb University, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Ena Melvan
- Department of Biological Science, Faculty of Science, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia
| | - Antonio Starcevic
- Department of Biochemical Engineering, Faculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology, Zagreb University, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Jurica Zucko
- Department of Biochemical Engineering, Faculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology, Zagreb University, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
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20
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Ansari A, Son D, Hur YM, Park S, You YA, Kim SM, Lee G, Kang S, Chung Y, Lim S, Kim YJ. Lactobacillus Probiotics Improve Vaginal Dysbiosis in Asymptomatic Women. Nutrients 2023; 15:nu15081862. [PMID: 37111086 PMCID: PMC10143682 DOI: 10.3390/nu15081862] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2023] [Revised: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 04/07/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Vaginal dysbiosis can lead to serious infections in asymptomatic women. Lactobacillus probiotics (LBPs) are being investigated as a promising therapy for reversing vaginal microbiota dysbiosis. This study aimed to investigate whether administering LBPs could improve vaginal dysbiosis and facilitate the colonization of Lactobacillus species in asymptomatic women. 36 asymptomatic women were classified based on the Nugent score as Low-NS (n = 26) and High-NS (n = 10) groups. A combination of Lactobacillus acidophilus CBT LA1, Lactobacillus rhamnosus CBT LR5, and Lactobacillus reuteri CBT LU4 was administered orally for 6 weeks. The study found that among women with a High-NS, 60% showed improved vaginal dysbiosis with a Low-NS after LBP intake, while four retained a High-NS. Among women with a Low-NS, 11.5 % switched to a High-NS. Genera associated with vaginal dysbiosis were positively correlated with the alpha diversity or NS, while a negative correlation was observed between Lactobacillus and the alpha diversity and with the NS. Vaginal dysbiosis in asymptomatic women with an HNS improved after 6 weeks of LBP intake, and qRT-PCR revealed the colonization of Lactobacillus spp. in the vagina. These results suggested that oral administration of this LBP could improve vaginal health in asymptomatic women with an HNS.
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Affiliation(s)
- AbuZar Ansari
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Ewha Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 07984, Republic of Korea
- Graduate Program in System Health Science and Engineering, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 07984, Republic of Korea
| | - Dooheon Son
- R&D Center, Cell Biotech Co., Ltd., Gimpo 10003, Republic of Korea
| | - Young Min Hur
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Ewha Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 07984, Republic of Korea
| | - Sunwha Park
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Ewha Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 07984, Republic of Korea
| | - Young-Ah You
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Ewha Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 07984, Republic of Korea
| | - Soo Min Kim
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Ewha Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 07984, Republic of Korea
- Graduate Program in System Health Science and Engineering, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 07984, Republic of Korea
| | - Gain Lee
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Ewha Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 07984, Republic of Korea
- Graduate Program in System Health Science and Engineering, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 07984, Republic of Korea
| | - Seungbeom Kang
- R&D Center, Cell Biotech Co., Ltd., Gimpo 10003, Republic of Korea
| | - Yusook Chung
- R&D Center, Cell Biotech Co., Ltd., Gimpo 10003, Republic of Korea
| | - Sanghyun Lim
- R&D Center, Cell Biotech Co., Ltd., Gimpo 10003, Republic of Korea
| | - Young Ju Kim
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Ewha Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 07984, Republic of Korea
- Graduate Program in System Health Science and Engineering, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 07984, Republic of Korea
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21
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Xiao L, Zhao F. Microbial transmission, colonisation and succession: from pregnancy to infancy. Gut 2023; 72:772-786. [PMID: 36720630 PMCID: PMC10086306 DOI: 10.1136/gutjnl-2022-328970] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2022] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
The microbiome has been proven to be associated with many diseases and has been used as a biomarker and target in disease prevention and intervention. Currently, the vital role of the microbiome in pregnant women and newborns is increasingly emphasised. In this review, we discuss the interplay of the microbiome and the corresponding immune mechanism between mothers and their offspring during the perinatal period. We aim to present a comprehensive picture of microbial transmission and potential immune imprinting before and after delivery. In addition, we discuss the possibility of in utero microbial colonisation during pregnancy, which has been highly debated in recent studies, and highlight the importance of the microbiome in infant development during the first 3 years of life. This holistic view of the role of the microbial interplay between mothers and infants will refine our current understanding of pregnancy complications as well as diseases in early life and will greatly facilitate the microbiome-based prenatal diagnosis and treatment of mother-infant-related diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liwen Xiao
- Beijing Institutes of Life Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Fangqing Zhao
- Beijing Institutes of Life Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China .,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,Key Laboratory of System Biology, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, China
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22
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Das S, Bhattacharjee MJ, Mukherjee AK, Khan MR. Recent advances in understanding of multifaceted changes in the vaginal microenvironment: implications in vaginal health and therapeutics. Crit Rev Microbiol 2023; 49:256-282. [PMID: 35312419 DOI: 10.1080/1040841x.2022.2049696] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
The vagina endures multifaceted changes from neonatal to menopausal phases due to hormonal flux, metabolite deposition, and microbial colonization. These features have important implications in women's health. Several pre-factors show dynamic characteristics according to the phases that shift the vaginal microbiota from anaerobes to aerobes which is a hallmark of healthy vaginal environment. These factors include oestrogen levels, glycogen deposition, and vaginal microstructure. In the adult phase, Lactobacillus is highly dominant and regulates pH, adherence, aggregation, immune modulation, synthesis of bacteriocins, and biosurfactants (BSs) which are antagonistic to pathogens. Maternal factors are protective by favouring the colonization of lactobacilli in the vagina in the neonatal phase, which diminishes with age. The dominance of lactobacilli and dysbiosis in the adult phase depends on intrinsic and extrinsic factors in women, which vary between ethnicities. Recent developments in probiotics used against vaginal microbiome dysbiosis have shown great promise in restoring the normal microbiota including preventing the loss of beneficial bacteria. However, further in-depth studies are warranted to ensure long-term protection by probiotics. This review highlights various aspects of the vaginal microenvironment in different phases of growth and diverse ethnicities. Furthermore, it discusses future trends for formulating more effective population-specific probiotics and implications of paraprobiotics and postbiotics as effective therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sushmita Das
- Division of Life Science, Institute of Advanced Study in Science and Technology, Guwahati, India
| | | | - Ashis K Mukherjee
- Division of Life Science, Institute of Advanced Study in Science and Technology, Guwahati, India.,Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Tezpur University, Tezpur, India
| | - Mojibur Rohman Khan
- Division of Life Science, Institute of Advanced Study in Science and Technology, Guwahati, India
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23
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Lyra A, Ala-Jaakkola R, Yeung N, Datta N, Evans K, Hibberd A, Lehtinen MJ, Forssten SD, Ibarra A, Pesonen T, Junnila J, Ouwehand AC, Baranowski K, Maukonen J, Crawford G, Lehtoranta L. A Healthy Vaginal Microbiota Remains Stable during Oral Probiotic Supplementation: A Randomised Controlled Trial. Microorganisms 2023; 11:microorganisms11020499. [PMID: 36838464 PMCID: PMC9961720 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11020499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2023] [Revised: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 02/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The primary objective of this randomised, placebo-controlled, triple-blind study was to assess whether orally consumed Lactobacillus acidophilus La-14 (La-14) and Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus HN001 (HN001) colonise a healthy human vagina. Furthermore, potential effects on vaginal microbiota and immune markers were explored. Fifty women devoid of vaginal complaints (Nugent score 0-3 and vaginal pH ≤ 4.5) were randomised into a 2-week intervention with either La-14 and HN001 as the verum product or a comparable placebo. Vaginal swab samples were collected at baseline, after one and two weeks of intervention, and after a one-week follow-up, for assessing colonisation of the supplemented lactobacilli, vaginal microbiota, and six specific immune markers. Colonisation of L. acidophilus and L. rhamnosus was not observed above the assay detection limit (5.29 and 5.11 log 10 genomes/swab for L. acidophilus and L. rhamnosus, respectively). Vaginal microbiotas remained stable and predominated by lactobacilli throughout the intervention, and vaginal pH remained optimal (at least 90% of participants in both groups had pH 4.0 or 4.5 throughout the study). Immune markers elafin and human β-defensin 3 (HBD-3) were significantly decreased in the verum group (p = 0.022 and p = 0.028, respectively) but did not correlate with any microbiota changes. Adverse events raised no safety concerns, and no undesired changes in the vaginal microbiota or immune markers were detected.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Lyra
- IFF Health & Biosciences, 02460 Kantvik, Finland
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +358-40-547-6502
| | | | | | - Neeta Datta
- IFF Health & Biosciences, 02460 Kantvik, Finland
| | - Kara Evans
- IFF Health & Biosciences, Madison, WI 53716, USA
| | | | | | | | - Alvin Ibarra
- IFF Health & Biosciences, 02460 Kantvik, Finland
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24
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Kakotkin VV, Semina EV, Zadorkina TG, Agapov MA. Prevention Strategies and Early Diagnosis of Cervical Cancer: Current State and Prospects. Diagnostics (Basel) 2023; 13:diagnostics13040610. [PMID: 36832098 PMCID: PMC9955852 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics13040610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2022] [Revised: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/05/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Cervical cancer ranks third among all new cancer cases and causes of cancer deaths in females. The paper provides an overview of cervical cancer prevention strategies employed in different regions, with incidence and mortality rates ranging from high to low. It assesses the effectiveness of approaches proposed by national healthcare systems by analysing data published in the National Library of Medicine (Pubmed) since 2018 featuring the following keywords: "cervical cancer prevention", "cervical cancer screening", "barriers to cervical cancer prevention", "premalignant cervical lesions" and "current strategies". WHO's 90-70-90 global strategy for cervical cancer prevention and early screening has proven effective in different countries in both mathematical models and clinical practice. The data analysis carried out within this study identified promising approaches to cervical cancer screening and prevention, which can further enhance the effectiveness of the existing WHO strategy and national healthcare systems. One such approach is the application of AI technologies for detecting precancerous cervical lesions and choosing treatment strategies. As such studies show, the use of AI can not only increase detection accuracy but also ease the burden on primary care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viktor V. Kakotkin
- Scientific and Educational Cluster MEDBIO, Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University, A. Nevskogo St., 14, 236041 Kaliningrad, Russia
| | - Ekaterina V. Semina
- Scientific and Educational Cluster MEDBIO, Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University, A. Nevskogo St., 14, 236041 Kaliningrad, Russia
| | - Tatiana G. Zadorkina
- Kaliningrad Regional Centre for Specialised Medical Care, Barnaulskaia Street, 6, 236006 Kaliningrad, Russia
| | - Mikhail A. Agapov
- Scientific and Educational Cluster MEDBIO, Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University, A. Nevskogo St., 14, 236041 Kaliningrad, Russia
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +7-(4012)-59-55-95
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25
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Dixon M, Dunlop AL, Corwin EJ, Kramer MR. Joint effects of individual socioeconomic status and residential neighborhood context on vaginal microbiome composition. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1029741. [PMID: 36761121 PMCID: PMC9902942 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1029741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2022] [Accepted: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction The vaginal microbiome is a dynamic ecosystem that is important for women's health. Its composition has been associated with risk for menopausal symptoms, sexually transmitted infections, gynecologic cancer, and preterm birth. Conventional risk factors for a vaginal microbiome linked with these adverse health outcomes include sexual behaviors, hygiene practices, individual social factors, and stress levels. However, there has been limited research on socio-contextual determinants, and whether neighborhood context modifies the association with individual socioeconomic factors. Methods Socioeconomically diverse pregnant African American women in Atlanta, Georgia (n = 439) provided residential addresses and first trimester vaginal swab samples, which underwent sequencing, taxonomic classification, and assignment into mutually exclusive CST (community state types) via hierarchical clustering. Linear probability models were used to estimate prevalence differences (PD) for the associations of neighborhood factors with vaginal microbiome CST and to evaluate for additive interaction with maternal level of education, health insurance type, and recruitment hospital. Results Factors such as higher (vs. lower) maternal education, private (vs. public) insurance, and private (vs. public) hospital were associated with higher prevalence of Lactobacillus-dominant vaginal microbiome CSTs typically associated with better health outcomes. When considering the joint effects of these individual socioeconomic status and residential neighborhood factors on vaginal microbiome CST, most combinations showed a greater than additive effect among the doubly exposed; however, in the case of local income homogeneity and local racial homogeneity, there was evidence of a crossover effect between those with less-advantaged individual socioeconomic status and those with more-advantaged individual socioeconomic status. Compared to women at the public hospital who lived in economically diverse neighborhoods, women at the private hospital who lived in economically diverse neighborhoods had a 21.9% higher prevalence of Lactobacillus-dominant CSTs, while women at the private hospital who lived in less economically diverse neighborhoods (the doubly exposed) had only an 11.7% higher prevalence of Lactobacillus-dominant CSTs, showing a crossover effect (interaction term p-value = 0.004). Discussion In this study, aspects of residential neighborhood context were experienced differently by women on the basis of their individual resources, and the joint effects of these exposures on vaginal microbiome CST showed a departure from simple additivity for some factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meredith Dixon
- Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Anne L. Dunlop
- Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States,Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | | | - Michael R. Kramer
- Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States,*Correspondence: Michael R. Kramer ✉
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26
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The Vaginal Microbiome in Health and Disease-What Role Do Common Intimate Hygiene Practices Play? Microorganisms 2023; 11:microorganisms11020298. [PMID: 36838262 PMCID: PMC9959050 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11020298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2022] [Revised: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
The vaginal microbiome is a dynamic, sensitive microenvironment. The hallmark of a 'healthy' vaginal microbiome is currently believed to be one dominated by Lactobacillus spp., which acidifies the vaginal environment and help to protect against invading pathogens. However, a 'normal' microbiome is often difficult, if not impossible, to characterise given that it varies in response to numerous variables, including pregnancy, the menstrual cycle, contraceptive use, diet, ethnicity, and stress. A Lactobacillus-depleted microbiome has been linked to a variety of adverse vaginal health outcomes, including preterm birth (PTB), bacterial vaginosis (BV), and increased risk of sexually transmitted infections. The latter two of these have also been associated with feminine intimate hygiene practices, many of which are practised without any evidence of health benefits. The most extensively studied practice is vaginal douching, which is known to cause vaginal dysbiosis, predisposing women to BV, pelvic inflammatory disease, and PTB. However, little is known of the impact that intimate hygiene practices and associated products have on the vaginal microbiome. This review aims to outline the major factors influencing the vaginal microbiome and common vaginal infections, as well as to summarise current research surrounding the impact of hygiene products and practices on the vaginal microbiome.
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27
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Aggarwal N, Kitano S, Puah GRY, Kittelmann S, Hwang IY, Chang MW. Microbiome and Human Health: Current Understanding, Engineering, and Enabling Technologies. Chem Rev 2023; 123:31-72. [PMID: 36317983 PMCID: PMC9837825 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.2c00431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 54.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
The human microbiome is composed of a collection of dynamic microbial communities that inhabit various anatomical locations in the body. Accordingly, the coevolution of the microbiome with the host has resulted in these communities playing a profound role in promoting human health. Consequently, perturbations in the human microbiome can cause or exacerbate several diseases. In this Review, we present our current understanding of the relationship between human health and disease development, focusing on the microbiomes found across the digestive, respiratory, urinary, and reproductive systems as well as the skin. We further discuss various strategies by which the composition and function of the human microbiome can be modulated to exert a therapeutic effect on the host. Finally, we examine technologies such as multiomics approaches and cellular reprogramming of microbes that can enable significant advancements in microbiome research and engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikhil Aggarwal
- NUS
Synthetic Biology for Clinical and Technological Innovation (SynCTI), National University of Singapore, Singapore 117456, Singapore
- Synthetic
Biology Translational Research Programme, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117456, Singapore
| | - Shohei Kitano
- NUS
Synthetic Biology for Clinical and Technological Innovation (SynCTI), National University of Singapore, Singapore 117456, Singapore
- Synthetic
Biology Translational Research Programme, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117456, Singapore
| | - Ginette Ru Ying Puah
- NUS
Synthetic Biology for Clinical and Technological Innovation (SynCTI), National University of Singapore, Singapore 117456, Singapore
- Synthetic
Biology Translational Research Programme, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117456, Singapore
- Wilmar-NUS
(WIL@NUS) Corporate Laboratory, National
University of Singapore, Singapore 117599, Singapore
- Wilmar
International Limited, Singapore 138568, Singapore
| | - Sandra Kittelmann
- Wilmar-NUS
(WIL@NUS) Corporate Laboratory, National
University of Singapore, Singapore 117599, Singapore
- Wilmar
International Limited, Singapore 138568, Singapore
| | - In Young Hwang
- NUS
Synthetic Biology for Clinical and Technological Innovation (SynCTI), National University of Singapore, Singapore 117456, Singapore
- Synthetic
Biology Translational Research Programme, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117456, Singapore
- Department
of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117596, Singapore
- Singapore
Institute of Technology, Singapore 138683, Singapore
| | - Matthew Wook Chang
- NUS
Synthetic Biology for Clinical and Technological Innovation (SynCTI), National University of Singapore, Singapore 117456, Singapore
- Synthetic
Biology Translational Research Programme, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117456, Singapore
- Wilmar-NUS
(WIL@NUS) Corporate Laboratory, National
University of Singapore, Singapore 117599, Singapore
- Department
of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117596, Singapore
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28
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Compositional Changes in the Vaginal Bacterial Microbiome of Healthy Pregnant Women across the Three Gestational Trimesters in Ismailia, Egypt. Microorganisms 2023; 11:microorganisms11010139. [PMID: 36677431 PMCID: PMC9862816 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11010139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Revised: 12/23/2022] [Accepted: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The composition of the vaginal microbiome may lead to adverse pregnancy outcomes. Normal pregnancy is associated with changes in the vaginal bacterial community composition, which tend to be more enriched with one or two Lactobacillus species promoting a healthy vagina and favorable birth outcomes. The aim of the current study was to determine compositional changes in the healthy vaginal microbiome composition during the three trimesters of pregnancy in Ismailia, Egypt using Illumina MiSeq sequencing of the V3-V4 region of the 16S rRNA. The phylum Firmicutes and the genus Lactobacillus dominated across the three trimesters of pregnancy. L. iners was the most abundant species. However, L. coleohominis and L. reuteri represented the least dominant vaginal lactobacilli. Core microbiome analyses showed the Lactobacillus genus and L. iners species to have the highest prevalence in all the samples of our study groups. The phylum Firmicutes was found to be negatively correlated with almost all other vaginal phyla during pregnancy. Likewise, a negative correlation between Lactobacillus and almost all other genera was detected, including significant negative correlations with Dialister and Prevotella. Furthermore, negative correlations of L. iners were detected with almost all other species, including a significant negative correlation with L. helveticus, G. vaginalis, S. anginosus, and S. agalactiae.
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29
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Chapman-Davis E, Webster EM, Balogun OD, Frey MK, Holcomb K. Landmark Series on Disparities: Uterine Cancer and Strategies for Mitigation. Ann Surg Oncol 2023; 30:48-57. [PMID: 36376567 DOI: 10.1245/s10434-022-12765-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2022] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Longstanding racial disparities exist in uterine cancer. There is a growing body of literature documenting differences in the prevalence, diagnosis, treatment, and tumor characteristics of uterine cancer in Black women compared with White women that significantly contribute to the outcome disparity seen between the groups. This article seeks to provide an overview of racial disparities present in uterine cancer, with attention on Black women in the USA, as well as offer a review on the multifactorial etiology of the disparities described.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eloise Chapman-Davis
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Emily M Webster
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Onyinye D Balogun
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA.,NewYork-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital, New York, NY, USA
| | - Melissa K Frey
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Kevin Holcomb
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
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Sun Z, Ge X, Qiu B, Xiang Z, Jiang C, Wu J, Li Y. Vulvovaginal candidiasis and vaginal microflora interaction: Microflora changes and probiotic therapy. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 13:1123026. [PMID: 36816582 PMCID: PMC9936092 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1123026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Vaginal microbiome is mutually beneficial to the host and has a significant impact on health and disease. Candida species, including Candida albicans, are part of the mucosal flora of most healthy women. Under suitable conditions, they can live in the vulvovaginal mucosa, resulting in symptomatic vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC). Based on the analysis of 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequences, great progress has been made in exploring the composition and structure of vaginal bacterial community. Moreover, researchers have conducted several studies on whether vaginal microbiome will change during VVC infection. In addition, it has been reported that vaginal colonization of probiotics in vaginal microorganisms, especially Lactobacillus, can effectively reduce the risk of VVC and treat VVC. This review aims to summarize the changes of vaginal microflora during VVC infection, and further point out the possibility of using lactic acid bacteria as probiotics to treat VVC, so as to reduce the adverse consequences of VVC infection and reduce the expensive treatment cost.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhongwen Sun
- Department of Medical Technology, Suzhou Vocational Health College, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xinnuo Ge
- Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Bo Qiu
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Ze Xiang
- Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Chun Jiang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jian Wu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yuan Li
- Departments of Cardiology, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
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Gryaznova M, Lebedeva O, Kozarenko O, Smirnova Y, Burakova I, Syromyatnikov M, Maslov A, Popov V. Lower Genital Tract Microbiome in Early Pregnancy in the Eastern European Population. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10122368. [PMID: 36557621 PMCID: PMC9785265 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10122368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2022] [Revised: 11/16/2022] [Accepted: 11/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND It is known that the features of the cervicovaginal microbiome can depend on ethnicity, which might be caused by genetic factors, as well as differences in diet and lifestyle. There is no research on the cervicovaginal microbiome of Eastern European women during early pregnancy. METHODS We evaluated the cervical and cervicovaginal microbiome of women with first-trimester pregnancy (n = 22), further delivered at term, using the 16S rRNA sequencing method. RESULTS The predominant bacterial species in both groups was Lactobacillus iners, followed by Prevotella copri, Ileibacterium valens, Gardnerella vaginalis and Muribaculum intestinale in the cervical samples, and Gardnerella vaginalis, Prevotella copri, Bifidobacterium longum, Ileibacterium valens and Muribaculum intestinale in the cervicovaginal samples. The cervical microbiome had higher alpha diversity; a higher abundance of Muribaculum intestinale, Aquabacterium parvum and Methyloversatilis universalis; and a lower abundance of Psychrobacillus psychrodurans. CONCLUSIONS The Lactobacillus iners-dominated microbiome (CST III) was the predominant type of cervical and cervicovaginal microbiome in early pregnancy in the majority of the women. The presence of soil and animal bacteria in the cervicovaginal microbiome can be explained by the rural origin of patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariya Gryaznova
- Laboratory of Metagenomics and Food Biotechnology, Voronezh State University of Engineering Technologies, 394036 Voronezh, Russia
- Department of Genetics, Cytology and Bioengineering, Voronezh State University, 394018 Voronezh, Russia
| | - Olga Lebedeva
- Laboratory of Metagenomics and Food Biotechnology, Voronezh State University of Engineering Technologies, 394036 Voronezh, Russia
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Belgorod State National University, 308015 Belgorod, Russia
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +7-951-158-97-99
| | - Olesya Kozarenko
- Laboratory of Metagenomics and Food Biotechnology, Voronezh State University of Engineering Technologies, 394036 Voronezh, Russia
- Antenatal Care Department, Yakovlevo Central District Hospital, 309070 Stroitel, Russia
| | - Yuliya Smirnova
- Laboratory of Metagenomics and Food Biotechnology, Voronezh State University of Engineering Technologies, 394036 Voronezh, Russia
- Department of Genetics, Cytology and Bioengineering, Voronezh State University, 394018 Voronezh, Russia
| | - Inna Burakova
- Laboratory of Metagenomics and Food Biotechnology, Voronezh State University of Engineering Technologies, 394036 Voronezh, Russia
| | - Mikhail Syromyatnikov
- Laboratory of Metagenomics and Food Biotechnology, Voronezh State University of Engineering Technologies, 394036 Voronezh, Russia
- Department of Genetics, Cytology and Bioengineering, Voronezh State University, 394018 Voronezh, Russia
| | - Alexander Maslov
- Laboratory of Metagenomics and Food Biotechnology, Voronezh State University of Engineering Technologies, 394036 Voronezh, Russia
- Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY 10461, USA
| | - Vasily Popov
- Laboratory of Metagenomics and Food Biotechnology, Voronezh State University of Engineering Technologies, 394036 Voronezh, Russia
- Department of Genetics, Cytology and Bioengineering, Voronezh State University, 394018 Voronezh, Russia
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Takeda K, Risley C, Kousar A, Briley KP, Prenshaw K, Talluri R, Geisinger KR, Rebellato LM. Post‐kidney transplant cancers: Racial and ethnic differences in sun‐exposed skin versus non‐sun‐exposed anogenital skin. Cancer Med 2022; 12:7348-7355. [PMID: 36373513 PMCID: PMC10067113 DOI: 10.1002/cam4.5431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2022] [Revised: 10/21/2022] [Accepted: 10/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Transplant recipients have a 2- to 4-fold increased risk of developing malignancies over the general population. Cancer is the second most common cause of death for recipients. The magnitude of the risk depends on the cancer type and increases in viral-related malignancies. Skin cancer is the most common. However, data in most cancer registries is limited to cutaneous melanomas, thereby limiting the epidemiologic examination of cancer risk in non-melanoma skin cancer. Our goal was to evaluate post-kidney transplant cancer cases and sites in our population to guide screening recommendations. METHODS Between 2009 and 2015, a retrospective study of adult kidney recipients transplanted at East Carolina University was conducted. The first cancer diagnosis after transplant through February 18, 2020, was captured and analyzed. Patient demographics, cancer sites, and histological diagnoses were analyzed and compared. p16 immunohistochemistry was used as a surrogate marker for high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. RESULTS Retrospectively, kidney transplant recipients were analyzed (N = 439), the majority were non-Hispanic Black (NHB) individuals, 312 (71.1%), and 127 (28.9%) were non-Hispanic White (NHW) individuals. Of these, 59 (13.4%) developed a posttransplant malignancy, with the majority on sun-exposed skin found in NHW. NHB had all anogenital/mucosa skin cancers on non-sun-exposed skin. Of these detected in NHB, all were squamous cell carcinomas, with five out of six (83.3%) being positive for p16. CONCLUSIONS Posttransplant malignancy differed significantly by race, site, and potential source of etiology. The majority of malignancies are likely explained by acceleration of precursor lesions from prior exposure to ultraviolet rays or HPV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kotaro Takeda
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Brody School of Medicine East Carolina University and Vidant Medical Center Greenville North Carolina USA
| | - Carolann Risley
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, and Cancer Center and Research Institute University of Mississippi Medical Center, School of Nursing, School of Medicine Jackson Mississippi USA
| | - Aisha Kousar
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Brody School of Medicine East Carolina University and Vidant Medical Center Greenville North Carolina USA
| | - Kimberly P. Briley
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Brody School of Medicine East Carolina University and Vidant Medical Center Greenville North Carolina USA
| | - Karyn Prenshaw
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Brody School of Medicine East Carolina University and Vidant Medical Center Greenville North Carolina USA
| | - Rajesh Talluri
- Department of Data Science, School of Population Health University of Mississippi Medical Center Jackson Mississippi USA
| | - Kim R. Geisinger
- Walter Reed Military Medical Center The Joint Pathology Center Silver Springs Maryland USA
| | - Lorita M. Rebellato
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Brody School of Medicine East Carolina University and Vidant Medical Center Greenville North Carolina USA
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33
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Kyrgiou M, Moscicki AB. Vaginal microbiome and cervical cancer. Semin Cancer Biol 2022; 86:189-198. [PMID: 35276341 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2022.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2021] [Revised: 02/12/2022] [Accepted: 03/05/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
The female reproductive tract, similar to other mucosal sites, harbors a specific microbiome commonly dominated by Lactobacillus species (spp.), which has an essential role in maintaining health and homeostasis. Increasing evidence shows that genital tract dysbiosis and/or specific bacteria and cytokines might have an active role in the development and/or progression of HPV infection and cervical intra-epithelial neoplasia (CIN) and as a result cervical cancer. Cross-sectional and longitudinal studies reported that Lactobacillus spp. depletion increases with severity of CIN and that this may negatively affect disease regression rates. It is plausible that Lactobacillus deplete microbiome composition may lead to a pro-inflammatory environment that can increase malignant cell proliferation and HPV E6 and E7 oncogene expression. Future longitudinal cohorts and mechanistic experiments on HPV transfected cells models will further permit exploration of the impact of Lactobacillus spp. on HPV infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Kyrgiou
- Institute of Reproductive and Developmental Biology, Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction - Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, W12 0NN, UK; West London Gynaecological Cancer Centre, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London W12 0HS, UK.
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Zeng S, Wang S, Ross RP, Stanton C. The road not taken: host genetics in shaping intergenerational microbiomes. Trends Genet 2022; 38:1180-1192. [PMID: 35773025 DOI: 10.1016/j.tig.2022.05.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2022] [Revised: 05/31/2022] [Accepted: 05/31/2022] [Indexed: 02/09/2023]
Abstract
The early-life gut microbiome is linked to human phenotypes as an imbalanced microbiome of this period is implicated in diseases throughout life. Several determinants of early-life gut microbiome are explored, however, mechanisms of acquisition, colonization, and stability of early-life gut microbiome and their interindividual variability remain elusive. Host genetics play a vital role to shape the gut microbiome and interact with it to modulate individual phenotypes in human studies and animal models. Given the microbial linkage between host generations, we discuss the current state of roles of host genetics in forming intergenerational microbiomes associated with mothers, offspring, and those vertically transmitted, providing a basis for taking into account host genetics in future early-life microbiome research. We further expand our discussion to the bidirectional interactions between host gene expression and microbiome in human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuqin Zeng
- Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University), Ministry of Education, Department of Pediatrics, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China; APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, T12 YT20, Ireland; Teagasc Food Research Centre, Moorepark, Fermoy, Co. Cork, P61 C996, Ireland
| | - Shaopu Wang
- Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University), Ministry of Education, Department of Pediatrics, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China; APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, T12 YT20, Ireland; Teagasc Food Research Centre, Moorepark, Fermoy, Co. Cork, P61 C996, Ireland.
| | - R Paul Ross
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, T12 YT20, Ireland
| | - Catherine Stanton
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, T12 YT20, Ireland; Teagasc Food Research Centre, Moorepark, Fermoy, Co. Cork, P61 C996, Ireland
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Chopra C, Bhushan I, Mehta M, Koushal T, Gupta A, Sharma S, Kumar M, Khodor SA, Sharma S. Vaginal microbiome: considerations for reproductive health. Future Microbiol 2022; 17:1501-1513. [DOI: 10.2217/fmb-2022-0112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
The microbial communities are an indispensable part of the human defense system and coexist with humans as symbionts, contributing to the metabolic functions and immune defense against pathogens. An ecologically stable vaginal microbiota is dominated by Lactobacillus species, which plays an important role in the prevention of genital infections by controlling the vaginal pH, reducing glycogen to lactic acid, and stimulating bacteriocins and hydrogen peroxide. In contrast, an abnormal vaginal microbial composition is associated with an increased risk of bacterial vaginosis, trichomoniasis, sexually transmitted diseases, preterm labor and other birth defects. This microbial diversity is affected by race, ethnicity, pregnancy, hormonal changes, sexual activities, hygiene practices and other conditions. In the present review, we discuss the changes in the microbial community of the vaginal region at different stages of a female's life cycle and its influence on her reproductive health and pathological conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chitrakshi Chopra
- School of Biotechnology, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University, Katra, Jammu & Kashmir, 182320, India
| | - Indu Bhushan
- School of Biotechnology, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University, Katra, Jammu & Kashmir, 182320, India
| | - Malvika Mehta
- School of Biotechnology, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University, Katra, Jammu & Kashmir, 182320, India
| | - Tanvi Koushal
- School of Biotechnology, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University, Katra, Jammu & Kashmir, 182320, India
| | - Amita Gupta
- Department of Gynecology, Government Medical College, Jammu, (J&K), 180001, India
| | - Sarika Sharma
- Department of Sponsored Research, Division of Research & Development, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, 144411, India
| | - Manoj Kumar
- Research Department, Sidra Medicine, Doha, 26999, Qatar
| | | | - Sandeep Sharma
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, Punjab, 144411, India
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36
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France MT, Brown SE, Rompalo AM, Brotman RM, Ravel J. Identification of shared bacterial strains in the vaginal microbiota of related and unrelated reproductive-age mothers and daughters using genome-resolved metagenomics. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0275908. [PMID: 36288274 PMCID: PMC9604009 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0275908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2022] [Accepted: 09/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
It has been suggested that the human microbiome might be vertically transmitted from mother to offspring and that early colonizers may play a critical role in development of the immune system. Studies have shown limited support for the vertical transmission of the intestinal microbiota but the derivation of the vaginal microbiota remains largely unknown. Although the vaginal microbiota of children and reproductive age women differ in composition, the vaginal microbiota could be vertically transmitted. To determine whether there was any support for this hypothesis, we examined the vaginal microbiota of daughter-mother pairs from the Baltimore metropolitan area (ages 14-27, 32-51; n = 39). We assessed whether the daughter's microbiota was similar in composition to their mother's using metataxonomics. Permutation tests revealed that while some pairs did have similar vaginal microbiota, the degree of similarity did not exceed that expected by chance. Genome-resolved metagenomics was used to identify shared bacterial strains in a subset of the families (n = 22). We found a small number of bacterial strains that were shared between mother-daughter pairs but identified more shared strains between individuals from different families, indicating that vaginal bacteria may display biogeographic patterns. Earlier-in-life studies are needed to demonstrate vertical transmission of the vaginal microbiota.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael T. France
- Institute for Genome Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Sarah E. Brown
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Anne M. Rompalo
- Division of Infectious Diseases, John Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Rebecca M. Brotman
- Institute for Genome Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Jacques Ravel
- Institute for Genome Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
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37
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Wang N, Chen L, Yi K, Zhang B, Li C, Zhou X. The effects of microbiota on reproductive health: A review. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr 2022; 64:1486-1507. [PMID: 36066460 DOI: 10.1080/10408398.2022.2117784] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
Reproductive issues are becoming an increasing global problem. There is increasing interest in the relationship between microbiota and reproductive health. Stable microbiota communities exist in the gut, reproductive tract, uterus, testes, and semen. Various effects (e.g., epigenetic modifications, nervous system, metabolism) of dysbiosis in the microbiota can impair gamete quality; interfere with zygote formation, embryo implantation, and embryo development; and increase disease susceptibility, thus adversely impacting reproductive capacity and pregnancy. The maintenance of a healthy microbiota can protect the host from pathogens, increase reproductive potential, and reduce the rates of adverse pregnancy outcomes. In conclusion, this review discusses microbiota in the male and female reproductive systems of multiple animal species. It explores the effects and mechanisms of microbiota on reproduction, factors that influence microbiota composition, and applications of microbiota in reproductive disorder treatment and detection. The findings support novel approaches for managing reproductive diseases through microbiota improvement and monitoring. In addition, it will stimulate further systematic explorations of microbiota-mediated effects on reproduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nan Wang
- College of Animal Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Lu Chen
- College of Animal Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Kangle Yi
- Hunan Institute of Animal and Veterinary Science, Changsha, China
| | - Baizhong Zhang
- Hunan Institute of Animal and Veterinary Science, Changsha, China
| | - Chunjin Li
- College of Animal Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Xu Zhou
- College of Animal Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, China
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Vajpeyee M, Tiwari S, Yadav LB, Tank P. Assessment of bacterial diversity associated with assisted reproductive technologies through next-generation sequencing. MIDDLE EAST FERTILITY SOCIETY JOURNAL 2022. [DOI: 10.1186/s43043-022-00117-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Background
To assess bacterial diversity in infertile couples with their biochemical pregnancy outcomes. Using a retrospective case-control study design, participants were recruited for collection of vaginal swab, follicular fluid, endometrial fluid, and semen samples. The microbial composition was analyzed by 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene amplification with (MinION) Oxford Nanopore Ltd.
Results
Our findings revealed that age and endometrial thickness had a significant impact on the pregnancy success rate of pregnant (P) and non-pregnant (NP) patients receiving IVF, with high levels of luteinizing hormone, estrogen, and progesterone in the P group. In addition, the partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) revealed a difference in microbial composition between the P and NP groups, as well as a higher microbial abundance in non-pregnant patients compared to pregnant patients. After comparison between pregnant patients and non-pregnant patients, pregnant patients had a higher abundance of Firmicutes and Proteobacteria and a lower abundance of Actinobacteria, Fusobacterium, and Bacteroidetes at the phylum level. Non-pregnant patients had a lower abundance of the probiotics lactobacillus and a higher abundance of infections Prevotella and Gardnerella at the genus level. As a result, a disordered microbiota in non-pregnant patients, characterized by a decrease in probiotics and an increase in pathogens, could be used as a possible marker for a higher IVF failure rate.
Conclusion
Alteration of the microbiota of the reproductive tract or the presence of certain microbes, regardless of the degree of pathogenicity that can affect fertilization, as well as implantation and subsequent embryonic development. This could result in failed fertility treatments and a lower live birth (LBR) rate.
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Carrillo-Salinas FJ, Parthasarathy S, Moreno de Lara L, Borchers A, Ochsenbauer C, Panda A, Rodriguez-Garcia M. Short-Chain Fatty Acids Impair Neutrophil Antiviral Function in an Age-Dependent Manner. Cells 2022; 11:2515. [PMID: 36010593 PMCID: PMC9406757 DOI: 10.3390/cells11162515] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2022] [Revised: 08/10/2022] [Accepted: 08/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Half of the people living with HIV are women. Younger women remain disproportionally affected in endemic areas, but infection rates in older women are rising worldwide. The vaginal microbiome influences genital inflammation and HIV infection risk. Multiple factors, including age, induce vaginal microbial alterations, characterized by high microbial diversity that generate high concentrations of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), known to modulate neutrophil function. However, how SCFAs may modulate innate anti-HIV protection by neutrophils is unknown. To investigate SCFA-mediated alterations of neutrophil function, blood neutrophils from younger and older women were treated with SCFAs (acetate, butyrate and propionate) at concentrations within the range reported during bacterial vaginosis, and phenotype, migration and anti-HIV responses were evaluated. SCFA induced phenotypical changes preferentially in neutrophils from older women. Butyrate decreased CD66b and increased CD16 and CD62L expression, indicating low activation and prolonged survival, while propionate increased CD54 and CXCR4 expression, indicating a mature aged phenotype. Furthermore, acetate and butyrate significantly inhibited neutrophil migration in vitro and specifically reduced α-defensin release in older women, molecules with anti-HIV activity. Following HIV stimulation, SCFA treatment delayed NET release and dampened chemokine secretion compared to untreated neutrophils in younger and older women. Our results demonstrate that SCFAs can impair neutrophil-mediated anti-HIV responses.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Siddharth Parthasarathy
- Department of Immunology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02111, USA
- Immunology Program, Tufts Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Boston, MA 02111, USA
| | - Laura Moreno de Lara
- Department of Immunology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02111, USA
- Immunology Unit, Biomedical Research Centre (CIBM), University of Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain
| | - Anna Borchers
- Department of Immunology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02111, USA
| | - Christina Ochsenbauer
- Department of Medicine, Hem/Onc & CFAR, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA
| | - Alexander Panda
- Tufts Medical Center/Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care (PCCM), Boston, MA 02111, USA
- Tufts Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI), Boston, MA 02111, USA
| | - Marta Rodriguez-Garcia
- Department of Immunology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02111, USA
- Immunology Program, Tufts Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Boston, MA 02111, USA
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40
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Vaginal Microbiome in Reproductive Medicine. Diagnostics (Basel) 2022; 12:diagnostics12081948. [PMID: 36010298 PMCID: PMC9406911 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics12081948] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2022] [Revised: 08/09/2022] [Accepted: 08/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The human microbiome has been given increasing importance in recent years. The establishment of sequencing-based technology has made it possible to identify a large number of bacterial species that were previously beyond the scope of culture-based technologies. Just as microbiome diagnostics has emerged as a major point of focus in science, reproductive medicine has developed into a subject of avid interest, particularly with regard to causal research and treatment options for implantation failure. Thus, the vaginal microbiome is discussed as a factor influencing infertility and a promising target for treatment options. The present review provides an overview of current research concerning the impact of the vaginal microbiome on the outcome of reproductive measures. A non-Lactobacillus-dominated microbiome was shown to be associated with dysbiosis, possibly even bacterial vaginosis. This imbalance has a negative impact on implantation rates in assisted reproductive technologies and may also be responsible for habitual abortions. Screening of the microbiome in conjunction with antibiotic and/or probiotic treatment appears to be one way of improving pregnancy outcomes.
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41
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Hotkani ZG, Ghaedmohammadi S, Mozdoori N. Meta-analysis of race and age influence on the vaginal microbiome in pregnant and nonpregnant healthy women. Future Microbiol 2022; 17:1147-1159. [PMID: 35950983 DOI: 10.2217/fmb-2021-0209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Aim: The presence of microbial species in reproductive tubes plays an essential protective role against the proliferation of harmful organisms and is an important factor in reproductive health. High-throughput culture-independent technologies allow the study of the vaginal microbiome on a large scale. This study aimed to compare the vaginal microbiota between pregnant and nonpregnant women of different ages and races using the meta-analysis method. Materials & methods: Seven articles with 16S rRNA gene sequences were studied and analyzed using CLC Genomics Workbench 20.1.1. Results & conclusion: This study revealed new insights into the effects of age and ethnicity on the pregnant and nonpregnant vaginal microbiome and found that the microbiome of Chinese women is more distinct than that of other ethnicities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zahra G Hotkani
- Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, Milan, 20133, Italy
| | - Samira Ghaedmohammadi
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Estahban Higher Education Center, Estahban, Iran
| | - Najmeh Mozdoori
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Estahban Higher Education Center, Estahban, Iran
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Gholiof M, Adamson-De Luca E, Wessels JM. The female reproductive tract microbiotas, inflammation, and gynecological conditions. FRONTIERS IN REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH 2022; 4:963752. [PMID: 36303679 PMCID: PMC9580710 DOI: 10.3389/frph.2022.963752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The intricate interactions between the host cells, bacteria, and immune components that reside in the female reproductive tract (FRT) are essential in maintaining reproductive tract homeostasis. Much of our current knowledge surrounding the FRT microbiota relates to the vaginal microbiota, where ‘health’ has long been associated with low bacterial diversity and Lactobacillus dominance. This concept has recently been challenged as women can have a diverse vaginal microbial composition in the absence of symptomatic disease. The structures of the upper FRT (the endocervix, uterus, Fallopian tubes, and ovaries) have distinct, lower biomass microbiotas than the vagina; however, the existence of permanent microbiotas at these sites is disputed. During homeostasis, a balance exists between the FRT bacteria and the immune system that maintains immune quiescence. Alterations in the bacteria, immune system, or local environment may result in perturbances to the FRT microbiota, defined as dysbiosis. The inflammatory signature of a perturbed or “dysbiotic” FRT microbiota is characterized by elevated concentrations of pro-inflammatory cytokines in cervical and vaginal fluid. It appears that vaginal homeostasis can be disrupted by two different mechanisms: first, a shift toward increased bacterial diversity can trigger vaginal inflammation, and second, local immunity is altered in some manner, which disrupts the microbiota in response to an environmental change. FRT dysbiosis can have negative effects on reproductive health. This review will examine the increasing evidence for the involvement of the FRT microbiotas and inflammation in gynecologic conditions such as endometriosis, infertility, and endometrial and ovarian cancer; however, the precise mechanisms by which bacteria are involved in these conditions remains speculative at present. While only in their infancy, the use of antibiotics and probiotics to therapeutically alter the FRT microbiota is being studied and is discussed herein. Our current understanding of the intimate relationship between immunity and the FRT microbiota is in its early days, and more research is needed to deepen our mechanistic understanding of this relationship and to assess how our present knowledge can be harnessed to assist in diagnosis and treatment of gynecologic conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahsa Gholiof
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Emma Adamson-De Luca
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
- AIMA Laboratories Inc., Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Jocelyn M. Wessels
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
- AIMA Laboratories Inc., Hamilton, ON, Canada
- *Correspondence: Jocelyn M. Wessels
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Guo C, Dai W, Zhou Q, Gui L, Cai H, Wu D, Hou J, Li C, Li S, Du H, Wu R. Cervicovaginal microbiota significantly changed for HPV-positive women with high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:973875. [PMID: 35992171 PMCID: PMC9386141 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.973875] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Lower female genital tract is colonized by a variety of microbes (cervicovaginal microbiota, CVM) which associate with the risk of genital infection. This study characterized CVM for 149 Chinese women with different status of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and squamous intraepithelial lesion (SIL): no HPV infection (HPV-), HPV infection without significant SIL (HPV+NoSIL), HPV infection with low-grade SIL (HPV+LSIL) and HPV infection with high-grade SIL (HPV+HSIL). Analysis results showed CVM has dramatically changed in HPV+HSIL group when compared to HPV+LSIL group, but it exhibited no significant differences between HPV- and HPV+NoSIL groups as well as between HPV+NoSIL and HPV+LSIL groups. In consistence, random forest analysis found more notable differences in HPV+HSIL vs HPV+LSIL comparison than in other comparisons. In addition, depletion of Lactobacillus in CVM was more to be frequently identified in SIL-positive women as compared to SIL-negative individuals. Our findings suggested that significant CVM differences occurred when SIL developed to HSIL which was caused by persistent HPV infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunlei Guo
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China
- Institute of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shenzhen Peking University-Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Medical Center (PKU-HKUST) Medical Center, Shenzhen, China
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen Key Laboratory on Technology for Early Diagnosis of Major Gynecologic Diseases, Shenzhen, China
| | - Wenkui Dai
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China
- Institute of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shenzhen Peking University-Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Medical Center (PKU-HKUST) Medical Center, Shenzhen, China
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen Key Laboratory on Technology for Early Diagnosis of Major Gynecologic Diseases, Shenzhen, China
| | - Qian Zhou
- Department of Computer Science, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Liming Gui
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Han Cai
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Di Wu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Jun Hou
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China
- Institute of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shenzhen Peking University-Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Medical Center (PKU-HKUST) Medical Center, Shenzhen, China
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen Key Laboratory on Technology for Early Diagnosis of Major Gynecologic Diseases, Shenzhen, China
| | - Changzhong Li
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China
- Institute of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shenzhen Peking University-Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Medical Center (PKU-HKUST) Medical Center, Shenzhen, China
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen Key Laboratory on Technology for Early Diagnosis of Major Gynecologic Diseases, Shenzhen, China
| | - Shuaicheng Li
- Department of Computer Science, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Hui Du
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China
- Institute of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shenzhen Peking University-Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Medical Center (PKU-HKUST) Medical Center, Shenzhen, China
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen Key Laboratory on Technology for Early Diagnosis of Major Gynecologic Diseases, Shenzhen, China
- *Correspondence: Ruifang Wu, ; Hui Du,
| | - Ruifang Wu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China
- Institute of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shenzhen Peking University-Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Medical Center (PKU-HKUST) Medical Center, Shenzhen, China
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen Key Laboratory on Technology for Early Diagnosis of Major Gynecologic Diseases, Shenzhen, China
- *Correspondence: Ruifang Wu, ; Hui Du,
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Hong X, Zhao J, Yin J, Zhao F, Wang W, Ding X, Yu H, Ma X, Wang B. The association between the pre-pregnancy vaginal microbiome and time-to-pregnancy: a Chinese pregnancy-planning cohort study. BMC Med 2022; 20:246. [PMID: 35909180 PMCID: PMC9341075 DOI: 10.1186/s12916-022-02437-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although sexually transmitted infections are regarded as the main cause of tubal infertility, the association between the common vaginal microbiome and female fecundability has yet to be determined. The objective of this study was to find convincing evidence relating to the impact of the vaginal bacterial structure on the fecundability of women planning pregnancy. METHODS We recruited women who took part in the Free Pre-pregnancy Health Examination Project from 13 June 2018 to 31 October 2018 (n = 89, phase I) and from 1 November 2018 to 30 May 2020 (n = 389, phase II). We collected pre-pregnancy vaginal swabs from each subject; then, we followed up each subject to acquire the pregnancy-planning outcome in 1 year. In phase I, 16S rRNA gene sequencing was performed to investigate the vaginal bacterial content between the pregnancy and non-pregnancy groups. These findings were verified in phase II by applying a quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction for the measurement of the absolute abundance of specific species. Cox models were used to estimate fecundability ratios (FR) for each vaginal microbiome type. RESULTS In phase I, 59.6% (53/89) of women became pregnant within 1 year. The principal coordinate analysis showed that the pre-pregnancy vaginal microbial community structures of the pregnant and non-pregnant groups were significantly different (PERMANOVA test, R2 = 0.025, P = 0.049). The abundance of the genus Lactobacillus in the pregnancy group was higher than that of the non-pregnant group (linear discriminant analysis effect size (LDA) > 4.0). The abundance of the genus Gardnerella in the non-pregnant group was higher than those in the pregnant group (LDA > 4.0). In phase II, female fecundability increased with higher absolute loads of Lactobacillus gasseri (quartile Q4 vs Q1, FR = 1.71, 95%CI 1.02-2.87) but decreased with higher absolute loads of Fannyhessea vaginae (Q4 vs Q1, FR = 0.62, 95%CI 0.38-1.00). Clustering analysis showed that the vaginal microbiome of type D (characterized by a higher abundance of Lactobacillus iners, a lower abundance of Lactobacillus crispatus and Lactobacillus gassri) was associated with a 55% reduction of fecundability (FR = 0.45, 95%CI 0.26-0.76) compared with type A (featuring three Lactobacillus species, low Gardnerella vaginalis and Fannyhessea vaginae abundance). CONCLUSIONS This cohort study demonstrated an association between the pre-pregnancy vaginal microbiome and female fecundability. A vaginal microbiome characterized by a higher abundance of L. iners and lower abundances of L. crispatus and L. gasseri appeared to be associated with a lower fecundability. Further research now needs to confirm whether manipulation of the vaginal microenvironment might improve human fecundability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiang Hong
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Engineering of Ministry of Education, Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Southeast University, No. 87 Dingjiaqiao Rd., Gulou District, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jun Zhao
- National Research Institute for Family Planning, Beijing, China. .,National Human Genetic Resources Center, Beijing, China.
| | - Jiechen Yin
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Engineering of Ministry of Education, Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Southeast University, No. 87 Dingjiaqiao Rd., Gulou District, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Fanqi Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Engineering of Ministry of Education, Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Southeast University, No. 87 Dingjiaqiao Rd., Gulou District, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Wei Wang
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Engineering of Ministry of Education, Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Southeast University, No. 87 Dingjiaqiao Rd., Gulou District, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xiaoling Ding
- Maternal and Child Health Center of Gulou District, Nanjing, China
| | - Hong Yu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Zhong Da Hospital, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xu Ma
- National Research Institute for Family Planning, Beijing, China. .,National Human Genetic Resources Center, Beijing, China.
| | - Bei Wang
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Engineering of Ministry of Education, Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Southeast University, No. 87 Dingjiaqiao Rd., Gulou District, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
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Mollin A, Katta M, Sobel JD, Akins RA. Association of key species of vaginal bacteria of recurrent bacterial vaginosis patients before and after oral metronidazole therapy with short- and long-term clinical outcomes. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0272012. [PMID: 35901180 PMCID: PMC9333308 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0272012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is associated with a state of vaginal dysbiosis typically involving depletion of otherwise dominant populations of Lactobacillus. The causes of this microbial succession are not known; there may be multiple causes. Standard treatment includes oral metronidazole, which typically restores Lactobacillus species to dominance. However, recurrence rates are high; recurrent BV patients recur 3–4 times annually and are often refractory to treatment. Our previous qPCR-based study of recurrent BV patients pointed to putatively more virulent species of Gardnerella that were associated with refractory responses to oral metronidazole, and less robust recovery of Lactobacillus species associated with recurrence after an initial period of remission. However, these associations did not account for outcomes in all patients, suggesting that other bacterial species were involved. In this follow-up study, we sequenced the V4 domain of 16S rRNA sequences of 41of these same patients pre- and posttreatment. Overall compositions among pretreatment clinical outcome groups were not different, although alpha diversity significantly decreased: refractory > recurrent > remission. Combinations of key species were associated with and prognostic for outcome. Higher pretreatment abundance of Megasphaera lornae together with lower abundance of Gardnerella Gsp07 and Finegoldia magna predicted long term remission after oral metronidazole. Furthermore, a subset of refractory patients that did not have high levels of Gardnerella Gsp07, instead had elevated levels of alternative species including Atopobium vaginae, Mageeibacillus indolicus (BVAB3), and Prevotella timonensis. Patients who recurred after transient remission had elevated abundance of species including Atopobium vaginae, Gardnerella, and Aerococcus christensenii, compared to long-term remission patients. Core bacterial species among refractory patients did not change in abundance after metronidazole, suggesting resistance or tolerance, in contrast to the loss in abundance of the same species among recurrent or remission patients. These findings have potential prognostic and therapeutic implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashomathi Mollin
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, & Immunology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Mounika Katta
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, & Immunology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Jack D. Sobel
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Robert A. Akins
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, & Immunology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Reynoso-García J, Miranda-Santiago AE, Meléndez-Vázquez NM, Acosta-Pagán K, Sánchez-Rosado M, Díaz-Rivera J, Rosado-Quiñones AM, Acevedo-Márquez L, Cruz-Roldán L, Tosado-Rodríguez EL, Figueroa-Gispert MDM, Godoy-Vitorino F. A complete guide to human microbiomes: Body niches, transmission, development, dysbiosis, and restoration. FRONTIERS IN SYSTEMS BIOLOGY 2022; 2:951403. [PMID: 38993286 PMCID: PMC11238057 DOI: 10.3389/fsysb.2022.951403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/13/2024]
Abstract
Humans are supra-organisms co-evolved with microbial communities (Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic), named the microbiome. These microbiomes supply essential ecosystem services that play critical roles in human health. A loss of indigenous microbes through modern lifestyles leads to microbial extinctions, associated with many diseases and epidemics. This narrative review conforms a complete guide to the human holobiont-comprising the host and all its symbiont populations- summarizes the latest and most significant research findings in human microbiome. It pretends to be a comprehensive resource in the field, describing all human body niches and their dominant microbial taxa while discussing common perturbations on microbial homeostasis, impacts of urbanization and restoration and humanitarian efforts to preserve good microbes from extinction.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Kimil Acosta-Pagán
- Department of Microbiology and Medical Zoology, UPR School of Medicine, San Juan, PR, United States
| | - Mitchell Sánchez-Rosado
- Department of Microbiology and Medical Zoology, UPR School of Medicine, San Juan, PR, United States
| | - Jennifer Díaz-Rivera
- Department of Microbiology and Medical Zoology, UPR School of Medicine, San Juan, PR, United States
| | - Angélica M. Rosado-Quiñones
- Department of Biology, UPR Rio Piedras Campus, San Juan, PR, United States
- Department of Microbiology and Medical Zoology, UPR School of Medicine, San Juan, PR, United States
| | - Luis Acevedo-Márquez
- Department of Microbiology and Medical Zoology, UPR School of Medicine, San Juan, PR, United States
| | - Lorna Cruz-Roldán
- Department of Microbiology and Medical Zoology, UPR School of Medicine, San Juan, PR, United States
| | | | | | - Filipa Godoy-Vitorino
- Department of Microbiology and Medical Zoology, UPR School of Medicine, San Juan, PR, United States
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Liu CJ, Xiao WY, Fang JF, Dong YH, Ye KF, He MP, Wang YS, Li X, Zhao ZM, Yuan T, Zhao T, He CY, Zhang SM, Yang E, Wu XM, Li XR. Genital Microbiota of Women From Six Ethnic Groups With and Without Human Papillomavirus Infection in Shangri-La, China. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:935068. [PMID: 35873154 PMCID: PMC9304955 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.935068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2022] [Accepted: 06/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background A diversity of microorganisms is associated with human health and exists in a state of dynamic equilibrium. This diversity has direct implications for the assessment of susceptibility to infectious diseases, especially human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. Methods Here, we investigated the relationships between HPV infection and vaginal, cervical, and gut microbiota composition and assessed the levels of genital immune mediators. We selected a multiethnic area in Yunnan Province, China, to collect samples from healthy women of childbearing age. A total of 82 healthy women of childbearing age were included in this study. Vaginal, cervical, and rectal swabs were collected to analyze the microbial community, and cytokines were analyzed in some samples. Findings Different proportions and types of HPV infection were detected in cervical (44%), vaginal (18%), and rectal (18%) swabs. HPV detected in cervical swabs was generally a high-risk type, while low-risk HPV types were primarily detected in vaginal and rectal swabs. There were some differences in this proportion as well as in the microbial community composition among different ethnic groups. Rectal samples exhibited the highest diversity index, while vaginal samples displayed the lowest diversity index. Lactobacillus dominated most of the vaginal samples, was decreased in HPV-positive samples, and differed among different ethnic groups. However, the sequence proportion of Lactobacillus in the cervix exhibited the opposite trend in those affected by HPV infection. The dynamic balance between the potential pathogens Gardnerella and Lactobacillus determines the health of the female genital system. Interpretation This study constitutes the first step toward personalized medicine for women’s reproductive health, wherein differences between the genital microbiomes of individuals would be considered in risk assessment and for subsequent disease diagnosis and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen-Jian Liu
- Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
| | - Wen-Yu Xiao
- Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
| | - Jun-Feng Fang
- Gynaecology Department, The First People’s Hospital of Yunnan Province, Kunming, China
- Gynaecology Department, The Affiliated Hospital of Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
| | - Yong-Hong Dong
- Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
| | - Ke-Fan Ye
- Gynaecology Department, The First People’s Hospital of Yunnan Province, Kunming, China
- Gynaecology Department, The Affiliated Hospital of Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
| | - Meng-Ping He
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefectural People’s Hospital, DiQing, China
| | - Yan-Song Wang
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefectural People’s Hospital, DiQing, China
| | - Xiao Li
- Gynaecology Department, The First People’s Hospital of Yunnan Province, Kunming, China
- Gynaecology Department, The Affiliated Hospital of Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
| | - Zhi-Min Zhao
- Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
| | - Tao Yuan
- Gynaecology Department, The First People’s Hospital of Yunnan Province, Kunming, China
- Gynaecology Department, The Affiliated Hospital of Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
| | - Ting Zhao
- Gynaecology Department, The First People’s Hospital of Yunnan Province, Kunming, China
- Gynaecology Department, The Affiliated Hospital of Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
| | - Chun-Yan He
- Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
| | - Shu-Ming Zhang
- Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
| | - En Yang
- Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
| | - Xiao-Mei Wu
- Gynaecology Department, The First People’s Hospital of Yunnan Province, Kunming, China
- Gynaecology Department, The Affiliated Hospital of Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
- *Correspondence: Xiao-Ran Li, ; Xiao-Mei Wu,
| | - Xiao-Ran Li
- Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
- *Correspondence: Xiao-Ran Li, ; Xiao-Mei Wu,
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Bommana S, Richards G, Kama M, Kodimerla R, Jijakli K, Read TD, Dean D. Metagenomic Shotgun Sequencing of Endocervical, Vaginal, and Rectal Samples among Fijian Women with and without Chlamydia trachomatis Reveals Disparate Microbial Populations and Function across Anatomic Sites: a Pilot Study. Microbiol Spectr 2022; 10:e0010522. [PMID: 35579443 PMCID: PMC9241848 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00105-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2022] [Accepted: 04/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Chlamydia trachomatis is a sexually transmitted pathogen and a global public health concern. Little is known about the microbial composition and function across endocervical, vaginal, and rectal microbiomes in the context of C. trachomatis infection. We evaluated the microbiomes of 10 age-matched high-risk Fijian women with and without C. trachomatis using metagenomic shotgun sequencing (MSS). Lactobacillus iners and Lactobacillus crispatus dominated the vagina and endocervix of uninfected women. Species often found in higher relative abundance in bacterial vaginosis (BV)-Mageeibacillus indolicus, Prevotella spp., Sneathia spp., Gardnerella vaginalis, and Veillonellaceae spp.-were dominant in C. trachomatis-infected women. This combination of BV pathogens was unique to Pacific Islanders compared to previously studied groups. The C. trachomatis-infected endocervix had a higher diversity of microbiota and microbial profiles that were somewhat different from those of the vagina. However, community state type III (CST-III) and CST-IV predominated, reflecting pathogenic microbiota regardless of C. trachomatis infection status. Rectal microbiomes were dominated by Prevotella and Bacteroides, although four women had unique microbiomes with Gardnerella, Akkermansia, Bifidobacterium, and Brachyspira. A high level of microbial similarity across microbiomes in two C. trachomatis-infected women suggested intragenitorectal transmission. A number of metabolic pathways in the endocervix, driven by BV pathogens and C. trachomatis to meet nutritional requirements for survival/growth, 5-fold higher than that in the vagina indicated that endocervical microbial functions are likely more diverse and complex than those in the vagina. Our novel findings provide the impetus for larger prospective studies to interrogate microbial/microbiome interactions that promote C. trachomatis infection and better define the unique genitorectal microbiomes of Pacific Islanders. IMPORTANCE Chlamydia trachomatis is the primary cause of bacterial sexually transmitted infections worldwide, with a disturbing increase in annual rates. While there is a plethora of data on healthy and pathogenic vaginal microbiomes-defining microbial profiles and associations with sexually transmitted infections (STIs)-far fewer studies have similarly examined the endocervix or rectum. Further, vulnerable populations, such as Pacific Islanders, remain underrepresented in research. We investigated the microbial composition, structure, and function of these anatomic microbiomes using metagenomic shotgun sequencing among a Fijian cohort. We found, primarily among C. trachomatis-infected women, unique microbial profiles in endocervical, vaginal, and rectal microbiomes with an increased diversity and more complex microbial pathways in endocervical than vaginal microbiomes. Similarities in microbiome composition across sites for some women suggested intragenitorectal transmission. These novel insights into genitorectal microbiomes and their purported function require prospective studies to better define Pacific Islander microbiomes and microbial/microbiome interactions that promote C. trachomatis infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sankhya Bommana
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Francisco, Oakland, California, USA
| | - Gracie Richards
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Francisco, Oakland, California, USA
| | - Mike Kama
- Ministry of Health and Medical Services, Suva, Fiji
| | - Reshma Kodimerla
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Francisco, Oakland, California, USA
| | - Kenan Jijakli
- Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Timothy D. Read
- Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Deborah Dean
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Francisco, Oakland, California, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, Joint Graduate Program, University of California San Francisco and University of California Berkeley, San Francisco, California, USA
- Bixby Center for Global Reproductive Health, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
- Benioff Center for Microbiome Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
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Vaginal Microbiota Is Stable and Mainly Dominated by Lactobacillus at Third Trimester of Pregnancy and Active Childbirth: A Longitudinal Study of Ten Mexican Women. Curr Microbiol 2022; 79:230. [PMID: 35767085 DOI: 10.1007/s00284-022-02918-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2021] [Accepted: 05/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
In healthy women at reproductive age, the vaginal microbiota is mainly dominated by Lactobacillus bacteria during pregnancy and non-pregnancy stages. However, little is known about longitudinal changes within the vaginal microbiota composition from the third trimester of pregnancy to childbirth in healthy women. Thus, we conducted an exploratory longitudinal study of vaginal microbiota composition of 10 Mexican pregnant women, sampling from the same volunteer at two-time points: third trimester of pregnancy and active childbirth. Vaginal bacterial microbiota was characterized by V3-16S rDNA libraries by high-throughput sequencing and bioinformatics methods. Out of ten, vaginal microbiota from eight women was dominated by the Lactobacillus genus at both time points, whereas the other two women showed vaginal microbiota composition with high abundance of genera Gardnerella, Prevotella, and members of the Atopobiaceae family, without any preterm birth correlation. Importantly, we found no statistically significant differences in relative abundances, absolute reads count, alpha and beta diversity between the third trimester of pregnancy, and active childbirth time points. However, compared to the third trimester of pregnancy, we observed a trend with higher absolute reads counts for Gardnerella, Faecalibaculum, Ileibacterium, and Lactococcus genus at active childbirth and lower absolute reads count of Lactobacillus genus. Our results suggest that the vaginal microbiota composition is stable, and Lactobacillus genus is the dominant taxa in Mexican women's vagina at the third trimester of pregnancy and childbirth.
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Taku O, Onywera H, Mbulawa ZZA, Businge CB, Meiring TL, Williamson AL. Molecular Identification of Cervical Microbes in HIV-Negative and HIV-Positive Women in an African Setting Using a Customized Bacterial Vaginosis Microbial DNA Quantitative PCR (qPCR) Array. Microbiol Spectr 2022; 10:e0222921. [PMID: 35647888 PMCID: PMC9241767 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.02229-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2021] [Accepted: 05/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a common polymicrobial vaginal disorder that is associated with sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV. Several studies have utilized broad-range 16S rRNA gene PCR assays with sequence analysis to characterize cervicovaginal bacterial communities of women with healthy and diseased conditions. With the high burden of BV and STIs among African women, there is a need for targeted PCR assays that can rapidly determine the true epidemiological profile of key cervical microbes, including BV-associated bacteria, and a need to explore the utility of such assays for microbiological diagnosis of BV. Here, we used a taxon-directed 16S rRNA gene quantitative PCR (qPCR) assay to examine the prevalences and determinants of specific cervical microbes among African women with and without HIV infection. Cervical samples were collected using a cytobrush from 162 women (aged ≥30 years) attending a community-based clinic in Eastern Cape, South Africa. The samples were screened for specific microbes (i.e., STIs, emerging sexually transmitted pathogens [pathobionts], and BV-associated bacteria) using a customized bacterial vaginosis microbial DNA qPCR array. Statistical analyses were performed using GraphPad Prism v6.01. Chi-square/Fisher's exact tests were used to evaluate the determinants associated with specific cervical microbes. Only 145 women had any detectable microbes and were included in the analysis. Lactobacillus iners (62.8%) and specific BV-associated bacteria, namely, Gardnerella vaginalis (58.6%), Atopobium vaginae (40.7%), and the pathobiont Ureaplasma parvum (37.9%), were the most prevalent microbes. Hierarchical clustering analysis revealed that 42.8% of the women (62/145) had a diverse array of heterogeneously distributed bacteria typically linked to BV. Women with detectable Lactobacillus species, specifically Lactobacillus crispatus and Lactobacillus jensenii, and to a lesser extent L. iners, had very low prevalence of BV-associated bacteria. Although the cumulative burden of STIs/pathobionts was 62.8%, Chlamydia trachomatis (3.4%), Neisseria gonorrhoeae (4.8%), and Trichomonas vaginalis (4.8%) were detected at low rates. HIV infection was associated with the presence of STIs/pathobionts (P = 0.022) and L. iners (P = 0.003). Prevalent STIs/pathobionts were associated with having multiple partners in the past 12 months (n ≥ 2, P = 0.015), high number of lifetime sexual partners (n ≥ 3, P = 0.007), vaginal sex in the past month (P = 0.010), and decreasing age of women (P = 0.005). C. trachomatis was associated with increasing age among HIV-positive women (P = 0.016). The pathobiont Ureaplasma urealyticum was inversely associated with age of women in the whole cohort (P = 0.018). The overall prevalence of STIs/pathobionts was high and was associated with HIV infection and sexual behavior. Our study helps us to understand the epidemiological trend of STIs and pathobionts and highlights the need to understand the impact of sexual networks on STI and pathobiont transmission and prevention among women in an African setting. IMPORTANCE Bacterial vaginosis (BV), whose etiology remains a matter of controversy, is a common vaginal disorder among reproductive-age women and can increase the risk for sexually transmitted infections (STIs). African women bear a disproportionately high burden of STIs and BV. Using a targeted quantitative PCR (qPCR) assay, a customized bacterial vaginosis microbial DNA qPCR array, we examined the prevalences and determinants of key cervical microbes, including BV-associated bacteria and emerging sexually transmitted pathogens (pathobionts) among women of African descent aged between 30 and 75 years. High-risk behaviors were associated with a higher prevalence of STIs/pathobionts, suggesting the need to better understand the influence of sexual networks on STI and pathobiont transmission and prevention among women. Our molecular assay is important in the surveillance of BV-associated bacteria, pathobionts, and STIs as well as diagnostic microbiology of BV. Furthermore, our research contributes to a better understanding of the epidemiology of STIs and pathobionts in Africa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ongeziwe Taku
- Division of Medical Virology, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Centre for Healthcare-Associated Infections, Antimicrobial Resistance and Mycoses (CHARM), National Institute for Communicable Diseases, Division of the National Health Laboratory Service, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Harris Onywera
- Division of Medical Virology, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Research, Innovations, and Academics Unit, Tunacare Services Health Providers Limited, Nairobi, Kenya
- Research and Innovation, Mount Kenya University, Thika, Kenya
| | - Zizipho Z. A. Mbulawa
- Division of Medical Virology, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- UCT-MRC Gynaecological Cancer Research Centre, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- National Health Laboratory Service, Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital, Mthatha, South Africa
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Walter Sisulu University, Mthatha, South Africa
| | - Charles B. Businge
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital, Mthatha, South Africa
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Walter Sisulu University, Mthatha, South Africa
| | - Tracy L. Meiring
- Division of Medical Virology, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Anna-Lise Williamson
- Division of Medical Virology, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Research and Innovation, Mount Kenya University, Thika, Kenya
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