51
|
Siekaniec G, Roux E, Lemane T, Guédon E, Nicolas J. Identification of isolated or mixed strains from long reads: a challenge met on Streptococcus thermophilus using a MinION sequencer. Microb Genom 2021; 7. [PMID: 34812718 PMCID: PMC8743539 DOI: 10.1099/mgen.0.000654] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to provide efficient recognition of bacterial strains on personal computers from MinION (Nanopore) long read data. Thanks to the fall in sequencing costs, the identification of bacteria can now proceed by whole genome sequencing. MinION is a fast, but highly error-prone sequencing device and it is a challenge to successfully identify the strain content of unknown simple or complex microbial samples. It is heavily constrained by memory management and fast access to the read and genome fragments. Our strategy involves three steps: indexing of known genomic sequences for a given or several bacterial species; a request process to assign a read to a strain by matching it to the closest reference genomes; and a final step looking for a minimum set of strains that best explains the observed reads. We have applied our method, called ORI, on 77 strains of Streptococcus thermophilus. We worked on several genomic distances and obtained a detailed classification of the strains, together with a criterion that allows merging of what we termed 'sibling' strains, only separated by a few mutations. Overall, isolated strains can be safely recognized from MinION data. For mixtures of several non-sibling strains, results depend on strain abundance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Grégoire Siekaniec
- Univ Rennes, INRIA, Campus de Beaulieu 35042 Rennes cedex, Rennes, France
- INRAE, Institut Agro, STLO, F-35000, Rennes, France
| | - Emeline Roux
- Univ Rennes, INRIA, Campus de Beaulieu 35042 Rennes cedex, Rennes, France
- CALBINOTOX (Composés ALimentaire BIofonctionnalités et risques NeuTOXiques) EA7488 Université de Lorraine, France
| | - Téo Lemane
- Univ Rennes, INRIA, Campus de Beaulieu 35042 Rennes cedex, Rennes, France
| | - Eric Guédon
- INRAE, Institut Agro, STLO, F-35000, Rennes, France
- *Correspondence: Eric Guédon,
| | - Jacques Nicolas
- Univ Rennes, INRIA, Campus de Beaulieu 35042 Rennes cedex, Rennes, France
- *Correspondence: Jacques Nicolas,
| |
Collapse
|
52
|
Dai W, Du H, Li S, Wu R. Cervicovaginal Microbiome Factors in Clearance of Human Papillomavirus Infection. Front Oncol 2021; 11:722639. [PMID: 34395294 PMCID: PMC8355615 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.722639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2021] [Accepted: 07/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Persistent high-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV) infection is the highest risk to cervical cancer which is the fourth most common cancer in women worldwide. A growing body of literatures demonstrate the role of cervicovaginal microbiome (CVM) in hrHPV susceptibility and clearance, suggesting the promise of CVM-targeted interventions in protecting against or eliminating HPV infection. Nevertheless, the CVM-HPV-host interactions are largely unknown. In this review, we summarize imbalanced CVM in HPV-positive women, with or without cervical diseases, and the progress of exploring CVM resources in HPV clearance. In addition, microbe- and host-microbe interactions in HPV infection and elimination are reviewed to understand the role of CVM in remission of HPV infection. Lastly, the feasibility of CVM-modulated and -derived products in promoting HPV clearance is discussed. Information in this article will provide valuable reference for researchers interested in cervical cancer prevention and therapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wenkui Dai
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China.,Institute of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shenzhen Peking University-The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (PKU-HKUST) Medical Center, Shenzhen, China.,Shenzhen Key Laboratory on Technology for Early Diagnosis of Major Gynecologic Diseases, Shenzhen, China
| | - Hui Du
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China.,Institute of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shenzhen Peking University-The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (PKU-HKUST) Medical Center, Shenzhen, China.,Shenzhen Key Laboratory on Technology for Early Diagnosis of Major Gynecologic Diseases, Shenzhen, China
| | - Shuaicheng Li
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Ruifang Wu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China.,Institute of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shenzhen Peking University-The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (PKU-HKUST) Medical Center, Shenzhen, China.,Shenzhen Key Laboratory on Technology for Early Diagnosis of Major Gynecologic Diseases, Shenzhen, China
| |
Collapse
|
53
|
Zhang Y, Thompson KN, Branck T, Yan Yan, Nguyen LH, Franzosa EA, Huttenhower C. Metatranscriptomics for the Human Microbiome and Microbial Community Functional Profiling. Annu Rev Biomed Data Sci 2021; 4:279-311. [PMID: 34465175 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-biodatasci-031121-103035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Shotgun metatranscriptomics (MTX) is an increasingly practical way to survey microbial community gene function and regulation at scale. This review begins by summarizing the motivations for community transcriptomics and the history of the field. We then explore the principles, best practices, and challenges of contemporary MTX workflows: beginning with laboratory methods for isolation and sequencing of community RNA, followed by informatics methods for quantifying RNA features, and finally statistical methods for detecting differential expression in a community context. In thesecond half of the review, we survey important biological findings from the MTX literature, drawing examples from the human microbiome, other (nonhuman) host-associated microbiomes, and the environment. Across these examples, MTX methods prove invaluable for probing microbe-microbe and host-microbe interactions, the dynamics of energy harvest and chemical cycling, and responses to environmental stresses. We conclude with a review of open challenges in the MTX field, including making assays and analyses more robust, accessible, and adaptable to new technologies; deciphering roles for millions of uncharacterized microbial transcripts; and solving applied problems such as biomarker discovery and development of microbial therapeutics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yancong Zhang
- Harvard Chan Microbiome in Public Health Center and Department of Biostatistics, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA; , .,Infectious Disease and Microbiome Program, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, USA
| | - Kelsey N Thompson
- Harvard Chan Microbiome in Public Health Center and Department of Biostatistics, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA; , .,Infectious Disease and Microbiome Program, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, USA
| | - Tobyn Branck
- Harvard Chan Microbiome in Public Health Center and Department of Biostatistics, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA; , .,Infectious Disease and Microbiome Program, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, USA.,Department of Systems, Synthetic, and Quantitative Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
| | - Yan Yan
- Harvard Chan Microbiome in Public Health Center and Department of Biostatistics, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA; , .,Infectious Disease and Microbiome Program, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, USA
| | - Long H Nguyen
- Harvard Chan Microbiome in Public Health Center and Department of Biostatistics, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA; , .,Division of Gastroenterology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, USA.,Clinical and Translational Epidemiology Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02108, USA
| | - Eric A Franzosa
- Harvard Chan Microbiome in Public Health Center and Department of Biostatistics, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA; , .,Infectious Disease and Microbiome Program, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, USA
| | - Curtis Huttenhower
- Harvard Chan Microbiome in Public Health Center and Department of Biostatistics, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA; , .,Infectious Disease and Microbiome Program, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, USA.,Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
| |
Collapse
|
54
|
Lagenaur LA, Hemmerling A, Chiu C, Miller S, Lee PP, Cohen CR, Parks TP. Connecting the Dots: Translating the Vaginal Microbiome Into a Drug. J Infect Dis 2021; 223:S296-S306. [PMID: 33330916 PMCID: PMC8502429 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiaa676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
A Lactobacillus-dominated vaginal microbiota (VMB) has been associated with health and considered an important host defense mechanism against urogenital infections. Conversely, depletion of lactobacilli and increased microbial diversity, amplifies the risk of adverse gynecologic and obstetric outcomes. A common clinical condition that exemplifies dysbiosis is bacterial vaginosis (BV). BV is currently treated with antibiotics, but frequently recurs, due in part to persistent dysbiosis and failure of lactobacilli to repopulate the vagina. New treatment options are needed to address BV. The VMB is relatively simple and optimally dominated by one or several species of Lactobacillus. Lactobacillus crispatus is strongly associated with vaginal health and depleted in dysbiosis. Replenishing the dysbiotic VMB with protective L. crispatus CTV-05 is a promising approach to prevent recurrent infections and improve women's health. Here we discuss confirmation of this approach with the microbiome-based biologic drug, LACTIN-V (L. crispatus CTV-05), focusing on prevention of BV recurrence.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Anke Hemmerling
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Charles Chiu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Steve Miller
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | | | - Craig R Cohen
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
55
|
Adade EE, Al Lakhen K, Lemus AA, Valm AM. Recent progress in analyzing the spatial structure of the human microbiome: distinguishing biogeography and architecture in the oral and gut communities. CURRENT OPINION IN ENDOCRINE AND METABOLIC RESEARCH 2021; 18:275-283. [PMID: 35936977 PMCID: PMC9351436 DOI: 10.1016/j.coemr.2021.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Fueled by technological advances in methods for sample collection and preservation in sequencing studies, and in advances in computational analyses of high content image data, the spatial structure of the human microbiome is coming to light. In this mini-review, we summarize recent developments in our understanding of the structure of two human microbiomes: the lower gut and the oral cavity. We focus on only the most recent literature and we make an important distinction between two forms of spatial structure, governed by scale: biogeography and architecture. By segmenting the study of microbiome spatial structure into two categories, we demonstrate the potential to greatly advance our understanding of the mechanistic principles that link structure and function in the microbiome.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Emmanuel E. Adade
- Department of Biological Sciences, State University of New York at Albany, Albany, NY 12222 USA
| | - Khalid Al Lakhen
- Department of Biological Sciences, State University of New York at Albany, Albany, NY 12222 USA
| | - Alex A. Lemus
- Department of Biological Sciences, State University of New York at Albany, Albany, NY 12222 USA
| | - Alex M. Valm
- Department of Biological Sciences, State University of New York at Albany, Albany, NY 12222 USA,Corresponding author.
| |
Collapse
|
56
|
Kumar S, Kumari N, Talukdar D, Kothidar A, Sarkar M, Mehta O, Kshetrapal P, Wadhwa N, Thiruvengadam R, Desiraju BK, Nair GB, Bhatnagar S, Mukherjee S, Das B. The Vaginal Microbial Signatures of Preterm Birth Delivery in Indian Women. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021; 11:622474. [PMID: 34094994 PMCID: PMC8169982 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.622474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2020] [Accepted: 04/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The incidence of preterm birth (PTB) in India is around 13%. Specific bacterial communities or individual taxon living in the vaginal milieu of pregnant women is a potential risk factor for PTB and may play an important role in its pathophysiology. Besides, bacterial taxa associated with PTB vary across populations. Objective Conduct a comparative analysis of vaginal microbiome composition and microbial genomic repertoires of women who enrolled in the Interdisciplinary Group for Advanced Research on Birth Outcomes – A DBT India Initiative (GARBH-Ini) pregnancy cohort to identify bacterial taxa associated with term birth (TB) and PTB in Indian women. Methods Vaginal swabs were collected during all three trimesters from 38 pregnant Indian women who delivered spontaneous term (n=20) and preterm (n=18) neonates. Paired-end sequencing of V3-V4 region of 16S rRNA gene was performed using the metagenomic DNA isolated from vaginal swabs (n=115). Whole genome sequencing of bacterial species associated with birth outcomes was carried out by shotgun method. Lactobacillus species were grown anaerobically in the De Man, Rogosa and Sharpe (MRS) agar culture medium for isolation of genomic DNA and whole genome sequencing. Results Vaginal microbiome of both term and preterm samples reveals similar alpha diversity indices. However, significantly higher abundance of Lactobacillus iners (p-value All_Trimesters<0.02), Megasphaera sp (p-value1st_Trimester <0.05), Gardnerella vaginalis (p-value2nd_Trimester= 0.01) and Sneathia sanguinegens (p-value2nd_Trimester <0.0001) were identified in preterm samples whereas higher abundance of L. gasseri (p-value3rd_Trimester =0.010) was observed in term samples by Wilcoxon rank-sum test. The relative abundance of L. iners, and Megasphaera sp. were found to be significantly different over time between term and preterm mothers. Analyses of the representative genomes of L. crispatus and L. gasseri indicate presence of secretory transcriptional regulator and several ribosomally synthesized antimicrobial peptides correlated with anti-inflammatory condition in the vagina. These findings indicate protective role of L. crispatus and L. gasseri in reducing the risk of PTB. Conclusion Our findings indicate that the dominance of specific Lactobacillus species and few other facultative anaerobes are associated with birth outcomes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shakti Kumar
- Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Translational Health Science and Technology Institute, National Capital Region (NCR) Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad, India
| | - Naina Kumari
- National Institute of Biomedical Genomics, Kalyani, India
| | - Daizee Talukdar
- Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Translational Health Science and Technology Institute, National Capital Region (NCR) Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad, India
| | - Akansha Kothidar
- Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Translational Health Science and Technology Institute, National Capital Region (NCR) Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad, India
| | - Mousumi Sarkar
- National Institute of Biomedical Genomics, Kalyani, India
| | - Ojasvi Mehta
- Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Translational Health Science and Technology Institute, National Capital Region (NCR) Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad, India
| | - Pallavi Kshetrapal
- Pediatric Biology Center, Translational Health Science and Technology Institute, NCR Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad, India
| | - Nitya Wadhwa
- Pediatric Biology Center, Translational Health Science and Technology Institute, NCR Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad, India
| | - Ramachandran Thiruvengadam
- Pediatric Biology Center, Translational Health Science and Technology Institute, NCR Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad, India
| | - Bapu Koundinya Desiraju
- Pediatric Biology Center, Translational Health Science and Technology Institute, NCR Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad, India
| | - G Balakrish Nair
- Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Translational Health Science and Technology Institute, National Capital Region (NCR) Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad, India
| | - Shinjini Bhatnagar
- Pediatric Biology Center, Translational Health Science and Technology Institute, NCR Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad, India
| | | | - Bhabatosh Das
- Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Translational Health Science and Technology Institute, National Capital Region (NCR) Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad, India
| | | |
Collapse
|
57
|
Zilber-Rosenberg I, Rosenberg E. Microbial driven genetic variation in holobionts. FEMS Microbiol Rev 2021; 45:6261188. [PMID: 33930136 DOI: 10.1093/femsre/fuab022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2020] [Accepted: 04/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Genetic variation in holobionts, (host and microbiome), occurring by changes in both host and microbiome genomes, can be observed from two perspectives: observable variations and the processes that bring about the variation. The observable includes the enormous genetic diversity of prokaryotes, which gave rise to eukaryotic organisms. Holobionts then evolved a rich microbiome with a stable core containing essential genes, less so common taxa, and a more diverse non-core enabling considerable genetic variation. The result being that, the human gut microbiome, for example, contains 1,000 times more unique genes than are present in the human genome. Microbial driven genetic variation processes in holobionts include: (1) Acquisition of novel microbes from the environment, which bring in multiple genes in one step, (2) amplification/reduction of certain microbes in the microbiome, that contribute to holobiont` s adaptation to changing conditions, (3) horizontal gene transfer between microbes and between microbes and host, (4) mutation, which plays an important role in optimizing interactions between different microbiota and between microbiota and host. We suggest that invertebrates and plants, where microbes can live intracellularly, have a greater chance of genetic exchange between microbiota and host, thus a greater chance of vertical transmission and a greater effect of microbiome on evolution of host than vertebrates. However, even in vertebrates the microbiome can aid in environmental fluctuations by amplification/reduction and by acquisition of novel microorganisms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ilana Zilber-Rosenberg
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology, Tel Aviv University, Ramat Aviv Israel
| | - Eugene Rosenberg
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology, Tel Aviv University, Ramat Aviv Israel
| |
Collapse
|
58
|
Liu F, Zhou Y, Zhu L, Wang Z, Ma L, He Y, Fu P. Comparative metagenomic analysis of the vaginal microbiome in healthy women. Synth Syst Biotechnol 2021; 6:77-84. [PMID: 33997357 PMCID: PMC8085786 DOI: 10.1016/j.synbio.2021.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2020] [Revised: 04/03/2021] [Accepted: 04/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
The composition of these vaginal microbiome has a significant impact on women's health. However, few studies have characterized the vaginal microbiome of healthy Chinese women using metagenomic sequencing. Here, we carried out a comparative metagenomic analysis to survey taxonomic, functional levels, and microbial communities' genome content in healthy women's vaginal microbiome. Overall, we observed a total of 111 species, including all dominant vaginal Lactobacillus species, such as L. iners, L. crispatus, L. gasseri, and L. jensenii. Unlike microbial taxa, several pathways were ubiquitous and prevalent across individuals, including adenosine ribonucleotides de novo biosynthesis and pyruvate fermentation to acetate and lactate II. Notably, our diversity analysis confirmed a significant difference in healthy women from different ethnic groups. Moreover, we binned vaginal assemblies into 62 high-quality genomes, including 9 L. iners, 7 A. vaginae, 5 L. jensenii, and 5 L. crispatus. We identified the pan and core genomes of L. iners and A. vaginae and revealed the genetic diversity. Primary differences between strains were the hypothetical genes and mobile element-like genes. Our results provide a framework for understanding the implications of the female reproductive tract's composition and functional potential and highlight the importance of genome-resolved metagenomic analysis to further understand the human vaginal microbiome.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fei Liu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Yingshun Zhou
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, Pathogenic Biology platform, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000, Sichuan Province, China
| | - Lisi Zhu
- Laboratory of Clinical Genetics, Medical Research Center, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Zhiyi Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Microbial Physiological and Metabolic Engineering, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - LiangKun Ma
- Peking Union Medical College Hospital (Dongdan Campus), No. 1 Shuai Fu Yuan, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Yuan He
- National Human Genetic Resources Center, National Research Institute for Health and Family Planning, Beijing, China
| | - Pengcheng Fu
- Mybiome (Beijing) Medical Consulting Co. LTD, China
| |
Collapse
|
59
|
Theis KR, Florova V, Romero R, Borisov AB, Winters AD, Galaz J, Gomez-Lopez N. Sneathia: an emerging pathogen in female reproductive disease and adverse perinatal outcomes. Crit Rev Microbiol 2021; 47:517-542. [PMID: 33823747 DOI: 10.1080/1040841x.2021.1905606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Sneathia is an emerging pathogen implicated in adverse reproductive and perinatal outcomes. Although scarce, recent data suggest that vaginally residing Sneathia becomes pathogenic following its ascension into the upper urogenital tract, amniotic fluid, placenta, and foetal membranes. The role of Sneathia in women's health and disease is generally underappreciated because the cultivation of these bacteria is limited by their complex nutritional requirements, slow growth patterns, and anaerobic nature. For this reason, molecular methods are typically required for the detection and differential diagnosis of Sneathia infections. Here, we review the laboratory methods used for the diagnosis of Sneathia infections, the molecular mechanisms underlying its virulence, and its sensitivity to antibiotics. We further review the evidence of Sneathia's contributions to the pathogenesis of bacterial vaginosis, chorioamnionitis, preterm prelabour rupture of membranes, spontaneous preterm labour, stillbirth, maternal and neonatal sepsis, HIV infection, and cervical cancer. Collectively, growing evidence indicates that Sneathia represents an important yet underappreciated pathogen affecting the development and progression of several adverse clinical conditions diagnosed in pregnant women and their neonates, as well as in non-pregnant women.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kevin R Theis
- Perinatology 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, Detroit, MI, USA.,Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Violetta Florova
- Perinatology 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, Detroit, MI, USA.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Roberto Romero
- Perinatology 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, Detroit, MI, USA.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.,Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA.,Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA.,Detroit Medical Center, Detroit, MI, USA.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Andrei B Borisov
- Perinatology 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, Detroit, MI, USA.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Andrew D Winters
- Perinatology 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, Detroit, MI, USA.,Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Jose Galaz
- Perinatology 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, Detroit, MI, USA.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Nardhy Gomez-Lopez
- Perinatology 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, Detroit, MI, USA.,Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| |
Collapse
|
60
|
Commichaux S, Shah N, Ghurye J, Stoppel A, Goodheart JA, Luque GG, Cummings MP, Pop M. A critical assessment of gene catalogs for metagenomic analysis. Bioinformatics 2021; 37:2848-2857. [PMID: 33792639 PMCID: PMC8479683 DOI: 10.1093/bioinformatics/btab216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2020] [Revised: 02/02/2021] [Accepted: 03/31/2021] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
MOTIVATION Microbial gene catalogs are data structures that organize genes found in microbial communities, providing a reference for standardized analysis of the microbes across samples and studies. Although gene catalogs are commonly used, they have not been critically evaluated for their effectiveness as a basis for metagenomic analyses. RESULTS As a case study, we investigate one such catalog, the Integrated Gene Catalog (IGC), however, our observations apply broadly to most gene catalogs constructed to date. We focus on both the approach used to construct this catalog and on its effectiveness when used as a reference for microbiome studies. Our results highlight important limitations of the approach used to construct the IGC and call into question the broad usefulness of gene catalogs more generally. We also recommend best practices for the construction and use of gene catalogs in microbiome studies and highlight opportunities for future research. AVAILABILITY AND IMPLEMENTATION All supporting scripts for our analyses can be found on GitHub: https://github.com/SethCommichaux/IGC.git. The supporting data can be downloaded from: https://obj.umiacs.umd.edu/igc-analysis/IGC_analysis_data.tar.gz. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Seth Commichaux
- Center for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742, USA,Biological Science Graduate Program, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742, USA,Division of Molecular Biology, Office of Applied Research and Safety Assessment, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Laurel, Maryland, 20708, USA
| | - Nidhi Shah
- Center for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742, USA,Department of Computer Science, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742, USA
| | - Jay Ghurye
- Center for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742, USA,Department of Computer Science, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742, USA
| | - Alexander Stoppel
- Center for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742, USA
| | - Jessica A Goodheart
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Guillermo G Luque
- Department of Microbiome Science, Max Planck Institute for Developmental Biology, Tübingen, 72076, Germany
| | - Michael P Cummings
- Center for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742, USA
| | - Mihai Pop
- Center for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742, USA,Department of Computer Science, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742, USA,To whom correspondence should be addressed.
| |
Collapse
|
61
|
Oberle A, Urban L, Falch-Leis S, Ennemoser C, Nagai Y, Ashikawa K, Ulm PA, Hengstschläger M, Feichtinger M. 16S rRNA long-read nanopore sequencing is feasible and reliable for endometrial microbiome analysis. Reprod Biomed Online 2021; 42:1097-1107. [PMID: 33849786 DOI: 10.1016/j.rbmo.2021.03.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2020] [Revised: 03/01/2021] [Accepted: 03/03/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
RESEARCH QUESTION Full-length 16S rRNA gene sequencing using nanopore technology is a fast alternative to conventional short-read 16S rRNA gene sequencing with low initial investment costs that has been used for various microbiome studies but has not yet been investigated as an alternative approach for endometrial microbiome analysis. Is in-situ 16S rRNA gene long-read sequencing using portable nanopore sequencing technology feasible and reliable for endometrial microbiome analysis? DESIGN A prospective experimental study based on 33 patients seeking infertility treatment between January and October 2019. A 16S rRNA gene long-read nanopore sequencing protocol for analysing endometrial microbiome samples was established, including negative controls for contamination evaluation and positive controls for bias evaluation. Contamination caused by kit and exterior sources was identified and excluded from the analysis. Endometrial samples from 33 infertile patients were sequenced using the optimized long-read nanopore sequencing protocol and compared with conventional short-read sequencing carried out by external laboratories. RESULTS Of the 33 endometrial patient samples, 23 successfully amplified (69.7%) and their microbiome was assessed using nanopore sequencing. Of those 23 samples, 14 (60.9%) were Lactobacillus-dominated (>80% of reads mapping to Lactobacillus), with 10 samples resulting in more than 90% Lactobacillus reads. Our long-read nanopore sequencing revealed results similar to two conventional short-read sequencing approaches and to long-read sequencing validation carried out in external laboratories. CONCLUSION In this pilot study, 16S rRNA gene long-read nanopore sequencing was established to analyse the endometrial microbiome in situ that could be widely applied owing to its cost efficiency and portable character.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anna Oberle
- Wunschbaby Institut Feichtinger, Lainzerstrasse 6, Vienna 1130, Austria
| | - Lara Urban
- European Bioinformatics Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SD, UK; Department of Anatomy, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand
| | - Stefanie Falch-Leis
- Tyrolpath, Pathologielabor Dr. Obrist Dr. Brunhuber, Hauptplatz 4, Zams 6511, Austria
| | - Chiara Ennemoser
- Tyrolpath, Pathologielabor Dr. Obrist Dr. Brunhuber, Hauptplatz 4, Zams 6511, Austria
| | - Yoko Nagai
- Varinos, Inc., Dai 2 Gotanda Fujikoshi Bldg., 6F 5-23-1 Higashigotanda, Shinagawa-ku Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kyota Ashikawa
- Varinos, Inc., Dai 2 Gotanda Fujikoshi Bldg., 6F 5-23-1 Higashigotanda, Shinagawa-ku Tokyo, Japan
| | - Patricia A Ulm
- Wunschbaby Institut Feichtinger, Lainzerstrasse 6, Vienna 1130, Austria
| | | | - Michael Feichtinger
- Wunschbaby Institut Feichtinger, Lainzerstrasse 6, Vienna 1130, Austria; Department of Oncology - Pathology, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska vägen, A2:07171 64 Solna Stockholm, Sweden.
| |
Collapse
|
62
|
Li Z, Xia J, Jiang L, Tan Y, An Y, Zhu X, Ruan J, Chen Z, Zhen H, Ma Y, Jie Z, Xiao L, Yang H, Wang J, Kristiansen K, Xu X, Jin L, Nie C, Krutmann J, Liu X, Wang J. Characterization of the human skin resistome and identification of two microbiota cutotypes. MICROBIOME 2021; 9:47. [PMID: 33597039 PMCID: PMC7890624 DOI: 10.1186/s40168-020-00995-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2020] [Accepted: 12/29/2020] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The human skin microbiota is considered to be essential for skin homeostasis and barrier function. Comprehensive analyses of its function would substantially benefit from a catalog of reference genes derived from metagenomic sequencing. The existing catalog for the human skin microbiome is based on samples from limited individuals from a single cohort on reference genomes, which limits the coverage of global skin microbiome diversity. RESULTS In the present study, we have used shotgun metagenomics to newly sequence 822 skin samples from Han Chinese, which were subsequently combined with 538 previously sequenced North American samples to construct an integrated Human Skin Microbial Gene Catalog (iHSMGC). The iHSMGC comprised 10,930,638 genes with the detection of 4,879,024 new genes. Characterization of the human skin resistome based on iHSMGC confirmed that skin commensals, such as Staphylococcus spp, are an important reservoir of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). Further analyses of skin microbial ARGs detected microbe-specific and skin site-specific ARG signatures. Of note, the abundance of ARGs was significantly higher in Chinese than Americans, while multidrug-resistant bacteria ("superbugs") existed on the skin of both Americans and Chinese. A detailed analysis of microbial signatures identified Moraxella osloensis as a species specific for Chinese skin. Importantly, Moraxella osloensis proved to be a signature species for one of two robust patterns of microbial networks present on Chinese skin, with Cutibacterium acnes indicating the second one. Each of such "cutotypes" was associated with distinct patterns of data-driven marker genes, functional modules, and host skin properties. The two cutotypes markedly differed in functional modules related to their metabolic characteristics, indicating that host-dependent trophic chains might underlie their development. CONCLUSIONS The development of the iHSMGC will facilitate further studies on the human skin microbiome. In the present study, it was used to further characterize the human skin resistome. It also allowed to discover the existence of two cutotypes on the human skin. The latter finding will contribute to a better understanding of the interpersonal complexity of the skin microbiome. Video abstract.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhiming Li
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China
- China National Genebank, Shenzhen, China
| | - Jingjing Xia
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Collaborative Innovation Center for Genetics and Development, School of Life Sciences, and Department of Dermatology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Human Phenome Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- IUF-Leibniz Research Institute for Environmental Medicine, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Liuyiqi Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Collaborative Innovation Center for Genetics and Development, School of Life Sciences, and Department of Dermatology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yimei Tan
- Human Phenome Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Department of Skin & Cosmetic Research, Shanghai Skin Disease Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Yitai An
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China
- China National Genebank, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xingyu Zhu
- Human Phenome Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Institute for Six-sector Economy, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jie Ruan
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China
- China National Genebank, Shenzhen, China
| | - Zhihua Chen
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China
- China National Genebank, Shenzhen, China
| | - Hefu Zhen
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China
- China National Genebank, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yanyun Ma
- Human Phenome Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Institute for Six-sector Economy, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhuye Jie
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China
- China National Genebank, Shenzhen, China
| | - Liang Xiao
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China
- China National Genebank, Shenzhen, China
| | - Huanming Yang
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China
- China National Genebank, Shenzhen, China
| | - Jian Wang
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China
- China National Genebank, Shenzhen, China
| | - Karsten Kristiansen
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China
- China National Genebank, Shenzhen, China
- Laboratory of Genomics and Molecular Biomedicine, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Xun Xu
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China
- China National Genebank, Shenzhen, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Genome Read and Write, Shenzhen, China
| | - Li Jin
- Human Phenome Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Research Unit of Dissecting the Population Genetics and Developing New Technologies for Treatment and Prevention of Dermatological Diseases (2019RU058), Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Chao Nie
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China
- China National Genebank, Shenzhen, China
| | - Jean Krutmann
- Human Phenome Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- IUF-Leibniz Research Institute for Environmental Medicine, Düsseldorf, Germany
- Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Xiao Liu
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China
- Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen, China
- BGI Education Center, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Jiucun Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Collaborative Innovation Center for Genetics and Development, School of Life Sciences, and Department of Dermatology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Human Phenome Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Research Unit of Dissecting the Population Genetics and Developing New Technologies for Treatment and Prevention of Dermatological Diseases (2019RU058), Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shanghai, China
- Institute of Rheumatology, Immunology and Allergy, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| |
Collapse
|
63
|
Tuddenham S, Ravel J, Marrazzo JM. Protection and Risk: Male and Female Genital Microbiota and Sexually Transmitted Infections. J Infect Dis 2021; 223:S222-S235. [PMID: 33576776 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiaa762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Unique compositional and functional features of the cervicovaginal microbiota have been associated with protection against and risk for sexually transmitted infections (STI). In men, our knowledge of the interaction between the penile microbiota and STI is less developed. The current state of our understanding of these microbiota and their role in select STIs is briefly reviewed, along with strategies that leverage existing findings to manipulate genital microbiota and optimize protection against STIs. Finally, we focus on major research gaps and present a framework for future studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Susan Tuddenham
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, 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
| | - Jeanne M Marrazzo
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| |
Collapse
|
64
|
Sequence Comparison of Vaginolysin from Different Gardnerella Species. Pathogens 2021; 10:pathogens10020086. [PMID: 33498226 PMCID: PMC7909246 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10020086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2020] [Revised: 01/07/2021] [Accepted: 01/14/2021] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Gardnerella vaginalis has recently been split into 13 distinct species. In this study, we tested the hypotheses that species-specific variations in the vaginolysin (VLY) amino acid sequence could influence the interaction between the toxin and vaginal epithelial cells and that VLY variation may be one factor that distinguishes less virulent or commensal strains from more virulent strains. This was assessed by bioinformatic analyses of publicly available Gardnerella spp. sequences and quantification of cytotoxicity and cytokine production from purified, recombinantly produced versions of VLY. After identifying conserved differences that could distinguish distinct VLY types, we analyzed metagenomic data from a cohort of female subjects from the Vaginal Human Microbiome Project to investigate whether these different VLY types exhibited any significant associations with symptoms or Gardnerella spp.-relative abundance in vaginal swab samples. While Type 1 VLY was most prevalent among the subjects and may be associated with increased reports of symptoms, subjects with Type 2 VLY dominant profiles exhibited increased relative Gardnerella spp. abundance. Our findings suggest that amino acid differences alter the interaction of VLY with vaginal keratinocytes, which may potentiate differences in bacterial vaginosis (BV) immunopathology in vivo.
Collapse
|
65
|
Ali A, Christophersen CT, Keelan JA. Vaginal microbial profiling in a preterm birth high-risk cohort using shallow shotgun metagenomics. MICROBIOLOGY AUSTRALIA 2021. [DOI: 10.1071/ma21023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Preterm birth (PTB) is a significant health problem globally, with an estimate of 15 million cases annually. Approximately 10% of neonates born early will die prematurely, while a subset will develop severe life-long morbidities. Unfortunately, preterm birth’s syndromic nature has evaded prevention strategies, and it continues to impose a high burden on healthcare systems and families. The role of vaginal bacteria in triggering biomolecular causes of PTB has been recognised for years. However, translating this knowledge to practical diagnostic and therapeutic strategies has remained elusive. New techniques in high-throughput sequencing have improved our understanding of the nature and role of the vaginal microbiome during pregnancy. Several multi-ethnic and multi-geographical studies into the vaginal microbiome have identified five distinct bacterial profiles termed community state types (CSTs), one of which is positively associated with dysbiosis and increased risk of PTB. In a small pilot study of first-trimester vaginal microbial DNA obtained from pregnant women at high-risk of PTB, we compared the CST profiles generated using standard 16S amplicon sequencing with shallow shotgun metagenomics (SSM). Both methods identified the presence of the five CSTs as has been reported previously, although the metagenomic data showed greater taxonomic resolution and more accurate CST assignation. These findings suggest that SSM is a cost-effective and potentially superior alternative to 16S sequencing for vaginal microbiome analysis.
Collapse
|
66
|
Marco ML. Defining how microorganisms benefit human health. Microb Biotechnol 2021; 14:35-40. [PMID: 33099885 PMCID: PMC7888441 DOI: 10.1111/1751-7915.13685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2020] [Accepted: 10/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
An appreciation for how microorganisms can benefit human health has grown over the past century. The future of this research will be to identify the specific microbial enzymatic pathways and molecules necessary for health promotion. Some of these 'beneficial factors' are already known for probiotics and species in the human microbiome, however, precise descriptions of the mechanistic details for their effects remain to be discovered. The need for this research is elevated by the potential use of microorganisms for preventing and treating the non-communicable diseases which are now the leading causes of death worldwide.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maria L. Marco
- Department of Food Science and TechnologyUniversity of California, DavisDavisCA95616USA
| |
Collapse
|
67
|
Abstract
In this study, we show that multiple bacteria in the vaginal community produce amylases that hydrolyze glycogen into simpler sugars (i.e., maltose and maltotriose). These sugars serve as “common goods” that sustain bacterial populations in vaginal communities. Dominance of Lactobacillus species in vaginal communities is a hallmark of healthy conditions in the female genital tract. Key nutrients for lactobacilli include sugars produced when glycogen is degraded by α-amylase in the vagina. While α-amylase activity has been demonstrated in vaginal fluids, it is unclear whether α-amylases are produced solely by the host, bacteria in the vagina, or both. We screened cervicovaginal mucus from 23 reproductive-age women, characterized the species composition of vaginal communities, measured vaginal pH, and determined levels of amylase activity, glycogen, and lactic acid. Based on differences in these measured variables, one sample from each of four individual donors was selected for metagenomic and proteomic analyses. Of eight putative bacterial amylases identified in the assembled bacterial metagenomes, we detected four in vaginal fluids. These amylases were produced by various bacteria in different vaginal communities. Moreover, no two communities were the same in terms of which bacteria were producing amylases. Although we detected bacterial amylases in vaginal fluids, there was no clear association between the bacterial species that was dominant in a community and the level of amylase activity. This association was likely masked by the presence of human α-amylase, which was also detected in vaginal fluids. Finally, the levels of amylase activity and glycogen were only weakly associated. Our findings show, for the first time, that multiple amylases from both bacterial and human origins can be present simultaneously in the vagina. This work also suggests that the link between glycogen, amylase, and Lactobacillus in the vagina is complex. IMPORTANCE In this study, we show that multiple bacteria in the vaginal community produce amylases that hydrolyze glycogen into simpler sugars (i.e., maltose and maltotriose). These sugars serve as “common goods” that sustain bacterial populations in vaginal communities. Given the temporal changes that are observed in the human vaginal microbiome, we expect the kinds of bacterial amylases produced will also vary over time. These differences influence the pool of resources that are broadly shared and shape the species composition of the vaginal bacterial community.
Collapse
|
68
|
Assessment of In Vitro and In Silico Protocols for Sequence-Based Characterization of the Human Vaginal Microbiome. mSphere 2020; 5:5/6/e00448-20. [PMID: 33208514 PMCID: PMC7677004 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00448-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The vaginal microbiome has been connected to a wide range of health outcomes. This has led to a thriving research environment but also to the use of conflicting methodologies to study its microbial composition. Here, we systematically assessed best practices for the sequencing-based characterization of the human vaginal microbiome. As far as 16S rRNA gene sequencing is concerned, the V1-V3 region performed best in silico, but limitations of current sequencing technologies meant that the V3-V4 region performed equally well. Both approaches presented very good agreement with qPCR quantification of key taxa, provided that an appropriate bioinformatic pipeline was used. Shotgun metagenomic sequencing presents an interesting alternative to 16S rRNA gene amplification and sequencing but requires deeper sequencing and more bioinformatic expertise and infrastructure. We assessed different tools for the removal of host reads and the taxonomic annotation of metagenomic reads, including a new, easy-to-build and -use reference database of vaginal taxa. This curated database performed as well as the best-performing previously published strategies. Despite the many advantages of shotgun sequencing, none of the shotgun approaches assessed here agreed with the qPCR data as well as the 16S rRNA gene sequencing.IMPORTANCE The vaginal microbiome has been connected to various aspects of host health, including susceptibility to sexually transmitted infections as well as gynecological cancers and pregnancy outcomes. This has led to a thriving research environment but also to conflicting available methodologies, including many studies that do not report their molecular biological and bioinformatic methods in sufficient detail to be considered reproducible. This can lead to conflicting messages and delay progress from descriptive to intervention studies. By systematically assessing best practices for the characterization of the human vaginal microbiome, this study will enable past studies to be assessed more critically and assist future studies in the selection of appropriate methods for their specific research questions.
Collapse
|
69
|
Sherrill-Mix S, Connors K, Aldrovandi GM, Brenchley JM, Boucher C, Bushman FD, Collman RG, Dandekar S, Klatt NR, Lagenaur LA, Paredes R, Tachedjian G, Turpin JA, Landay AL, Ghosh M. A Summary of the Fifth Annual Virology Education HIV Microbiome Workshop. AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses 2020; 36:886-895. [PMID: 32777940 DOI: 10.1089/aid.2020.0121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
In October of 2019, researchers and community members from around the world met at the NIH for the fifth annual International Workshop on Microbiome in HIV. New research was presented on the role of the microbiome on chronic inflammation and vaccine design, interactions of genetics, environment, sexual practice and HIV infection with the microbiome and the development and clinical trials of microbiome-based therapeutic approaches intended to decrease the probability of HIV acquisition/transmission or ameliorate sequelae of HIV. The keynote address by Dr. Jacques Ravel focused on his work on the vaginal microbiome and efforts to improve the analysis and resolution of microbiome data.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Scott Sherrill-Mix
- Department of Microbiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Kaleigh Connors
- Department of Epidemiology, The George Washington University, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | - Grace M. Aldrovandi
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | | | - Charles Boucher
- Department of Virosciences, Erasmus Medical Center, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Frederic D. Bushman
- Department of Microbiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Ronald G. Collman
- Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Satya Dandekar
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, USA
| | - Nichole R. Klatt
- Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | | | - Roger Paredes
- Institut de Recerca de la SIDA IrsiCaixa i Unitat VIH, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Universitat de Vic, Vic, Spain
| | | | - Jim A. Turpin
- Divison of AIDS, NIAID, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Alan L. Landay
- Division of Gerontology, Department of Internal Medicine, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Mimi Ghosh
- Department of Epidemiology, The George Washington University, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| |
Collapse
|
70
|
Florova V, Romero R, Tarca AL, Galaz J, Motomura K, Ahmad MM, Hsu CD, Hsu R, Tong A, Ravel J, Theis KR, Gomez-Lopez N. Vaginal host immune-microbiome interactions in a cohort of primarily African-American women who ultimately underwent spontaneous preterm birth or delivered at term. Cytokine 2020; 137:155316. [PMID: 33032107 DOI: 10.1016/j.cyto.2020.155316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2020] [Revised: 09/01/2020] [Accepted: 09/22/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Recent studies suggest that alterations in the vaginal microbiome allow for the assessment of the risk for spontaneous preterm birth (PTB), the leading cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality worldwide. However, the associations between the local immune response and the vaginal microbiome are still poorly understood. Herein, we characterize the vaginal host immune-microbiome interactions in women who ultimately underwent PTB and in those who delivered at term. METHODS Vaginal fluid samples from 52 pregnant women (of whom 18 underwent PTB and 34 delivered at term) were collected between 10 and 32 weeks of gestation in a case-control study. Concentrations of 33 immune mediators were determined using sensitive and specific immunoassays. The previously published 16S rRNA gene sequence and bacterial phylotype data of these subjects were utilized in this study. Linear mixed effects models were utilized to test associations between vaginal immune mediator concentrations and bacterial phylotype relative abundances. RESULTS 1) In the overall study population, vaginal concentrations of CXCL10, CCL2, CCL3, SLP1 and VEGF negatively correlated with non-Lactobacillus, Community State Type IV (CST IV) members of the vaginal microbiome; 2) CXCL10, in particular, negatively correlated with 15 bacterial phylotypes, most of which are typical members of CST IV, such as Gardnerella vaginalis, Megasphaera spp., and Atopobium vaginae; 3) Gemella spp., also members of CST IV, negatively correlated with vaginal concentrations of VEGF, CCL2, CCL3, SLPI, and CXCL10; 4) when comparing PTB cases to term controls, five soluble immune mediators (CCL26, CCL22, CCL2, CXCL10, and IL-16), especially CCL26, were negatively correlated with five typical members of CST IV: Sneathia sanguinegens, Parvimonas micra, Veillonellaceae, BVAB2, and Gemella spp.; and 5) Sneathia sanguinegens had stronger negative associations with all five soluble immune mediators (CCL26, CCL22, CCL2, CXCL10, and IL-16) in PTB cases than in term controls. CONCLUSIONS The assessment of vaginal host immune-microbiome interactions revealed that specific soluble immune mediators, mainly CXCL10, negatively correlated with typical members of CST IV of the vaginal microbiome. Sneathia sanguinegens, in particular, had stronger negative associations with different immune mediators, including CXCL10 and CCL26, in women who ultimately underwent PTB compared to those who delivered at term. These findings provide insight into the vaginal host immune-microbiome interactions in normal and complicated pregnancies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Violetta Florova
- Perinatology 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, and Detroit, Michigan, USA; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Roberto Romero
- Perinatology 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, and Detroit, Michigan, USA; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA; Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Medical Center, Detroit, MI, USA; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA.
| | - Adi L Tarca
- Perinatology 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, and Detroit, Michigan, USA; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA; Department of Computer Science, Wayne State University College of Engineering, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Jose Galaz
- Perinatology 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, and Detroit, Michigan, USA; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Kenichiro Motomura
- Perinatology 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, and Detroit, Michigan, USA; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Madison M Ahmad
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Chaur-Dong Hsu
- Perinatology 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, and Detroit, Michigan, USA; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA; Department of Physiology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Richard Hsu
- Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Anna Tong
- Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Jacques Ravel
- Institute for Genome Sciences, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Kevin R Theis
- Perinatology 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, and Detroit, Michigan, USA; Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA.
| | - Nardhy Gomez-Lopez
- Perinatology 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, and Detroit, Michigan, USA; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA; Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
71
|
Mehta O, Ghosh TS, Kothidar A, Gowtham MR, Mitra R, Kshetrapal P, Wadhwa N, Thiruvengadam R, Nair GB, Bhatnagar S, Das B. Vaginal Microbiome of Pregnant Indian Women: Insights into the Genome of Dominant Lactobacillus Species. MICROBIAL ECOLOGY 2020; 80:487-499. [PMID: 32206831 DOI: 10.1007/s00248-020-01501-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2019] [Accepted: 03/04/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The trillions of microorganisms residing in the human body display varying degrees of compositional and functional diversities within and between individuals and contribute significantly to host physiology and susceptibility to disease. Microbial species present in the vaginal milieu of reproductive age women showed a large personal component and varies widely in different ethnic groups at the taxonomic, genomic, and functional levels. Lactobacillus iners, L. crispatus, L. gasseri, L. jensenii, and L. johnsonii are most frequently detected bacterial species in the vaginal milieu of reproductive age women. However, we currently lack (i) an understanding of the baseline vaginal microbiota of reproductive age Indian women, (ii) the extent of taxonomic and functional variations of vaginal microbiota between individuals and (iii) the genomic repertoires of the dominant vaginal microbiota associated with the Indian subjects. In our study, we analyzed the metagenome of high vaginal swab (HVS) samples collected from 40 pregnant Indian women enrolled in the GARBH-Ini cohort. Composition and abundance of bacterial species was characterized by pyrosequencing 16S rRNA gene. We identified 3067 OTUs with ≥ 10 reads from four different bacterial phyla. Several species of lactobacilli were clustered into three community state types (CSTs). L. iners, L. crispatus, L. gasseri, and L. jensenii are the most frequently detected Lactobacillus species in the vaginal environment of Indian women. Other than Lactobacillus, several species of Halomonas were also identified in the vaginal environment of most of the women sampled. To gain genomic and functional insights, we isolated several Lactobacillus species from the HVS samples and explored their whole genome sequences by shotgun sequencing. We analyzed the genome of dominant Lactobacillus species, L. iners, L. crispatus, L. gasseri, and L. paragesseri to represent the CSTs and identify functions that may influence the composition of complex vaginal microbial ecology. This study reports for the first time the vaginal microbial ecology of Indian women and genomic insights into L. iners, L. crispatus, L. gasseri, and L. paragesseri commonly found in the genital tract of reproductive age women.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ojasvi Mehta
- Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Translational Health Science and Technology Institute|, NCR Biotech Science Cluster, 3rd Milestone, Faridabad - Gurgaon Expressway, PO box #04, Faridabad, Haryana, 121001, India
| | - Tarini Shankar Ghosh
- Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Translational Health Science and Technology Institute|, NCR Biotech Science Cluster, 3rd Milestone, Faridabad - Gurgaon Expressway, PO box #04, Faridabad, Haryana, 121001, India
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Akansha Kothidar
- Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Translational Health Science and Technology Institute|, NCR Biotech Science Cluster, 3rd Milestone, Faridabad - Gurgaon Expressway, PO box #04, Faridabad, Haryana, 121001, India
| | - M Rama Gowtham
- Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Translational Health Science and Technology Institute|, NCR Biotech Science Cluster, 3rd Milestone, Faridabad - Gurgaon Expressway, PO box #04, Faridabad, Haryana, 121001, India
| | - Ridhima Mitra
- Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Translational Health Science and Technology Institute|, NCR Biotech Science Cluster, 3rd Milestone, Faridabad - Gurgaon Expressway, PO box #04, Faridabad, Haryana, 121001, India
| | - Pallavi Kshetrapal
- Pediatric Biology Center, Translational Health Science and Technology institute, NCR Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad, India
| | - Nitya Wadhwa
- Pediatric Biology Center, Translational Health Science and Technology institute, NCR Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad, India
| | - Ramachandran Thiruvengadam
- Pediatric Biology Center, Translational Health Science and Technology institute, NCR Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad, India
| | - G Balakrish Nair
- Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Translational Health Science and Technology Institute|, NCR Biotech Science Cluster, 3rd Milestone, Faridabad - Gurgaon Expressway, PO box #04, Faridabad, Haryana, 121001, India
| | - Shinjini Bhatnagar
- Pediatric Biology Center, Translational Health Science and Technology institute, NCR Biotech Science Cluster, Faridabad, India
| | - Bhabatosh Das
- Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Translational Health Science and Technology Institute|, NCR Biotech Science Cluster, 3rd Milestone, Faridabad - Gurgaon Expressway, PO box #04, Faridabad, Haryana, 121001, India.
| |
Collapse
|
72
|
Happel AU, Varsani A, Balle C, Passmore JA, Jaspan H. The Vaginal Virome-Balancing Female Genital Tract Bacteriome, Mucosal Immunity, and Sexual and Reproductive Health Outcomes? Viruses 2020; 12:E832. [PMID: 32751611 PMCID: PMC7472209 DOI: 10.3390/v12080832] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2020] [Revised: 07/22/2020] [Accepted: 07/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Besides bacteria, fungi, protists and archaea, the vaginal ecosystem also contains a range of prokaryote- and eukaryote-infecting viruses, which are collectively referred to as the "virome". Despite its well-described role in the gut and other environmental niches, the vaginal virome remains understudied. With a focus on sexual and reproductive health, we summarize the currently known components of the vaginal virome, its relationship with other constituents of the vaginal microbiota and its association with adverse health outcomes. While a range of eukaryote-infecting viruses has been described to be present in the female genital tract (FGT), few prokaryote-infecting viruses have been described. Literature suggests that various vaginal viruses interact with vaginal bacterial microbiota and host immunity and that any imbalance thereof may contribute to the risk of adverse reproductive health outcomes, including infertility and adverse birth outcomes. Current limitations of vaginal virome research include experimental and analytical constraints. Considering the vaginal virome may represent the missing link in our understanding of the relationship between FGT bacteria, mucosal immunity, and adverse sexual and reproductive health outcomes, future studies evaluating the vaginal microbiome and its population dynamics holistically will be important for understanding the role of the vaginal virome in balancing health and disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anna-Ursula Happel
- Department of Pathology, Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Anzio Road, Observatory, Cape Town 7925, South Africa; (C.B.); (J.-A.P.); (H.J.)
| | - Arvind Varsani
- The Biodesign Center of Fundamental and Applied Microbiomics, School of Life Sciences, Center for Evolution and Medicine, Arizona State University, 1001 S. McAllister Ave, Tempe, AZ 85287-5001, USA;
- Structural Biology Research Unit, Department of Integrative Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Anzio Road, Observatory, Cape Town 7925, South Africa
| | - Christina Balle
- Department of Pathology, Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Anzio Road, Observatory, Cape Town 7925, South Africa; (C.B.); (J.-A.P.); (H.J.)
| | - Jo-Ann Passmore
- Department of Pathology, Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Anzio Road, Observatory, Cape Town 7925, South Africa; (C.B.); (J.-A.P.); (H.J.)
- NRF-DST CAPRISA Centre of Excellence in HIV Prevention, 719 Umbilo Road, Congella, Durban 4013, South Africa
- National Health Laboratory Service, Anzio Road, Observatory, Cape Town 7925, South Africa
| | - Heather Jaspan
- Department of Pathology, Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Anzio Road, Observatory, Cape Town 7925, South Africa; (C.B.); (J.-A.P.); (H.J.)
- Department of Pediatrics and Global Health, University of Washington, 1510 San Juan Road NE, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
- Seattle Children’s Research Institute, 307 Westlake Ave N, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| |
Collapse
|