101
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Li C, Zhang Z, Yang Y, Liao H. Changes in the cervicovaginal microbiota composition of HPV16-infected patients after clinical treatment. Cancer Med 2022; 11:5037-5049. [PMID: 35569127 PMCID: PMC9761074 DOI: 10.1002/cam4.4801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2021] [Revised: 04/20/2022] [Accepted: 04/21/2022] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND High-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV) infection is a key factor that alters cervicovaginal microbiota patterns and causes cervical intraepithelial neoplasias (CINs) or even cervical cancer. Although local excisional treatment can clear hrHPV infection and restore the cervicovaginal microbiota, it is unclear which cervicovaginal microbiota represents recovery. Our objective was to describe the cervicovaginal microbiota before and after treatments and to assess the association between the microbiota and HPV persistence. RESULTS A cohort of 91 participants was classified into four groups (healthy control women and HPV16-infected women with CIN I, CIN II/III, and squamous cell carcinoma [SCC]). Endocervical swabs were collected 3 months prior to treatment and at 3 months post-treatment for bacterial 16S rRNA gene pyrosequencing and for HPV DNA testing. There was an increase in the number of Lactobacillus bacterial species present after the clinical treatments, and the community state type (CST) profiles were shifted from dysbiotic CSTs II and IV to Lactobacillus-dominated CSTs I and III. Specifically, the composition of Geobacter and Prevotella before treatment and Lactobacillus secaliphilus after treatment might have been related to CIN I, the composition of Burkholderia before treatment and Lactobacillus iners after treatment might have been related to CIN II/III, and the composition of Atopobium and Aerococcus before treatment and Bacilli after treatment might have been related to SCC. Further functional predictions revealed that the composition differences were linked to infectious disease- and cancer-related genes. CONCLUSION Our study provides an illustration of the changes in CSTs and the cervicovaginal microbiota before and after HPV16 clearance in each disease state.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Li
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant HospitalTongji University School of MedicineShanghaiChina
| | - Zhenbo Zhang
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shanghai General HospitalShanghai Jiaotong UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Yixia Yang
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shanghai General HospitalShanghai Jiaotong UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Hong Liao
- Department of Lab Medicine, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant HospitalTongji University School of MedicineShanghaiChina
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102
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Sanozky-Dawes R, Barrangou R. Lactobacillus, glycans and drivers of health in the vaginal microbiome. MICROBIOME RESEARCH REPORTS 2022; 1:18. [PMID: 38046360 PMCID: PMC10688826 DOI: 10.20517/mrr.2022.03] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2022] [Revised: 04/08/2022] [Accepted: 04/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2023]
Abstract
A microbiome consists of microbes and their genomes, encompassing bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoa, archaea, and eukaryotes. These elements interact dynamically in the specific environment in which they reside and evolve. In the past decade, studies of various microbiomes have been prevalent in the scientific literature, accounting for the shift from culture-dependent to culture-independent identification of microbes using new high-throughput sequencing technologies that decipher their composition and sometimes provide insights into their functions. Despite tremendous advances in understanding the gut microbiome, relatively little attention has been devoted to the vaginal environment, notably regarding the ubiquity and diversity of glycans which denote the significant role they play in the maintenance of homeostasis. Hopefully, emerging technologies will aid in the determination of what is a healthy vaginal microbiome, and provide insights into the roles of Lactobacillus, glycans and microbiome-related drivers of health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rodolphe Barrangou
- Department of Food, Bioprocessing and Nutrition Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27606, USA
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103
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Pacha-Herrera D, Erazo-Garcia MP, Cueva DF, Orellana M, Borja-Serrano P, Arboleda C, Tejera E, Machado A. Clustering Analysis of the Multi-Microbial Consortium by Lactobacillus Species Against Vaginal Dysbiosis Among Ecuadorian Women. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:863208. [PMID: 35646732 PMCID: PMC9131875 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.863208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2022] [Accepted: 03/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The vaginal microbiota plays vital protection in women. This probiotic activity is caused not only by individual Lactobacillus species but also by its multi-microbial interaction. However, the probiotic activity promoted by multi-microbial consortia is still unknown. The aim of this study was the individual and collective analysis on the prevalence of five vaginal lactobacilli (Lactobacillus iners, Lactobacillus crispatus, Lactobacillus gasseri, Lactobacillus jensenii, and Lactobacillus acidophilus) among healthy women and women with bacterial vaginosis (BV) or aerobic vaginitis (AV). PCR assays were realized on 436 vaginal samples from a previous study. Chi-square, univariable, and multivariable logistic regression analyses with the Benjamini–Hochberg adjustment evaluated associations between these lactobacilli and vaginal microbiota. Multi-microbial clustering model was also realized through Ward’s Minimum Variance Clustering Method with Euclidean squared distance for hierarchical clustering to determine the probiotic relationship between lactobacilli and vaginal dysbiosis. Concerning the individual effect, L. acidophilus, L. jensenii, and L. crispatus showed the highest normalized importance values against vaginal dysbiosis (100%, 79.3%, and 74.8%, respectively). However, only L. acidophilus and L. jensenii exhibited statistical values (p = 0.035 and p = 0.050, respectively). L. acidophilus showed a significant prevalence on healthy microbiota against both dysbioses (BV, p = 0.041; and AV, p = 0.045). L. jensenii only demonstrated significant protection against AV (p = 0.012). Finally, our results evidenced a strong multi-microbial consortium by L. iners, L. jensenii, L. gasseri, and L. acidophilus against AV (p = 0.020) and BV (p = 0.009), lacking protection in the absence of L. gasseri and L. acidophilus.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Pacha-Herrera
- Universidad San Francisco de Quito USFQ, Colegio de Ciencias Biológicas y Ambientales COCIBA, Instituto de Microbiología, Laboratorio de Bacteriología, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Maria P. Erazo-Garcia
- Universidad San Francisco de Quito USFQ, Colegio de Ciencias Biológicas y Ambientales COCIBA, Instituto de Microbiología, Laboratorio de Bacteriología, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Darío F. Cueva
- Universidad San Francisco de Quito USFQ, Colegio de Ciencias Biológicas y Ambientales COCIBA, Instituto de Microbiología, Laboratorio de Bacteriología, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Miguel Orellana
- Universidad San Francisco de Quito USFQ, Colegio de Ciencias Biológicas y Ambientales COCIBA, Instituto de Microbiología, Laboratorio de Bacteriología, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Pamela Borja-Serrano
- Universidad San Francisco de Quito USFQ, Colegio de Ciencias Biológicas y Ambientales COCIBA, Instituto de Microbiología, Laboratorio de Bacteriología, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Camila Arboleda
- Universidad San Francisco de Quito USFQ, Colegio de Ciencias Biológicas y Ambientales COCIBA, Instituto de Microbiología, Laboratorio de Bacteriología, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Eduardo Tejera
- Facultad de Ingeniería y Ciencias Agropecuarias, Grupo de Bioquimioinformática, Universidad de Las Américas, Quito, Ecuador
| | - António Machado
- Universidad San Francisco de Quito USFQ, Colegio de Ciencias Biológicas y Ambientales COCIBA, Instituto de Microbiología, Laboratorio de Bacteriología, Quito, Ecuador
- *Correspondence: António Machado,
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104
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Wright ML, Dunlop AL, Dunn AB, Mitchell RM, Wissel EF, Corwin EJ. Factors Associated with Vaginal Lactobacillus Predominance Among African American Women Early in Pregnancy. J Womens Health (Larchmt) 2022; 31:682-689. [PMID: 34448602 PMCID: PMC9133973 DOI: 10.1089/jwh.2021.0148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Vaginal Lactobacillus is considered protective of some adverse reproductive health outcomes, including preterm birth. However, factors that increase or decrease the likelihood of harboring Lactobacillus in the vaginal microbiome remain largely unknown. In this study, we sought to identify risk and protective factors associated with vaginal Lactobacillus predominance within a cohort of pregnant African American women. Materials and Methods: Vaginal microbiome samples were self-collected by African American women (N = 436) during their 8-14th week of pregnancy. Sociodemographic information and measures of health behaviors, including substance use, antibiotic exposure, sexual practices, frequency of vaginal intercourse, and the use of vaginal products, were collected through participant self-report. The V3-V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene was targeted for amplification and sequencing using Illumina HiSeq, with bacterial taxonomy assigned using the PECAN classifier. Univariate and a series of multivariate logistic regression models identified factors predictive of diverse vaginal microbiota or Lactobacillus predominance. Results: Participants who used marijuana in the past 30 days (aOR 1.80, 95% CI 1.08-2.98) were more likely to have diverse non-Lactobacillus-predominant vaginal microbiota, as were women not living with their partners (aOR 1.90, 95% CI 1.20-3.01). Cohabitating or marijuana usage were not associated with type of Lactobacillus (non-iners Lactobacillus vs. Lactobacillus iners) predominance (aOR 1.11, 95% CI 0.52-2.38 and aOR 0.56, 95% CI 0.21-1.47, respectively). Conclusions: Living with a partner is conducive to vaginal Lactobacillus predominance. As such, cohabitation may be in important covariate to consider in vaginal microbiome studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle L. Wright
- School of Nursing, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA
- Department of Women's Health, Dell Medical School, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA
| | - Anne L. Dunlop
- Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Alexis B. Dunn
- Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Rebecca M. Mitchell
- Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
- Department of Computer Science, College of Arts and Sciences, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Emily F. Wissel
- Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
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105
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Differences in the Active Endometrial Microbiota across Body Weight and Cancer in Humans and Mice. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14092141. [PMID: 35565271 PMCID: PMC9100094 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14092141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2022] [Revised: 04/21/2022] [Accepted: 04/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Of all cancers, endometrial cancer has the greatest association with obesity. Obesity causes dysbiosis of intestinal microbiota, but little is known about whether obesity is associated with dysbiosis of the female genital tract. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine whether obesity and cancer were associated with altered microbiota profiles in the endometrium. 16S rRNA transcript amplicon sequencing (which captures actively replicating bacteria) of endometrial tissues showed that obesity and cancer were associated with the prevalence of microbial community types in the human endometrium. However, obesity was not associated with microbial community types in the mouse endometrium. The presence of endometrial cancer (but not obesity) was associated with decreased abundance of the Lactobacillus genus in the human endometrium. In mice, an enrichment of Lactobacillus was associated with lower prevalence of disease (normal uterine histology). These results suggest that obesity and cancer may influence microbiota community types in the endometrium (at least in humans) and Lactobacillus may be protective in the endometrium. This study therefore supports further research into the role of microbiota in endometrial cancer development. Abstract Obesity is a risk factor for endometrial cancer. The aim of this study was to determine whether actively replicating microbiota in the endometrium differ between obese vs. lean and cancer vs. benign states. We performed 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing on endometrial tissues from lean and obese women with and without endometrial cancer, and lean and obese mice. Results displayed human endometrial microbiota clustered into three community types (R = 0.363, p = 0.001). Lactobacillus was dominant in community type 1 (C1) while community type 2 (C2) had high levels of Proteobacteria and more cancer samples when compared to C1 (p = 0.007) and C3 (p = 0.0002). A significant increase in the prevalence of the C2 community type was observed across body mass index and cancer (χ2 = 14.24, p = 0.0002). The relative abundance of Lactobacillus was lower in cancer samples (p = 0.0043), and an OTU with 100% similarity to Lactobacillus iners was enriched in control samples (p = 0.0029). Mouse endometrial microbiota also clustered into three community types (R = 0.419, p = 0.001) which were not influenced by obesity. In conclusion, obesity and cancer are associated with community type prevalence in the human endometrium, and Lactobacillus abundance is associated with normal uterine histologies in humans and mice.
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106
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A cross-sectional analysis about bacterial vaginosis, high-risk human papillomavirus infection, and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia in Chinese women. Sci Rep 2022; 12:6609. [PMID: 35459771 PMCID: PMC9033840 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-10532-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2021] [Accepted: 04/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a genital infection that frequently presents in women infected with human papillomavirus (HPV), but the correlation between BV, HPV and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) development is still elusive. We organized a cross-sectional analysis which enrolled 624 participants and obtained 423 samples of vaginal secretions from them, including 193 HPV-negative samples and 230 HR-HPV-positive samples. We used 16S rRNA sequencing to measure the vaginal microbiota diversity in women with different BV, HPV and CIN status, and then calculated risk factors for CIN by logistic regression. We found that the diversity of vaginal microbiota was significantly increased after BV, HPV and BV-infected CIN group. The Observed species and Chao1 index of H.C group showed little difference with normal group, while its Shannon index was considerable higher than normal group. L. iners enriched in HPV infection group compared with others significantly. BV (OR = 0.358; 95% CI = 0.195–0.656; P < .05) and HR-HPV infection (OR = 0.016; 95% CI = 0.004–0.072; P < .001) were risk factors for CIN. In conclusion, we consider BV as a risk factor for CIN. The enrichment of L. iners under HPV infection state may contribute to maintenance of vaginal dysbiosis, and BV infection could facilitate the disturb.
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107
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Lehtoranta L, Ala-Jaakkola R, Laitila A, Maukonen J. Healthy Vaginal Microbiota and Influence of Probiotics Across the Female Life Span. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:819958. [PMID: 35464937 PMCID: PMC9024219 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.819958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2021] [Accepted: 02/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Vaginal microbiota plays a central role in women's health and reproduction. Vaginal microbiota is dynamic and shaped by hormonal shifts in each stage of a woman's life from pre-puberty to postmenopause. Current research has mainly focused on vaginal bacterial and fungal members of the community and emphasized their role in disease. However, the impact of balanced vaginal microbiota on health and its interaction with the host is yet poorly understood. High abundance of vaginal lactobacilli is most strongly associated with health, but the concept of health may vary as vaginal dysbiosis may be asymptomatic. Furthermore, there is a lot of variation between ethnic groups in terms of dominating vaginal bacteria. Probiotic lactobacilli could be a safe and natural means to balance and maintain healthy vaginal microbiota. Research evidence is accumulating on their role in supporting women's health throughout life. This review describes the current literature on vaginal microbiota, the major factors affecting its composition, and how the communities change in different life stages. Furthermore, we focused on reviewing available literature on probiotics and their impact on vaginal microbiota and health.
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108
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Xiao B, A D, Qin H, Mi L, Zhang D. Correlation Analysis of Vaginal Microbiome Changes and Bacterial Vaginosis Plus Vulvovaginal Candidiasis Mixed Vaginitis Prognosis. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:860589. [PMID: 35372135 PMCID: PMC8970117 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.860589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2022] [Accepted: 02/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Mixed vaginitis is the result of the simultaneous presence of different pathogenic processes mediated by at least two types of vaginal pathogens. Among the various types of mixed vaginitis presentations, bacterial vaginosis (BV) plus vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) presents to be the most prevalent form. Mixed vaginitis affects the health of women of all ages worldwide. However, few studies have focused on clinical manifestations, pathogenesis, diagnostic criteria, or therapy of mixed vaginitis. We recruited 48 symptomatic patients with clinical diagnoses of VVC complicated with BV, they were treated with oral metronidazole combined with local clotrimazole and followed to assess the drug efficacy and vaginal microbiome alterations before and after treatment. The vaginal microbiome in BV+VVC mixed vaginitis patients was altered significantly after the combined drug treatment within a unique form different from a simple overlay mode of BV and VVC, the key bacteria including Gardnerella and Atopobium, Lactobacillus. The combined drug therapy for the mixed vaginitis in this study was effective and enhanced treatment for BV may be more favorable because of more difficulty in dealing with BV according to the treatment outcome. The abundance of Lactobacillus in patients with mixed vaginitis affects the recovery of the vaginal microbiome as well as the prognosis, and the abundance should be actively restored. This is the first study to investigate the composition, diversity, and other characteristics of the vaginal microbiome in patients with BV+VVC mixed vaginitis before and after drug treatment, our results provide clues to improving the cure rate and reducing recurrences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bingbing Xiao
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Disi A
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Hanyu Qin
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Lan Mi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Dai Zhang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China
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109
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Vieira-Baptista P, Silva-Soares S, Lyra J, Falcão V, Póvoa AM, Calejo L, Sousa S. Wet Mount Microscopy of the Vaginal Milieu Does Not Predict the Outcome of Fertility Treatments: A Cross-sectional Study. J Low Genit Tract Dis 2022; 26:176-180. [PMID: 35067583 DOI: 10.1097/lgt.0000000000000655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The aim of the study was to evaluate whether vaginal dysbiosis (bacterial vaginosis [BV] or moderate/severe aerobic vaginitis [AV]/desquamative inflammatory vaginitis) in women subjected to intrauterine insemination (IUI) or in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection influences the rates of pregnancy. MATERIALS AND METHODS This is a cross-sectional study involving 392 women who underwent IUI or in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection at a fertility clinic. All had a slide collected for phase contrast wet mount microscopy (WMM), which was classified according to the International Society for the Study of Vulvovaginal Disease recommendations. Correlation between flora patterns and the rate of pregnancy were evaluated. RESULTS There were no differences in any of the groups in terms of pregnancy rate (biochemical, clinical, at first trimester ultrasound, or live birth) after stratifying for the presence of BV, moderate or severe (ms) AV, BV and/or moderate or severe AV, cytolysis, or abnormal vaginal flora (lactobacillary grade ≥ IIb). The presence of Candida species, cocci, or bacilli morphotypes other than lactobacilli also showed no differences. CONCLUSIONS The vaginal flora assessment by WMM at the time of IUI or oocyte retrieval was not predictive of the success of fertility treatments.The absence of differences may be due to intrinsic limitations of WMM (i.e., identifying only bacterial morphotypes), a positive impact of the treatments in the vaginal flora or because the sperm and embryo transfer is made directly into the uterine cavity, thus overcoming any cervical or vaginal dysbiosis disadvantage. Future studies should focus on the endometrial milieu, rather than in the vaginal and/or cervical one.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sandra Silva-Soares
- Unit of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Gynecology, Centro Hospitalar de São João, Porto, Portugal
| | - Joana Lyra
- Lower Genital Tract Unit, Gynecology Department, Centro Hospitalar de São João, Porto, Portugal
| | - Vera Falcão
- Lower Genital Tract Unit, Gynecology Department, Centro Hospitalar de São João, Porto, Portugal
| | | | - Lucinda Calejo
- Unit of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Gynecology, Centro Hospitalar de São João, Porto, Portugal
| | - Sónia Sousa
- Unit of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Gynecology, Centro Hospitalar de São João, Porto, Portugal
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Komiya S, Matsuo Y, Nakagawa S, Morimoto Y, Kryukov K, Okada H, Hirota K. MinION, a portable long-read sequencer, enables rapid vaginal microbiota analysis in a clinical setting. BMC Med Genomics 2022; 15:68. [PMID: 35337329 PMCID: PMC8953062 DOI: 10.1186/s12920-022-01218-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2021] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Background It has been suggested that the local microbiota in the reproductive organs is relevant to women's health and may also affect pregnancy outcomes. Analysis of partial 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene sequences generated by short-read sequencers has been used to identify vaginal and endometrial microbiota, but it requires a long time to obtain the results, making it unsuitable for rapid bacterial identification from a small specimen amount in a clinical context. Methods We developed a simple workflow using the nanopore sequencer MinION that allows high-resolution and rapid differentiation of vaginal microbiota. Vaginal samples collected from 18 participants were subjected to DNA extraction and full-length 16S rRNA gene sequencing with MinION. Results The principal coordinate analysis showed no differences in the bacterial compositions regardless of the sample collection method. The analysis of vaginal microbiota could be completed with a total analysis time of approximately four hours, allowing same-day results. Taxonomic profiling by MinION sequencing revealed relatively low diversity of the vaginal bacterial community, identifying the prevailing Lactobacillus species and several causative agents of bacterial vaginosis. Conclusions Full-length 16S rRNA gene sequencing analysis with MinION provides a rapid means for identifying vaginal bacteria with higher resolution. Species-level profiling of human vaginal microbiota by MinION sequencing can allow the analysis of associations with conditions such as genital infections, endometritis, and threatened miscarriage. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12920-022-01218-8.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shinnosuke Komiya
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kansai Medical University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan.,HORAC Grand Front Osaka Clinic, Osaka, Japan
| | - Yoshiyuki Matsuo
- Department of Human Stress Response Science, Institute of Biomedical Science, Kansai Medical University, Osaka, Japan.
| | - So Nakagawa
- Department of Molecular Life Science, Tokai University School of Medicine, Kanagawa, Japan
| | | | - Kirill Kryukov
- Department of Informatics, National Institute of Genetics, Shizuoka, Japan
| | - Hidetaka Okada
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kansai Medical University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Kiichi Hirota
- Department of Human Stress Response Science, Institute of Biomedical Science, Kansai Medical University, Osaka, Japan
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111
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Towards a deeper understanding of the vaginal microbiota. Nat Microbiol 2022; 7:367-378. [PMID: 35246662 DOI: 10.1038/s41564-022-01083-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 98] [Impact Index Per Article: 49.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2021] [Accepted: 02/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
The human vaginal microbiota is a critical determinant of vaginal health. These communities live in close association with the vaginal epithelium and rely on host tissues for resources. Although often dominated by lactobacilli, the vaginal microbiota is also frequently composed of a collection of facultative and obligate anaerobes. The prevalence of these communities with a paucity of Lactobacillus species varies among women, and epidemiological studies have associated them with an increased risk of adverse health outcomes. The mechanisms that drive these associations have yet to be described in detail, with few studies establishing causative relationships. Here, we review our current understanding of the vaginal microbiota and its connection with host health. We centre our discussion around the biology of the vaginal microbiota when Lactobacillus species are dominant versus when they are not, including host factors that are implicated in shaping these microbial communities and the resulting adverse health outcomes. We discuss current approaches to modulate the vaginal microbiota, including probiotics and vaginal microbiome transplants, and argue that new model systems of the cervicovaginal environment that incorporate the vaginal microbiota are needed to progress from association to mechanism and this will prove invaluable for future research.
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112
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France MT, Fu L, Rutt L, Yang H, Humphrys MS, Narina S, Gajer PM, Ma B, Forney LJ, Ravel J. Insight into the ecology of vaginal bacteria through integrative analyses of metagenomic and metatranscriptomic data. Genome Biol 2022; 23:66. [PMID: 35232471 PMCID: PMC8886902 DOI: 10.1186/s13059-022-02635-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2021] [Accepted: 02/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Vaginal bacterial communities dominated by Lactobacillus species are associated with a reduced risk of various adverse health outcomes. However, somewhat unexpectedly, many healthy women have microbiota that are not dominated by lactobacilli. To determine the factors that drive vaginal community composition we characterized the genetic composition and transcriptional activities of vaginal microbiota in healthy women. RESULTS We demonstrate that the abundance of a species is not always indicative of its transcriptional activity and that impending changes in community composition can be predicted from metatranscriptomic data. Functional comparisons highlight differences in the metabolic activities of these communities, notably in their degradation of host produced mucin but not glycogen. Degradation of mucin by communities not dominated by Lactobacillus may play a role in their association with adverse health outcomes. Finally, we show that the transcriptional activities of L. crispatus, L. iners, and Gardnerella vaginalis vary with the taxonomic composition of the communities in which they reside. Notably, L. iners and G. vaginalis both demonstrate lower expression of their cholesterol-dependent cytolysins when co-resident with Lactobacillus spp. and higher expression when co-resident with other facultative and obligate anaerobes. The pathogenic potential of these species may depend on the communities in which they reside and thus could be modulated by interventional strategies. CONCLUSIONS Our results provide insight to the functional ecology of the vaginal microbiota, demonstrate the diagnostic potential of metatranscriptomic data, and reveal strategies for the management of these ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael T France
- Institute for Genome Sciences and Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Li Fu
- Institute for Genome Sciences and Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Lindsay Rutt
- Institute for Genome Sciences and Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Hongqiu Yang
- Institute for Genome Sciences and Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Michael S Humphrys
- Institute for Genome Sciences and Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Shilpa Narina
- Institute for Genome Sciences and Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Pawel M Gajer
- Institute for Genome Sciences and Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Bing Ma
- Institute for Genome Sciences and Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Larry J Forney
- Department of Biological Sciences and Institute for Bioinformatics and Evolutionary Studies, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, USA
| | - Jacques Ravel
- Institute for Genome Sciences and Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
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Sun Y, Meng Y, Ou Z, Li Y, Zhang M, Chen Y, Zhang Z, Chen X, Mu P, Norbäck D, Zhao Z, Zhang X, Fu X. Indoor microbiome, air pollutants and asthma, rhinitis and eczema in preschool children - A repeated cross-sectional study. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2022; 161:107137. [PMID: 35168186 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2022.107137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2021] [Revised: 02/02/2022] [Accepted: 02/05/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Indoor microbiome exposure is associated with asthma, rhinitis and eczema. However, no studies report the interactions between environmental characteristics, indoor microbiome and health effects in a repeated cross-sectional framework. METHODS 1,279 and 1,121 preschool children in an industrial city (Taiyuan) of China were assessed for asthma, rhinitis and eczema symptoms in 2012 and 2019 by self-administered questionnaires, respectively. Bacteria and fungi in classroom vacuum dust were characterized by culture-independent amplicon sequencing. Multi-level logistic/linear regression was performed in two cross-sectional and two combined models to assess the associations. RESULTS The number of observed species in bacterial and fungal communities in classrooms increased significantly from 2012 to 2019, and the compositions of the microbial communities were drastically changed (p < 0.001). The temporal microbiome variation was significantly larger than the spatial variation within the city (p < 0.001). Annual average outdoor SO2 concentration decreased by 60.7%, whereas NO2 and PM10 concentrations increased by 63.3% and 40.0% from 2012 to 2019, which were both associated with indoor microbiome variation (PERMANOVA p < 0.001). The prevalence of asthma (2.0% to 3.3%, p = 0.06) and rhinitis (28.0% to 25.3%, p = 0.13) were not significantly changed, but the prevalence of eczema was increased (3.6% to 7.0%; p < 0.001). Aspergillus subversicolor, Collinsella and Cutibacterium were positively associated with asthma, rhinitis and eczema, respectively (p < 0.01). Prevotella, Lactobacillus iners and Dolosigranulum were protectively (negatively) associated with rhinitis (p < 0.01), consistent with previous studies in the human respiratory tract. NO2 and PM10 concentrations were negatively associated with rhinitis in a bivariate model, but a multivariate mediation analysis revealed that Prevotella fully mediated the health effects. CONCLUSIONS This is the first study to report the interactions between environmental characteristics, indoor microbiome and health in a repeated cross-sectional framework. The mediating effects of indoor microorganisms suggest incorporating biological with chemical exposure for a comprehensive exposure assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Sun
- Institute of Environmental Science, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, PR China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Protein Function and Regulation in Agricultural Organisms, College of Life Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, Guangdong, PR China; Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou 510642, Guangdong, PR China; Key Laboratory of Zoonosis of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, Guangdong, PR China
| | - Yi Meng
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Protein Function and Regulation in Agricultural Organisms, College of Life Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, Guangdong, PR China; Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou 510642, Guangdong, PR China; Key Laboratory of Zoonosis of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, Guangdong, PR China
| | - Zheyuan Ou
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Protein Function and Regulation in Agricultural Organisms, College of Life Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, Guangdong, PR China; Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou 510642, Guangdong, PR China; Key Laboratory of Zoonosis of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, Guangdong, PR China
| | - Yanling Li
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Protein Function and Regulation in Agricultural Organisms, College of Life Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, Guangdong, PR China; Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou 510642, Guangdong, PR China; Key Laboratory of Zoonosis of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, Guangdong, PR China
| | - Mei Zhang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Protein Function and Regulation in Agricultural Organisms, College of Life Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, Guangdong, PR China; Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou 510642, Guangdong, PR China; Key Laboratory of Zoonosis of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, Guangdong, PR China
| | - Yang Chen
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Protein Function and Regulation in Agricultural Organisms, College of Life Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, Guangdong, PR China; Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou 510642, Guangdong, PR China; Key Laboratory of Zoonosis of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, Guangdong, PR China
| | - Zefei Zhang
- Institute of Environmental Science, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, PR China
| | - Xingyi Chen
- Institute of Environmental Science, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, PR China
| | - Peiqiang Mu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Protein Function and Regulation in Agricultural Organisms, College of Life Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, Guangdong, PR China; Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou 510642, Guangdong, PR China; Key Laboratory of Zoonosis of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, Guangdong, PR China
| | - Dan Norbäck
- Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Dept. of Medical Science, University Hospital, Uppsala University, 75237 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Zhuohui Zhao
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Fudan University, Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety of the Ministry of Education, NHC Key Laboratory of Health Technology Assessment (Fudan University), Shanghai Typhoon Institute/CMA, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Meteorology and Health, Shanghai 200030, China
| | - Xin Zhang
- Institute of Environmental Science, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, PR China.
| | - Xi Fu
- School of Public Health, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou 510006, PR China; Guangdong Provincial Engineering Research Center of Public Health Detection and Assessment, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, PR China.
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Zhang QQ, Chen R, Li M, Zeng Z, Zhang L, Liao QP. The interplay between microbiota, metabolites, immunity during BV. MEDICINE IN MICROECOLOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.medmic.2021.100049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
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115
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Bloom SM, Mafunda NA, Woolston BM, Hayward MR, Frempong JF, Abai AB, Xu J, Mitchell AJ, Westergaard X, Hussain FA, Xulu N, Dong M, Dong KL, Gumbi T, Ceasar FX, Rice JK, Choksi N, Ismail N, Ndung'u T, Ghebremichael MS, Relman DA, Balskus EP, Mitchell CM, Kwon DS. Cysteine dependence of Lactobacillus iners is a potential therapeutic target for vaginal microbiota modulation. Nat Microbiol 2022; 7:434-450. [PMID: 35241796 PMCID: PMC10473153 DOI: 10.1038/s41564-022-01070-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2021] [Accepted: 01/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Vaginal microbiota composition affects many facets of reproductive health. Lactobacillus iners-dominated microbial communities are associated with poorer outcomes, including higher risk of bacterial vaginosis (BV), compared with vaginal microbiota rich in L. crispatus. Unfortunately, standard-of-care metronidazole therapy for BV typically results in dominance of L. iners, probably contributing to post-treatment relapse. Here we generate an L. iners isolate collection comprising 34 previously unreported isolates from 14 South African women with and without BV and 4 previously unreported isolates from 3 US women. We also report an associated genome catalogue comprising 1,218 vaginal Lactobacillus isolate genomes and metagenome-assembled genomes from >300 women across 4 continents. We show that, unlike L. crispatus, L. iners growth is dependent on L-cysteine in vitro and we trace this phenotype to the absence of canonical cysteine biosynthesis pathways and a restricted repertoire of cysteine-related transport mechanisms. We further show that cysteine concentrations in cervicovaginal lavage samples correlate with Lactobacillus abundance in vivo and that cystine uptake inhibitors selectively inhibit L. iners growth in vitro. Combining an inhibitor with metronidazole promotes L. crispatus dominance of defined BV-like communities in vitro by suppressing L. iners growth. Our findings enable a better understanding of L. iners biology and suggest candidate treatments to modulate the vaginal microbiota to improve reproductive health for women globally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seth M Bloom
- Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Nomfuneko A Mafunda
- Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Benjamin M Woolston
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Matthew R Hayward
- Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Josephine F Frempong
- Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Medical Scientist Training Program, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA
| | - Aaron B Abai
- Harvard College, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Jiawu Xu
- Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Alissa J Mitchell
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine, Hattiesburg, MS, USA
| | - Xavier Westergaard
- Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Fatima A Hussain
- Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Nondumiso Xulu
- HIV Pathogenesis Programme (HPP), The Doris Duke Medical Research Institute, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - Mary Dong
- Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Krista L Dong
- Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | | | - Justin K Rice
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Ronald O. Perelman Department of Emergency Medicine, NYU School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Namit Choksi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Rishihood University - School of Healthcare, Sonepat, Haryana, India
| | - Nasreen Ismail
- HIV Pathogenesis Programme (HPP), The Doris Duke Medical Research Institute, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - Thumbi Ndung'u
- Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- HIV Pathogenesis Programme (HPP), The Doris Duke Medical Research Institute, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
- Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI), Durban, South Africa
- Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology, Berlin, Germany
- Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London, London, UK
| | - Musie S Ghebremichael
- Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - David A Relman
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Infectious Diseases Section, Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Emily P Balskus
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Caroline M Mitchell
- Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Douglas S Kwon
- Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA.
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
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116
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Kenneally C, Murphy CP, Sleator RD, Culligan EP. The Urinary Microbiome and Biological Therapeutics: Novel Therapies For Urinary Tract Infections. Microbiol Res 2022; 259:127010. [DOI: 10.1016/j.micres.2022.127010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2022] [Revised: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 03/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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117
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Juliana NCA, Deb S, Juma MH, Poort L, Budding AE, Mbarouk A, Ali SM, Ouburg S, Morré SA, Sazawal S, Ambrosino E. The Vaginal Microbiota Composition and Genital Infections during and after Pregnancy among Women in Pemba Island, Tanzania. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10030509. [PMID: 35336085 PMCID: PMC8951098 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10030509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2021] [Revised: 02/03/2022] [Accepted: 02/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
We investigated the vaginal microbiota (VMB) composition, prevalence of genital pathogens and their association among pregnant and post-delivery women in Pemba Island, Tanzania. Vaginal swabs were collected from 90 women, at two time points during pregnancy (<20 weeks of gestational age [GA] and ≥20 weeks GA) and once after delivery, when possible. IS-pro assay was used for VMB characterization. Chlamydia trachomatis (CT), Neisseria gonorrhea (NG), Trichomonas vaginalis (TV), Mycoplasma genitalium (MG) and human papillomavirus (HPV) were detected by qPCRs. VMB were mostly Lactobacillus dominant during pregnancy and non-Lactobacillus dominant post-delivery. A significant decrease in VMB richness was observed during pregnancy among paired and unpaired samples. Shannon diversity was significantly lower during pregnancy than post-delivery among unpaired samples. Klebsiella species and Streptococcus anginosus were the most commonly identified pathobionts at all timepoints. A high abundance of pathobionts was mostly seen in women with non-Lactobacillus dominant VMB. At ≥20 weeks GA timepoint during pregnancy, 63.0% of the women carrying one or more genital pathogen (either HPV, CT, TV, or MG) had L. iners dominant VMB. NG was not detected pre-delivery. This study contributes evidence on VMB composition, its changes during pregnancy and post-delivery, and their association with pathobionts and genital pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naomi C. A. Juliana
- Institute for Public Health Genomics (IPHG), Department of Genetics and Cell Biology, Research School GROW (School for Oncology & Reproduction), Faculty of Health, Medicine & Life Sciences, University of Maastricht, 6200 Maastricht, The Netherlands; (N.C.A.J.); (S.A.M.)
| | - Saikat Deb
- Public Health Laboratory—Ivo de Carneri, Chake Chake 74201, Pemba Island, Tanzania; (S.D.); (M.H.J.); (A.M.); (S.M.A.)
- Centre for Public Health Kinetics, New Delhi 110024, India;
| | - Mohamed H. Juma
- Public Health Laboratory—Ivo de Carneri, Chake Chake 74201, Pemba Island, Tanzania; (S.D.); (M.H.J.); (A.M.); (S.M.A.)
| | - Linda Poort
- inBiome, 1098 Amsterdam, The Netherlands; (L.P.); (A.E.B.)
| | | | - Abdalla Mbarouk
- Public Health Laboratory—Ivo de Carneri, Chake Chake 74201, Pemba Island, Tanzania; (S.D.); (M.H.J.); (A.M.); (S.M.A.)
| | - Said M. Ali
- Public Health Laboratory—Ivo de Carneri, Chake Chake 74201, Pemba Island, Tanzania; (S.D.); (M.H.J.); (A.M.); (S.M.A.)
| | - Sander Ouburg
- Laboratory of Immunogenetics, Department of Medical Microbiology and Infection Control, Amsterdam UMC, Location AMC, 1105 Amsterdam, The Netherlands;
| | - Servaas A. Morré
- Institute for Public Health Genomics (IPHG), Department of Genetics and Cell Biology, Research School GROW (School for Oncology & Reproduction), Faculty of Health, Medicine & Life Sciences, University of Maastricht, 6200 Maastricht, The Netherlands; (N.C.A.J.); (S.A.M.)
| | - Sunil Sazawal
- Centre for Public Health Kinetics, New Delhi 110024, India;
| | - Elena Ambrosino
- Institute for Public Health Genomics (IPHG), Department of Genetics and Cell Biology, Research School GROW (School for Oncology & Reproduction), Faculty of Health, Medicine & Life Sciences, University of Maastricht, 6200 Maastricht, The Netherlands; (N.C.A.J.); (S.A.M.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +31-04-3388-4081
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Kunaseth J, Waiyaput W, Chanchaem P, Sawaswong V, Permpech R, Payungporn S, Sophonsritsuk A. Vaginal microbiome of women with adenomyosis: A case-control study. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0263283. [PMID: 35171931 PMCID: PMC8849446 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0263283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2021] [Accepted: 01/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Immune dysregulation can involve invasion and survival of endometrial glands inside the myometrium of the adenomyosis. There is limited available data concerning alterations of the bacterial microbiome in the reproductive tract of adenomyosis women. The present cross-sectional age-matched study aims to compare vaginal microbiota between women with and without adenomyosis. We recruited women with adenomyosis (N = 40) and age-matched women without adenomyosis (N = 40) from the Departments of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Ramathibodi Hospital Mahidol University, from August 2020 to January 2021. Vaginal swab samples were collected from the participants. DNA isolation and bacterial 16s rDNA gene sequencing and data analyses were then performed. Comparison of the diversity of vaginal microbiota, microbiota composition, and the operational taxonomic unit (OTU) between adenomyosis and non-adenomyosis (control) groups were undertaken. Data from 40 and 38 women with and without adenomyosis, respectively, were analyzed. Alpha-diversity analysis (Chao1 index) at the species level showed higher vaginal microbial richness in the adenomyosis group when compared with the control group (p = 0.006). The linear discriminant analysis effect size technique (LeFSe) indicated an elevated abundance of several vaginal microbial taxa in the adenomyosis group, including Alloscardovia, Oscillospirales, Ruminoccoccaceae, UCG_002, Oscillospiraceae, Enhydrobacter, Megamonas, Moraxellaceae, Subdoligranulum, Selenomonadaceae, and Faecalibacterium. On the other hand, an increase in the abundance of Megaspehera, Fastidiosipila, Hungateiclostridiaceae, and Clostridia was identified in the control group. Vaginal community state type (CST)-III and -IV were dominated in adenomyosis, while only CST-IV was dominated in the non-adenomyosis group. Lactobacillus was the most abundant vaginal microbial in both groups. In this study, the differences in vaginal microbiome profile were noted between adenomyosis and non-adenomyosis group. The increasing of microbial richness was associated with adenomyosis. Nevertheless, further investigations were required to elucidate the mechanisms and apply them for clinical implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jitsupa Kunaseth
- Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Wanwisa Waiyaput
- Office of Research Academic and Innovation, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Prangwalai Chanchaem
- Research Unit of Systems Microbiology, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Vorthon Sawaswong
- Research Unit of Systems Microbiology, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Program in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, Graduate School, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Rattana Permpech
- Perioperative Nursing Division, Department of Ramathibodi Nursing Service, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Sunchai Payungporn
- Research Unit of Systems Microbiology, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
- * E-mail: (AS); (SP)
| | - Areepan Sophonsritsuk
- Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
- * E-mail: (AS); (SP)
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Multi-omics data integration reveals metabolome as the top predictor of the cervicovaginal microenvironment. PLoS Comput Biol 2022; 18:e1009876. [PMID: 35196323 PMCID: PMC8901057 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1009876] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2021] [Revised: 03/07/2022] [Accepted: 01/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Emerging evidence suggests that host-microbe interaction in the cervicovaginal microenvironment contributes to cervical carcinogenesis, yet dissecting these complex interactions is challenging. Herein, we performed an integrated analysis of multiple "omics" datasets to develop predictive models of the cervicovaginal microenvironment and identify characteristic features of vaginal microbiome, genital inflammation and disease status. Microbiomes, vaginal pH, immunoproteomes and metabolomes were measured in cervicovaginal specimens collected from a cohort (n = 72) of Arizonan women with or without cervical neoplasm. Multi-omics integration methods, including neural networks (mmvec) and Random Forest supervised learning, were utilized to explore potential interactions and develop predictive models. Our integrated analyses revealed that immune and cancer biomarker concentrations were reliably predicted by Random Forest regressors trained on microbial and metabolic features, suggesting close correspondence between the vaginal microbiome, metabolome, and genital inflammation involved in cervical carcinogenesis. Furthermore, we show that features of the microbiome and host microenvironment, including metabolites, microbial taxa, and immune biomarkers are predictive of genital inflammation status, but only weakly to moderately predictive of cervical neoplastic disease status. Different feature classes were important for prediction of different phenotypes. Lipids (e.g. sphingolipids and long-chain unsaturated fatty acids) were strong predictors of genital inflammation, whereas predictions of vaginal microbiota and vaginal pH relied mostly on alterations in amino acid metabolism. Finally, we identified key immune biomarkers associated with the vaginal microbiota composition and vaginal pH (MIF), as well as genital inflammation (IL-6, IL-10, MIP-1α).
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120
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De Novo Assembly and Annotation of the Vaginal Metatranscriptome Associated with Bacterial Vaginosis. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23031621. [PMID: 35163545 PMCID: PMC8835865 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23031621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2021] [Revised: 01/28/2022] [Accepted: 01/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The vaginal microbiome plays an important role in women’s health and disease. Here we reanalyzed 40 vaginal transcriptomes from a previous study of de novo assembly (metaT-Assembly) followed by functional annotation. We identified 286,293 contigs and further assigned them to 25 phyla, 209 genera, and 339 species. Lactobacillus iners and Lactobacillus crispatus dominated the microbiome of non-bacterial vaginosis (BV) samples, while a complex of microbiota was identified from BV-associated samples. The metaT-Assembly identified a higher number of bacterial species than the 16S rRNA amplicon and metaT-Kraken methods. However, metaT-Assembly and metaT-Kraken exhibited similar major bacterial composition at the species level. Binning of metatranscriptome data resulted in 176 bins from major known bacteria and several unidentified bacteria in the vagina. Functional analyses based on Clusters of Orthologous Genes (COGs) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways suggested that a higher number of transcripts were expressed by the microbiome complex in the BV-associated samples than in non-BV-associated samples. The KEGG pathway analysis with an individual bacterial genome identified specific functions of the identified bacterial genome. Taken together, we demonstrated that the metaT-Assembly approach is an efficient tool to understand the dynamic microbial communities and their functional roles associated with the human vagina.
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121
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Shvartsman E, Richmond MEI, Schellenberg JJ, Lamont A, Perciani C, Russell JNH, Poliquin V, Burgener A, Jaoko W, Sandstrom P, MacDonald KS. Comparative analysis of DNA extraction and PCR product purification methods for cervicovaginal microbiome analysis using cpn60 microbial profiling. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0262355. [PMID: 35025956 PMCID: PMC8758110 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0262355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2021] [Accepted: 12/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The microbiota of the lower female genital tract plays an important role in women’s health. Microbial profiling using the chaperonin60 (cpn60) universal target (UT) improves resolution of vaginal species associated with negative health outcomes compared to the more commonly used 16S ribosomal DNA target. However, the choice of DNA extraction and PCR product purification methods may bias sequencing-based microbial studies and should be optimized for the sample type and molecular target used. In this study, we compared two commercial DNA extraction kits and two commercial PCR product purification kits for the microbial profiling of cervicovaginal samples using the cpn60 UT. Methods DNA from cervicovaginal secretions and vaginal lavage samples as well as mock community standards were extracted using either the specialized QIAamp DNA Microbiome Kit, or the standard DNeasy Blood & Tissue kit with enzymatic pre-treatment for enhanced lysis of gram-positive bacteria. Extracts were PCR amplified using well-established cpn60 primer sets and conditions. Products were then purified using a column-based method (QIAquick PCR Purification Kit) or a gel-based PCR clean-up method using the QIAEX II Gel Extraction Kit. Purified amplicons were sequenced with the MiSeq platform using standard procedures. The overall quality of each method was evaluated by measuring DNA yield, alpha diversity, and microbial composition. Results DNA extracted from cervicovaginal samples using the DNeasy Blood and Tissue kit, pre-treated with lysozyme and mutanolysin, resulted in increased DNA yield, bacterial diversity, and species representation compared to the QIAamp DNA Microbiome kit. The column-based PCR product purification approach also resulted in greater average DNA yield and wider species representation compared to a gel-based clean-up method. In conclusion, this study presents a fast, effective sample preparation method for high resolution cpn60 based microbial profiling of cervicovaginal samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elinor Shvartsman
- Department of Internal Medicine, Max Rady College of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada
- JC Wilt Infectious Diseases Research Centre, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Max Rady College of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada
| | - Meika E. I. Richmond
- Department of Internal Medicine, Max Rady College of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada
- JC Wilt Infectious Diseases Research Centre, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Max Rady College of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada
| | - John J. Schellenberg
- JC Wilt Infectious Diseases Research Centre, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Max Rady College of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada
| | - Alana Lamont
- Center for Global Health and Diseases, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, United States of America
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada
| | - Catia Perciani
- Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Justen N. H. Russell
- JC Wilt Infectious Diseases Research Centre, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
- Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Vanessa Poliquin
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada
| | - Adam Burgener
- Center for Global Health and Diseases, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, United States of America
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada
- Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Solna, Sweden
| | - Walter Jaoko
- Kenyan AIDS Vaccine Initiative–Institute of Clinical Research (KAVI-ICR), University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Paul Sandstrom
- JC Wilt Infectious Diseases Research Centre, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Max Rady College of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada
| | - Kelly S. MacDonald
- Department of Internal Medicine, Max Rady College of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada
- JC Wilt Infectious Diseases Research Centre, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Max Rady College of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada
- Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
- * E-mail:
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122
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Usyk M, Schlecht NF, Pickering S, Williams L, Sollecito CC, Gradissimo A, Porras C, Safaeian M, Pinto L, Herrero R, Strickler HD, Viswanathan S, Nucci-Sack A, Diaz A, Burk RD. molBV reveals immune landscape of bacterial vaginosis and predicts human papillomavirus infection natural history. Nat Commun 2022; 13:233. [PMID: 35017496 PMCID: PMC8752746 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-27628-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2021] [Accepted: 11/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a highly prevalent condition that is associated with adverse health outcomes. It has been proposed that BV's role as a pathogenic condition is mediated via bacteria-induced inflammation. However, the complex interplay between vaginal microbes and host immune factors has yet to be clearly elucidated. Here, we develop molBV, a 16 S rRNA gene amplicon-based classification pipeline that generates a molecular score and diagnoses BV with the same accuracy as the current gold standard method (i.e., Nugent score). Using 3 confirmatory cohorts we show that molBV is independent of the 16 S rRNA region and generalizable across populations. We use the score in a cohort without clinical BV states, but with measures of HPV infection history and immune markers, to reveal that BV-associated increases in the IL-1β/IP-10 cytokine ratio directly predicts clearance of incident high-risk HPV infection (HR = 1.86, 95% CI: 1.19-2.9). Furthermore, we identify an alternate inflammatory BV signature characterized by elevated TNF-α/MIP-1β ratio that is prospectively associated with progression of incident infections to CIN2 + (OR = 2.81, 95% CI: 1.62-5.42). Thus, BV is a heterogeneous condition that activates different arms of the immune response, which in turn are independent risk factors for HR-HPV clearance and progression. Clinical Trial registration number: The CVT trial has been registered under: NCT00128661.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mykhaylo Usyk
- Department of Pediatrics (Genetic Medicine), Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, USA
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, NYU School of Medicine, New York, USA
| | - Nicolas F Schlecht
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, USA
- Department of Cancer Prevention & Control, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Sarah Pickering
- Department of Pediatrics, Mount Sinai Adolescent Health Center, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Manhattan, NY, USA
| | - LaShanda Williams
- Department of Pediatrics (Genetic Medicine), Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, USA
| | - Christopher C Sollecito
- Department of Pediatrics (Genetic Medicine), Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, USA
| | - Ana Gradissimo
- Department of Pediatrics (Genetic Medicine), Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, USA
| | - Carolina Porras
- Agencia Costarricense de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Fundación INCIENSA, Costa Rica, USA
| | | | - Ligia Pinto
- HPV Serology Laboratory, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Fredrick, MD, USA
| | - Rolando Herrero
- Agencia Costarricense de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Fundación INCIENSA, Costa Rica, USA
| | - Howard D Strickler
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, USA
| | - Shankar Viswanathan
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, USA
| | - Anne Nucci-Sack
- Department of Pediatrics, Mount Sinai Adolescent Health Center, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Manhattan, NY, USA
| | - Angela Diaz
- Department of Pediatrics, Mount Sinai Adolescent Health Center, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Manhattan, NY, USA
| | - Robert D Burk
- Department of Pediatrics (Genetic Medicine), Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, USA.
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, USA.
- Departments of Microbiology and Immunology, and Obstetrics and Gynecology and Women's Health, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA.
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123
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The Clash of Microbiomes: From the Food Matrix to the Host Gut. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10010116. [PMID: 35056566 PMCID: PMC8780850 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10010116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2021] [Revised: 01/03/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Food fermentation has led to the improvement of the safety characteristics of raw materials and the production of new foodstuffs with elevated organoleptic characteristics. The empirical observation that these products could have a potential health benefit has garnered the attention of the scientific community. Therefore, several studies have been conducted in animal and human hosts to decipher which of these products may have a beneficial outcome against specific ailments. However, despite the accumulating literature, a relatively small number of products have been authorized as ‘functional foods’ by regulatory bodies. Data inconsistency and lack of in-depth preclinical characterization of functional products could heavily contribute to this issue. Today, the increased availability of omics platforms and bioinformatic algorithms for comprehensive data analysis can aid in the systematic characterization of microbe–microbe, microbe–matrix, and microbe–host interactions, providing useful insights about the maximization of their beneficial effects. The incorporation of these platforms in food science remains a challenge; however, coordinated efforts and interdisciplinary collaboration could push the field toward the dawn of a new era.
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124
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Verstraelen H, Vieira-Baptista P, De Seta F, Ventolini G, Lonnee-Hoffmann R, Lev-Sagie A. The Vaginal Microbiome: I. Research Development, Lexicon, Defining "Normal" and the Dynamics Throughout Women's Lives. J Low Genit Tract Dis 2022; 26:73-78. [PMID: 34928256 PMCID: PMC8719517 DOI: 10.1097/lgt.0000000000000643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This series of articles, titled The Vaginal Microbiome, written on behalf of the International Society for the Study of Vulvovaginal Disease, aims to summarize the current findings and understanding of the vaginal bacterial microbiota, mainly regarding areas relevant to clinicians specializing in vulvovaginal disorders. MATERIALS AND METHODS A database search of PubMed was performed, using the search terms "vaginal microbiome" (VMB) with "research," "normal," "neonate," "puberty," "adolescent," "menopause," and "ethnicities," as well as "human microbiome project." Full article texts were reviewed. Reference lists were screened for additional articles. RESULTS In the last 2 decades, many studies applying molecular techniques were performed, intending to characterize the vaginal microbiota. These studies advanced our understanding of how vaginal health is defined. The first article in this series focuses on the advancement of VMB research, technical definitions, the definition of "normal" VMB, and the dynamics of VMB throughout women's lives. CONCLUSIONS Understanding how microorganisms inhabiting the vagina interact with each other and with the host is important for a more complete understanding of vaginal health. The clinical application of microbial community sequencing is in its beginning, and its interpretation regarding practical clinical aspects is yet to be determined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hans Verstraelen
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Human Structure and Repair, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Pedro Vieira-Baptista
- Hospital Lusíadas Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Lower Genital Tract Unit, Centro Hospitalar de São João, Porto, Portugal
- LAP, a Unilabs Company, Porto, Portugal
| | - Francesco De Seta
- Institute for Maternal and Child Health, IRCCS Burlo Garofolo, Trieste, Italy
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Health Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
| | - Gary Ventolini
- Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Distinguish University, Professor School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Permian Basin, Odessa, TX
| | - Risa Lonnee-Hoffmann
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, St Olavs University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway
- Institute for Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Norwegian University for Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Ahinoam Lev-Sagie
- Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
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125
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Wei B, Chen Y, Lu T, Cao W, Tang Z, Yang H. Correlation between vaginal microbiota and different progression stages of cervical cancer. Genet Mol Biol 2022; 45:e20200450. [PMID: 35320337 PMCID: PMC8967114 DOI: 10.1590/1678-4685-gmb-2020-0450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2021] [Accepted: 01/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The process from high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) infection to cervical cancer is a continuous and long-term process, but the pathogenesis of the whole process is not completely clear. Here, 59 Chinese women were engaged in this study, and divided into five groups: normal healthy group, HR-HPV infections group, low-grade intraepithelial neoplasia (LSIL) group, high-SIL(HSIL) group, and cervical cancer group. With the occurrence of HR-HPV infection and the development of cervical lesions, the diversity of vaginal microbiota species was increased, and the relative abundance of Lactobacillus (L.), the dominant bacteria in maintaining vaginal microecological balance, was decreased gradually. In contrast, the abundance of Actinobacteria in the four disease groups was significantly higher than that in normal group. Furthermore L. iners may be related to the serious progression of cervical cancer. After analyzing the whole process, we found that Gardnerella(G.), Atopobium(A.) and Dialister(D.) have important effects on both persistent HR-HPV infection and the pathogenesis of cervical cancer. In addition, PICRUSt2 and KEGG results showed that the KEGG pathways enriched by the predicted genes of vaginal microbiota in cancer group included metabolic diseases, endocrine system and immune systems when compared with that in normal group. These findings may provide insights into the pathogenesis of cervical cancer, and help to improve the early detection and prevention of cervical precancerous lesions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bing Wei
- Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Embryo Original Diseases, China
| | - Yi Chen
- Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China
| | | | | | - Zhenhua Tang
- Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Embryo Original Diseases, China
| | - Haiou Yang
- Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Embryo Original Diseases, China
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126
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Microbiome-based therapeutics: Opportunity and challenges. PROGRESS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE 2022; 191:229-262. [DOI: 10.1016/bs.pmbts.2022.07.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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127
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Ng S, Chen M, Kundu S, Wang X, Zhou Z, Zheng Z, Qing W, Sheng H, Wang Y, He Y, Bennett PR, MacIntyre DA, Zhou H. Large-scale characterisation of the pregnancy vaginal microbiome and sialidase activity in a low-risk Chinese population. NPJ Biofilms Microbiomes 2021; 7:89. [PMID: 34930922 PMCID: PMC8688454 DOI: 10.1038/s41522-021-00261-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2021] [Accepted: 11/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Vaginal microbiota-host interactions are linked to preterm birth (PTB), which continues to be the primary cause of global childhood mortality. Due to population size, the majority of PTB occurs in Asia, yet there have been few studies of the pregnancy vaginal microbiota in Asian populations. Here, we characterized the vaginal microbiome of 2689 pregnant Chinese women using metataxonomics and in a subset (n = 819), the relationship between vaginal microbiota composition, sialidase activity and leukocyte presence and pregnancy outcomes. Vaginal microbiota were most frequently dominated by Lactobacillus crispatus or L. iners, with the latter associated with vaginal leukocyte presence. Women with high sialidase activity were enriched for bacterial vaginosis-associated genera including Gardnerella, Atopobium and Prevotella. Vaginal microbiota composition, high sialidase activity and/or leukocyte presence was not associated with PTB risk suggesting underlying differences in the vaginal microbiota and/or host immune responses of Chinese women, possibly accounting for low PTB rates in this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sherrianne Ng
- Imperial College Parturition Research Group, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom.,March of Dimes European Prematurity Research Centre, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Muxuan Chen
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.,Microbiome Medicine Center, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Samit Kundu
- Imperial College Parturition Research Group, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom.,March of Dimes European Prematurity Research Centre, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Xuefei Wang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zuyi Zhou
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.,Microbiome Medicine Center, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Zhongdaixi Zheng
- School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Wei Qing
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.,Microbiome Medicine Center, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Huafang Sheng
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.,Microbiome Medicine Center, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Yan Wang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yan He
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.,Microbiome Medicine Center, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Phillip R Bennett
- Imperial College Parturition Research Group, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom.,March of Dimes European Prematurity Research Centre, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - David A MacIntyre
- Imperial College Parturition Research Group, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom. .,March of Dimes European Prematurity Research Centre, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom.
| | - Hongwei Zhou
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China. .,Microbiome Medicine Center, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China. .,State key laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
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128
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Andralojc KM, Molina MA, Qiu M, Spruijtenburg B, Rasing M, Pater B, Huynen MA, Dutilh BE, Ederveen THA, Elmelik D, Siebers AG, Loopik D, Bekkers RLM, Leenders WPJ, Melchers WJG. Novel high-resolution targeted sequencing of the cervicovaginal microbiome. BMC Biol 2021; 19:267. [PMID: 34915863 PMCID: PMC8680041 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-021-01204-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2021] [Accepted: 12/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The cervicovaginal microbiome (CVM) plays a significant role in women's cervical health and disease. Microbial alterations at the species level and characteristic community state types (CST) have been associated with acquisition and persistence of high-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV) infections that may result in progression of cervical lesions to malignancy. Current sequencing methods, especially most commonly used multiplex 16S rRNA gene sequencing, struggle to fully clarify these changes because they generally fail to provide sufficient taxonomic resolution to adequately perform species-level associative studies. To improve CVM species designation, we designed a novel sequencing tool targeting microbes at the species taxonomic rank and examined its potential for profiling the CVM. RESULTS We introduce an accessible and practical circular probe-based RNA sequencing (CiRNAseq) technology with the potential to profile and quantify the CVM. In vitro and in silico validations demonstrate that CiRNAseq can distinctively detect species in a mock mixed microbial environment, with the output data reflecting its ability to estimate microbes' abundance. Moreover, compared to 16S rRNA gene sequencing, CiRNAseq provides equivalent results but with improved sequencing sensitivity. Analyses of a cohort of cervical smears from hrHPV-negative women versus hrHPV-positive women with high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia confirmed known differences in CST occurring in the CVM of women with hrHPV-induced lesions. The technique also revealed variations in microbial diversity and abundance in the CVM of hrHPV-positive women when compared to hrHPV-negative women. CONCLUSIONS CiRNAseq is a promising tool for studying the interplay between the CVM and hrHPV in cervical carcinogenesis. This technology could provide a better understanding of cervicovaginal CST and microbial species during health and disease, prompting the discovery of biomarkers, additional to hrHPV, that can help detect high-grade cervical lesions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karolina M. Andralojc
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud University Medical Center, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Department of Biochemistry, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Mariano A. Molina
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud University Medical Center, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Mengjie Qiu
- Center for Molecular and Biomolecular Informatics, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Bram Spruijtenburg
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud University Medical Center, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Menno Rasing
- Department of Biochemistry, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Bernard Pater
- Center for Molecular and Biomolecular Informatics, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Martijn A. Huynen
- Center for Molecular and Biomolecular Informatics, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Bas E. Dutilh
- Center for Molecular and Biomolecular Informatics, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Theoretical Biology and Bioinformatics, Science for Life, Utrecht University, Padualaan 8, 3584 CH Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Thomas H. A. Ederveen
- Center for Molecular and Biomolecular Informatics, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Duaa Elmelik
- Department of Biochemistry, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Albert G. Siebers
- Department of Pathology, Radboud University Medical Center, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Diede Loopik
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Radboud University Medical Center, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Ruud L. M. Bekkers
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Catharina Hospital, 5602 ZA Eindhoven, The Netherlands
- GROW, School for Oncology & Developmental Biology, Maastricht University Medical Centre, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - William P. J. Leenders
- Department of Biochemistry, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Predica Diagnostics, Toernooiveld 1, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Willem J. G. Melchers
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud University Medical Center, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands
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129
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Lactobacillus iners Cell-Free Supernatant Enhances Biofilm Formation and Hyphal/Pseudohyphal Growth by Candida albicans Vaginal Isolates. Microorganisms 2021; 9:microorganisms9122577. [PMID: 34946178 PMCID: PMC8706969 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9122577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2021] [Revised: 12/09/2021] [Accepted: 12/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Candida albicans is a commensal fungus of the vaginal mucosa and the principal etiological agent of vaginal candidiasis. Vaginal dysbiosis has been reported during vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC), with a progressive decrease in Lactobacillus crispatus population and an increase in L. iners population. To date, the role of L. iners in VVC pathogenesis remains scarcely explored. Herein we investigated the in vitro effect of L. iners cell-free supernatant (CFS) on the ability of C. albicans to form biofilms. Biomass and metabolic activity were measured by crystal violet and XTT assays. Further, light microscopy was performed to determine the effect of L. iners CFS on biofilm cellular morphology. We found that L. iners CFS induced a significant increase in biofilm formation by C. albicans clinical isolates which were categorized as moderate or weak biofilm producers. This effect was associated with an enhancement of hyphal/pseudohyphal growth, and the expression levels of HWP1 and ECE1, which are typical hyphae-associated genes, were upregulated. Overall, these results suggest that L. iners contributes to the pathogenesis of VVC and highlight the complexity of the interaction between C. albicans and vaginal lactobacilli. Understanding these interactions could prove essential for the development of new strategies for treating VVC.
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130
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Armstrong E, Kaul R. Beyond bacterial vaginosis: vaginal lactobacilli and HIV risk. MICROBIOME 2021; 9:239. [PMID: 34893070 PMCID: PMC8665571 DOI: 10.1186/s40168-021-01183-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2021] [Accepted: 11/01/2021] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
HIV incidence continues to be unacceptably high in Eastern and Southern Africa, with women disproportionately affected. An increased per-contact risk of HIV acquisition among African, Caribbean, and other Black (ACB) women has been associated with the higher prevalence of bacterial vaginosis (BV) in these communities, wherein the vaginal microbiota is predominated by diverse pro-inflammatory anaerobic bacteria. However, while the vaginal microbiota in BV-free women is typically predominated by one of several different Lactobacillus spp., the degree of HIV protection afforded by a Lactobacillus-predominant vaginal microbiota also varies considerably. Specifically, L. crispatus is associated with an immunoregulatory genital immune environment, exclusion of BV-associated bacteria, and reduced HIV risk. In contrast, less HIV protection or exclusion of BV-associated bacteria and fewer immune benefits have been associated with L. iners-which is unfortunately the most common Lactobacillus species among ACB women. These species-specific clinical differences are underpinned by substantial genomic differences between Lactobacillus species: for instance, the much smaller genome of L. iners lacks the coding sequence for D-lactic acid dehydrogenase and cannot produce the D-lactate isomer that enhances HIV trapping in mucus but encodes for epithelial cell toxins and stress resistance proteins that may enhance bacterial survival in the context of microbiota and environmental fluctuations. While more studies are needed to elucidate whether differences in HIV protection between Lactobacillus species are due to direct genital immune effects or the exclusion of proinflammatory BV-associated bacteria, the current body of work suggests that for BV treatment to succeed as an HIV prevention strategy, it may be necessary to induce a vaginal microbiota that is predominated by specific (non-iners) Lactobacillus species. Video abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric Armstrong
- Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.
| | - Rupert Kaul
- Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
- University Health Network, Toronto General Hospital, Immunodeficiency Clinic, Toronto, Canada
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131
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Zheng N, Guo R, Wang J, Zhou W, Ling Z. Contribution of Lactobacillus iners to Vaginal Health and Diseases: A Systematic Review. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021; 11:792787. [PMID: 34881196 PMCID: PMC8645935 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.792787] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2021] [Accepted: 11/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Lactobacillus iners, first described in 1999, is a prevalent bacterial species of the vaginal microbiome. As L. iners does not easily grow on de Man-Rogosa-Sharpe agar, but can grow anaerobically on blood agar, it has been initially overlooked by traditional culture methods. It was not until the wide application of molecular biology techniques that the function of L. iners in the vaginal microbiome was carefully explored. L. iners has the smallest genome among known Lactobacilli and it has many probiotic characteristics, but is partly different from other major vaginal Lactobacillus species, such as L. crispatus, in contributing to the maintenance of a healthy vaginal microbiome. It is not only commonly present in the healthy vagina but quite often recovered in high numbers in bacterial vaginosis (BV). Increasing evidence suggests that L. iners is a transitional species that colonizes after the vaginal environment is disturbed and offers overall less protection against vaginal dysbiosis and, subsequently, leads to BV, sexually transmitted infections, and adverse pregnancy outcomes. Accordingly, under certain conditions, L. iners is a genuine vaginal symbiont, but it also seems to be an opportunistic pathogen. Further studies are necessary to identify the exact role of this intriguing species in vaginal health and diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nengneng Zheng
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Renyong Guo
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Key Laboratory of Clinical In Vitro Diagnostic Techniques of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jinxi Wang
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Wei Zhou
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Zongxin Ling
- Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.,Institute of Microbe & Host Health, Linyi University, Linyi, China
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132
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Ratten LK, Plummer EL, Bradshaw CS, Fairley CK, Murray GL, Garland SM, Bateson D, Tachedjian G, Masson L, Vodstrcil LA. The Effect of Exogenous Sex Steroids on the Vaginal Microbiota: A Systematic Review. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021; 11:732423. [PMID: 34869054 PMCID: PMC8633117 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.732423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2021] [Accepted: 10/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Exogenous sex steroids within hormonal contraception and menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) have been used for family planning and management of menopausal symptoms, without consideration of their effects on the vaginal microbiota. This is largely because their use predates our understanding of the importance of the vaginal microbiome on human health. We conducted a systematic review (PROSPERO: CRD42018107730) to determine the influence of exogenous sex steroids, stratified by oestrogen-containing or progestin-only types of contraception, and MHT on the vaginal microbiome, as measured by molecular methods. Methods Embase, PubMed and Medline were searched for relevant literature published through to December 1st 2020. Eligible studies reported on the effect of specific exogenous sex steroids on the vaginal microbiome using a molecular method. Data regarding the ‘positive’, ‘negative’ or ‘neutral’ effect of each type of contraceptive or MHT on the vaginal microbiome was extracted and summarised. A positive effect reflected sex steroid exposure that was associated with increased abundance of lactobacilli, a change to, or maintenance of, an optimal vaginal microbiota composition, or a decrease in bacterial diversity (specifically reflecting a low-diversity optimal microbiota state), relative to the control group. An exogenous sex steroid was designated as having a negative effect on the vaginal microbiome if it resulted in opposing effects (i.e. loss of lactobacilli, a non-optimal microbiota state). When no significant change was found, this was considered neutral/inconclusive. Results We identified 29 manuscripts reporting on the effect of exogenous sex steroids on the vaginal microbiome; 25 investigating hormonal contraceptives, and 4 investigating MHT. Oestrogen-containing contraception, particularly reflecting the combined oestrogen and progestin-containing contraceptive pill, had a positive effect on the composition of the vaginal microbiota. Progestin-only contraception, particularly reflecting depo-medroxyprogesterone acetate, had mixed effects on the microbiota. Among post-menopausal women using MHT, exogenous oestrogen applied topically was associated with increased prevalence of lactobacilli. Conclusion Our findings suggest that oestrogen-containing compounds may promote an optimal vaginal microbiota, which could have clinical applications. The impact of progestin-only contraceptives on the vaginal microbiota is less clear; more data is needed to determine how progestin-only contraceptives contribute to adverse reproductive and sexual health outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Larissa K Ratten
- Central Clinical School, Monash University, Carlton, VIC, Australia.,Melbourne Sexual Health Centre, Alfred Health, Carlton, VIC, Australia
| | - Erica L Plummer
- Central Clinical School, Monash University, Carlton, VIC, Australia.,Melbourne Sexual Health Centre, Alfred Health, Carlton, VIC, Australia
| | - Catriona S Bradshaw
- Central Clinical School, Monash University, Carlton, VIC, Australia.,Melbourne Sexual Health Centre, Alfred Health, Carlton, VIC, Australia.,Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Christopher K Fairley
- Central Clinical School, Monash University, Carlton, VIC, Australia.,Melbourne Sexual Health Centre, Alfred Health, Carlton, VIC, Australia
| | - Gerald L Murray
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia.,Centre for Women's Infectious Diseases Research, The Royal Women's Hospital, Parkville, VIC, Australia.,Infection and Immunity, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Suzanne M Garland
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia.,Centre for Women's Infectious Diseases Research, The Royal Women's Hospital, Parkville, VIC, Australia.,Infection and Immunity, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Deborah Bateson
- Family Planning NSW, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Discipline of Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Neonatology, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Gilda Tachedjian
- Life Sciences Discipline, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,Department of Microbiology, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia.,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Lindi Masson
- Central Clinical School, Monash University, Carlton, VIC, Australia.,Life Sciences Discipline, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine and Department of Pathology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.,Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa, Durban, South Africa
| | - Lenka A Vodstrcil
- Central Clinical School, Monash University, Carlton, VIC, Australia.,Melbourne Sexual Health Centre, Alfred Health, Carlton, VIC, Australia.,Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
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KIECKA ANETA, MACURA BARBARA, SZCZEPANIK MARIAN. Can Lactobacillus spp. Be a Factor Reducing the Risk of Miscarriage? Pol J Microbiol 2021; 70:431-446. [PMID: 35003275 PMCID: PMC8702604 DOI: 10.33073/pjm-2021-043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2021] [Accepted: 10/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Pregnancy loss is a common obstetric problem. Significant causes of miscarriage include genetic and epigenetic disorders of the embryo, immunological and endocrine factors, uterine malformations, improper embryo selection, and lifestyle. Perhaps a hitherto underappreciated cause of miscarriage may be an abnormal microbiota composition of the female reproductive system. Lactobacillus spp. is the most common bacteria within the reproductive tract. However, the protective role of Lactobacilli in the vagina has been well described in the literature, while it is still unknown what function Lactobacilli may have in the uterus. Moreover, new research shows that Lactobacillus spp. can have a role in miscarriage. However, both molecular and immunological mechanisms of host-Lactobacillus spp. interactions are not fully understood. Understanding these relationships will help address the importance and extent of the protective role of Lactobacillus spp. in miscarriage.
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Affiliation(s)
- ANETA KIECKA
- Jagiellonian University Medical College, Faculty of Health Sciences, Institute of Physiotherapy, Chair of Biomedical Sciences, Cracow, Poland
| | - BARBARA MACURA
- Jagiellonian University Medical College, Faculty of Health Sciences, Institute of Physiotherapy, Chair of Biomedical Sciences, Cracow, Poland
| | - MARIAN SZCZEPANIK
- Jagiellonian University Medical College, Faculty of Health Sciences, Institute of Physiotherapy, Chair of Biomedical Sciences, Cracow, Poland
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Molecular Markers to Predict Prognosis and Treatment Response in Uterine Cervical Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13225748. [PMID: 34830902 PMCID: PMC8616420 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13225748] [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: 10/27/2021] [Revised: 11/12/2021] [Accepted: 11/14/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Uterine cervical cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related mortality in women worldwide. Each year, over half a million new cases are estimated, resulting in more than 300,000 deaths. While less-invasive, fertility-preserving surgical procedures can be offered to women in early stages, treatment for locally advanced disease may include radical hysterectomy, primary chemoradiotherapy (CRT) or a combination of these modalities. Concurrent platinum-based chemoradiotherapy regimens remain the first-line treatments for locally advanced cervical cancer. Despite achievements such as the introduction of angiogenesis inhibitors, and more recently immunotherapies, the overall survival of women with persistent, recurrent or metastatic disease has not been extended significantly in the last decades. Furthermore, a broad spectrum of molecular markers to predict therapy response and survival and to identify patients with high- and low-risk constellations is missing. Implementation of these markers, however, may help to further improve treatment and to develop new targeted therapies. This review aims to provide comprehensive insights into the complex mechanisms of cervical cancer pathogenesis within the context of molecular markers for predicting treatment response and prognosis.
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135
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Shifts in Vaginal Bacterial Community Composition Are Associated With Vaginal Mesh Exposure. Female Pelvic Med Reconstr Surg 2021; 27:e681-e686. [PMID: 34705800 DOI: 10.1097/spv.0000000000001097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship between vaginal mesh exposure and vaginal bacterial community composition. METHODS Vaginal swab samples were collected from 13 women undergoing excision of vaginal mesh with vaginal mesh exposure. Samples were collected at the midvagina, site of exposure, and underneath the vaginal epithelium at the exposure. Control samples were collected vaginally during 15 new patient examinations. For all samples, we extracted genomic DNA and polymerase chain reaction amplified and sequenced the 16S rRNA gene V4 region. We tested for differences in the microbiota among control and exposure samples with PERMANOVA tests of beta diversity measures (Morisita-Horn dissimilarity) and Wilcoxon rank sum tests of Lactobacillus distribution. RESULTS Vaginal bacterial communities in both control and case groups were divided into 2 primary community types, one characterized by Lactobacillus dominance (>50% of community) and the other by low Lactobacillus and a high diversity of vaginal anaerobes. In 10 of 13 case women, bacterial communities were highly similar between the 3 vaginal sites (adonis R2 = 0.86, P = 0.0099). In the 3 women with community divergence, all 3 were characterized by decreased Lactobacillus abundance at the exposure site. Overall, Lactobacillus abundance was lower at the site of mesh exposure and under the epithelium than in the experimental control (W = 137, P = 0.072, r = 0.41; W = 146, P = 0.025, r = 0.50). Common putative pathogenic mesh colonizing bacteria were common (in 51 of 54 samples), but generally not abundant (median relative abundance = 0.014%). CONCLUSIONS In vaginal mesh exposure cases, a woman is more likely to have a diverse, non-Lactobacillus-dominant community.
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136
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Wang R, Zhou G, Wu L, Huang X, Li Y, Luo B, Zhu H, Huang W. The Microbial Composition of Lower Genital Tract May Affect the Outcome of in vitro Fertilization-Embryo Transfer. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:729744. [PMID: 34659157 PMCID: PMC8518997 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.729744] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2021] [Accepted: 08/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective: This work was conducted in order to study the effect of the lower genital tract (vaginal and cervical canal) microbiota on pregnancy outcomes of reproductive-aged women receiving embryo transfer. Study design: A total of 150 reproductive-aged patients who received the first fresh in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) were included in the study. Samples from the vagina and cervical site of each patient were collected separately using sterile swabs before ET. Genomic DNA was pyrosequenced for the V3–V4 regions of the 16S ribosomal RNA gene. Further bioinformatics analysis was performed using QIIME and R package. Pregnancy outcomes were followed and analyzed to compare differences in microbial composition. Results: The cervical microbiota had a higher Shannon index than the vaginal microbiota, and the microbial composition was different between the two sites. However, the Sorenson index between the two sites within the same individual was 0.370 (0.309–0.400). A total of 89 patients achieved clinical pregnancy after ET, while 61 failed. The Shannon indices and the microbial community of both vaginal and cervical microbiota between pregnant and non-pregnant groups were not significantly different. The relative abundance of Lactobacillus in the vagina and cervical canal did not differ between the two groups. Linear discriminant analysis, random forest analysis, and receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis showed that Bifidobacterium, Prevotella, and Lactobacillus iners in the vagina, as well as Solanum torvum, Fusobacterium, and Streptococcus in the cervix, may be negatively associated with clinical pregnancy after IVF. Conclusion: The cervical microbiota was more diverse than the vaginal microbiota, but because of anatomical continuity, there was a correlation between the two sites. The microbial composition of the vagina and cervical canal may influence the outcome of IVF-ET, but more samples are needed to verify this conclusion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruiying Wang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, West China Second University Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.,Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children, Ministry of Education, Chengdu, China
| | - Guojun Zhou
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, West China Second University Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.,Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children, Ministry of Education, Chengdu, China
| | - Lukanxuan Wu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, West China Second University Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.,Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children, Ministry of Education, Chengdu, China
| | - Xin Huang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, West China Second University Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.,Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children, Ministry of Education, Chengdu, China
| | - Yujing Li
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, West China Second University Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.,Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children, Ministry of Education, Chengdu, China
| | - Bin Luo
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, West China Second University Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.,Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children, Ministry of Education, Chengdu, China
| | - Huili Zhu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, West China Second University Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.,Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children, Ministry of Education, Chengdu, China
| | - Wei Huang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, West China Second University Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.,Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children, Ministry of Education, Chengdu, China
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Paniágua AL, Correia AF, Pereira LC, de Alencar BM, Silva FBA, Almeida RM, de Medeiros Nóbrega YK. Inhibitory effects of Lactobacillus casei Shirota against both Candida auris and Candida spp. isolates that cause vulvovaginal candidiasis and are resistant to antifungals. BMC Complement Med Ther 2021; 21:237. [PMID: 34556109 PMCID: PMC8461885 DOI: 10.1186/s12906-021-03405-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2020] [Accepted: 09/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC), the second leading cause of genital infection in women of reproductive age, is caused by yeasts of the genus Candida. Treatment is usually empirical and performed with azoles, which have shown increasing ineffectiveness due to resistance from these species. This therapeutic challenge has led to the search for new treatment strategies. Lactobacillus spp. produce several components with microbicidal effects, such as lactic acid. These species are the main components of a healthy vaginal microbiota and have been used as probiotics. The aim of this work was to investigate the in vitro inhibitory effects of Lactobacillus casei Shirota on both the Candida spp. that cause VVC and on C. auris. METHODS The microbicidal effects of L. casei Shirota on the main VVC-causing species, C. albicans, C. tropicalis, C. norvegensis and C. parapsilosis, in addition to C. auris were investigated by counting the Colony-forming Units (CFUs) after cocultivation. The antifungal activity of lactic acid against these Candida strains was assessed using the microtiter broth dilution method to determine the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs). The effects of L. casei Shirota on hyphal and early biofilm formation was measured by optical microscopy. RESULTS L. casei Shirota showed inhibitory action against all tested Candida spp., ranging from 66.9 to 95.6% inhibition depending on the species. This inhibition is possibly related to the production of lactic acid, since lactic acid has shown microbicidal action against these same Candida spp. at a concentration of 5 mg/mL, which corresponds to half of the normal physiological concentration. In addition, L. casei Shirota was able to reduce the formation of C. albicans hyphae and early biofilms, showing strong anti-Candida effects. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that L. casei Shirota has antifungal activity against the Candida species that cause VVC. L. casei also has microbicidal action against C. auris.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aline Lorenzoni Paniágua
- Clinical Microbiology and Immunology Laboratory, Department of Pharmacy, University of Brasilia, Campus Darcy Ribeiro, Brasilia, DF, 70910-900, Brazil
| | - Amabel Fernandes Correia
- Central Public Health Laboratory of the District Federal (LACEN-DF), Medical Biology Management, Center of Parasitology and Mycology, Brasília, DF, Brazil
| | - Lívia Custódio Pereira
- Vulvar Pathology Clinic, Department of Gynecology, Brasilia University Hospital, University of Brasilia, Brasilia, DF, Brazil
| | - Bruna Maciel de Alencar
- Clinical Microbiology and Immunology Laboratory, Department of Pharmacy, University of Brasilia, Campus Darcy Ribeiro, Brasilia, DF, 70910-900, Brazil
| | - Fabiana Brandão Alves Silva
- Clinical Microbiology and Immunology Laboratory, Department of Pharmacy, University of Brasilia, Campus Darcy Ribeiro, Brasilia, DF, 70910-900, Brazil
| | - Rosane Mansan Almeida
- Clinical Microbiology and Immunology Laboratory, Department of Pharmacy, University of Brasilia, Campus Darcy Ribeiro, Brasilia, DF, 70910-900, Brazil.
| | - Yanna Karla de Medeiros Nóbrega
- Clinical Microbiology and Immunology Laboratory, Department of Pharmacy, University of Brasilia, Campus Darcy Ribeiro, Brasilia, DF, 70910-900, Brazil
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Lactobacillus crispatus thrives in pregnancy hormonal milieu in a Nigerian patient cohort. Sci Rep 2021; 11:18152. [PMID: 34518588 PMCID: PMC8437942 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-96339-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2021] [Accepted: 07/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Steroid hormones are one of the presumed modulators of Lactobacillus abundance in the vaginal epithelium. We set out to characterize the vaginal microbiome (VMB) and also provide an in-depth understanding of the relative contribution of estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P1) in shaping the vaginal microbiome of Nigerian women (n = 38) who experienced both uncomplicated term delivery and preterm delivery using samples longitudinally collected during pregnancy (17–21, 27–31, 36–41 weeks gestation) and 6 weeks postpartum. Vaginal swabs and blood samples were aseptically collected. Vaginal swabs were used for microbiome assessment using 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene sequencing. Blood samples were used for hormonal measurement using a competitive-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Across several maternal covariates, maternal age, pregnancy status and delivery mode were not significantly associated with the vaginal microbiota whereas maternal E2 level (pE2 = 0.006, Omnibus), and P1 level (pP1 = 0.001, Omnibus) were significantly associated with the vaginal microbiome. E2 and P1 concentrations increased throughout pregnancy commensurately with increasing proportions of L. crispatus (pE2 = 0.036, pP1 = 0.034, Linear Mixed Model). An increasing trend of α-diversity was also observed as pregnancy progressed (pobserved ASV = 0.006, LMM). A compositional microbiome shift from Lactobacillus profile to non-Lactobacillus profile was observed in most postnatal women (pCST IV < 0.001, LMM). Analysis of our data shows a species-specific link between pregnancy steroid hormone concentration and L. crispatus abundance.
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139
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Vaginal microbiome topic modeling of laboring Ugandan women with and without fever. NPJ Biofilms Microbiomes 2021; 7:75. [PMID: 34508087 PMCID: PMC8433417 DOI: 10.1038/s41522-021-00244-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2021] [Accepted: 08/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The composition of the maternal vaginal microbiome influences the duration of pregnancy, onset of labor, and even neonatal outcomes. Maternal microbiome research in sub-Saharan Africa has focused on non-pregnant and postpartum composition of the vaginal microbiome. Here we aimed to illustrate the relationship between the vaginal microbiome of 99 laboring Ugandan women and intrapartum fever using routine microbiology and 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing from two hypervariable regions (V1–V2 and V3–V4). To describe the vaginal microbes associated with vaginal microbial communities, we pursued two approaches: hierarchical clustering methods and a novel Grades of Membership (GoM) modeling approach for vaginal microbiome characterization. Leveraging GoM models, we created a basis composed of a preassigned number of microbial topics whose linear combination optimally represents each patient yielding more comprehensive associations and characterization between maternal clinical features and the microbial communities. Using a random forest model, we showed that by including microbial topic models we improved upon clinical variables to predict maternal fever. Overall, we found a higher prevalence of Granulicatella, Streptococcus, Fusobacterium, Anaerococcus, Sneathia, Clostridium, Gemella, Mobiluncus, and Veillonella genera in febrile mothers, and higher prevalence of Lactobacillus genera (in particular L. crispatus and L. jensenii), Acinobacter, Aerococcus, and Prevotella species in afebrile mothers. By including clinical variables with microbial topics in this model, we observed young maternal age, fever reported earlier in the pregnancy, longer labor duration, and microbial communities with reduced Lactobacillus diversity were associated with intrapartum fever. These results better defined relationships between the presence or absence of intrapartum fever, demographics, peripartum course, and vaginal microbial topics, and expanded our understanding of the impact of the microbiome on maternal and potentially neonatal outcome risk.
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140
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Naicker D, Ramsuran V, Naicker M, Dessai F, Giandhari J, Tinarwo P, Abbai N. Strong correlation between urine and vaginal swab samples for bacterial vaginosis. S Afr J Infect Dis 2021; 36:199. [PMID: 34485489 PMCID: PMC8377811 DOI: 10.4102/sajid.v36i1.199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2020] [Accepted: 03/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Vaginal swabs have been traditionally used for the diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis (BV). Currently, there are limited studies that have investigated the use of other sample types other than vaginal swabs for the detection of BV from South African populations. This study investigated whether urine can be used for the detection of BV-associated microorganisms in South African pregnant women. Methods One-hundred self-collected vaginal swabs and urine samples were obtained from women presenting for antenatal care at King Edward VIII Hospital in Durban. The BD MAX™ vaginal panel assay was used for diagnosing BV and droplet digital polymerase chain reaction was used to quantify Gardnerella vaginalis, Prevotella bivia, Atopobium vaginae and Lactobacillus crispatus. The absolute counts were determined on the QX200 Droplet Reader (Bio-Rad) using the QuantaSoft Software. Data analysis was performed with statistical computing software called R, version 3.6.1. Results Median copy numbers obtained for G. vaginalis and P. bivia across urine and swabs in BV-positive samples were not significantly different (p = 0.134 and p = 0.652, respectively). This was confirmed by the correlation analysis that showed a good correlation between the two sample types (G. vaginalis [r = 0.63] and P. bivia [r = 0.50]). However, the data obtained for A. vaginae differed, and a weak correlation between urine and swabs was observed (r = 0.21). Bacterial vaginosis-negative samples had no significant difference in median copy numbers for L. crispatus across the urine and swabs (p = 0.062), and a good correlation between the sample types was noted (r = 0.71). Conclusion This study highlights the appropriateness of urine for the detection of microorganisms associated with BV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deshanta Naicker
- School of Clinical Medicine Research Laboratory, Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - Veron Ramsuran
- KwaZulu-Natal Research and Innovation Sequencing Platform (KRISP), School of Laboratory Medicine and Medical Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa.,Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - Meleshni Naicker
- School of Clinical Medicine Research Laboratory, Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - Fazana Dessai
- School of Clinical Medicine Research Laboratory, Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - Jennifer Giandhari
- KwaZulu-Natal Research and Innovation Sequencing Platform (KRISP), School of Laboratory Medicine and Medical Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - Partson Tinarwo
- Department of Biostatistics, Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - Nathlee Abbai
- School of Clinical Medicine Research Laboratory, Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
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Juliana NCA, Peters RPH, Al-Nasiry S, Budding AE, Morré SA, Ambrosino E. Composition of the vaginal microbiota during pregnancy in women living in sub-Saharan Africa: a PRISMA-compliant review. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2021; 21:596. [PMID: 34479485 PMCID: PMC8418042 DOI: 10.1186/s12884-021-04072-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2021] [Accepted: 08/20/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The vaginal microbiota (VMB) are the set of microorganisms residing in the human vagina. During pregnancy, their composition is Lactobacillus-dominant in most Caucasian women. Previous studies suggest that the VMB of women with African ancestry is more likely to be non-Lactobacillus dominant (dysbiotic) compared to other populations, and possibly relate to the high incidence of pregnancy complications, such as preterm birth. This work reviewed the literature on VMB composition in pregnant women from sub-Saharan Africa. METHODS A search was conducted in PubMed and Embase databases following PRISMA guidelines. Observational and intervention studies analysing VMB communities from sub-Saharan African pregnant women using molecular techniques were included. RESULTS Ten studies performed in seven sub-Saharan African countries were identified. They independently showed that Lactobacillus-dominant VMB (particularly L. iners or L. crispatus) or VMB containing Lactobacilli are the most prevalent, followed by a more diverse anaerobe-dominant VMB, in the studied populations. The majority of pregnant women with a sexually-transmitted infection had a Lactobacillus-dominant VMB, but with a significantly higher presence of anaerobic species. CONCLUSION In agreement with studies performed in other populations, Lactobacillus species are the most prevalent VMB species during pregnancy in sub-Saharan African women. The frequency of diverse anaerobe-dominant VMB is high in these populations. In Africa, studies on VMB in pregnancy are scant, heterogeneous in methodology, and knowledge remains limited. More insights on VMB composition and their possible sequalae among these populations is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naomi C A Juliana
- Department of Genetics and Cell Biology, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Research School GROW (School for Oncology & Developmental Biology), Institute for Public Health Genomics, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands
| | - Remco P H Peters
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.,Department of Medical Microbiology, School for Public Health and Primary Care (CAPRHI), Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands.,Research Unit, Foundation for Professional Development, East London, South Africa
| | - Salwan Al-Nasiry
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, GROW School of Oncology and Developmental Biology, Maastricht University Medical Centre (MUMC), Maastricht, Netherlands
| | | | - Servaas A Morré
- Department of Genetics and Cell Biology, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Research School GROW (School for Oncology & Developmental Biology), Institute for Public Health Genomics, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands.,Laboratory of Immunogenetics, Department Medical Microbiology and Infection Control, Location AMC, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Elena Ambrosino
- Department of Genetics and Cell Biology, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Research School GROW (School for Oncology & Developmental Biology), Institute for Public Health Genomics, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands.
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Chen H, Wang L, Zhao L, Luo L, Min S, Wen Y, Lei W, Shu M, Li Z. Alterations of Vaginal Microbiota in Women With Infertility and Chlamydia trachomatis Infection. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021; 11:698840. [PMID: 34414130 PMCID: PMC8370387 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.698840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2021] [Accepted: 07/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Chlamydia trachomatis (C. trachomatis) is the most common etiological agent of bacterial sexually transmitted infections (STIs) worldwide and causes serious health sequelae such as cervicitis, pelvic inflammatory disease, and even infertility if ascending from the lower to the upper female genital tract. Previous studies have revealed the pivotal role of vaginal microbiota in susceptibility to STIs. However, alterations in the vaginal microbiota in women who are infertile and infected with C. trachomatis remain unknown. This study used metagenomic analysis of sequenced 16S rRNA gene amplicons to examine the vaginal microbial profiles of women with tubal infertility who were C. trachomatis-negative and those who were C. trachomatis-positive pre- and post-antibiotic treatment. Women who were C. trachomatis-negative and deemed healthy were recruited as references of eubiosis and dysbiosis. Women with tubal infertility and C. trachomatis infection presented a unique Lactobacillus iners-dominated vaginal microbiota rather than one dominated by Lactobacillus crispatus and displayed a decrease in Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, Enterobacter, Atopobium, and Streptococcus, accompanied by decreased levels of cytokines such as interferon (IFN)-γ and interleukin (IL)-10. This altered vaginal microbiota could be restored with varying degrees after standard treatment for C. trachomatis. This shift could be a predictive vaginal microbiota signature for C. trachomatis infection among females with tubal infertility, while no significant differences in phylum, class, and operational taxonomic unit (OTU) levels were observed between women with tubal infertility who were C. trachomatis-negative and healthy controls. This is the first study to provide data on the association of vaginal microbiota with C. trachomatis infection among women with tubal infertility and highlights unprecedented potential opportunities to predict C. trachomatis infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongliang Chen
- Institute of Pathogenic Biology, Hengyang Medical College, Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Special Pathogens Prevention and Control, Hunan Province Cooperative Innovation Center for Molecular Target New Drug Study, University of South China, Hengyang, China.,Chenzhou No.1 People's Hospital, The First School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Chenzhou, China
| | - Li Wang
- Chenzhou No.1 People's Hospital, The First School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Chenzhou, China
| | - Lanhua Zhao
- Institute of Pathogenic Biology, Hengyang Medical College, Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Special Pathogens Prevention and Control, Hunan Province Cooperative Innovation Center for Molecular Target New Drug Study, University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - Lipei Luo
- Chenzhou No.1 People's Hospital, The First School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Chenzhou, China
| | - Shuling Min
- Institute of Pathogenic Biology, Hengyang Medical College, Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Special Pathogens Prevention and Control, Hunan Province Cooperative Innovation Center for Molecular Target New Drug Study, University of South China, Hengyang, China.,Chenzhou No.1 People's Hospital, The First School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Chenzhou, China
| | - Yating Wen
- Institute of Pathogenic Biology, Hengyang Medical College, Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Special Pathogens Prevention and Control, Hunan Province Cooperative Innovation Center for Molecular Target New Drug Study, University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - Wenbo Lei
- Institute of Pathogenic Biology, Hengyang Medical College, Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Special Pathogens Prevention and Control, Hunan Province Cooperative Innovation Center for Molecular Target New Drug Study, University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - Mingyi Shu
- Institute of Pathogenic Biology, Hengyang Medical College, Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Special Pathogens Prevention and Control, Hunan Province Cooperative Innovation Center for Molecular Target New Drug Study, University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - Zhongyu Li
- Institute of Pathogenic Biology, Hengyang Medical College, Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Special Pathogens Prevention and Control, Hunan Province Cooperative Innovation Center for Molecular Target New Drug Study, University of South China, Hengyang, China
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143
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Human beta defensin levels and vaginal microbiome composition in post-menopausal women diagnosed with lichen sclerosus. Sci Rep 2021; 11:15999. [PMID: 34362937 PMCID: PMC8346569 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-94880-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2021] [Accepted: 07/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Human beta defensins (hBDs) may play an important role in the progression of lichen sclerosus (LS), due to their ability to induce excessive stimulation of extracellular matrix synthesis and fibroblast activation. The genetic ability of the individual to produce defensins, the presence of microbes influencing defensin production, and the sensitivity of microbes to defensins together regulate the formation of an ever-changing balance between defensin levels and microbiome composition. We investigated the potential differences in postmenopausal vaginal microbiome composition and vaginal hBD levels in LS patients compared to non-LS controls. LS patients exhibited significantly lower levels of hBD1 (p = 0.0003), and significantly higher levels of hBD2 (p = 0.0359) and hBD3 (p = 0.0002), compared to the control group. The microbiome of the LS patients was dominated by possibly harmful bacteria including Lactobacillus iners, Streptococcus anginosus or Gardnerella vaginalis known to initiate direct or indirect damage by increasing defensin level production. Our observations highlight that correcting the composition of the microbiome may be applicable in supplementary LS therapy by targeting the restoration of the beneficial flora that does not increase hBD2-3 production.
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144
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Ansari A, Bose S, You Y, Park S, Kim Y. Molecular Mechanism of Microbiota Metabolites in Preterm Birth: Pathological and Therapeutic Insights. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:8145. [PMID: 34360908 PMCID: PMC8347546 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22158145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2021] [Revised: 07/24/2021] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Preterm birth (PTB) refers to the birth of infants before 37 weeks of gestation and is a challenging issue worldwide. Evidence reveals that PTB is a multifactorial dysregulation mediated by a complex molecular mechanism. Thus, a better understanding of the complex molecular mechanisms underlying PTB is a prerequisite to explore effective therapeutic approaches. During early pregnancy, various physiological and metabolic changes occur as a result of endocrine and immune metabolism. The microbiota controls the physiological and metabolic mechanism of the host homeostasis, and dysbiosis of maternal microbial homeostasis dysregulates the mechanistic of fetal developmental processes and directly affects the birth outcome. Accumulating evidence indicates that metabolic dysregulation in the maternal or fetal membranes stimulates the inflammatory cytokines, which may positively progress the PTB. Although labour is regarded as an inflammatory process, it is still unclear how microbial dysbiosis could regulate the molecular mechanism of PTB. In this review based on recent research, we focused on both the pathological and therapeutic contribution of microbiota-generated metabolites to PTB and the possible molecular mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- AbuZar Ansari
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ewha Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine, Ewha Womans University, Mokdong Hospital, Seoul 07985, Korea; (A.A.); (Y.Y.); (S.P.)
| | - Shambhunath Bose
- Department of Bioscience, Sri Sathya Sai University for Human Excellence, Navanihal, Okali Post, Kamalapur, Kalaburagi, Karnataka 585313, India;
| | - Youngah You
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ewha Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine, Ewha Womans University, Mokdong Hospital, Seoul 07985, Korea; (A.A.); (Y.Y.); (S.P.)
| | - Sunwha Park
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ewha Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine, Ewha Womans University, Mokdong Hospital, Seoul 07985, Korea; (A.A.); (Y.Y.); (S.P.)
| | - Youngju Kim
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ewha Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine, Ewha Womans University, Mokdong Hospital, Seoul 07985, Korea; (A.A.); (Y.Y.); (S.P.)
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145
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Chen See J, Ly T, Shope A, Bess J, Wall A, Komanduri S, Goldman J, Anderson S, McLimans CJ, Brislawn CJ, Tokarev V, Wright JR, Lamendella R. A Metatranscriptomics Survey of Microbial Diversity on Surfaces Post-Intervention of cleanSURFACES® Technology in an Intensive Care Unit. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021; 11:705593. [PMID: 34354962 PMCID: PMC8330600 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.705593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2021] [Accepted: 07/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) pose a serious threat to patients, and hospitals spend billions of dollars each year to reduce and treat these infections. Many HAIs are due to contamination from workers’ hands and contact with high-touch surfaces. Therefore, we set out to test the efficacy of a new preventative technology, AIONX® Antimicrobial Technologies, Inc’s cleanSURFACES®, which is designed to complement daily chemical cleaning events by continuously preventing re-colonization of surfaces. To that end, we swabbed surfaces before (Baseline) and after (Post) application of the cleanSURFACES® at various time points (Day 1, Day 7, Day 14, and Day 28). To circumvent limitations associated with culture-based and 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing methodologies, these surface swabs were processed using metatranscriptomic (RNA) analysis to allow for comprehensive taxonomic resolution and the detection of active microorganisms. Overall, there was a significant (P < 0.05) global reduction of microbial diversity in Post-intervention samples. Additionally, Post sample microbial communities clustered together much more closely than Baseline samples based on pairwise distances calculated with the weighted Jaccard distance metric, suggesting a defined shift after product application. This shift was characterized by a general depletion of several microbes among Post samples, with multiple phyla also being reduced over the duration of the study. Notably, specific clinically relevant microbes, including Staphylococcus aureus, Clostridioides difficile and Streptococcus spp., were depleted Post-intervention. Taken together, these findings suggest that chemical cleaning events used jointly with cleanSURFACES® have the potential to reduce colonization of surfaces by a wide variety of microbes, including many clinically relevant pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy Chen See
- Contamination Source Identification, Huntingdon, PA, United States
| | - Truc Ly
- Contamination Source Identification, Huntingdon, PA, United States
| | - Alexander Shope
- Contamination Source Identification, Huntingdon, PA, United States.,AIONX, Hershey, PA, United States
| | | | - Art Wall
- Nextflex, San Jose, CA, United States
| | | | | | - Samantha Anderson
- Contamination Source Identification, Huntingdon, PA, United States.,Department of Biology, Juniata College, Huntingdon, PA, United States
| | - Christopher J McLimans
- Contamination Source Identification, Huntingdon, PA, United States.,Department of Biology, Juniata College, Huntingdon, PA, United States
| | - Colin J Brislawn
- Contamination Source Identification, Huntingdon, PA, United States
| | - Vasily Tokarev
- Contamination Source Identification, Huntingdon, PA, United States.,Department of Biology, Juniata College, Huntingdon, PA, United States
| | - Justin R Wright
- Contamination Source Identification, Huntingdon, PA, United States
| | - Regina Lamendella
- Contamination Source Identification, Huntingdon, PA, United States.,Department of Biology, Juniata College, Huntingdon, PA, United States
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146
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Hong X, Zhao J, Zhu X, Dai Q, Zhang H, Xuan Y, Yin J, Zhang Y, Yang X, Fang S, Wang Q, Shen H, Zhang Y, Yan D, Wang Y, Peng Z, Zhang Y, Wang B, Ma X. The association between the vaginal microenvironment and fecundability: a register-based cohort study among Chinese women. BJOG 2021; 129:43-51. [PMID: 34258836 DOI: 10.1111/1471-0528.16843] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2020] [Revised: 05/18/2021] [Accepted: 05/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the association between the vaginal microenvironment and fecundability among women. DESIGN Register-based nationwide cohort study. SETTING Chinese National Free Pre-conception Check-up Project from 2015 to 2018. POPULATION Our study included a total of 3 388 554 eligible women who were attempting to become pregnant. METHOD We assessed the vaginal microenvironment at baseline by considering four indices: vaginal pH, clue cell examination, whiff test and vaginal cleanliness grading. If any of these indicators was abnormal, the vaginal microenvironment was defined as poor. Propensity score matching was used to control for potential confounders and reduce bias. Logistic models were used to estimate the fecundability odds ratios (FORs) after adjustment for covariates. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Achievement of a pregnancy within 1 year. RESULTS Of the total study population, 379 718 women (11.2%) had a poor vaginal microenvironment and their pregnancy rate after 1 year was significantly lower than the group with a normal microenvironment (71.8% versus 76.1%, P < 0.001). After adjusting for potential confounders, the women with a poor vaginal microenvironment were associated with a 9% reduction in fecundability compared with the normal microenvironment group (FOR 0.91, 95% CI 0.90-0.92). The adverse effects of a poor vaginal microenvironment were stronger among multipara (FOR 0.89, 95% CI 0.87-0.90) or women with irregular menstruation (FOR 0.86, 95% CI 0.84-0.89). CONCLUSION There was a negative association between a poor vaginal microenvironment and the fecundability of women. These findings highlight the significance of assessing the vaginal microenvironment during pre-pregnancy health examinations. TWEETABLE ABSTRACT Women with a poor vaginal microenvironment were associated with a reduction in fecundability.
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Affiliation(s)
- X Hong
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Engineering of Ministry of Education, Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - J Zhao
- National Research Institute for Family Planning, Beijing, China.,National Human Genetic Resources Centre, Beijing, China
| | - X Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Engineering of Ministry of Education, Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Q Dai
- National Research Institute for Family Planning, Beijing, China.,National Human Genetic Resources Centre, Beijing, China
| | - H Zhang
- National Research Institute for Family Planning, Beijing, China.,National Human Genetic Resources Centre, Beijing, China
| | - Y Xuan
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Engineering of Ministry of Education, Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - J Yin
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Engineering of Ministry of Education, Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yue Zhang
- National Research Institute for Family Planning, Beijing, China.,National Human Genetic Resources Centre, Beijing, China
| | - X Yang
- National Research Institute for Family Planning, Beijing, China.,National Human Genetic Resources Centre, Beijing, China
| | - S Fang
- The Mount Sinai Health System, New York, NY, USA
| | - Q Wang
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China, Beijing, China
| | - H Shen
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China, Beijing, China
| | - Yiping Zhang
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China, Beijing, China
| | - D Yan
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China, Beijing, China
| | - Y Wang
- National Research Institute for Family Planning, Beijing, China.,National Human Genetic Resources Centre, Beijing, China
| | - Z Peng
- National Research Institute for Family Planning, Beijing, China.,National Human Genetic Resources Centre, Beijing, China
| | - Ya Zhang
- National Research Institute for Family Planning, Beijing, China.,National Human Genetic Resources Centre, Beijing, China
| | - B Wang
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Engineering of Ministry of Education, Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - X Ma
- National Research Institute for Family Planning, Beijing, China.,National Human Genetic Resources Centre, Beijing, China
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147
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Auriemma RS, Scairati R, Del Vecchio G, Liccardi A, Verde N, Pirchio R, Pivonello R, Ercolini D, Colao A. The Vaginal Microbiome: A Long Urogenital Colonization Throughout Woman Life. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021; 11:686167. [PMID: 34295836 PMCID: PMC8290858 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.686167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2021] [Accepted: 06/21/2021] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Vaginal microbial niche is a dynamic ecosystem, composed by more than 200 bacterial species which are influenced by genes, ethnic background and environmental-behavioral factors. Several lines of evidence have well documented that vaginal microbiome constantly changes over the course of woman’s life, so to exert an important impact on woman quality of life, from newborn to post-menopausal ages. This review aims at analyzing the role of vaginal microbiome in the maintenance of woman’s homeostasis and at tracking critical changes that commonly occur across woman’s lifetime. The role of hormone replacement therapy in the modulation of vaginal microbiome composition and in the improvement of vaginal wellness in postmenopausal women with decreasing levels of circulating estrogen is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renata S Auriemma
- Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Chirurgia, Università Federico II di Napoli, Naples, Italy
| | - Roberta Scairati
- Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Chirurgia, Università Federico II di Napoli, Naples, Italy
| | - Guendalina Del Vecchio
- Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Chirurgia, Università Federico II di Napoli, Naples, Italy
| | - Alessia Liccardi
- Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Chirurgia, Università Federico II di Napoli, Naples, Italy
| | - Nunzia Verde
- Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Chirurgia, Università Federico II di Napoli, Naples, Italy
| | - Rosa Pirchio
- Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Chirurgia, Università Federico II di Napoli, Naples, Italy
| | - Rosario Pivonello
- Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Chirurgia, Università Federico II di Napoli, Naples, Italy
| | - Danilo Ercolini
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, University Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Annamaria Colao
- Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Chirurgia, Università Federico II di Napoli, Naples, Italy.,United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Chair for Health Education and Sustainable Development, University Federico II, Naples, Italy
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148
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Brown SE, Robinson CK, Shardell MD, Holm JB, Ravel J, Ghanem KG, Brotman RM. Assessing the Concordance Between Urogenital and Vaginal Microbiota: Can Urine Specimens Be Used as a Proxy for Vaginal Samples? Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021; 11:671413. [PMID: 34268137 PMCID: PMC8276069 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.671413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2021] [Accepted: 05/28/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The vaginal microbiota play a key role in defense against reproductive tract infections; however, many population-based women's health studies do not collect vaginal samples. Molecular examinations of urine samples have revealed common vaginal bacteria. We sought to assess the extent that community state type assignments of archived random-catch and clean-catch urine samples agreed with the paired vaginal samples in both reproductive-age and peri/post-menopausal women. Results Using archived samples, we evaluated the microbiota concordance among women in three studies: two with paired mid-vaginal/random-catch urine (N=91 reproductive-age participants and N=13 peri/post-menopausal participants), and one with paired mid-vaginal/clean-catch urine (N=99 reproductive-age participants). Microbiota composition was characterized by sequencing amplicons of the 16S rRNA gene V3-V4 regions and assigned to community state types. Similarity of paired samples was gauged using agreement of community state types and Yue-Clayton θ indices. Analysis of Composition of Microbiomes II indicated which taxa were differently relatively abundant in paired vaginal and urine samples. In reproductive-age women, random-catch and clean-catch urines were 89.0% and 86.9% concordant on five community state types with paired mid-vaginal swabs, and Kappa statistics indicated almost perfect agreement (κrandom-catch=.85, κclean-catch=.81, p<0.0001). A small number of pairs of samples were discordant (23/190, 12%), and discordant pairs tended to be between samples classified to L. iners-dominated and/or low-Lactobacillus states. Concordance and agreement remained similar when dichotomizing the microbiota to Lactobacillus-dominated versus low-Lactobacillus microbiota, as well as when evaluating separately the three subtypes of the low-Lactobacillus community state type IV. Median similarity of paired urine/vaginal samples was high (θrandom-catch=.85, θclean-catch=.88), and a comparison of the random-catch and clean-catch similarity scores showed no significant difference (p=.80). Concordance and similarity were lower for peri/post-menopausal women, but agreement remained substantial (76.9% concordant, κrandom-catch= 0.64, θrandom-catch=.62). Taxonomic-level analysis confirmed these findings. Conclusions Random-catch and clean-catch urine samples showed substantial agreement on bacterial composition to paired mid-vaginal samples, indicating that the genitourinary microbiota may be a reliable proxy for assessing the overall composition of the vaginal microbiota via community state types. This data suggests that urine samples can, with proper interpretation, be utilized as a surrogate for developing preliminary data and hypothesis-generating studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah E. Brown
- Institute for Genome Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States,Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Courtney K. Robinson
- Institute for Genome Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Michelle D. Shardell
- Institute for Genome Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States,Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Johanna B. Holm
- Institute for Genome Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Jacques Ravel
- Institute for Genome Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Khalil G. Ghanem
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Rebecca M. Brotman
- Institute for Genome Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States,Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States,*Correspondence: Rebecca M. Brotman,
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149
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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: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [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.
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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
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150
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Proteome-wide prediction of bacterial carbohydrate-binding proteins as a tool for understanding commensal and pathogen colonisation of the vaginal microbiome. NPJ Biofilms Microbiomes 2021; 7:49. [PMID: 34131152 PMCID: PMC8206207 DOI: 10.1038/s41522-021-00220-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2021] [Accepted: 05/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacteria use carbohydrate-binding proteins (CBPs), such as lectins and carbohydrate-binding modules (CBMs), to anchor to specific sugars on host surfaces. CBPs in the gut microbiome are well studied, but their roles in the vagina microbiome and involvement in sexually transmitted infections, cervical cancer and preterm birth are largely unknown. We established a classification system for lectins and designed Hidden Markov Model (HMM) profiles for data mining of bacterial genomes, resulting in identification of >100,000 predicted bacterial lectins available at unilectin.eu/bacteria. Genome screening of 90 isolates from 21 vaginal bacterial species shows that those associated with infection and inflammation produce a larger CBPs repertoire, thus enabling them to potentially bind a wider array of glycans in the vagina. Both the number of predicted bacterial CBPs and their specificities correlated with pathogenicity. This study provides new insights into potential mechanisms of colonisation by commensals and potential pathogens of the reproductive tract that underpin health and disease states.
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