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Ji L, Zhang X, Zhou Y, Guo W, Wu J, Yang J. Clinical vaginal-microecology testing using double-fluorescence staining in patients with high-risk human papillomavirus infection. Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis 2024; 109:116342. [PMID: 38772053 DOI: 10.1016/j.diagmicrobio.2024.116342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2023] [Revised: 04/28/2024] [Accepted: 05/05/2024] [Indexed: 05/23/2024]
Abstract
High-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV) infection is associated with cervical cancer; imbalanced vaginal microecology may contribute to HPV progression. Currently used methods for clinical vaginal-microecology (CVM) testing are associated with several disadvantages, such as low accuracy and complicated operation. This retrospective study presents a novel testing method to examine vaginal microecology via double-fluorescence staining and explores the relationship between hrHPV and CVM. We analyzed 1242 patients who underwent hrHPV testing at our hospital over a two-month period; of these, 695 also underwent clinical vaginal-microecology testing (CVMT). Patients underwent routine leukorrhea detection (n=322), functional testing (n=277), and our novel double-fluorescence staining-based CVMT approach (n=376). Patients with hrHPV exhibited more epithelial cells, miscellaneous bacteria, and hyphae than those without hrHPV on double-fluorescence staining-based CVMT approach. Double-fluorescence staining was effective in identifying indicators of hrHPV infection and may serve as an auxiliary tool for clinical hrHPV screening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lingyun Ji
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200123, China; School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaofei Zhang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200123, China
| | - Yang Zhou
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Infectious Diseases and Biosafety Emergency Response, National Medical Center for Infectious Diseases, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Wenzheng Guo
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200123, China
| | - Jing Wu
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Infectious Diseases and Biosafety Emergency Response, National Medical Center for Infectious Diseases, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Ji Yang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200123, China
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Tian Q, Jin S, Zhang G, Liu Y, Liu J, Tang X, Li Y, Liu J, Liu Y, Wang Z. Assessing vaginal microbiome through Vaginal Microecology Evaluation System as a predictor for in vitro fertilization outcomes: a retrospective study. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2024; 15:1380187. [PMID: 39045277 PMCID: PMC11263289 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2024.1380187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2024] [Accepted: 06/25/2024] [Indexed: 07/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Objective This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the Vaginal Microecology Evaluation System (VMES) in assessing the dynamics of the vaginal microbiome (VM) throughout the process of in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET). Furthermore, it seeks to explore the potential correlation between distinct types of VM ecology and the success rate of IVF-ET. Methods This study employed VMES to ascertain the composition of the VM. Data were collected from infertile women who underwent their initial IVF-ET treatment for tubal factor between January 2018 and December 2021. A retrospective analysis of pregnancy outcomes resulting from their fresh embryo transfer was conducted to determine the predictive significance of the vaginal microenvironment. Results We demonstrate that VMES is able to predict IVF-ET outcomes in patients diagnosed with Bacterial Vaginosis (BV). Notably, a discernible shift in the VM was observed in a decent subset of patients following Controlled Ovarian Stimulation (COS), though this phenomenon was not universal across all participants. Specifically, there was a noteworthy increase in the proportion of patients exhibiting BV and uncharacterized dysbiosis subsequent to COS. Furthermore, our investigation revealed a significant correlation between VM and both the live birth rate and early miscarriage rate. Employing a multivariable logistic regression model, we identified that VM status pre-COS, VM status post-COS, patient age, and the number of embryos transferred emerged as independent predictors of the live birth rate. Conclusion Our study suggests that, during IVF-ET treatment, the VMES can effectively detect changes in the VM, which are strongly correlated with the pregnancy outcome of IVF-ET procedures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Quan Tian
- Department of Genetics and Cell Biology, Basic Medical College, Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Shengxi Jin
- Department of Genetics and Cell Biology, Basic Medical College, Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Guangmin Zhang
- Department of Genetics and Cell Biology, Basic Medical College, Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Yujie Liu
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Jianxin Liu
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Xiuming Tang
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Yufeng Li
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Jiane Liu
- Department of Genetics and Cell Biology, Basic Medical College, Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Yifei Liu
- Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pennsylvania State Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, PA, United States
| | - Zheng Wang
- Department of Genetics and Cell Biology, Basic Medical College, Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
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Lafioniatis A, Samara AA, Makaritsis PK, Dafopoulos S, Sotiriou S, Dafopoulos K. Understanding the Role of Female Genital Tract Microbiome in Recurrent Implantation Failure. J Clin Med 2024; 13:3173. [PMID: 38892884 PMCID: PMC11172434 DOI: 10.3390/jcm13113173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2024] [Revised: 05/20/2024] [Accepted: 05/27/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
The realization of the role of the microbiome of the female reproductive tract in health and disease has opened numerous possibilities for the scientific examination of the intertwining role between the human host and its microbiota. The imbalance in the composition of the microbial communities of the vagina and uterus is now recognized as a risk factor for many complications in pregnancy and according to the data from numerous studies, it is possible for this imbalance to play a crucial role in creating a hostile endometrial environment, and therefore, contributing to the etiology of recurrent implantation failure. Nevertheless, our current understanding of these complicated biological phenomena is far from complete, and in the future, there needs to be a systematic and thorough investigation of the diagnosis and therapy of this condition. This will enable scientists who engage in the field of assisted reproduction technologies to accurately identify and cure women in whom dysbiosis hinders the achievement of a healthy pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anastasios Lafioniatis
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital of Larissa, 41110 Larissa, Greece; (A.L.); (P.K.M.); (S.D.); (K.D.)
| | - Athina A. Samara
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital of Larissa, 41110 Larissa, Greece; (A.L.); (P.K.M.); (S.D.); (K.D.)
- Department of Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, 41110 Larissa, Greece;
| | - Peter K. Makaritsis
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital of Larissa, 41110 Larissa, Greece; (A.L.); (P.K.M.); (S.D.); (K.D.)
| | - Stefanos Dafopoulos
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital of Larissa, 41110 Larissa, Greece; (A.L.); (P.K.M.); (S.D.); (K.D.)
| | - Sotirios Sotiriou
- Department of Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, 41110 Larissa, Greece;
| | - Konstantinos Dafopoulos
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital of Larissa, 41110 Larissa, Greece; (A.L.); (P.K.M.); (S.D.); (K.D.)
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Arellano K, Lim J, Bucheli JEV, Park H, Todorov SD, Holzapfel WH. Identification of safe putative probiotics from various food products. Folia Microbiol (Praha) 2024:10.1007/s12223-024-01142-7. [PMID: 38376735 DOI: 10.1007/s12223-024-01142-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024]
Abstract
The objective of this study was to isolate, identify, and assess the safety and functionality in vitro of putative probiotic bacterial strains. Isolation procedures were based on standard methods using elective and selective media. The isolates were identified by comparative 16S rRNA sequencing analysis while their safety was determined according to the safety tests recommended by the FAO/WHO such as antibiotic resistance, hemolysin, and biogenic amine production. Most of the isolates did not pass the in vitro safety tests; therefore, only Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (from ant intestine and cheese), Lacticaseibacillus paracasei (from goat milk and kimchi), Enterococcus faecium (from chili doenjang and vegetables with kimchi ingredients), Limosilactobacillus fermentum (from saliva), and Companilactobacillus alimentarius (from kimchi) were identified and selected for further studies. The isolates were further differentiated by rep-PCR and identified to the strain level by genotypic (16S rRNA) and phenotypic (Gen III) approaches. Subsequently, the strain tolerance to acid and bile was evaluated resulting in good viability after simulated gastrointestinal tract passage. Adhesion to mucin in vitro and the presence of mub, mapA, and ef-tu genes confirmed the adhesive potential of the strains and the results of features associated with adhesion such as hydrophobicity and zeta potential extended the insights. This study reflects the importance of fermented and non-fermented food products as a promising source of lactic acid bacteria with potential probiotic properties. Additionally, it aims to highlight the challenges associated with the selection of safe strains, which often fail in the in vitro tests, thus hindering the possibilities of "uncovering" novel and safe probiotic strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karina Arellano
- Human Effective Microbes, Department of Advanced Convergence, Handong Global University, Pohang 37554, Gyeongbuk, South Korea
- Laboratory of Infection Oncology, Institute of Clinical Molecular Biology, Christian-Albrechts-University Kiel, University Hospital Schleswig Holstein, Schwanenweg 20, 24105 Kiel, Germany
| | - Juwhan Lim
- Human Effective Microbes, Department of Advanced Convergence, Handong Global University, Pohang 37554, Gyeongbuk, South Korea
| | - Jorge Enrique Vazquez Bucheli
- Human Effective Microbes, Department of Advanced Convergence, Handong Global University, Pohang 37554, Gyeongbuk, South Korea
- ProBacLab, Department of Advanced Convergence, Handong Global University, Pohang 37554, Gyeongbuk, South Korea
| | - Haryung Park
- Human Effective Microbes, Department of Advanced Convergence, Handong Global University, Pohang 37554, Gyeongbuk, South Korea
| | - Svetoslav Dimitrov Todorov
- ProBacLab, Department of Advanced Convergence, Handong Global University, Pohang 37554, Gyeongbuk, South Korea.
- ProBacLab, Laboratório de Microbiologia de Alimentos, Departamento de Alimentos e Nutrição Experimental, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, 05508-000, Brazil.
- Food Research Center (FoRC), Departamento de Alimentos e Nutrição Experimental, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, 05508-000, Brazil.
- CISAS - Center for Research and Development in Agrifood Systems and Sustainability, Escola Superior de Tecnologia e Gestão, Instituto Politécnico de Viana do Castelo, Viana do Castelo, Portugal.
| | - Wilhelm Heinrich Holzapfel
- Human Effective Microbes, Department of Advanced Convergence, Handong Global University, Pohang 37554, Gyeongbuk, South Korea.
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Euceda-Padilla EA, Mateo-Cruz MG, Ávila-González L, Flores-Pucheta CI, Ortega-López J, Talamás-Lara D, Velazquez-Valassi B, Jasso-Villazul L, Arroyo R. Trichomonas vaginalis Legumain-2, TvLEGU-2, Is an Immunogenic Cysteine Peptidase Expressed during Trichomonal Infection. Pathogens 2024; 13:119. [PMID: 38392857 PMCID: PMC10892250 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens13020119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2023] [Revised: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Trichomonas vaginalis is the causative agent of trichomoniasis, the most prevalent nonviral, neglected sexually transmitted disease worldwide. T. vaginalis has one of the largest degradomes among unicellular parasites. Cysteine peptidases (CPs) are the most abundant peptidases, constituting 50% of the degradome. Some CPs are virulence factors recognized by antibodies in trichomoniasis patient sera, and a few are found in vaginal secretions that show fluctuations in glucose concentrations during infection. The CPs of clan CD in T. vaginalis include 10 genes encoding legumain-like peptidases of the C13 family. TvLEGU-2 is one of them and has been identified in multiple proteomes, including the immunoproteome obtained with Tv (+) patient sera. Thus, our goals were to assess the effect of glucose on TvLEGU-2 expression, localization, and in vitro secretion and determine whether TvLEGU-2 is expressed during trichomonal infection. We performed qRT-PCR assays using parasites grown under different glucose conditions. We also generated a specific anti-TvLEGU-2 antibody against a synthetic peptide of the most divergent region of this CP and used it in Western blot (WB) and immunolocalization assays. Additionally, we cloned and expressed the tvlegu-2 gene (TVAG_385340), purified the recombinant TvLEGU-2 protein, and used it as an antigen for immunogenicity assays to test human sera from patients with vaginitis. Our results show that glucose does not affect tvlegu-2 expression but does affect localization in different parasite organelles, such as the plasma membrane, Golgi complex, hydrogenosomes, lysosomes, and secretion vesicles. TvLEGU-2 is secreted in vitro, is present in vaginal secretions, and is immunogenic in sera from Tv (+) patients, suggesting its relevance during trichomonal infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esly Alejandra Euceda-Padilla
- Departamento de Infectómica y Patogénesis Molecular, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional (CINVESTAV-IPN), Av. IPN 2508, Alcaldía Gustavo A. Madero (GAM), Mexico City 07360, Mexico; (E.A.E.-P.); (M.G.M.-C.); (L.Á.-G.)
| | - Miriam Guadalupe Mateo-Cruz
- Departamento de Infectómica y Patogénesis Molecular, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional (CINVESTAV-IPN), Av. IPN 2508, Alcaldía Gustavo A. Madero (GAM), Mexico City 07360, Mexico; (E.A.E.-P.); (M.G.M.-C.); (L.Á.-G.)
| | - Leticia Ávila-González
- Departamento de Infectómica y Patogénesis Molecular, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional (CINVESTAV-IPN), Av. IPN 2508, Alcaldía Gustavo A. Madero (GAM), Mexico City 07360, Mexico; (E.A.E.-P.); (M.G.M.-C.); (L.Á.-G.)
| | - Claudia Ivonne Flores-Pucheta
- Departamento de Biotecnología y Bioingeniería, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional (CINVESTAV-IPN), Av. IPN 2508, Alcaldía Gustavo A. Madero (GAM), Mexico City 07360, Mexico; (C.I.F.-P.); (J.O.-L.)
| | - Jaime Ortega-López
- Departamento de Biotecnología y Bioingeniería, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional (CINVESTAV-IPN), Av. IPN 2508, Alcaldía Gustavo A. Madero (GAM), Mexico City 07360, Mexico; (C.I.F.-P.); (J.O.-L.)
| | - Daniel Talamás-Lara
- Unidad de Microscopía Electrónica, Laboratorios Nacionales De Servicios Experimentales (LaNSE), Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional (CINVESTAV-IPN), Av. IPN 2508, Alcaldía Gustavo A. Madero (GAM), Mexico City 07360, Mexico;
| | - Beatriz Velazquez-Valassi
- Departamento de Vigilancia Epidemiológica, Hospital General de México “Eduardo Liceaga”, Mexico City 06720, Mexico;
| | - Lidia Jasso-Villazul
- Unidad de Medicina Preventiva, Hospital General de México “Eduardo Liceaga”, Mexico City 06720, Mexico;
| | - Rossana Arroyo
- Departamento de Infectómica y Patogénesis Molecular, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional (CINVESTAV-IPN), Av. IPN 2508, Alcaldía Gustavo A. Madero (GAM), Mexico City 07360, Mexico; (E.A.E.-P.); (M.G.M.-C.); (L.Á.-G.)
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Otoo-Annan E, Senoo-Dogbey VE. Recurrent Vulvovaginal Candidiasis: Assessing the relationship between feminine/vaginal washes and other factors among Ghanaian women. BMC Public Health 2024; 24:100. [PMID: 38183091 PMCID: PMC10768209 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-17668-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 01/07/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Vulvovaginal Candidiasis (VVC) is a public health problem, with approximately 30-50% of women affected at least once during their lifetime. Recurrent Vulvovaginal Candidiasis (RVVC) is diagnosed following three or four repeated episodes of VVC in a calendar year. This condition poses health concerns with significant impacts on the quality of life of women. This cross-sectional study estimated the prevalence of RVVC and assessed the relationship between feminine/vaginal washes and other factors on RVVC among Ghanaian women in the Sekondi/Takoradi Metropolis. METHODOLOGY A cross-sectional study was employed to gather data from 304 women. Data were collected using a pretested questionnaire. Bivariate and multivariate analyses, including chi-square/Fisher's exact test and logistic regression, were performed using Jamovi (R Core Team 2021) software. Proportions were calculated, and odds ratios and their corresponding 95% confidence intervals were computed with the level of significance set at 0.05. RESULTS The prevalence of RVVC was estimated as 48.4% (95% CI 42.6%, 54.1%). Feminine Vaginal wash use (aOR = 3.86; 95% CI = 2.18, 6.84); age 36-45 years (aOR = 0.36; 95% CI = 0.17, 0.76) marital status (aOR = 2.37; 95% CI = 1.17, 4.79) and Sexual activity (aOR:0.43: 95%CI = 0.21, 0.88) were significantly associated with RVVC with p < 0.005. CONCLUSION RVVC is prevalent among women in the Sekondi/Takoradi Metropolis of Ghana. Feminine/Vaginal washes could be cautiously linked to the development of RVVC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emmanuel Otoo-Annan
- Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) School of Public Service, Accra, Ghana
| | - Vivian Efua Senoo-Dogbey
- Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) School of Public Service, Accra, Ghana.
- Department of Public Health, School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Ghana, P. O. Box LG 25, Legon, Accra, Ghana.
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Samarra A, Flores E, Bernabeu M, Cabrera-Rubio R, Bäuerl C, Selma-Royo M, Collado MC. Shaping Microbiota During the First 1000 Days of Life. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2024; 1449:1-28. [PMID: 39060728 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-58572-2_1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/28/2024]
Abstract
Given that the host-microbe interaction is shaped by the immune system response, it is important to understand the key immune system-microbiota relationship during the period from conception to the first years of life. The present work summarizes the available evidence concerning human reproductive microbiota, and also, the microbial colonization during early life, focusing on the potential impact on infant development and health outcomes. Furthermore, we conclude that some dietary strategies including specific probiotics and other-biotics could become potentially valuable tools to modulate the maternal-neonatal microbiota during this early critical window of opportunity for targeted health outcomes throughout the entire lifespan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Samarra
- Department of Biotechnology, Institute of Agrochemistry and Food Technology-National Research Council (IATA-CSIC), Paterna-Valencia, Spain
| | - Eduard Flores
- Department of Biotechnology, Institute of Agrochemistry and Food Technology-National Research Council (IATA-CSIC), Paterna-Valencia, Spain
| | - Manuel Bernabeu
- Department of Biotechnology, Institute of Agrochemistry and Food Technology-National Research Council (IATA-CSIC), Paterna-Valencia, Spain
| | - Raul Cabrera-Rubio
- Department of Biotechnology, Institute of Agrochemistry and Food Technology-National Research Council (IATA-CSIC), Paterna-Valencia, Spain
| | - Christine Bäuerl
- Department of Biotechnology, Institute of Agrochemistry and Food Technology-National Research Council (IATA-CSIC), Paterna-Valencia, Spain
| | - Marta Selma-Royo
- Department of Biotechnology, Institute of Agrochemistry and Food Technology-National Research Council (IATA-CSIC), Paterna-Valencia, Spain
| | - Maria Carmen Collado
- Department of Biotechnology, Institute of Agrochemistry and Food Technology-National Research Council (IATA-CSIC), Paterna-Valencia, Spain.
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Liu Z, Liu J, Geng J, Wu E, Zhu J, Cong B, Wu R, Sun H. Metatranscriptomic characterization of six types of forensic samples and its potential application to body fluid/tissue identification: A pilot study. Forensic Sci Int Genet 2024; 68:102978. [PMID: 37995518 DOI: 10.1016/j.fsigen.2023.102978] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2023] [Revised: 10/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023]
Abstract
Microorganisms are potential markers for identifying body fluids (venous and menstrual blood, semen, saliva, and vaginal secretion) and skin tissue in forensic genetics. Existing published studies have mainly focused on investigating microbial DNA by 16 S rRNA gene sequencing or metagenome shotgun sequencing. We rarely find microbial RNA level investigations on common forensic body fluid/tissue. Therefore, the use of metatranscriptomics to characterize common forensic body fluids/tissue has not been explored in detail, and the potential application of metatranscriptomics in forensic science remains unknown. Here, we performed 30 metatranscriptome analyses on six types of common forensic sample from healthy volunteers by massively parallel sequencing. After quality control and host RNA filtering, a total of 345,300 unigenes were assembled from clean reads. Four kingdoms, 137 phyla, 267 classes, 488 orders, 985 families, 2052 genera, and 4690 species were annotated across all samples. Alpha- and beta-diversity and differential analysis were also performed. As a result, the saliva and skin groups demonstrated high alpha diversity (Simpson index), while the venous blood group exhibited the lowest diversity despite a high Chao1 index. Specifically, we discussed potential microorganism contamination and the "core microbiome," which may be of special interest to forensic researchers. In addition, we implemented and evaluated artificial neural network (ANN), random forest (RF), and support vector machine (SVM) models for forensic body fluid/tissue identification (BFID) using genus- and species-level metatranscriptome profiles. The ANN and RF prediction models discriminated six forensic body fluids/tissue, demonstrating that the microbial RNA-based method could be applied to BFID. Unlike metagenomic research, metatranscriptomic analysis can provide information about active microbial communities; thus, it may have greater potential to become a powerful tool in forensic science for microbial-based individual identification. This study represents the first attempt to explore the application potential of metatranscriptome profiles in forensic science. Our findings help deepen our understanding of the microorganism community structure at the RNA level and are beneficial for other forensic applications of metatranscriptomics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiyong Liu
- Faculty of Forensic Medicine, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China; Guangdong Province Translational Forensic Medicine Engineering Technology Research Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Jiajun Liu
- Faculty of Forensic Medicine, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China; Guangdong Province Translational Forensic Medicine Engineering Technology Research Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Jiaojiao Geng
- Faculty of Forensic Medicine, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China; Guangdong Province Translational Forensic Medicine Engineering Technology Research Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Enlin Wu
- Faculty of Forensic Medicine, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China; Guangdong Province Translational Forensic Medicine Engineering Technology Research Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Jianzhang Zhu
- Guangzhou Eighth People's Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Bin Cong
- College of Forensic Medicine, Hebei Medical University, Hebei Key Laboratory of Forensic Medicine, Shijiazhuang 050017, China.
| | - Riga Wu
- Faculty of Forensic Medicine, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China; Guangdong Province Translational Forensic Medicine Engineering Technology Research Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China.
| | - Hongyu Sun
- Faculty of Forensic Medicine, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China; Guangdong Province Translational Forensic Medicine Engineering Technology Research Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China.
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Onyango S, Mi JD, Koech A, Okiro P, Temmerman M, von Dadelszen P, Tribe RM, Omuse G. Microbiota dynamics, metabolic and immune interactions in the cervicovaginal environment and their role in spontaneous preterm birth. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1306473. [PMID: 38196946 PMCID: PMC10774218 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1306473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Differences in the cervicovaginal microbiota are associated with spontaneous preterm birth (sPTB), a significant cause of infant morbidity and mortality. Although establishing a direct causal link between cervicovaginal microbiota and sPTB remains challenging, recent advancements in sequencing technologies have facilitated the identification of microbial markers potentially linked to sPTB. Despite variations in findings, a recurring observation suggests that sPTB is associated with a more diverse and less stable vaginal microbiota across pregnancy trimesters. It is hypothesized that sPTB risk is likely to be modified via an intricate host-microbe interactions rather than due to the presence of a single microbial taxon or broad community state. Nonetheless, lactobacilli dominance is generally associated with term outcomes and contributes to a healthy vaginal environment through the production of lactic acid/maintenance of a low pH that excludes other pathogenic microorganisms. Additionally, the innate immunity of the host and metabolic interactions between cervicovaginal microbiota, such as the production of bacteriocins and the use of proteolytic enzymes, exerts a profound influence on microbial populations, activities, and host immune responses. These interplays collectively impact pregnancy outcomes. This review aims to summarize the complexity of cervicovaginal environment and microbiota dynamics, and associations with bacterial vaginosis and sPTB. There is also consideration on how probiotics may mitigate the risk of sPTB and bacterial vaginosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stanley Onyango
- Department of Pathology, Aga Khan University, Nairobi, Kenya
- Centre of Excellence Women and Child Health, Aga Khan University, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Jia Dai Mi
- Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, Department of Women and Children’s Health, School of Life Course and Population Sciences, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Angela Koech
- Centre of Excellence Women and Child Health, Aga Khan University, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Patricia Okiro
- Department of Pathology, Aga Khan University, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Marleen Temmerman
- Centre of Excellence Women and Child Health, Aga Khan University, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Peter von Dadelszen
- Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, Department of Women and Children’s Health, School of Life Course and Population Sciences, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Rachel M. Tribe
- Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, Department of Women and Children’s Health, School of Life Course and Population Sciences, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Geoffrey Omuse
- Department of Pathology, Aga Khan University, Nairobi, Kenya
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Avsaroglu E, Kaleli B, Kilic D, Kaleli I, Guler T. A Decrease in Lactobacilli in the Vaginal Microbiota Is Independently Associated With HPV Persistence in Women With High-Risk HPV Infection. Cureus 2023; 15:e50907. [PMID: 38259378 PMCID: PMC10801280 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.50907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Vaginal dysbiosis, an imbalance between species, can initiate some local changes in immune and metabolic signaling causing chronic inflammation. The mechanism of the clearance or progression of the HPV infection has not been uncovered yet. We hypothesized that vaginal dysbiosis may contribute to the persistence of the cervical HPV infection. Therefore we aimed to determine the association of lactobacillus dominancy index with cervical HR-HPV persistence. Methods A total of 100 women who were followed up because of high-risk HPV infection were defined as the target study group. The patients were evaluated in two groups; HPV positive (group with HPV persistence, n=43) and HPV negative (group with HPV clearance, n=57). Cervicovaginal swab samples and blood samples were evaluated for Nugent score, lactobacillus dominance, and white blood cell count. Statistical tests were performed by the IBM Statistical Product and Service Solutions (version 22, IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Armonk, NY) program. The continuous variables were presented using the mean±standard deviation (SD), and the categorical variables were presented as the number of cases and their percentage. A p value less than 0.05 (<0.05) was set as statistically significant. Results HPV persistence was observed in 43 (43%) patients. Univariate analysis revealed that age, menopausal status, and lactobacillus reduction were associated with HPV persistence (p<0.05). The median value of the Nugent score was similar among groups. After logistic regression analysis, lactobacillus reduction continued to be associated with HPV persistence, independent of age and menopause (OR: 2.668, 96% CI: 1.069-6.662, p<0.05) Conclusions A decrease in lactobacilli in the cervicovaginal microbiota is associated with the persistence of HPV, regardless of age and menopausal status in this study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elif Avsaroglu
- Obstetrics and Gynecology, Denizli State Hospital, Denizli, TUR
| | - Babur Kaleli
- Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pamukkale University, Denizli, TUR
| | - Derya Kilic
- Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pamukkale University, Denizli, TUR
| | | | - Tolga Guler
- Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pamukkale University, Denizli, TUR
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11
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Ye J, Qi X. Vaginal microecology and its role in human papillomavirus infection and human papillomavirus associated cervical lesions. APMIS 2023. [PMID: 37941500 DOI: 10.1111/apm.13356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023]
Abstract
The vaginal microecology comprises the vaginal microbiome, immune microenvironment, vaginal anatomy, and the cervicovaginal fluid, which is rich in metabolites, enzymes, and cytokines. Investigating its role in the female reproductive system holds paramount significance. The advent of next-generation sequencing enabled a more profound investigation into the structure of the vaginal microbial community in relation to the female reproductive system. Human papillomavirus infection is prevalent among women of reproductive age, and persistent oncogenic HPV infection is widely recognized as a factor associated with cervical cancer. Extensive previous research has demonstrated that dysbiosis of vaginal microbiota characterized by a reduction in Lactobacillus species, heightens susceptivity to HPV infection, consequently contributing to persistent HPV infection and the progression of cervical lesion. Likewise, HPV infection can exacerbate dysbiosis. This review aims to provide a comprehensive summary of current literatures and to elucidate potential mechanisms underlying the interaction between vaginal microecology and HPV infection, with the intention of offering valuable insights for future clinical interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiatian Ye
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University), Ministry of Education, West China Second Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Xiaorong Qi
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University), Ministry of Education, West China Second Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
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12
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Farr A, Swidsinski S, Surbek D, Tirri BF, Willinger B, Hoyme U, Walter G, Reckel-Botzem I, Mendling W. Bacterial Vaginosis: Guideline of the DGGG, OEGGG and SGGG (S2k-Level, AWMF Registry No. 015/028, June 2023). Geburtshilfe Frauenheilkd 2023; 83:1331-1349. [PMID: 37928409 PMCID: PMC10624544 DOI: 10.1055/a-2169-8539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Aim This official guideline was coordinated and published by the DGGG, OEGGG and SGGG with the involvement of additional professional societies. The aim of the guideline is to evaluate the relevant literature and use it to provide a consensus-based overview of the diagnosis and management of bacterial vaginosis. Methods This S2k-guideline was developed by representative members from different medical professional societies on behalf of the guidelines commission of the above-listed societies using a structured consensus process. Recommendations This guideline provides recommendations on the diagnosis, management, counselling, prophylaxis, and other aspects related to bacterial vaginosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex Farr
- Universitätsklinik für Frauenheilkunde, Abteilung für Geburtshilfe und feto-maternale Medizin, Medizinische Universität Wien, Wien, Austria
| | | | - Daniel Surbek
- Universitätsklinik für Frauenheilkunde, Geburtshilfe und Feto-maternale Medizin, Inselspital Bern, Universität Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | | | - Birgit Willinger
- Abteilung für Klinische Mikrobiologie, Medizinische Universität Wien, Wien, Austria
| | - Udo Hoyme
- Klinik für Frauenheilkunde und Geburtshilfe, Ilm-Kreis-Kliniken, Arnstadt, Germany
| | - Gisela Walter
- Ärztliche Gesellschaft zur Gesundheitsförderung e. V. (ÄGGF), Hamburg, Germany
- Deutsche STI-Gesellschaft (DSTIG), Bochum, Germany
| | - Inge Reckel-Botzem
- Berufsverband der Frauenärzte e. V. (BVF), Landesverband Hessen, Hainburg, Germany
| | - Werner Mendling
- Deutsches Zentrum für Infektionen in Gynäkologie und Geburtshilfe, Wuppertal, Germany
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13
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Ye J, Zheng L, He Y, Qi X. Human papillomavirus associated cervical lesion: pathogenesis and therapeutic interventions. MedComm (Beijing) 2023; 4:e368. [PMID: 37719443 PMCID: PMC10501338 DOI: 10.1002/mco2.368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2023] [Revised: 08/20/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most prevalent sexually transmitted virus globally. Persistent high-risk HPV infection can result in cervical precancerous lesions and cervical cancer, with 70% of cervical cancer cases associated with high-risk types HPV16 and 18. HPV infection imposes a significant financial and psychological burden. Therefore, studying methods to eradicate HPV infection and halt the progression of precancerous lesions remains crucial. This review comprehensively explores the mechanisms underlying HPV-related cervical lesions, including the viral life cycle, immune factors, epithelial cell malignant transformation, and host and environmental contributing factors. Additionally, we provide a comprehensive overview of treatment methods for HPV-related cervical precancerous lesions and cervical cancer. Our focus is on immunotherapy, encompassing HPV therapeutic vaccines, immune checkpoint inhibitors, and advanced adoptive T cell therapy. Furthermore, we summarize the commonly employed drugs and other nonsurgical treatments currently utilized in clinical practice for managing HPV infection and associated cervical lesions. Gene editing technology is currently undergoing clinical research and, although not yet employed officially in clinical treatment of cervical lesions, numerous preclinical studies have substantiated its efficacy. Therefore, it holds promise as a precise treatment strategy for HPV-related cervical lesions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiatian Ye
- Department of Gynecology and ObstetricsKey Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University), Ministry of Education, West China Second Hospital, Sichuan UniversityChengduChina
| | - Lan Zheng
- Department of Pathology and Lab MedicineUniversity of Texas MD Anderson Cancer CenterHoustonTexasUSA
| | - Yuedong He
- Department of Gynecology and ObstetricsKey Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University), Ministry of Education, West China Second Hospital, Sichuan UniversityChengduChina
| | - Xiaorong Qi
- Department of Gynecology and ObstetricsKey Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University), Ministry of Education, West China Second Hospital, Sichuan UniversityChengduChina
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14
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Fan L, Liu Z, Zhang Z, Bai H. Antimicrobial Effects of Sophora flavescens Alkaloids on Metronidazole-Resistant Gardnerella vaginalis in Planktonic and Biofilm Conditions. Curr Microbiol 2023; 80:263. [PMID: 37382659 DOI: 10.1007/s00284-023-03378-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2022] [Accepted: 06/14/2023] [Indexed: 06/30/2023]
Abstract
Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a common infectious disease of the lower female reproductive tract, which is characterized by the augmentation of anaerobic bacteria. Gardnerella (G.) vaginalis plays a predominant role in BV recurrence relating to its higher virulence potential and biofilm formation ability. With the increased proportion of metronidazole-resistant G. vaginalis, controlling resistance to metronidazole and finding more effective drugs became a major concern. In this study, 30 clinical strains were cultured from the vaginal secretions of BV patients, followed by PCR and 16S rDNA sequencing identification. According to the CLSI guidelines for anaerobic drug sensitivity testing, 19 strains were identified as metronidazole-resistant (minimum inhibitory concentration, MIC ≥ 32 μg/mL), of which 4 clinical strains were observed to be strong biofilm producer and the final minimum biofilm inhibitory concentration (MBIC) of metronidazole was increased to 512 μg/mL. Sophora flavescens Alkaloids (SFAs), a traditional chinese medicine, could not only inhibit the growth of metronidazole-resistant G. vaginalis in planktonic (MIC: 0.3125-1.25 mg/mL), but also eliminate the biofilm formation (MBIC: 0.625-1.25 mg/mL). In the high-magnification scanning electron, it was observed that the morphology of biofilm changed from a thick to flaky shape and was nearly depleted. These results indicate that SFAs could not only inhibit the growth of metronidazole-resistant G. vaginalisin planktonic and biofilm levels, but also destroyed the biofilm morphology and microstructure, which may contribute to the prevention of BV recurrence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linyuan Fan
- Department of Gynecology, Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, No. 251, Yaojiayuan Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100026, China
| | - Zhaohui Liu
- Department of Gynecology, Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, No. 251, Yaojiayuan Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100026, China.
| | - Zhan Zhang
- Department of Gynecology, Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, No. 251, Yaojiayuan Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100026, China
| | - Huihui Bai
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Beijing, 100026, China
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15
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Muzny CA, Van Gerwen OT, Schroeder JA, Kay-Duncan ES, Siwakoti K, Aaron KJ, Eastlund IC, Graves KJ, Elnaggar JH, Tamhane A, Long D, Van Wagoner N, Toh E, Taylor CM. Impact of testosterone use on the vaginal microbiota of transgender men, including susceptibility to bacterial vaginosis: study protocol for a prospective, observational study. BMJ Open 2023; 13:e073068. [PMID: 36972958 PMCID: PMC10069580 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-073068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/29/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The effect of testosterone (T) therapy on the vaginal microbiota of transgender men (TGM) is not well characterised, although one cross-sectional study comparing the vaginal microbiota of cisgender women to TGM on T≥1 year found that, in 71% of the TGM, the vaginal microbiota was less likely to be Lactobacillus-dominated and more likely to be enriched with >30 other bacterial species, many associated with bacterial vaginosis (BV). This prospective study aims to investigate changes in the composition of the vaginal microbiota over time in TGM who retain their natal genitalia (ie, vagina) and initiate T. In addition, we will identify changes in the vaginal microbiota preceding incident BV (iBV) in this cohort while investigating behavioural factors, along with hormonal shifts, which may be associated with iBV. METHODS AND ANALYSIS T-naïve TGM who have not undergone gender-affirming genital surgery with normal baseline vaginal microbiota (ie, no Amsel criteria, normal Nugent Score with no Gardnerella vaginalis morphotypes) will self-collect daily vaginal specimens for 7 days prior to initiating T and for 90 days thereafter. These specimens will be used for vaginal Gram stain, 16S rRNA gene sequencing and shotgun metagenomic sequencing to characterise shifts in the vaginal microbiota over time, including development of iBV. Participants will complete daily diaries on douching, menses and behavioural factors including sexual activity during the study. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION This protocol is approved through the single Institutional Review Board mechanism by the University of Alabama at Birmingham. External relying sites are the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans Human Research Protection Program and the Indiana University Human Research Protection Program. Study findings will be presented at scientific conferences and peer-reviewed journals as well as shared with community advisory boards at participating gender health clinics and community-based organisations servicing transgender people. REGISTRATION DETAILS Protocol # IRB-300008073.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina A Muzny
- Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Olivia T Van Gerwen
- Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Julia A Schroeder
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | | | - Krishmita Siwakoti
- Division of Endocrinology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Kristal J Aaron
- Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Isaac C Eastlund
- Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Keonte J Graves
- Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Jacob H Elnaggar
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Parasitology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
| | - Ashutosh Tamhane
- Division of Nephrology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
- Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Dustin Long
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Public Health, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Nicholas Van Wagoner
- Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Evelyn Toh
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
- Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Christopher M Taylor
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Parasitology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
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16
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Das S, Bhattacharjee MJ, Mukherjee AK, Khan MR. Recent advances in understanding of multifaceted changes in the vaginal microenvironment: implications in vaginal health and therapeutics. Crit Rev Microbiol 2023; 49:256-282. [PMID: 35312419 DOI: 10.1080/1040841x.2022.2049696] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
The vagina endures multifaceted changes from neonatal to menopausal phases due to hormonal flux, metabolite deposition, and microbial colonization. These features have important implications in women's health. Several pre-factors show dynamic characteristics according to the phases that shift the vaginal microbiota from anaerobes to aerobes which is a hallmark of healthy vaginal environment. These factors include oestrogen levels, glycogen deposition, and vaginal microstructure. In the adult phase, Lactobacillus is highly dominant and regulates pH, adherence, aggregation, immune modulation, synthesis of bacteriocins, and biosurfactants (BSs) which are antagonistic to pathogens. Maternal factors are protective by favouring the colonization of lactobacilli in the vagina in the neonatal phase, which diminishes with age. The dominance of lactobacilli and dysbiosis in the adult phase depends on intrinsic and extrinsic factors in women, which vary between ethnicities. Recent developments in probiotics used against vaginal microbiome dysbiosis have shown great promise in restoring the normal microbiota including preventing the loss of beneficial bacteria. However, further in-depth studies are warranted to ensure long-term protection by probiotics. This review highlights various aspects of the vaginal microenvironment in different phases of growth and diverse ethnicities. Furthermore, it discusses future trends for formulating more effective population-specific probiotics and implications of paraprobiotics and postbiotics as effective therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sushmita Das
- Division of Life Science, Institute of Advanced Study in Science and Technology, Guwahati, India
| | | | - Ashis K Mukherjee
- Division of Life Science, Institute of Advanced Study in Science and Technology, Guwahati, India.,Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Tezpur University, Tezpur, India
| | - Mojibur Rohman Khan
- Division of Life Science, Institute of Advanced Study in Science and Technology, Guwahati, India
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17
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Cappello C, Acin-Albiac M, Pinto D, Polo A, Filannino P, Rinaldi F, Gobbetti M, Di Cagno R. Do nomadic lactobacilli fit as potential vaginal probiotics? The answer lies in a successful selective multi-step and scoring approach. Microb Cell Fact 2023; 22:27. [PMID: 36774510 PMCID: PMC9921609 DOI: 10.1186/s12934-023-02030-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2022] [Accepted: 01/21/2023] [Indexed: 02/13/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The goal of this study was to create a multi-strain probiotic gel that would foster a lactobacilli-dominated vaginal microbiota in pregnant women and ensure appropriate eubiosis for the newborn. Nomadic lactobacilli (95 strains), mostly isolated from food sources, were preliminarily screened for functional traits before being characterized for their capability to inhibit the two vaginal pathogens Streptococcus agalactiae and Candida albicans, which may lead to adverse pregnancy-related outcomes. Eight best-performing strains were chosen and furtherly investigated for their ability to produce biofilm. Lastly, the two selected potential probiotic candidates were analyzed in vitro for their ability to reduce the inflammation caused by C. albicans infection on the reconstituted human vaginal epithelium (HVE). RESULTS Lactiplantibacillus plantarum produced both isomers of lactic acid, while Lacticaseibacillus paracasei produced only L-isomer. The production of hydrogen peroxide was strain-dependent, with the highest concentrations found within Lact. paracasei strains. The auto-aggregation capacity and hydrophobicity traits were species-independent. S. agalactiae 88II3 was strongly inhibited both at pH 7.0 and 4.0, whereas the inhibition of C. albicans UNIBZ54 was less frequent. Overall, L. plantarum strains had the highest pathogen inhibition and functional scoring. L. plantarum C5 and POM1, which were selected as potential probiotic candidates also based on their ability to form biofilms, were able to counteract the inflammation process caused by C. albicans infection in the HVE model. CONCLUSIONS Our multi-step and cumulative scoring-based approach was proven successful in mining and highlighting the probiotic potential of two nomadic lactobacilli strains (L. plantarum C5 and POM1), being applicable to preserve and improve human vaginal health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Cappello
- grid.34988.3e0000 0001 1482 2038Faculty of Science and Technology, Free University of Bolzano, Bolzano, Italy
| | - Marta Acin-Albiac
- grid.34988.3e0000 0001 1482 2038Faculty of Science and Technology, Free University of Bolzano, Bolzano, Italy
| | - Daniela Pinto
- Human Microbiome Advanced Project, Research & Development, Milan, Italy.
| | - Andrea Polo
- grid.34988.3e0000 0001 1482 2038Faculty of Science and Technology, Free University of Bolzano, Bolzano, Italy
| | - Pasquale Filannino
- grid.7644.10000 0001 0120 3326Department of Soil, Plant and Food Science, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy
| | - Fabio Rinaldi
- Human Microbiome Advanced Project, Research & Development, Milan, Italy
| | - Marco Gobbetti
- grid.34988.3e0000 0001 1482 2038Faculty of Science and Technology, Free University of Bolzano, Bolzano, Italy
| | - Raffaella Di Cagno
- grid.34988.3e0000 0001 1482 2038Faculty of Science and Technology, Free University of Bolzano, Bolzano, Italy
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Liptáková A, Čurová K, Záhumenský J, Visnyaiová K, Varga I. Microbiota of female genital tract – functional overview of microbial flora from vagina to uterine tubes and placenta. Physiol Res 2022. [DOI: 10.33549/physiolres.934960] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Microorganisms and eukaryotic human cells coexist in synergistic relationships in nearly every niche of the human body. The female genital tract consisting of the vagina, uterus with its cervix and endometrium, uterine tubes and ovaries – harbors its own typical microbiota, which accounts for 9 % of the total bacterial population in females. To this organ system, we also assigned the microbiome of the placenta, which has not been studied much until now. Among the spectrum of microbial species, the female genital tract is mainly dominated by Lactobacillus species, which are considered to be one of the simplest yet most important microbial communities. However, this relationship between macro- and micro-organisms seems to have a number of physiological functions, e.g., the vaginal and cervical microbiota have unique impact on reproductive health. The aim of this review was to provide current view on female genital tract microbiota and its role in reproductive health. We describe in detail the association of vaginal or tubal epithelium with microbiota or the role of microbiota in normal placental function.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - K Čurová
- Department of Medical and Clinical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of P. J. Šafárik, Košice, Slovak Republic.
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Serine Deamination Is a New Acid Tolerance Mechanism Observed in Uropathogenic Escherichia coli. mBio 2022; 13:e0296322. [PMID: 36468870 PMCID: PMC9765748 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.02963-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Escherichia coli associates with humans early in life and can occupy several body niches either as a commensal in the gut and vagina, or as a pathogen in the urinary tract. As such, E. coli has an arsenal of acid response mechanisms that allow it to withstand the different levels of acid stress encountered within and outside the host. Here, we report the discovery of an additional acid response mechanism that involves the deamination of l-serine to pyruvate by the conserved l-serine deaminases SdaA and SdaB. l-serine is the first amino acid to be imported in E. coli during growth in laboratory media. However, there remains a lack in knowledge as to how l-serine is utilized. Using a uropathogenic strain of E. coli, UTI89, we show that in acidified media, l-serine is brought into the cell via the SdaC transporter. We further demonstrate that deletion of the l-serine deaminases SdaA and SdaB renders E. coli susceptible to acid stress, similar to other acid stress deletion mutants. The pyruvate produced by l-serine deamination activates the pyruvate sensor BtsS, which in concert with the noncognate response regulator YpdB upregulates the putative transporter YhjX. Based on these observations, we propose that l-serine deamination constitutes another acid response mechanism in E. coli. IMPORTANCE The observation that l-serine uptake occurs as E. coli cultures grow is well established, yet the benefit E. coli garners from this uptake remains unclear. Here, we report a novel acid tolerance mechanism where l-serine is deaminated to pyruvate and ammonia, promoting survival of E. coli under acidic conditions. This study is important as it provides evidence of the use of l-serine as an acid response strategy, not previously reported for E. coli.
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20
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Liu S, Li Y, Song Y, Wu X, Baloch Z, Xia X. The diversity of vaginal microbiome in women infected with single HPV and multiple genotype HPV infections in China. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:642074. [PMID: 36601309 PMCID: PMC9806233 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.642074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2020] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction The human papillomavirus (HPV) is the leading cause of cervical cancer globally. However, its microbial composition and association with the types of HPV infection remain elusive. Methods This study was designed to characterize the vaginal microbiota of 53 HPV-infected and 16 normal women (control group) by using high-throughput sequencing with the Illumina platform. Results In this study, the five leading phyla were Firmicutes (73.9%), Actinobacteriota (12.8%), Proteobacteria (6.2%), Fusobacteria (3.5%), and Bacteroidota (3.1%). We found that single HPV genotype-positive women had higher α-microbial diversity compared with HPV-negative and multiple HPV-positive women. In women with a single HPV genotype infection, the HPV-16 infection had significantly higher α-diversity than other genotype infections. In multiple HPV genotype-positive women, the highest α-diversity was found in women positive for HR-HR HPV genotype infection, compared with other infections. Furthermore, in single- and multiple-genotype infections, the abundance of s_unclassified_g_Lactobacillus decreased whereas the abundance of s_Gardnerella_vaginalis increased compared with control. Additionally, s_unclassified_f_Rhizobiaceae and s_sneathia_sanguinegens were only found in HPV-infected women. Conclusion This study showed that the type of HPV infection was associated with the composition of the vaginal microbiota. Further studies on HPV genotypes and vaginal microbiota are necessary to uncover more mysteries of their association and provide a promising therapeutic target as well as low-cost future therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shufa Liu
- Faculty of Life Science and Technology and Yunnan Provincial Center for Molecular Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Yuanyue Li
- Department of Gynecology, The First People’s Hospital of Yunnan Province, Kunming, Yunnan, China,Yunnan Provincial Key Laboratory of Clinical Virology, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Yuzhu Song
- Faculty of Life Science and Technology and Yunnan Provincial Center for Molecular Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Xiaomei Wu
- Department of Gynecology, The First People’s Hospital of Yunnan Province, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Zulqarnain Baloch
- Faculty of Life Science and Technology and Yunnan Provincial Center for Molecular Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, China,*Correspondence: Zulqarnain Baloch, ; Xueshan Xia,
| | - Xueshan Xia
- Faculty of Life Science and Technology and Yunnan Provincial Center for Molecular Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, China,*Correspondence: Zulqarnain Baloch, ; Xueshan Xia,
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21
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Shi W, Zhu H, Yuan L, Chen X, Huang X, Wang K, Li Z. Vaginal microbiota and HPV clearance: A longitudinal study. Front Oncol 2022; 12:955150. [PMID: 36353544 PMCID: PMC9639776 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.955150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2022] [Accepted: 09/27/2022] [Indexed: 09/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Although vaginal microbiota (VM) may interact with human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and clearance, longitudinal data remain very limited. We aimed to investigate the association between VM at baseline and the clearance of high-risk HPV (HR-HPV) infection within 12 months. Cervical swabs were collected at diagnosis from 85 patients with HR-HPV infection and histologically confirmed cervical lesions, including cervicitis, low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion and high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion. Microbiome analysis was performed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Among the 73 women included in the analyses, HPV clearance was observed in 58.9% of the patients within 12 months. No significant difference was observed between the HPV-cleared and HPV-uncleared groups regarding age, disease stage, HPV subtype, VM community state types, and VM diversity (α and β). Women with the depletion of enterococcus ASV_62 and enrichment in Lactobacillus iners at baseline were less likely to have HPV clearance at month 12. Further analysis revealed a significant negative association between high abundance of L. iners and HPV clearance in patients who received non-operative treatment (OR = 3.94, p = 0.041), but not in those who received operative treatment (OR = 1.86, p = 0.660). Our findings provide new evidence for the potential role of VM in the persistent HR-HPV infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenpei Shi
- Clinical Research Unit, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Shanghai Institute of Maternal-Fetal Medicine and Gynecologic Oncology, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Haiyan Zhu
- Department of Gynecology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Shanghai Institute of Maternal-Fetal Medicine and Gynecologic Oncology, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Lei Yuan
- Clinical Research Unit, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Shanghai Institute of Maternal-Fetal Medicine and Gynecologic Oncology, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaoyue Chen
- Department of Gynecology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Shanghai Institute of Maternal-Fetal Medicine and Gynecologic Oncology, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaojie Huang
- Clinical and Translational Research Center, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Shanghai Institute of Maternal-Fetal Medicine and Gynecologic Oncology, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Kai Wang
- Clinical and Translational Research Center, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Shanghai Institute of Maternal-Fetal Medicine and Gynecologic Oncology, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhen Li
- Clinical Research Unit, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Shanghai Institute of Maternal-Fetal Medicine and Gynecologic Oncology, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
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22
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Li H, Miao MX, Jia CL, Cao YB, Yan TH, Jiang YY, Yang F. Interactions between Candida albicans and the resident microbiota. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:930495. [PMID: 36204612 PMCID: PMC9531752 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.930495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2022] [Accepted: 08/31/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Candida albicans is a prevalent, opportunistic human fungal pathogen. It usually dwells in the human body as a commensal, however, once in its pathogenic state, it causes diseases ranging from debilitating superficial to life-threatening systemic infections. The switch from harmless colonizer to virulent pathogen is, in most cases, due to perturbation of the fungus-host-microbiota interplay. In this review, we focused on the interactions between C. albicans and the host microbiota in the mouth, gut, blood, and vagina. We also highlighted important future research directions. We expect that the evaluation of these interplays will help better our understanding of the etiology of fungal infections and shed new light on the therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Li
- Department of Pharmacy, Shanghai Tenth People’s Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China,Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, School of Basic Medicine and Clinical Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Ming-xing Miao
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, School of Basic Medicine and Clinical Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Cheng-lin Jia
- Institute of Vascular Disease, Shanghai TCM-Integrated Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yong-bing Cao
- Institute of Vascular Disease, Shanghai TCM-Integrated Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Tian-hua Yan
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, School of Basic Medicine and Clinical Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China,*Correspondence: Tian-hua Yan,
| | - Yuan-ying Jiang
- Department of Pharmacy, Shanghai Tenth People’s Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China,Yuan-ying Jiang,
| | - Feng Yang
- Department of Pharmacy, Shanghai Tenth People’s Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China,Feng Yang,
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23
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Zhai YJ, Feng Y, Ma X, Ma F. Defensins: defenders of human reproductive health. Hum Reprod Update 2022; 29:126-154. [PMID: 36130055 PMCID: PMC9825273 DOI: 10.1093/humupd/dmac032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2022] [Revised: 07/31/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Reproductive tract infection is an important factor leading to male and female infertility. Among female infertility factors, microbial and viral infections are the main factors affecting female reproductive health and causing tubal infertility, ectopic tubal pregnancy and premature delivery. Among male infertility factors, 13-15% of male infertility is related to infection. Defensins are cationic antibacterial and antiviral peptides, classified into α-defensins, β-defensins and θ-defensins. Humans only have α-defensins and β-defensins. Apart from their direct antimicrobial functions, defensins have an immunomodulatory function and are involved in many physiological processes. Studies have shown that defensins are widely distributed in the female reproductive tract (FRT) and male reproductive tract (MRT), playing a dual role of host defence and fertility protection. However, to our knowledge, the distribution, regulation and function of defensins in the reproductive tract and their relation to reproduction have not been reviewed. OBJECTIVE AND RATIONALE This review summarizes the expression, distribution and regulation of defensins in the reproductive tracts to reveal the updated research on the dual role of defensins in host defence and the protection of fertility. SEARCH METHODS A systematic search was conducted in PubMed using the related keywords through April 2022. Related data from original researches and reviews were integrated to comprehensively review the current findings and understanding of defensins in the human reproductive system. Meanwhile, female and male transcriptome data in the GEO database were screened to analyze defensins in the human reproductive tracts. OUTCOMES Two transcriptome databases from the GEO database (GSE7307 and GSE150852) combined with existing researches reveal the expression levels and role of the defensins in the reproductive tracts. In the FRT, a high expression level of α-defensin is found, and the expression levels of defensins in the vulva and vagina are higher than those in other organs. The expression of defensins in the endometrium varies with menstrual cycle stages and with microbial invasion. Defensins also participate in the local immune response to regulate the risk of spontaneous preterm birth. In the MRT, a high expression level of β-defensins is also found. It is mainly highly expressed in the epididymal caput and corpus, indicating that defensins play an important role in sperm maturation. The expression of defensins in the MRT varies with androgen levels, age and the status of microbial invasion. They protect the male reproductive system from bacterial infections by neutralizing lipopolysaccharide and downregulating pro-inflammatory cytokines. In addition, animal and clinical studies have shown that defensins play an important role in sperm maturation, motility and fertilization. WIDER IMPLICATIONS As a broad-spectrum antimicrobial peptide without drug resistance, defensin has great potential for developing new natural antimicrobial treatments for reproductive tract infections. However, increasing evidence has shown that defensins can not only inhibit microbial invasion but can also promote the invasion and adhesion of some microorganisms in certain biological environments, such as human immunodeficiency virus. Therefore, the safety of defensins as reproductive tract anti-infective drugs needs more in-depth research. In addition, the modulatory role of defensins in fertility requires more in-depth research since the current conclusions are based on small-size samples. At present, scientists have made many attempts at the clinical transformation of defensins. However, defensins have problems such as poor stability, low bioavailability and difficulties in their synthesis. Therefore, the production of safe, effective and low-cost drugs remains a challenge.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Xue Ma
- Correspondence address. Center for Translational Medicine, Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University), Ministry of Education, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China. E-mail: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7781-821X (F.M.); Department of Pediatric Urology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China. E-mail: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7650-6214 (X.M.)
| | - Fang Ma
- Correspondence address. Center for Translational Medicine, Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University), Ministry of Education, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China. E-mail: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7781-821X (F.M.); Department of Pediatric Urology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China. E-mail: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7650-6214 (X.M.)
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24
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Vaginal Microbiome in Reproductive Medicine. Diagnostics (Basel) 2022; 12:diagnostics12081948. [PMID: 36010298 PMCID: PMC9406911 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics12081948] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2022] [Revised: 08/09/2022] [Accepted: 08/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The human microbiome has been given increasing importance in recent years. The establishment of sequencing-based technology has made it possible to identify a large number of bacterial species that were previously beyond the scope of culture-based technologies. Just as microbiome diagnostics has emerged as a major point of focus in science, reproductive medicine has developed into a subject of avid interest, particularly with regard to causal research and treatment options for implantation failure. Thus, the vaginal microbiome is discussed as a factor influencing infertility and a promising target for treatment options. The present review provides an overview of current research concerning the impact of the vaginal microbiome on the outcome of reproductive measures. A non-Lactobacillus-dominated microbiome was shown to be associated with dysbiosis, possibly even bacterial vaginosis. This imbalance has a negative impact on implantation rates in assisted reproductive technologies and may also be responsible for habitual abortions. Screening of the microbiome in conjunction with antibiotic and/or probiotic treatment appears to be one way of improving pregnancy outcomes.
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25
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Lapiere A, Richard ML. Bacterial-fungal metabolic interactions within the microbiota and their potential relevance in human health and disease: a short review. Gut Microbes 2022; 14:2105610. [PMID: 35903007 PMCID: PMC9341359 DOI: 10.1080/19490976.2022.2105610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The composition of the microbiota is the focus of many recent publications describing the effects of the microbiota on host health. In recent years, research has progressed further, investigating not only the diversity of genes and functions but also metabolites produced by microorganisms composing the microbiota of various niches and how these metabolites affect and shape the microbial community. While an abundance of data has been published on bacterial interactions, much less data are available on the interactions of bacteria with another component of the microbiota: the fungal community. Although present in smaller numbers, fungi are essential to the balance of this complex microbial ecosystem. Both bacterial and fungal communities produce metabolites that influence their own population but also that of the other. However, to date, interkingdom interactions occurring through metabolites produced by bacteria and fungi have rarely been described. In this review, we describe the major metabolites produced by both kingdoms and discuss how they influence each other, by what mechanisms and with what consequences for the host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexia Lapiere
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Micalis Institute, Jouy-en-Josas, France,Paris Center for Microbiome Medicine, Fédération Hospitalo-Universitaire, France
| | - Mathias L Richard
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Micalis Institute, Jouy-en-Josas, France,Paris Center for Microbiome Medicine, Fédération Hospitalo-Universitaire, France,CONTACT Mathias L Richard INRAE, Micalis Institute, Probihote Team, Domaine de Vilvert, 78352, Jouy en Josas, France
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26
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Liu L, Chen J, Chen Y, Jiang S, Xu H, Zhan H, Ren Y, Xu D, Xu Z, Chen D. Characterization of Vaginal Microbiota in Third Trimester Premature Rupture of Membranes Patients through 16S rDNA Sequencing. Pathogens 2022; 11:pathogens11080847. [PMID: 36014968 PMCID: PMC9413980 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11080847] [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: 07/13/2022] [Revised: 07/24/2022] [Accepted: 07/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
In China, premature rupture of membranes (PROM) counts as a major pregnancy complication in China and usually results into adverse pregnancy outcomes. We analysed the vagina microbiome composition using 16S rDNA V3−V4 amplicon sequencing technology, in this prospective study of 441 women in their third trimester of pregnancy. We first divided all subjects into PROM and HC (healthy control) groups, in order to investigate the correlation of vagina microbiome composition and the development of PROM. We found that seven pathogens were higher in the PROM group as compared to the HC group with statistical significance. We also split all subjects into three groups based on Lactobacillus abundance-dominant (Lactobacillus > 90%), intermediate (Lactobacillus 30−90%) and depleted (Lactobacillus < 30%) groups, and explored nine pathogenic genera that were higher in the depleted group than the intermediate and dominant groups having statistical significance. Finally, using integrated analysis and logistics regression modelling, we discovered that Lactobacillus (coeff = −0.09, p = 0.04) was linked to the decreased risk of PROM, while Gardnerella (coeff = 0.04, p = 0.02), Prevotella (coeff = 0.11, p = 0.02), Megasphaera (coeff = 0.04, p = 0.01), Ureaplasma (coeff = 0.004, p = 0.01) and Dialister (coeff = 0.001, p = 0.04) were associated with the increased risk of PROM. Further study on how these pathogens interact with vaginal microbiota and the host would result in a better understanding of PROM development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lou Liu
- Department of Obstetrics, The Affiliated Wuxi Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi 214002, China; (L.L.); (H.X.); (H.Z.)
| | - Jiale Chen
- School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230001, China; (J.C.); (D.X.)
| | - Yu Chen
- Department of Research Institute for Reproductive Health and Genetic Diseases, The Affiliated Wuxi Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi 214002, China; (Y.C.); (S.J.); (Y.R.)
| | - Shiwen Jiang
- Department of Research Institute for Reproductive Health and Genetic Diseases, The Affiliated Wuxi Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi 214002, China; (Y.C.); (S.J.); (Y.R.)
| | - Hanjie Xu
- Department of Obstetrics, The Affiliated Wuxi Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi 214002, China; (L.L.); (H.X.); (H.Z.)
| | - Huiying Zhan
- Department of Obstetrics, The Affiliated Wuxi Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi 214002, China; (L.L.); (H.X.); (H.Z.)
| | - Yongwei Ren
- Department of Research Institute for Reproductive Health and Genetic Diseases, The Affiliated Wuxi Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi 214002, China; (Y.C.); (S.J.); (Y.R.)
| | - Dexiang Xu
- School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230001, China; (J.C.); (D.X.)
| | - Zhengfeng Xu
- Department of Prenatal Diagnosis, Women’s Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Nanjing 210004, China
- Correspondence: (Z.X.); (D.C.); Tel.: +86-139-5160-3029 (Z.X.); +86-135-8418-9188 (D.C.)
| | - Daozhen Chen
- Department of Obstetrics, The Affiliated Wuxi Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi 214002, China; (L.L.); (H.X.); (H.Z.)
- School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230001, China; (J.C.); (D.X.)
- Correspondence: (Z.X.); (D.C.); Tel.: +86-139-5160-3029 (Z.X.); +86-135-8418-9188 (D.C.)
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27
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Nathan AM, Chong KN, Teh CSJ, Hng SY, Eg KP, de Bruyne JA, Muhamad AN, Adam Q, Zaki RA, Razali N. Colonization of the Newborn Respiratory Tract and Its Association with Respiratory Morbidity in the first six months of life: A Prospective Cohort Study. Int J Infect Dis 2022; 122:712-720. [PMID: 35843493 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2022.06.049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2022] [Revised: 06/28/2022] [Accepted: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE We aimed to determine the association between newborn bacterial colonization and infant respiratory morbidity, in the first six months of life. METHODS This prospective study included healthy newborn infants. Nasopharyngeal swabs performed within 72hrs of delivery were analyzed via polymerase chain reaction. We assessed cumulative respiratory morbidity of infants at 6-months-old. RESULTS Four hundred and twenty-six mother-infant pairs were recruited. In 53.3% (n=225) of newborns, S. pneumoniae (46%) and S. aureus (7.3%) was isolated. None had H. influenzae nor M. catarrhalis. At 6-months-old, 50.7% had experienced respiratory symptoms, 25% had unscheduled doctor visits, and 10% were treated with nebulizers. Colonization with S.pneumoniae was associated with reduced risk of any respiratory symptom (aOR 0.39[95% CI 0.16,0.50]), unscheduled doctor visits (aOR 0.35 [95% CI 0.18,0.67]) and nebulizer treatment (aOR 0.23 [95% CI 0.07,0.72]) at 6 months. Pregnancy-induced hypertension was also associated with increased need for nebulizer treatment (aOR 9.11 [95% CI 1.43,58.1]). CONCLUSION Colonization of the newborn respiratory tract occurred in 53% of infants. Streptococcus pneumoniae was the most common organism, and this was associated with a reduced risk for respiratory morbidity at six months of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Marie Nathan
- Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
| | - Kai Ning Chong
- Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Cindy Shuan Ju Teh
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Shih Ying Hng
- Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Kah Peng Eg
- Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Jessie Anne de Bruyne
- Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Anis Najwa Muhamad
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Quraisiah Adam
- Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Rafdzah Ahmad Zaki
- Center for Epidemiology and Evidence-Based Practice, Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Nuguelis Razali
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
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28
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Curry KD, Wang Q, Nute MG, Tyshaieva A, Reeves E, Soriano S, Wu Q, Graeber E, Finzer P, Mendling W, Savidge T, Villapol S, Dilthey A, Treangen TJ. Emu: species-level microbial community profiling of full-length 16S rRNA Oxford Nanopore sequencing data. Nat Methods 2022; 19:845-853. [PMID: 35773532 PMCID: PMC9939874 DOI: 10.1038/s41592-022-01520-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
16S ribosomal RNA-based analysis is the established standard for elucidating the composition of microbial communities. While short-read 16S rRNA analyses are largely confined to genus-level resolution at best, given that only a portion of the gene is sequenced, full-length 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequences have the potential to provide species-level accuracy. However, existing taxonomic identification algorithms are not optimized for the increased read length and error rate often observed in long-read data. Here we present Emu, an approach that uses an expectation-maximization algorithm to generate taxonomic abundance profiles from full-length 16S rRNA reads. Results produced from simulated datasets and mock communities show that Emu is capable of accurate microbial community profiling while obtaining fewer false positives and false negatives than alternative methods. Additionally, we illustrate a real-world application of Emu by comparing clinical sample composition estimates generated by an established whole-genome shotgun sequencing workflow with those returned by full-length 16S rRNA gene sequences processed with Emu.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristen D. Curry
- Rice University, Department of Computer Science, Houston, TX, USA,Corresponding authors: , ,
| | - Qi Wang
- Rice University, Department of Systems, Synthetic, and Physical Biology Science, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Michael G. Nute
- Rice University, Department of Computer Science, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Alona Tyshaieva
- Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hospital Hygiene, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Elizabeth Reeves
- Rice University, Department of Computer Science, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Sirena Soriano
- Houston Methodist Research Institute, Center for Neuroregeneration, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Qinglong Wu
- Baylor College of Medicine, Department of Pathology and Immunology, Houston, TX, USA,Texas Children’s Microbiome Center, Department of Pathology, Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Enid Graeber
- Rice University, Department of Systems, Synthetic, and Physical Biology Science, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Patrick Finzer
- Rice University, Department of Systems, Synthetic, and Physical Biology Science, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Werner Mendling
- German Center for Infections in Gynaecology and Obstetrics at Helios University Clinic Wuppertal, Wuppertal, Germany
| | - Tor Savidge
- Baylor College of Medicine, Department of Pathology and Immunology, Houston, TX, USA,Texas Children’s Microbiome Center, Department of Pathology, Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Sonia Villapol
- Houston Methodist Research Institute, Center for Neuroregeneration, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Alexander Dilthey
- Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hospital Hygiene, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany.
| | - Todd J. Treangen
- Rice University, Department of Computer Science, Houston, TX, USA,Corresponding authors: , ,
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29
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Nguyen ATC, Le Nguyen NT, Hoang TTA, Nguyen TT, Tran TTQ, Tran DNT, Nguyen ATK, Tran LM, Nguyen DHC, Le TM, Ho BD, Rööp T, Kõljalg S, Štšepetova J, Van Le A, Salumets A, Mändar R. Aerobic vaginitis in the third trimester and its impact on pregnancy outcomes. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2022; 22:432. [PMID: 35610632 PMCID: PMC9128091 DOI: 10.1186/s12884-022-04761-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2021] [Accepted: 05/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Background
Aerobic vaginitis (AV) is a vaginal inflammation characterized by disruption of the lactobacillus microbiota and increased counts of different aerobic bacteria. AV may result in severe complications, especially during pregnancy, including preterm delivery, neonatal and maternal infections. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of AV in the third trimester of pregnancy, and the relationship between AV and pregnancy outcomes.
Methods
A cross-sectional descriptive study included 323 pregnant women attending for routine antenatal care in the Hue University Hospital. Vaginal samples collected at the third trimester of pregnancy were evaluated for AV according to the scoring system of Donders and cultured for identification of predominant bacteria. Pregnancy was followed to its end, and pregnancy outcomes were recorded for both mothers and infants.
Results
The proportion of pregnant women diagnosed with AV in the third trimester was found to be 15.5%, with the vast majority of the cases (84%) displaying the light AV and 16% the moderate AV. The vaginal cultures in the women with AV revealed most frequently Streptococcus agalactiae (6%), followed by Enterococcus spp (4%), Staphylococcus aureus (4%), and Acinetobacter baumannii (2%). In addition, AV during the last trimester of pregnancy was associated with an increased risk of puerperal sepsis (OR 8.65, 95% CI: 1.41—53.16, p = 0.020) and there was a slightly increased risk for neonatal infections, which was statistically insignificant.
Conclusions
The proportion of AV is relatively high in Vietnamese pregnant women. Since it is associated with an increased risk of puerperal sepsis, it needs to be diagnosed and treated before delivery.
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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: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [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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Morales B, Spadetto L, Calvo MÀ, Yeste M, Arosemena L, Rigau T, Rivera del Alamo MM. Evaluation of the Probiotic In Vitro Potential of Lactic Acid-Producing Bacteria from Canine Vagina: Possible Role in Vaginal Health. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12060796. [PMID: 35327193 PMCID: PMC8944649 DOI: 10.3390/ani12060796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2022] [Revised: 03/17/2022] [Accepted: 03/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary The use of microorganisms with probiotic capacity, obtained from the natural microbiota itself, is an alternative tool for the treatment and prevention of some animal pathologies. In this study, a total of 94 bitches were sampled in order to identify the lactic acid-producing microbiota of the vagina. Following the general isolation of the vaginal microbiota, 100 strains of lactic acid-producing bacteria (LAB) were identified. Through Gram staining and basic biochemical tests (catalase, oxidase and haemolysis), 13 LAB strains with possible probiotic capacity were selected to undergo an evaluation of resistance to gastrointestinal conditions (pH, lysozyme, bile salts and hydrogen peroxide) and safety and efficacy in vitro (resistance to antibiotics and antimicrobial capacity by disk diffusion). After the selection, only 3 of 100 strains showed in vitro probiotic potential. Abstract Lactic acid-producing bacteria (LAB) are being widely studied due to their probiotic potential. The aim of the present study was to determine and identify the presence of LAB from canine vaginal samples, as well as to evaluate their probiotic in vitro potential. Ninety-four bitches were included in the study. Vaginal samples were obtained by means of a sterile swab and streaked on Man Rogosa Sharpe agar plates. A total of 100 LAB strains were obtained and submitted to Gram stains and basic biochemical tests, which included catalase, oxidase and haemolysis tests. Thirteen strains belonging to the genera Lactobacillus (n = 10), Lactococcus (n = 2) and Pediococcus (n = 1) were selected as potential probiotics and further subjected to evaluation of resistance to gastrointestinal conditions (pH, lysozyme, bile salts and hydrogen peroxide) and safety and efficacy in vitro (resistance to antibiotics and antimicrobial capacity). Only three strains, one Lactobacillus lactis and two Lactobacillus plantarum, accomplished the requirements for being considered as potential in vitro probiotics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian Morales
- Department of Animal Health and Anatomy, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain; (B.M.); (M.À.C.); (L.A.)
| | - Livia Spadetto
- Toxicology Research Group, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Murcia, Campus Espinardo, 30100 Murcia, Spain;
| | - Maria Àngels Calvo
- Department of Animal Health and Anatomy, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain; (B.M.); (M.À.C.); (L.A.)
| | - Marc Yeste
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Griona, 17071 Girona, Spain;
| | - Leonardo Arosemena
- Department of Animal Health and Anatomy, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain; (B.M.); (M.À.C.); (L.A.)
| | - Teresa Rigau
- Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain;
- Fundació Hospital Clínic Veterinari, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Maria Montserrat Rivera del Alamo
- Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain;
- Fundació Hospital Clínic Veterinari, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain
- Correspondence:
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Choi SI, Won G, Kim Y, Kang CH, Kim GH. Lactobacilli Strain Mixture Alleviates Bacterial Vaginosis through Antibacterial and Antagonistic Activity in Gardnerella vaginalis-Infected C57BL/6 Mice. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10020471. [PMID: 35208925 PMCID: PMC8880492 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10020471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2022] [Revised: 02/09/2022] [Accepted: 02/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The present study investigated the anti-bacterial vaginitis (BV) effects of a mixture of five lactobacilli strains (LM5), containing equal amounts of Ligilactobacillus salivarius MG242, Limosilactobacillus fermentum MG901, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum MG989, Lacticaseibacillus paracasei MG4272, and Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus MG4288), in HeLa cells and Gardnerella vaginalis (GV)-infected BV mice. All strains produced lactic acid and hydrogen peroxide, and were resistant to nonoxynol-9. LM5 significantly inhibited GV growth by 80%, exhibited good adhesion to HeLa cells, and significantly inhibited GV adhesion to these cells. In GV-infected mice, LM5 administered orally at 5 × 109 CFU/mouse significantly inhibited GV proliferation in the vaginal tract and significantly reduced myeloperoxidase activity, pro-inflammatory cytokine (TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6) levels, and nitric oxide levels in vaginal tissue lysates. Histopathological analysis of vaginal tissues revealed that LM5 markedly suppressed the exfoliation of vaginal epithelial cells. Overall, these results suggest that LM5 might alleviate BV by direct antibacterial and antagonistic activity in vaginal tissues of GV-infected mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soo-Im Choi
- Department of Health Functional New Materials, Duksung Women’s University, Seoul 01369, Korea; (S.-I.C.); (G.W.)
| | - GaYeong Won
- Department of Health Functional New Materials, Duksung Women’s University, Seoul 01369, Korea; (S.-I.C.); (G.W.)
| | - YongGyeong Kim
- MEDIOGEN, Co., Ltd., Biovalley 1-ro, Jecheon-si 27159, Korea; (Y.K.); (C.-H.K.)
| | - Chang-Ho Kang
- MEDIOGEN, Co., Ltd., Biovalley 1-ro, Jecheon-si 27159, Korea; (Y.K.); (C.-H.K.)
| | - Gun-Hee Kim
- Department of Health Functional New Materials, Duksung Women’s University, Seoul 01369, Korea; (S.-I.C.); (G.W.)
- Department of Food and Nutrition, Duksung Women’s University, Seoul 01369, Korea
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +82-2-901-8496
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Gladysheva IV, Cherkasov SV, Khlopko YA, Plotnikov AO. Genome Characterization and Probiotic Potential of Corynebacterium amycolatum Human Vaginal Isolates. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10020249. [PMID: 35208706 PMCID: PMC8878833 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10020249] [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: 12/19/2021] [Revised: 01/19/2022] [Accepted: 01/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The vaginal microbiome of healthy women contains nondiphtheria corynebacteria. The role and functions of nondiphtheria corynebacteria in the vaginal biotope are still under study. We sequenced and analysed the genomes of three vaginal C. amycolatum strains isolated from healthy women. Previous studies have shown that these strains produced metabolites that significantly increased the antagonistic activity of peroxide-producing lactic acid bacteria against pathogenic and opportunistic microorganisms and had strong antimicrobial activity against opportunistic pathogens. Analysis of the C. amycolatum genomes revealed the genes responsible for adaptation and survival in the vaginal environment, including acid and oxidative stress resistance genes. The genes responsible for the production of H2O2 and the synthesis of secondary metabolites, essential amino acids and vitamins were identified. A cluster of genes encoding the synthesis of bacteriocin was revealed in one of the annotated genomes. The obtained results allow us to consider the studied strains as potential probiotics that are capable of preventing the growth of pathogenic microorganisms and supporting colonisation resistance in the vaginal biotope.
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Abou Chacra L, Fenollar F, Diop K. Bacterial Vaginosis: What Do We Currently Know? Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 11:672429. [PMID: 35118003 PMCID: PMC8805710 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.672429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2021] [Accepted: 12/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The vaginal microbiome is a well-defined compartment of the human microbiome. It has unique conditions, characterized by the dominance of one bacterial species, the Lactobacilli. This microbiota manifests itself by a low degree of diversity and by a strong dynamic of change in its composition under the influence of various exogenous and endogenous factors. The increase in diversity may paradoxically be associated with dysbiosis, such as bacterial vaginosis (BV). BV is the result of a disturbance in the vaginal ecosystem; i.e., a sudden replacement of Lactobacilli by anaerobic bacteria such as Gardnerella vaginalis, Atopobium vaginae, Ureaplasma urealyticum, Mycoplasma hominis, and others. It is the most common cause of vaginal discharge in women of childbearing age, approximately 30% of all causes. The etiology of this dysbiosis remains unknown, but its health consequences are significant, including obstetrical complications, increased risk of sexually transmitted infections and urogenital infections. Its diagnosis is based on Amsel’s clinical criteria and/or a gram stain based on the Nugent score. While both of these methods have been widely applied worldwide for approximately three decades, Nugent score are still considered the “gold standard” of BV diagnostic tools. Given the limitations of these tools, methods based on molecular biology have been developed as alternative rational strategies for the diagnosis of BV. The treatment of BV aims at restoring the balance of the vaginal flora to stop the proliferation of harmful microorganisms. Prescription of antibiotics such as metronidazole, clindamycin, etc. is recommended. Faced with the considerable uncertainty about the cause of BV, the high rate of recurrence, the unacceptable treatment options, and clinical management which is often insensitive and inconsistent, research on this topic is intensifying. Knowledge of its composition and its associated variations represents the key element in improving the therapeutic management of patients with the most suitable treatments possible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linda Abou Chacra
- Aix Marseille Univ, IRD, AP-HM, SSA, VITROME, Marseille, France
- IHU-Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France
| | - Florence Fenollar
- Aix Marseille Univ, IRD, AP-HM, SSA, VITROME, Marseille, France
- IHU-Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France
| | - Khoudia Diop
- Aix Marseille Univ, IRD, AP-HM, SSA, VITROME, Marseille, France
- IHU-Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France
- *Correspondence: Khoudia Diop,
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Vieira-Baptista P, De Seta F, Verstraelen H, Ventolini G, Lonnee-Hoffmann R, Lev-Sagie A. The Vaginal Microbiome: V. Therapeutic Modalities of Vaginal Microbiome Engineering and Research Challenges. J Low Genit Tract Dis 2022; 26:99-104. [PMID: 34928260 PMCID: PMC8719494 DOI: 10.1097/lgt.0000000000000647] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This series of articles, titled The Vaginal Microbiome (VMB), written on behalf of the International Society for the Study of Vulvovaginal Disease, aims to summarize the recent findings and understanding of the vaginal bacterial microbiota, mainly regarding areas relevant to clinicians specializing in vulvovaginal disorders. MATERIALS AND METHODS A search of PubMed database was performed, using the search terms "vaginal microbiome" with "treatment," "diagnosis," and "research." Full article texts were reviewed. Reference lists were screened for additional articles. RESULTS The currently available approaches for treating vaginitis or attempting to modulate the VMB are often insufficient. It has traditionally relied on the use of antibiotics, antiseptics, and antifungals. The fifth and last article of this series discusses the new and/or alternative therapeutic modalities. It addresses the role of probiotics, prebiotics and symbiotics, activated charcoal, biofilm disrupting agents, acidifying agents, phage therapy, and the concept of vaginal microbiome transplant. The challenges facing the research of VMB, including the clinical impact of microbiome manipulation, classification, and new diagnostic approaches are discussed. CONCLUSIONS Microbiome research has grown dramatically in recent years, motivated by innovations in technology and decrease in analysis costs. This research has yielded huge insight into the nature of microbial communities, their interactions, and effects with their hosts and other microbes. Further understanding of the bacterial, fungal, phage, and viral microbiomes in combination with host genetics, immunologic status, and environmental factors is needed to better understand and provide personalized medical diagnostics and interventions to improve women's health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro Vieira-Baptista
- Hospital Lusíadas Porto, Porto
- Lower Genital Tract Unit, Centro Hospitalar de São João, Porto
- LAP, a Unilabs Company, Porto, Portugal
| | - Francesco De Seta
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Institute for Maternal and Child Health “IRCCS Burlo Garofolo”, Trieste
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Health Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
| | - Hans Verstraelen
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent
- Department of Human Structure and Repair, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Gary Ventolini
- Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Distinguish University Professor, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Permian Basin, Odessa, Texas, USA
| | - Risa Lonnee-Hoffmann
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, St Olavs University Hospital, Trondheim
- Institute for Clinical and Molekular Medicine, Norwegian University for Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Ahinoam Lev-Sagie
- Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
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Afifirad R, Darb Emamie A, Golmoradi Zadeh R, Asadollahi P, Ghanavati R, Darbandi A. Effects of Pro/Prebiotics Alone over Pro/Prebiotics Combined with Conventional Antibiotic Therapy to Treat Bacterial Vaginosis: A Systematic Review. Int J Clin Pract 2022; 2022:4774783. [PMID: 35685517 PMCID: PMC9159122 DOI: 10.1155/2022/4774783] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2021] [Revised: 02/26/2022] [Accepted: 03/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Bacterial vaginosis (BV), caused by an imbalance in the vaginal microbiota, can be treated and prevented by probiotics. Pregnant women with BV can experience premature labor and spontaneous abortions. Probiotics and prebiotics promote the proliferation of beneficial microorganisms, alter the composition of the vaginal microbiota, and prevent intravaginal infections in postmenopausal women. In addition to reducing infection symptoms, pre/probiotics can also help prevent vaginal infections. MATERIALS AND METHODS A systematic review was conducted on studies from 2010 to 2020 to determine the efficacy of pre/probiotics on the treatment of BV in pregnant and nonpregnant women. The databases Medline, Scopus, Embase, and Google Scholar were systematically searched using the following keywords: "bacterial vaginosis," "probiotics," "prebiotics," and "synbiotics." RESULTS A total of 1,871 articles were found in the initial search, and 24 clinical trials were considered eligible. In studies comparing the effects of pre/probiotics and placebos with or without antibiotic therapy in patients with BV, significant differences in clinical outcomes were observed. Probiotics reduced the levels of IL-1β and IL-6, as well as the overall Nugent score and Amsel's criteria for restitution of a balanced vaginal microbiota. In addition, probiotics can reduce the vaginal colonization of Group B streptococci among pregnant women. In subjects treated with probiotics, BV cure rates were higher than those in subjects treated with antibiotics. There were no additional adverse events. CONCLUSION Pre/probiotic regimens, when used for BV treatment, are usually safe and can exhibit long-term and short-term benefits. In order to prove the benefits of pre/probiotics in BV treatment, additional high-quality research is required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roghayeh Afifirad
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Amir Darb Emamie
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Rezvan Golmoradi Zadeh
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Microbial Biotechnology Research Centre, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Parisa Asadollahi
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran
| | | | - Atieh Darbandi
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Microbial Biotechnology Research Centre, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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Artym J, Zimecki M. Antimicrobial and Prebiotic Activity of Lactoferrin in the Female Reproductive Tract: A Comprehensive Review. Biomedicines 2021; 9:biomedicines9121940. [PMID: 34944756 PMCID: PMC8699013 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9121940] [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: 11/15/2021] [Revised: 12/13/2021] [Accepted: 12/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Women’s intimate health depends on several factors, such as age, diet, coexisting metabolic disorders, hormonal equilibrium, sexual activity, drug intake, contraception, surgery, and personal hygiene. These factors may affect the homeostasis of the internal environment of the genital tract: the vulva, vagina and cervix. This equilibrium is dependent on strict and complex mutual interactions between epithelial cells, immunocompetent cells and microorganisms residing in this environment. The microbiota of the genital tract in healthy women is dominated by several species of symbiotic bacteria of the Lactobacillus genus. The bacteria inhibit the growth of pathogenic microorganisms and inflammatory processes by virtue of direct and multidirectional antimicrobial action and, indirectly, by the modulation of immune system activity. For the homeostasis of the genital tract ecosystem, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory peptides, as well as proteins secreted by mucus cells into the cervicovaginal fluid, have a fundamental significance. Of these, a multifunctional protein known as lactoferrin (LF) is one of the most important since it bridges innate and acquired immunity. Among its numerous properties, particular attention should be paid to prebiotic activity, i.e., exerting a beneficial action on symbiotic microbiota of the gastrointestinal and genital tract. Such activity of LF is associated with the inhibition of bacterial and fungal infections in the genital tract and their consequences, such as endometritis, pelvic inflammation, urinary tract infections, miscarriage, premature delivery, and infection of the fetus and newborns. The aim of this article is to review the results of laboratory as well as clinical trials, confirming the prebiotic action of LF on the microbiota of the lower genital tract.
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Ladaycia A, Passirani C, Lepeltier E. Microbiota and nanoparticles: Description and interactions. Eur J Pharm Biopharm 2021; 169:220-240. [PMID: 34736984 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejpb.2021.10.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2021] [Revised: 10/12/2021] [Accepted: 10/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The healthy human body is inhabited with a large number of bacteria, forming natural flora. It is even estimated that for a human body, its amount of DNA is less important that its bacterial genetic material. This flora plays major roles in the sickness and health of the human body and any change in its composition may lead to different diseases. Nanoparticles are widely used in numerous fields: cosmetics, food, industry, and as drug delivery carrier in the medical field. Being included in these various applications, nanoparticles may interact with the human body at various levels and with different mechanisms. These interactions differ depending on the nanoparticle nature, its structure, its concentration and manifest in different ways on the microbiota, leading to its destabilization, its restoring or showing no toxic effect. Nanoparticles may also be used as a vehicle to regulate the microbiota or to treat some of its diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdallah Ladaycia
- Micro et Nanomédecines Translationnelles, MINT, UNIV Angers, UMR INSERM 1066, UMR CNRS 6021, Angers, France
| | - Catherine Passirani
- Micro et Nanomédecines Translationnelles, MINT, UNIV Angers, UMR INSERM 1066, UMR CNRS 6021, Angers, France
| | - Elise Lepeltier
- Micro et Nanomédecines Translationnelles, MINT, UNIV Angers, UMR INSERM 1066, UMR CNRS 6021, Angers, France.
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The Role of 17β-Estrogen in Escherichia coli Adhesion on Human Vaginal Epithelial Cells via FAK Phosphorylation. Infect Immun 2021; 89:e0021921. [PMID: 34424749 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00219-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Estrogen, the predominant sex hormone, has been found to be related to the occurrence of vaginal infectious diseases. However, its role in the occurrence and development of bacterial vaginitis caused by Escherichia coli is still unclear. The objective of this study was to investigate the role of 17β-estrogen in E. coli adhesion on human vaginal epithelial cells. The vaginal epithelial cell line VK2/E6E7 was used to study the molecular events induced by estrogen between E. coli and cells. An adhesion study was performed to evaluate the involvement of the estrogen-dependent focal adhesion kinase (FAK) activation with cell adhesion. The phosphorylation status of FAK and estrogen receptor α (ERα) upon estrogen challenge was assessed by Western blotting. Specific inhibitors for ERα were used to validate the involvement of ERα-FAK signaling cascade. The results showed that, following stimulation with 1,000 nM estrogen for 48 h, transient activation of ERα and FAK was observed, as was an increased average number of E. coli cells adhering to vaginal epithelial cells. In addition, estrogen-induced activation of ERα and FAK was inhibited by the specific inhibitor of ERα, especially when the inhibitor reached a 10 μM concentration and acted for 1 h, and a decrease in the number of adherent E. coli cells was observed simultaneously. However, this inhibitory effect diminished as the concentration of estrogen increased. In conclusion, FAK and ERα signaling cascades were associated with the increasing E. coli adherence to vaginal epithelial cells, which was promoted by a certain concentration of estrogen.
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Hao X, Li P, Wu S, Tan J. Association of the Cervical Microbiota With Pregnancy Outcome in a Subfertile Population Undergoing In Vitro Fertilization: A Case-Control Study. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021; 11:654202. [PMID: 34631595 PMCID: PMC8495128 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.654202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2021] [Accepted: 09/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The microorganisms of the reproductive tract have been implicated to affect in vitro fertilization (IVF) outcomes. However, studies on the reproductive tract microbiota of infertile women are limited and the correlation between cervical microbiota and IVF outcome remains elusive. This study aimed to characterize the cervical microbiota of IVF patients undergoing embryo transfer (ET) and assess associations between the cervical microbiota and pregnancy outcomes while exploring the underlying contributing factors. We launched a nested case-control study of 100 patients with two fresh or frozen-thawed cleavage embryos transferred per IVF cycle. Cervical swabs were collected on the day of ET and divided into four groups according to clinical pregnancy outcomes. Variable regions 3 and 4 (V3-V4) of the 16S rRNA gene were amplified and sequenced on the Illumina MiSeq platform. In fresh IVF-ET cycles, the clinical pregnancy group (FP, n = 25) demonstrated higher α diversity (P = 0.0078) than the non-pregnancy group (FN, n = 26). Analysis of similarity (ANOSIM) revealed a significant difference in β diversity between the two groups (R = 0.242, P = 0.001). In frozen-thawed ET cycles, though not significant, similar higher α diversity was found in the clinical pregnancy group (TP, n = 27) compared to the non-pregnancy group (TN, n = 22) and ANOSIM analysis showed a significant difference between the two groups (R = 0.062, P = 0.045). For patients in fresh IVF-ET groups, Lactobacillus, Akkermansia, Desulfovibrio, Atopobium, and Gardnerella showed differentially abundance between pregnant and non-pregnant women and they accounted for the largest share of all taxa investigated. Among them, Lactobacillus was negatively correlated with the other genera and positively correlated with serum estradiol levels. Logistic regression analysis suggested that the composition of the cervical microbiota on the day of ET was associated with the clinical pregnancy in fresh IVF-ET cycles (P = 0.030). Our results indicate that cervical microbiota composition has an impact on the outcome of assisted reproductive therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyao Hao
- Center of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China.,Key Laboratory of Reproductive Dysfunction Disease and Fertility Remodeling of Liaoning Province, Shenyang, China
| | - Pingping Li
- Center of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China.,Key Laboratory of Reproductive Dysfunction Disease and Fertility Remodeling of Liaoning Province, Shenyang, China
| | - Shanshan Wu
- Center of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China.,Key Laboratory of Reproductive Dysfunction Disease and Fertility Remodeling of Liaoning Province, Shenyang, China
| | - Jichun Tan
- Center of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China.,Key Laboratory of Reproductive Dysfunction Disease and Fertility Remodeling of Liaoning Province, Shenyang, China
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Xiang N, Yin T, Chen T. Gardnerella vaginalis induces NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated pyroptosis in macrophages and THP-1 monocytes. Exp Ther Med 2021; 22:1174. [PMID: 34504619 PMCID: PMC8393845 DOI: 10.3892/etm.2021.10609] [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: 07/03/2020] [Accepted: 06/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The vagina is colonized by a variety of microbes that serve vital roles in the maintenance of vaginal health. The purpose of the present study was to explore the underlying mechanism by which Gardnerella vaginalis (GV) can induce bacterial vaginosis (BV). The viability of primary mouse macrophages and THP-1 cells was detected using a Cell Counting Kit-8 assay. Lactate dehydrogenase and caspase-1 activity in the culture medium of macrophages and THP-1 cells were measured using a colorimetric assay and a caspase-1 activity assay kit, respectively. In the macrophages and THP-1 cells, the levels of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-18 were detected using ELISA whereas reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were detected using flow cytometry. The pyroptosis of macrophages and THP-1 cells was detected using calcein-AM/PI double staining. Expression of proteins associated with the nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain, leucine rich repeat and pyrin domain-containing protein 3 inflammasome (NLRP3), including NLRP3, apoptosis associated speck-like protein (ASC), caspase-1 and pro-caspase-1, were measured by western blotting and reverse transcription-quantitative PCR. GV significantly inhibited cell viability and increased LDH activity in macrophages and THP-1 cells. In addition, GV markedly promoted the production of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-18 and ROS by macrophages and THP-1 cells. GV significantly promoted caspase-1 activation-mediated pyroptosis in macrophages and THP-1 cells. Treatment with GV significantly increased the protein and mRNA expression of NLRP3, ASC and caspase-1 in macrophages and THP-1 cells. To conclude, data from the present study suggest that G. vaginalis can induce BV by promoting NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated pyroptosis, which provides one of the molecular mechanisms by which G. vaginalis can induce BV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nan Xiang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shandong Provincial Third Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250001, P.R. China
| | - Ting Yin
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Jinan Maternity and Child Care Hospital, Jinan, Shandong 250001, P.R. China
| | - Tao Chen
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Jinan Maternity and Child Care Hospital, Jinan, Shandong 250001, P.R. China
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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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Antibacterial and Antifungal Activity of the Human Endometrial Fluid during the Natural Cycle. Infect Dis Obstet Gynecol 2021; 2021:8849664. [PMID: 34220191 PMCID: PMC8221874 DOI: 10.1155/2021/8849664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2020] [Revised: 04/26/2021] [Accepted: 06/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose Some microbiota patterns have been associated with favorable IVF prognosis and others with pathological conditions. The endometrial fluid aspirate (EFA) contains antibacterial proteins that are enriched in implantative IVF cycles, but the antimicrobial effect of EFA has not been addressed. We aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of the human endometrial fluid during the natural cycle. Methods EFA was obtained through an embryo transfer catheter in 38 women, aged 18-40 years, with regular cycles attending to a fertility clinic. The antimicrobial activity of EFAs was tested against two strains of Staphylococcus aureus; one strain each of Streptococcus agalactiae, Enterococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli, and Klebsiella pneumoniae; and three yeasts (Candida albicans, Candida glabrata, and Candida krusei). Results All samples exhibited antibacterial activity against S. aureus. In addition, 32.4% of EFAs were active against one of the other microorganisms assayed, 16.2% against two, and 5.4% against four of them. In contrast, none exhibited antibacterial activity against E. coli or K. pneumoniae. The antimicrobial activity differs considerably between EFA samples, and we failed to observe a cycle-related pattern. Conclusions EFA presented two antimicrobial activity patterns: (a) one common to all the samples, exhibiting activity against S. aureus and lack of activity against E. coli and K. pneumoniae, and (b) an individualized pattern, showing activity against some of the other microorganisms tested. The intensity of antibacterial activity differs between EFA samples. Our data suggest that the uterine microbiota is controlled by means of endometrial fluid components.
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Aydin M, Weisser C, Rué O, Mariadassou M, Maaß S, Behrendt AK, Jaszczyszyn Y, Heilker T, Spaeth M, Vogel S, Lutz S, Ahmad-Nejad P, Graf V, Bellm A, Weisser C, Naumova EA, Arnold WH, Ehrhardt A, Meyer-Bahlburg A, Becher D, Postberg J, Ghebremedhin B, Wirth S. The Rhinobiome of Exacerbated Wheezers and Asthmatics: Insights From a German Pediatric Exacerbation Network. FRONTIERS IN ALLERGY 2021; 2:667562. [PMID: 35386977 PMCID: PMC8974812 DOI: 10.3389/falgy.2021.667562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2021] [Accepted: 03/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Although the nose, as a gateway for organism–environment interactions, may have a key role in asthmatic exacerbation, the rhinobiome of exacerbated children with asthma was widely neglected to date. The aim of this study is to understand the microbiome, the microbial immunology, and the proteome of exacerbated children and adolescents with wheeze and asthma. Considering that a certain proportion of wheezers may show a progression to asthma, the comparison of both groups provides important information regarding clinical and phenotype stratification. Thus, deep nasopharyngeal swab specimens, nasal epithelial spheroid (NAEsp) cultures, and blood samples of acute exacerbated wheezers (WH), asthmatics (AB), and healthy controls (HC) were used for culture (n = 146), 16 S-rRNA gene amplicon sequencing (n = 64), and proteomic and cytokine analyses. Interestingly, Proteobacteria were over-represented in WH, whereas Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes were associated with AB. In contrast, Actinobacteria commonly colonized HCs. Moreover, Staphylococcaceae, Enterobacteriaceae, Burkholderiaceae, Xanthobacteraceae, and Sphingomonadaceae were significantly more abundant in AB compared to WH and HC. The α-diversity analyses demonstrated an increase of bacterial abundance levels in atopic AB and a decrease in WH samples. Microbiome profiles of atopic WH differed significantly from atopic AB, whereby atopic samples of WH were more homogeneous than those of non-atopic subjects. The NAEsp bacterial exposure experiments provided a disrupted epithelial cell integrity, a cytokine release, and cohort-specific proteomic differences especially for Moraxella catarrhalis cultures. This comprehensive dataset contributes to a deeper insight into the poorly understood plasticity of the nasal microbiota, and, in particular, may enforce our understanding in the pathogenesis of asthma exacerbation in childhood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Malik Aydin
- Laboratory of Experimental Pediatric Pneumology and Allergology, Faculty of Health, Center for Biomedical Education and Research, School of Life Sciences, Witten/Herdecke University, Witten, Germany
- Center for Child and Adolescent Medicine, Helios University Hospital Wuppertal, Witten/Herdecke University, Wuppertal, Germany
- *Correspondence: Malik Aydin
| | - Cornelius Weisser
- Center for Child and Adolescent Medicine, Helios University Hospital Wuppertal, Witten/Herdecke University, Wuppertal, Germany
| | - Olivier Rué
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, MaIAGE, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | | | - Sandra Maaß
- Center of Functional Genomics of Microbes, Institute of Microbiology, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Ann-Kathrin Behrendt
- Pediatric Rheumatology and Immunology, Department of Pediatrics, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Yan Jaszczyszyn
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Tatje Heilker
- Center for Child and Adolescent Medicine, Helios University Hospital Wuppertal, Witten/Herdecke University, Wuppertal, Germany
| | - Maximilian Spaeth
- Center for Child and Adolescent Medicine, Helios University Hospital Wuppertal, Witten/Herdecke University, Wuppertal, Germany
| | - Silvia Vogel
- Department of Pathology, Division of Molecular Pathology, Helios University Hospital Wuppertal, Center for Clinical and Translational Research, Witten/Herdecke University, Wuppertal, Germany
| | - Sören Lutz
- Children's Hospital, Helios Hospital Niederberg, Teaching Hospital of University Hospital Essen, Velbert, Germany
| | - Parviz Ahmad-Nejad
- Institute for Medical Laboratory Diagnostics, Center for Clinical and Translational Research, Helios University Hospital Wuppertal, Witten/Herdecke University, Wuppertal, Germany
| | - Viktoria Graf
- Institute for Medical Laboratory Diagnostics, Center for Clinical and Translational Research, Helios University Hospital Wuppertal, Witten/Herdecke University, Wuppertal, Germany
| | - Aliyah Bellm
- Helios Hospital Krefeld, Children's Hospital, Teaching Hospital of Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule (RTWH) University Aachen, Krefeld, Germany
| | - Christoph Weisser
- Department of Economics and Center for Statistics, Georg-August University Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Ella A. Naumova
- Department of Biological and Material Sciences in Dentistry, Faculty of Health, Witten/Herdecke University, Witten, Germany
| | - Wolfgang H. Arnold
- Department of Biological and Material Sciences in Dentistry, Faculty of Health, Witten/Herdecke University, Witten, Germany
| | - Anja Ehrhardt
- Department of Human Medicine, Faculty of Health, Institute of Virology and Microbiology, Center for Biomedical Education and Research, Witten/Herdecke University, Witten, Germany
| | - Almut Meyer-Bahlburg
- Pediatric Rheumatology and Immunology, Department of Pediatrics, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Dörte Becher
- Center of Functional Genomics of Microbes, Institute of Microbiology, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Jan Postberg
- Laboratory of Clinical Molecular Genetics and Epigenetics, Faculty of Health, Center for Biomedical Education and Research, School of Life Sciences, Witten/Herdecke University, Wuppertal, Germany
| | - Beniam Ghebremedhin
- Institute for Medical Laboratory Diagnostics, Center for Clinical and Translational Research, Helios University Hospital Wuppertal, Witten/Herdecke University, Wuppertal, Germany
| | - Stefan Wirth
- Laboratory of Experimental Pediatric Pneumology and Allergology, Faculty of Health, Center for Biomedical Education and Research, School of Life Sciences, Witten/Herdecke University, Witten, Germany
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Al Othaim A, Marasini D, Carbonero F. Impact of cranberry juice consumption on gut and vaginal microbiota in postmenopausal women. FOOD FRONTIERS 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/fft2.76] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Ayoub Al Othaim
- Cell and Molecular Biology Program University of Arkansas Fayetteville Arkansas USA
- Department of Medical Laboratories College of Applied Medical Sciences Majmaah University Al‐Majmaah Saudi Arabia
| | - Daya Marasini
- Department of Food Science University of Arkansas Fayetteville Arkansas USA
| | - Franck Carbonero
- Cell and Molecular Biology Program University of Arkansas Fayetteville Arkansas USA
- Department of Food Science University of Arkansas Fayetteville Arkansas USA
- Department of Food Science Washington State University Spokane Washington USA
- Department of Nutrition and Exercise Physiology Elson Floyd School of Medicine Washington State University Spokane Spokane Washington USA
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Comparative genome analyses of Lactobacillus crispatus isolated from different ecological niches reveal an environmental adaptation of this species to the human vaginal environment. Appl Environ Microbiol 2021; 87:AEM.02899-20. [PMID: 33579685 PMCID: PMC8091109 DOI: 10.1128/aem.02899-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Vaginal microbiota is defined as the community of bacteria residing in the human vaginal tract. Recent studies have demonstrated that the vaginal microbiota is dominated by members of the Lactobacillus genus, whose relative abundance and microbial taxa composition are dependent on the healthy status of this human body site. Particularly, among members of this genus, the high prevalence of Lactobacillus crispatus is commonly associated with a healthy vaginal environment. In the current study, we assessed the microbial composition of 94 healthy vaginal microbiome samples through shotgun metagenomics analyses. Based on our results we observed that L. crispatus was the most representative species and correlated negatively with bacteria involved in vaginal infections. Therefore, we isolated fifteen L. crispatus strains from different environments in which this species is abounding, ranging from vaginal swabs of healthy women to chicken fecal samples. The genomes of these strains were decoded and their genetic content was analyzed and correlated with their physiological features. An extensive comparative genomic analysis encompassing all publicly available genome sequences of L. crispatus and combined with those decoded in this study, revealed a genetic adaptation of strains to their ecological niche. In addition, in vitro growth experiments involving all isolated L. crispatus strains together with a synthetic vaginal microbiota reveal how this species is able to modulate the composition of the vaginal microbial consortia at strain level. Overall, our findings suggest that L. crispatus plays an important ecological role in reducing the complexity of the vaginal microbiota by depleting pathogenic bacteria.Importance The vaginal microbiota is defined as the community of bacteria residing in the human vaginal tract. Recent studies have demonstrated that the high prevalence of Lactobacillus crispatus species is commonly associated with a healthy vaginal environment. In the current study, we assessed the microbial composition of 94 public healthy vaginal samples through shotgun metagenomics analyses. Results showed that L. crispatus was the most representative species and correlated negatively with bacteria involved in vaginal infections. Moreover, we isolated and sequenced the genome of new L. crispatus strains from different environments and the comparative genomics analysis revealed a genetic adaptation of strains to their ecological niche. In addition, in-vitro growth experiments display the capability of this species to modulate the composition of the vaginal microbial consortia. Overall, our findings suggest an ecological role exploited by L. crispatus in reducing the complexity of the vaginal microbiota toward a depletion of pathogenic bacteria.
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The Association between Vaginal Dysbiosis and Reproductive Outcomes in Sub-Fertile Women Undergoing IVF-Treatment: A Systematic PRISMA Review and Meta-Analysis. Pathogens 2021; 10:pathogens10030295. [PMID: 33806442 PMCID: PMC8001118 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10030295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2020] [Revised: 02/23/2021] [Accepted: 02/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent advances in molecular microbiology have enabled refined studies of the genital tract microbiota. This constitutes the basis of the present updated systematic review and meta-analysis which investigate vaginal dysbiosis (VD) as defined by either microscopy (e.g., Nugent score for bacterial vaginosis) or molecular methods (qPCR and Next Generation Sequencing) to evaluate the impact of VD on the reproductive outcomes in women undergoing IVF-treatment. A total of 17 studies were included, comprising 3543 patients and with a VD prevalence of 18% (95%CI 17–19). Across all methods, VD is a significant risk factor for early pregnancy loss in IVF (Relative risk (RR) = 1.71 95%CI 1.29–2.27). Moreover, a predefined sub-analysis of studies using molecular methods for VD diagnosis showed a significant reduction in the clinical pregnancy rate when compared to normal vaginal microbiota patients (RR = 0.55 95%CI 0.32–0.93). However, regardless of diagnostic methodology, VD did not significantly influence live birth rate (LBR). In conclusion, molecular tools have provided a more detailed insight into the vaginal microbiota, which may be the reason for the increased adverse effect estimates in IVF patients with molecularly defined VD. However, the quality of evidence was very low across all outcomes according to GRADE and thus, more studies are warranted to understand the impact of VD in IVF.
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Younis N, Mahasneh A. Probiotics and the envisaged role in treating human infertility. MIDDLE EAST FERTILITY SOCIETY JOURNAL 2020. [DOI: 10.1186/s43043-020-00039-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Background
Considerable attention is being directed nowadays towards using probiotics as an alternative therapy in treating several human diseases including gastrointestinal tract diseases especially colorectal cancers, cardiovascular diseases, hyperlipidemia, and blood pressure cases. However, infertility as affected by the microbiome and the probable role of probiotics in alleviating infertility problems did not receive the deserved attention, especially in IVF patients with male or female factors.
Main body
In this review, we tried to draw the attention of researchers in the medical settings to the importance of the forthcoming role of probiotics use in elucidating the role of the microbiome in infertile patients. The hope is to attain the best performance of both male and female reproductive systems and to shed some light on infertility problems.
Conclusion
More in vivo experiments are still needed to address many aspects of probiotics like proper administration, exact functional strains, required dose, application method, duration of treatment, and combination with antibiotics before considering probiotics as an alternative treatment.
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Wolfarth AA, Smith TM, VanInsberghe D, Dunlop AL, Neish AS, Corwin EJ, Jones RM. A Human Microbiota-Associated Murine Model for Assessing the Impact of the Vaginal Microbiota on Pregnancy Outcomes. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2020; 10:570025. [PMID: 33123496 PMCID: PMC7574503 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2020.570025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2020] [Accepted: 09/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Disease states are often linked to large scale changes in microbial community structure that obscure the contributions of individual microbes to disease. Establishing a mechanistic understanding of how microbial community structure contribute to certain diseases, however, remains elusive thereby limiting our ability to develop successful microbiome-based therapeutics. Human microbiota-associated (HMA) mice have emerged as a powerful approach for directly testing the influence of microbial communities on host health and disease, with the transfer of disease phenotypes from humans to germ-free recipient mice widely reported. We developed a HMA mouse model of the human vaginal microbiota to interrogate the effects of Bacterial Vaginosis (BV) on pregnancy outcomes. We collected vaginal swabs from 19 pregnant African American women with and without BV (diagnosed per Nugent score) to colonize female germ-free mice and measure its impact on birth outcomes. There was considerable variability in the microbes that colonized each mouse, with no association to the BV status of the microbiota donor. Although some of the women in the study had adverse birth outcomes, the vaginal microbiota was not predictive of adverse birth outcomes in mice. However, elevated levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the uterus of HMA mice were detected during pregnancy. Together, these data outline the potential uses and limitations of HMA mice to elucidate the influence of the vaginal microbiota on health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra A. Wolfarth
- Department of Pathology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Taylor M. Smith
- Department of Pathology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - David VanInsberghe
- Department of Pathology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Anne Lang Dunlop
- Emory University Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Andrew S. Neish
- Department of Pathology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Elizabeth J. Corwin
- Emory University Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Rheinallt M. Jones
- Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
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Singh R. Single-Cell Sequencing in Human Genital Infections. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2020; 1255:203-220. [PMID: 32949402 DOI: 10.1007/978-981-15-4494-1_17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/03/2023]
Abstract
Human genital infections are one of the most concerning issues worldwide and can be categorized into sexually transmitted, urinary tract and vaginal infections. These infections, if left untreated, can disseminate to the other parts of the body and cause more complicated illnesses such as pelvic inflammatory disease, urethritis, and anogenital cancers. The effective treatment against these infections is further complicated by the emergence of antimicrobial resistance in the genital infection causing pathogens. Furthermore, the development and applications of single-cell sequencing technologies have open new possibilities to study the drug resistant clones, cell to cell variations, the discovery of acquired drug resistance mutations, transcriptional diversity of a pathogen across different infection stages, to identify rare cell types and investigate different cellular states of genital infection causing pathogens, and to develop novel therapeutical strategies. In this chapter, I will provide a complete review of the applications of single-cell sequencing in human genital infections before discussing their limitations and challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reema Singh
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada. .,Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization-International Vaccine Centre, Saskatoon, SK, Canada.
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