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Li H, Han M, Xu J, Li N, Cui H. The vaginal microbial signatures of preterm birth woman. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2024; 24:428. [PMID: 38877389 PMCID: PMC11177453 DOI: 10.1186/s12884-024-06573-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 05/10/2024] [Indexed: 06/16/2024] Open
Abstract
To explore the differences of vaginal microbes in women with preterm birth (PTB), and to construct prediction model. We searched for articles related to vaginal microbiology in preterm women and obtained four 16S rRNA-sequence datasets. We analyzed that for species diversity and differences, and constructed a random forest model with 20 differential genera. We introduce an independent whole genome-sequencing (WGS) data for validation. In addition, we collected vaginal and cervical swabs from 33 pregnant women who delivered spontaneously full-term and preterm infants, performed WGS in our lab to further validate the model. Compared to term birth (TB) samples, PTB women vagina were characterized by a decrease in Firmicutes, Lactobacillus, and an increase in diversity accompanied by the colonization of pathogenic bacteria such as Gardnerella, Atopobium and Prevotella. Twenty genus markers, including Lactobacillus, Prevotella, Streptococcus, and Gardnerella performed well in predicting PTB, with study-to-study transfer validation and LODO validation, different gestation validation showing good results, and in two independent cohorts (external WGS cohorts and woman samples WGS cohorts) in which the accuracy was maintained. PTB women have unique vaginal microbiota characteristics. A predictive model of PTB was constructed and its value validated from multiple perspectives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huan Li
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Research Center, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, China Medical University Birth Cohort, Shenyang, 110004, China
| | - Mengzhen Han
- Department of Breast Medicine, Cancer Hospital of China Medical University, Liaoning Cancer Hospital, Shenyang, China
| | - Junnan Xu
- Department of Breast Medicine, Cancer Hospital of China Medical University, Liaoning Cancer Hospital, Shenyang, China
| | - Na Li
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Research Center, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, China Medical University Birth Cohort, Shenyang, 110004, China.
| | - Hong Cui
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Research Center, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, China Medical University Birth Cohort, Shenyang, 110004, China.
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2
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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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3
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Salas-Espejo E, Terrón-Camero LC, Ruiz JL, Molina NM, Andrés-León E. Exploring the Microbiome in Human Reproductive Tract: High-Throughput Methods for the Taxonomic Characterization of Microorganisms. Semin Reprod Med 2023; 41:125-143. [PMID: 38320576 DOI: 10.1055/s-0044-1779025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2024]
Abstract
Microorganisms are important due to their widespread presence and multifaceted roles across various domains of life, ecology, and industries. In humans, they underlie the proper functioning of multiple systems crucial to well-being, including immunological and metabolic functions. Emerging research addressing the presence and roles of microorganisms within human reproduction is increasingly relevant. Studies implementing new methodologies (e.g., to investigate vaginal, uterine, and semen microenvironments) can now provide relevant insights into fertility, reproductive health, or pregnancy outcomes. In that sense, cutting-edge sequencing techniques, as well as others such as meta-metabolomics, culturomics, and meta-proteomics, are becoming more popular and accessible worldwide, allowing the characterization of microbiomes at unprecedented resolution. However, they frequently involve rather complex laboratory protocols and bioinformatics analyses, for which researchers may lack the required expertise. A suitable pipeline would successfully enable both taxonomic classification and functional profiling of the microbiome, providing easy-to-understand biological interpretations. However, the selection of an appropriate methodology would be crucial, as it directly impacts the reproducibility, accuracy, and quality of the results and observations. This review focuses on the different current microbiome-related techniques in the context of human reproduction, encompassing niches like vagina, endometrium, and seminal fluid. The most standard and reliable methods are 16S rRNA gene sequencing, metagenomics, and meta-transcriptomics, together with complementary approaches including meta-proteomics, meta-metabolomics, and culturomics. Finally, we also offer case examples and general recommendations about the most appropriate methods and workflows and discuss strengths and shortcomings for each technique.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eduardo Salas-Espejo
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Laura C Terrón-Camero
- Bioinformatics Unit, Institute of Parasitology and Biomedicine "López-Neyra" (IPBLN), CSIC, Granada, Spain
| | - José L Ruiz
- Bioinformatics Unit, Institute of Parasitology and Biomedicine "López-Neyra" (IPBLN), CSIC, Granada, Spain
| | - Nerea M Molina
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Eduardo Andrés-León
- Bioinformatics Unit, Institute of Parasitology and Biomedicine "López-Neyra" (IPBLN), CSIC, Granada, Spain
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Romero R, Theis KR, Gomez-Lopez N, Winters AD, Panzer JJ, Lin H, Galaz J, Greenberg JM, Shaffer Z, Kracht DJ, Chaiworapongsa T, Jung E, Gotsch F, Ravel J, Peddada SD, Tarca AL. The Vaginal Microbiota of Pregnant Women Varies with Gestational Age, Maternal Age, and Parity. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0342922. [PMID: 37486223 PMCID: PMC10434204 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.03429-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2022] [Accepted: 06/25/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2023] Open
Abstract
The composition of the vaginal microbiota is heavily influenced by pregnancy and may factor into pregnancy complications, including spontaneous preterm birth. However, results among studies have been inconsistent due, in part, to variation in sample sizes and ethnicity. Thus, an association between the vaginal microbiota and preterm labor continues to be debated. Yet, before assessing associations between the composition of the vaginal microbiota and preterm labor, a robust and in-depth characterization of the vaginal microbiota throughout pregnancy in the specific study population under investigation is required. Here, we report a large longitudinal study (n = 474 women, 1,862 vaginal samples) of a predominantly African-American cohort-a population that experiences a relatively high rate of pregnancy complications-evaluating associations between individual identity, gestational age, and other maternal characteristics with the composition of the vaginal microbiota throughout gestation resulting in term delivery. The principal factors influencing the composition of the vaginal microbiota in pregnancy are individual identity and gestational age at sampling. Other factors are maternal age, parity, obesity, and self-reported Cannabis use. The general pattern across gestation is for the vaginal microbiota to remain or transition to a state of Lactobacillus dominance. This pattern can be modified by maternal parity and obesity. Regardless, network analyses reveal dynamic associations among specific bacterial taxa within the vaginal ecosystem, which shift throughout the course of pregnancy. This study provides a robust foundational understanding of the vaginal microbiota in pregnancy and sets the stage for further investigation of this microbiota in obstetrical disease. IMPORTANCE There is debate regarding links between the vaginal microbiota and pregnancy complications, especially spontaneous preterm birth. Inconsistencies in results among studies are likely due to differences in sample sizes and cohort ethnicity. Ethnicity is a complicating factor because, although all bacterial taxa commonly inhabiting the vagina are present among all ethnicities, the frequencies of these taxa vary among ethnicities. Therefore, an in-depth characterization of the vaginal microbiota throughout pregnancy in the specific study population under investigation is required prior to evaluating associations between the vaginal microbiota and obstetrical disease. This initial investigation is a large longitudinal study of the vaginal microbiota throughout gestation resulting in a term delivery in a predominantly African-American cohort, a population that experiences disproportionally negative maternal-fetal health outcomes. It establishes the magnitude of associations between maternal characteristics, such as age, parity, body mass index, and self-reported Cannabis use, on the vaginal microbiota in pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Romero
- Pregnancy Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
| | - Kevin R. Theis
- Pregnancy Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Nardhy Gomez-Lopez
- Pregnancy Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
- Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Andrew D. Winters
- Pregnancy Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Jonathan J. Panzer
- Pregnancy Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Huang Lin
- Biostatistics and Bioinformatics Branch, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Jose Galaz
- Pregnancy Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
- Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Jonathan M. Greenberg
- Pregnancy Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Zachary Shaffer
- Pregnancy Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
- Department of Physiology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - David J. Kracht
- Pregnancy Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Tinnakorn Chaiworapongsa
- Pregnancy Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Eunjung Jung
- Pregnancy Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Busan Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, Busan, Republic of Korea
| | - Francesca Gotsch
- Pregnancy Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Jacques Ravel
- Institute for Genome Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Shyamal D. Peddada
- Biostatistics and Bioinformatics Branch, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Adi L. Tarca
- Pregnancy Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
- Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
- Department of Computer Science, Wayne State University College of Engineering, Detroit, Michigan, USA
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Pratap Singh R, Kumari N, Gupta S, Jaiswal R, Mehrotra D, Singh S, Mukherjee S, Kumar R. Intratumoral Microbiota Changes with Tumor Stage and Influences the Immune Signature of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0459622. [PMID: 37409975 PMCID: PMC10434029 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.04596-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2022] [Accepted: 06/11/2023] [Indexed: 07/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Characterization of the oral microbiota profile through various studies has shown an association between the microbiome and oral cancer; however, stage-specific determinants of dynamic changes in microbial communities of oral cancer remain elusive. Additionally, the influence of the intratumoral microbiota on the intratumoral immune system remains largely unexplored. Therefore, this study aims to stratify microbial abundance in the early-onset and subsequent stages of oral cancer and analyze their influence on clinical-pathological and immunological features. The microbiome composition of tissue biopsy samples was identified using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing, while intratumoral and systemic immune profiling was done with flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry-based analysis. The bacterial composition differed significantly among precancer, early cancer, and late cancer stages with the enrichment of genera Capnocytophaga, Fusobacterium, and Treponema in the cancer group, while Streptococcus and Rothia were enriched in the precancer group. Late cancer stages were significantly associated with Capnocytophaga with high predicting accuracy, while Fusobacterium was associated with early stages of cancer. A dense intermicrobial and microbiome-immune network was observed in the precancer group. At the cellular level, intratumoral immune cell infiltration of B cells and T cells (CD4+ and CD8+) was observed with enrichment of the effector memory phenotype. Naive and effector subsets of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and related gene expression were found to be distinctly associated with bacterial communities; most importantly, highly abundant bacterial genera of the tumor microenvironment were either negatively correlated or not associated with the effector lymphocytes, which led to the conclusion that the tumor microenvironment favors an immunosuppressive and nonimmunogenic microbiota. IMPORTANCE The gut microbiome has been explored extensively for its importance in the modulation of systemic inflammation and immune response; in contrast, the intratumoral microbiome is less studied for its influence on immunity in cancer. Given the established correlation between intratumoral lymphocyte infiltration and patient survival in cases of solid tumors, it was pertinent to explore the extrinsic factor influencing immune cell infiltration in the tumor. Modulation of intratumoral microbiota could have a beneficial effect on the antitumor immune response. This study stratifies the microbial profile of oral squamous cell carcinoma starting from precancer to late-stage cancer and provides evidence for their immunomodulatory role in the tumor microenvironment. Our results suggest combining microbiome study with immunological signatures of tumors for their prognostic and diagnostic application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raghwendra Pratap Singh
- Immunology Laboratory, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research-Institute of Microbial Technology, Chandigarh, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, India
| | - Naina Kumari
- Human Microbiome Research Laboratory, National Institute of Biomedical Genomics, Kalyani, West-Bengal, India
| | - Sameer Gupta
- Department of Surgical Oncology, King George’s Medical University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Riddhi Jaiswal
- Department of Pathology, King George’s Medical University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Divya Mehrotra
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Dental Sciences, King George’s Medical University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Sudhir Singh
- Department of Radiology, King George’s Medical University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Souvik Mukherjee
- Human Microbiome Research Laboratory, National Institute of Biomedical Genomics, Kalyani, West-Bengal, India
| | - Rashmi Kumar
- Immunology Laboratory, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research-Institute of Microbial Technology, Chandigarh, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, India
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Liao J, Shenhav L, Urban JA, Serrano M, Zhu B, Buck GA, Korem T. Microdiversity of the vaginal microbiome is associated with preterm birth. Nat Commun 2023; 14:4997. [PMID: 37591872 PMCID: PMC10435516 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-40719-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Preterm birth (PTB) is the leading cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality. The vaginal microbiome has been associated with PTB, yet the mechanisms underlying this association are not fully understood. Understanding microbial genetic adaptations to selective pressures, especially those related to the host, may yield insights into these associations. Here, we analyze metagenomic data from 705 vaginal samples collected during pregnancy from 40 women who delivered preterm spontaneously and 135 term controls from the Multi-Omic Microbiome Study-Pregnancy Initiative. We find that the vaginal microbiome of pregnancies that ended preterm exhibited unique genetic profiles. It was more genetically diverse at the species level, a result which we validate in an additional cohort, and harbored a higher richness and diversity of antimicrobial resistance genes, likely promoted by transduction. Interestingly, we find that Gardnerella species drove this higher genetic diversity, particularly during the first half of the pregnancy. We further present evidence that Gardnerella spp. underwent more frequent recombination and stronger purifying selection in genes involved in lipid metabolism. Overall, our population genetics analyses reveal associations between the vaginal microbiome and PTB and suggest that evolutionary processes acting on vaginal microbes may play a role in adverse pregnancy outcomes such as PTB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingqiu Liao
- Program for Mathematical Genomics, Department of Systems Biology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA.
| | - Liat Shenhav
- Center for Studies in Physics and Biology, Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Julia A Urban
- Program for Mathematical Genomics, Department of Systems Biology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Myrna Serrano
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
- Center for Microbiome Engineering and Data Analysis, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Bin Zhu
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
- Center for Microbiome Engineering and Data Analysis, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Gregory A Buck
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
- Center for Microbiome Engineering and Data Analysis, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
- Department of Computer Science, School of Engineering, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Tal Korem
- Program for Mathematical Genomics, Department of Systems Biology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.
- CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholars program, CIFAR, Toronto, ON, Canada.
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7
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Tuddenham S, Shafiq M, Mathad JS, Alexander M, Naik S, Kulkarni V, Deshpande P, Humphrys MS, Holm JB, Khan N, Yadana S, Cheedalla A, Bhosale R, Ghanem KG, Wang T, Wang S, Ma B, Ravel J, Gupta A, Shivakoti R. Association of Pregnancy and HIV Status With Molecular-Bacterial Vaginosis in Indian Women. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 2023; 93:422-430. [PMID: 37155962 PMCID: PMC10524256 DOI: 10.1097/qai.0000000000003215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a highly prevalent disorder of the cervicovaginal microbiota. Molecular-BV may put women at increased risk for adverse reproductive and obstetric outcomes. We investigated the association of HIV and pregnancy on the vaginal microbiota and associations with molecular-BV in women of reproductive age from Pune, India. SETTING We studied vaginal samples from N = 170 women, including N = 44 nonpregnant HIV seronegative, N = 56 pregnant seronegative, N = 47 nonpregnant women with HIV (WWH), and N = 23 pregnant WWH, and collected data on clinical, behavioral, and demographic factors. METHODS We used 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing to characterize the composition of the vaginal microbiota. We classified the vaginal microbiota of these women into community state types based on bacterial composition and relative abundance and further categorized them into molecular-BV versus Lactobacillus -dominated states. To determine associations between pregnancy and HIV status with outcome of molecular-BV, logistic regression models were used. RESULTS There was a high prevalence of molecular-BV (30%) in this cohort. We found that pregnancy was associated with decreased odds of molecular-BV (adjusted OR = 0.35, 95% CI: 0.14 to 0.87), while HIV was associated with increased odds of molecular-BV (adjusted OR = 2.76, 95% CI: 1.33 to 5.73), even when controlling for multiple relevant factors such as age, number of sexual partners, condom use, and douching. CONCLUSION Larger and longitudinal studies are needed to further characterize molecular-BV and the vaginal microbiota in pregnant women and WWH and relate these factors to infectious, reproductive, and obstetric outcomes. In the long term, these studies may lead to novel microbiota-based therapeutics to improve women's reproductive and obstetric health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan Tuddenham
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA
| | - Mehr Shafiq
- Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, USA
| | - Jyoti S. Mathad
- Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, USA
| | - Mallika Alexander
- Byramjee Jeejeebhoy Government Medical College-Johns Hopkins University Clinical Research Site, Pune, India
| | - Shilpa Naik
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Byramjee Jeejeebhoy Government Medical College, Pune, India
| | - Vandana Kulkarni
- Byramjee Jeejeebhoy Government Medical College-Johns Hopkins University Clinical Research Site, Pune, India
| | - Prasad Deshpande
- Byramjee Jeejeebhoy Government Medical College-Johns Hopkins University Clinical Research Site, Pune, India
| | - Mike S. Humphrys
- Institute for Genome Sciences and Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA
| | - Johanna B. Holm
- Institute for Genome Sciences and Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA
| | - Nawshaba Khan
- Byramjee Jeejeebhoy Government Medical College-Johns Hopkins University Clinical Research Site, Pune, India
| | - Su Yadana
- Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, USA
| | | | - Ramesh Bhosale
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Byramjee Jeejeebhoy Government Medical College, Pune, India
| | - Khalil G. Ghanem
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA
| | - Tian Wang
- Department of Biostatistics, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, USA
| | - Shuang Wang
- Department of Biostatistics, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, USA
| | - Bing Ma
- Institute for Genome Sciences and Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA
| | - Jacques Ravel
- Institute for Genome Sciences and Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA
| | - Amita Gupta
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA
| | - Rupak Shivakoti
- Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, USA
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Liao J, Shenhav L, Urban JA, Serrano M, Zhu B, Buck GA, Korem T. Microdiversity of the Vaginal Microbiome is Associated with Preterm Birth. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.01.13.523991. [PMID: 36711990 PMCID: PMC9882146 DOI: 10.1101/2023.01.13.523991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Preterm birth (PTB) is the leading cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality. The vaginal microbiome has been associated with PTB, yet the mechanisms underlying this association are not fully understood. Understanding microbial genetic adaptations to selective pressures, especially those related to the host, may yield new insights into these associations. To this end, we analyzed metagenomic data from 705 vaginal samples collected longitudinally during pregnancy from 40 women who delivered preterm spontaneously and 135 term controls from the Multi-Omic Microbiome Study-Pregnancy Initiative (MOMS-PI). We find that the vaginal microbiome of pregnancies that ended preterm exhibits unique genetic profiles. It is more genetically diverse at the species level, a result which we validate in an additional cohort, and harbors a higher richness and diversity of antimicrobial resistance genes, likely promoted by transduction. Interestingly, we find that Gardnerella species, a group of central vaginal pathobionts, are driving this higher genetic diversity, particularly during the first half of the pregnancy. We further present evidence that Gardnerella spp. undergoes more frequent recombination and stronger purifying selection in genes involved in lipid metabolism. Overall, our results reveal novel associations between the vaginal microbiome and PTB using population genetics analyses, and suggest that evolutionary processes acting on the vaginal microbiome may play a vital role in adverse pregnancy outcomes such as preterm birth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingqiu Liao
- Program for Mathematical Genomics, Department of Systems Biology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Liat Shenhav
- Center for Studies in Physics and Biology, Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Julia A. Urban
- Program for Mathematical Genomics, Department of Systems Biology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Myrna Serrano
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
- Center for Microbiome Engineering and Data Analysis, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Bin Zhu
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
- Center for Microbiome Engineering and Data Analysis, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Gregory A. Buck
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
- Center for Microbiome Engineering and Data Analysis, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
- Department of Computer Science, School of Engineering, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Tal Korem
- Program for Mathematical Genomics, Department of Systems Biology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
- CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholars program, CIFAR, Toronto, Canada
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Compositional Changes in the Vaginal Bacterial Microbiome of Healthy Pregnant Women across the Three Gestational Trimesters in Ismailia, Egypt. Microorganisms 2023; 11:microorganisms11010139. [PMID: 36677431 PMCID: PMC9862816 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11010139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Revised: 12/23/2022] [Accepted: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The composition of the vaginal microbiome may lead to adverse pregnancy outcomes. Normal pregnancy is associated with changes in the vaginal bacterial community composition, which tend to be more enriched with one or two Lactobacillus species promoting a healthy vagina and favorable birth outcomes. The aim of the current study was to determine compositional changes in the healthy vaginal microbiome composition during the three trimesters of pregnancy in Ismailia, Egypt using Illumina MiSeq sequencing of the V3-V4 region of the 16S rRNA. The phylum Firmicutes and the genus Lactobacillus dominated across the three trimesters of pregnancy. L. iners was the most abundant species. However, L. coleohominis and L. reuteri represented the least dominant vaginal lactobacilli. Core microbiome analyses showed the Lactobacillus genus and L. iners species to have the highest prevalence in all the samples of our study groups. The phylum Firmicutes was found to be negatively correlated with almost all other vaginal phyla during pregnancy. Likewise, a negative correlation between Lactobacillus and almost all other genera was detected, including significant negative correlations with Dialister and Prevotella. Furthermore, negative correlations of L. iners were detected with almost all other species, including a significant negative correlation with L. helveticus, G. vaginalis, S. anginosus, and S. agalactiae.
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10
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Xiao Y, Huang S, Yu W, Ni Y, Lu D, Wu Q, Leng Q, Yang T, Ni M, Xie J, Zhang X. Effects of emergency/nonemergency cervical cerclage on the vaginal microbiome of pregnant women with cervical incompetence. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 13:1072960. [PMID: 36968117 PMCID: PMC10034410 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1072960] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2022] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Evaluation of the therapeutic effects of cerclage on preterm birth (PTB) caused by cervical incompetence remains challenging. The vaginal microbiome is associated with preterm births. Thus, this study aimed to analyse the vaginal microbiota of patients with cervical incompetence, explore the relationship between the composition of the vaginal microbiota before cervical cerclage and at term delivery, and assess the effect of cervical cerclage on the vaginal microbiota. Methods Patients (n = 30) underwent cerclage performed by the same surgical team. Vaginal swabs were obtained pre-surgery and seven days post-surgery. A gestational age-matched cohort of healthy pregnant women (n = 20) (no particular abnormality during pregnancy, delivery at term) was used as the control group and sampled during a comparable pregnancy. All collected vaginal swabs were analysed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Results When comparing the healthy control and cervical cerclage groups, the enriched microorganism in the healthy controls was G. Scardovia, and the enriched microorganism of the cerclage was G. Streptococcus. α diversity was significantly increased in patients who received cerclage with preterm delivery compared with those with full-term delivery, and the enriched microorganism was F. Enterococcus. A comparison before and after nonemergency cerclage suggested that the enriched microorganisms were G. Lactobacillus and F. Lactobacillaceae before surgery. After nonemergency cerclage, the enriched microorganisms were F. Enterobacteriaceae and C. Gammaproteobacteria. Vaginal microbiota diversity significantly increased, and the proportion of women with Lactobacillus spp.-depleted microbiomes increased after emergency cerclage. Significant differences in β diversity were found between the groups. Before the emergency cerclage, the enriched microorganisms were G. Lactobacillus, O. Alteromonadales, and P. Firmicutes. After emergency cerclage, the enriched microorganisms were P. Actinobacteria, C. Actinobacteria, P. Proteobacteria, F. Bifidobacteriaceae, O. Bifidobacteriales, G. Gardnerella, and G. Veillonella. Conclusion Cerclage (particularly emergency cerclage) may alter the vaginal microbiota by increasing microbiota diversity, decreasing vaginal Lactobacillus abundance, and increasing the abundance of pathogenic bacteria that are not conducive to pregnancy maintenance, thereby affecting surgical efficacy. Therefore, the role of the vaginal microbiome should be considered when developing treatment strategies for pregnant women with cervical incompetence. Clinical trial registration https://www.chictr.org.cn, identifier ChiCTR2100046305.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunshan Xiao
- Department of Obstetrics, Women and Children’s Hospital, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
- Xiamen Key Laboratory of Basic and Clinical Research on Major Obstetrical Diseases, Xiamen, China
- Xiamen Clinical Research Center for Perinatal Medicine, Xiamen, China
| | - Shiting Huang
- Department of Obstetrics, Women and Children’s Hospital, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
- Xiamen Key Laboratory of Basic and Clinical Research on Major Obstetrical Diseases, Xiamen, China
| | - Weiwei Yu
- Department of Obstetrics, Women and Children’s Hospital, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
- Xiamen Key Laboratory of Basic and Clinical Research on Major Obstetrical Diseases, Xiamen, China
| | - Yan Ni
- Department of Obstetrics, Women and Children’s Hospital, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
- Xiamen Key Laboratory of Basic and Clinical Research on Major Obstetrical Diseases, Xiamen, China
| | - Danni Lu
- Department of Obstetrics, Women and Children’s Hospital, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
- Xiamen Key Laboratory of Basic and Clinical Research on Major Obstetrical Diseases, Xiamen, China
| | - Quanfeng Wu
- Department of Obstetrics, Women and Children’s Hospital, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
- Xiamen Key Laboratory of Basic and Clinical Research on Major Obstetrical Diseases, Xiamen, China
| | - Qin Leng
- Department of Obstetrics, Women and Children’s Hospital, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
- Xiamen Key Laboratory of Basic and Clinical Research on Major Obstetrical Diseases, Xiamen, China
| | - Ting Yang
- Department of Obstetrics, Women and Children’s Hospital, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
- Xiamen Key Laboratory of Basic and Clinical Research on Major Obstetrical Diseases, Xiamen, China
| | - Meilan Ni
- Department of Obstetrics, Women and Children’s Hospital, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
- Xiamen Key Laboratory of Basic and Clinical Research on Major Obstetrical Diseases, Xiamen, China
| | - Jingxian Xie
- Department of Obstetrics, Women and Children’s Hospital, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
- Xiamen Key Laboratory of Basic and Clinical Research on Major Obstetrical Diseases, Xiamen, China
| | - Xueqin Zhang
- Department of Obstetrics, Women and Children’s Hospital, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
- Xiamen Key Laboratory of Basic and Clinical Research on Major Obstetrical Diseases, Xiamen, China
- Xiamen Clinical Research Center for Perinatal Medicine, Xiamen, China
- *Correspondence: Xueqin Zhang,
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11
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Differential Effect of Vaginal Microbiota on Spontaneous Preterm Birth among Chinese Pregnant Women. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 2022:3536108. [PMID: 36506912 PMCID: PMC9731763 DOI: 10.1155/2022/3536108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2022] [Revised: 10/25/2022] [Accepted: 11/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
Objective The effect of vaginal microbiota on spontaneous preterm birth (sPTB) has not been fully addressed, and few studies have explored the associations between vaginal taxa and sPTB in the gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and non-GDM groups, respectively. Study Design. To minimize external interference, a total of 41 pregnant women with sPTB and 308 controls (pregnant women without sPTB) from same regain were enrolled in this case-cohort study. Controls were randomly selected at baseline. With the exception of GDM, other characteristics were not significantly different between the two groups. Vaginal swabs were collected at early second trimester. Using 16S amplicon sequencing, the main bioinformatics analysis was performed on the platform of QIIME 2. Vaginal microbiota traits of the sPTB group were compared with controls. Finally, the effects of binary taxa on sPTB in the GDM group and the non-GDM group were analyzed, respectively. Results The proportion of GDM in the sPTB (19.51%) was higher than the controls (7.47%, P = 0.018). The vaginal microbiota of pregnant women with sPTB exhibited higher alpha diversity metrics (observed features, P = 0.001; Faith's phylogenetic diversity, P = 0.013) and different beta diversity metrics (unweighted UniFrac, P = 0.006; Jaccard's distance, P = 0.004), compared with controls. The presence of Lactobacillus paragasseri/gasseri (aOR: 3.12, 95% CI: 1.24-7.84), Streptococcus (aOR: 3.58, 95% CI: 1.68-7.65), or Proteobacteria (aOR: 3.39, 95% CI: 1.55-7.39) was associated with an increased risk of sPTB in the non-GDM group (P < 0.05). However, the relative abundance of novel L. mulieris (a new species of the L. delbrueckii group) was associated with a decreased risk of sPTB (false discovery rate, 0.10) in all pregnant women. Conclusion GDM may modify the association of vaginal taxa with sPTB, suggesting that maternal GDM should be considered when using vaginal taxa to identify pregnant women at high risk of sPTB.
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12
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Microbiota of the Pregnant Mouse: Characterization of the Bacterial Communities in the Oral Cavity, Lung, Intestine, and Vagina through Culture and DNA Sequencing. Microbiol Spectr 2022; 10:e0128622. [PMID: 35916526 PMCID: PMC9430855 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.01286-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Mice are frequently used as animal models for mechanistic studies of infection and obstetrical disease, yet characterization of the murine microbiota during pregnancy is lacking. The objective of this study was to characterize the microbiotas of distinct body sites of the pregnant mouse—vagina, oral cavity, intestine, and lung—that harbor microorganisms that could potentially invade the murine amniotic cavity, thus leading to adverse pregnancy outcomes. The microbiotas of these body sites were characterized through anoxic, hypoxic, and oxic culture as well as through 16S rRNA gene sequencing. With the exception of the vagina, the cultured microbiotas of each body site varied by atmosphere, with the greatest diversity in the cultured microbiota appearing under anoxic conditions. Only cultures of the vagina were comprehensively representative of the microbiota observed through direct DNA sequencing of body site samples, primarily due to the predominance of two Rodentibacter strains. Identified as Rodentibacter pneumotropicus and Rodentibacter heylii, these isolates exhibited predominance patterns similar to those of Lactobacillus crispatus and Lactobacillus iners in the human vagina. Whole-genome sequencing of these Rodentibacter strains revealed shared genomic features, including the ability to degrade glycogen, an abundant polysaccharide in the vagina. In summary, we report body site-specific microbiotas in the pregnant mouse with potential ecological parallels to those of humans. Importantly, our findings indicate that the vaginal microbiotas of pregnant mice can be readily cultured, suggesting that mock vaginal microbiotas can be tractably generated and maintained for experimental manipulation in future mechanistic studies of host vaginal-microbiome interactions. IMPORTANCE Mice are widely utilized as animal models of obstetrical complications; however, the characterization of the murine microbiota during pregnancy has been neglected. Microorganisms from the vagina, oral cavity, intestine, and lung have been found in the intra-amniotic space, where their presence threatens the progression of gestation. Here, we characterized the microbiotas of pregnant mice and established the appropriateness of culture in capturing the microbiota at each site. The high relative abundance of Rodentibacter observed in the vagina is similar to that of Lactobacillus in humans, suggesting potential ecological parallels. Importantly, we report that the vaginal microbiota of the pregnant mouse can be readily cultured under hypoxic conditions, demonstrating that mock microbial communities can be utilized to test the potential ecological parallels between microbiotas in human and murine pregnancy and to evaluate the relevance of the structure of these microbiotas for adverse pregnancy outcomes, especially intra-amniotic infection and preterm birth.
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13
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Kurian NK, Modi D. Mechanisms of group B Streptococcus-mediated preterm birth: lessons learnt from animal models. REPRODUCTION AND FERTILITY 2022; 3:R109-R120. [PMID: 35794927 PMCID: PMC9254271 DOI: 10.1530/raf-21-0105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2022] [Accepted: 06/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is an opportunistic pathogenic bacterium which upon colonization in the female reproductive tract can cause preterm births, fetal injury, and demise. Several determinants for GBS pathogenesis have been explored so far through the studies using animal models ranging from mice to non-human primates. The results from these experimental data have identified outer membrane vesicles, β-hemolysin, hyaluronidase, and Cas9 of GBS as major virulence factors leading to preterm births. Most of these factors drive inflammation through activation of NLRP3 and elevated production of IL1-β. However, the absence of one of the factors from the pathogen reduces but does not completely abolish the pathogenesis of GBS suggesting the involvement of more than one factor in causing preterm birth. This makes further exploration of other virulence factors of GBS pathogenesis important in gaining an insight into the mechanistic basis of GBS-mediated preterm births. Lay summary Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is a pathogenic bacteria whose infection in the reproductive tract during pregnancy can cause premature delivery. This bacterial infection is one of the major causes of death of mother and baby during pregnancy, and the bacteria is prevalent in all parts of the world. This makes the research on GBS so important and many of the mechanisms behind GBS infection during pregnancy still remain unexplored. In this review, we have outlined how various animal models contributed in finding the mechanism of GBS pathogenesis. The review also focuses on compiling various virulence factors which makes GBS pathogenic in the vulnerable. Understanding the mechanisms of infection by GBS will be crucial in developing drugs and vaccines to protect against the harmful effects of the bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noble K Kurian
- Department of Microbiology, Atmiya University, Rajkot, Gujarat, India
| | - Deepak Modi
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Laboratory, ICMR-National Institute for Research in Reproductive Health and Child Health (NIRRCH), Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Mumbai, India
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14
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Lledo B, Fuentes A, Lozano FM, Cascales A, Morales R, Hortal M, Sellers F, Palacios-Marques A, Bermejo R, Quereda F, Martínez-Escoriza JC, Bernabeu R, Bernabeu A. Identification of vaginal microbiome associated with IVF pregnancy. Sci Rep 2022; 12:6807. [PMID: 35474343 PMCID: PMC9042930 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-10933-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2021] [Accepted: 04/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The factors that cause a preterm birth (PTB) are not completely understood up to date. Moreover, PTB is more common in pregnancies achieved by in-vitro fertilization (IVF) than in spontaneous pregnancies. Our aim was to compare the composition of vaginal microbiome at 12 weeks of gestation between women who conceived naturally or through IVF in order to study whether IVF PTB-risk could be related to vaginal microbiome composition. We performed an observational, prospective and multicentre study among two public hospitals and a fertility private clinic in Spain. Vaginal swabs from 64 pregnant women at 12 weeks of gestation were collected to analyse the microbiome composition by sequencing the V3-V4 region of the 16S rRNA. Our results showed that the vaginal microbiome signature at 12 weeks of pregnancy was different from women who conceived naturally or through IVF. The beta diversity and the genus composition were different between both cohorts. Gardnerella, Neisseria, Prevotella, and Staphylococcus genus were enriched genus in the vaginal microbiome from the IVF group, allowing us to create a balance model to predict both cohorts. Moreover, at species level the L. iners abundance was higher and L. gasseri was lower in the IVF group. As a conclusion, our findings were consistent with a proposed framework in which IVF pregnancy are related to risk for preterm birth (PTB) suggesting vaginal microbiome could be the reason to the relation between IVF pregnancy and risk for PTB.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Lledo
- Molecular Biology, Instituto Bernabeu of Fertility and Gynecology, Avda. Albufereta, 31, 03016, Alicante, Spain.
| | - A Fuentes
- Reproductive Medicine, Instituto Bernabeu of Fertility and Gynecology, 03016, Alicante, Spain
| | - F M Lozano
- Molecular Biology, Instituto Bernabeu of Fertility and Gynecology, Avda. Albufereta, 31, 03016, Alicante, Spain
| | - A Cascales
- Molecular Biology, Instituto Bernabeu of Fertility and Gynecology, Avda. Albufereta, 31, 03016, Alicante, Spain
| | - R Morales
- Molecular Biology, Instituto Bernabeu of Fertility and Gynecology, Avda. Albufereta, 31, 03016, Alicante, Spain
| | - M Hortal
- Molecular Biology, Instituto Bernabeu of Fertility and Gynecology, Avda. Albufereta, 31, 03016, Alicante, Spain
| | - F Sellers
- Reproductive Medicine, Instituto Bernabeu of Fertility and Gynecology, 03016, Alicante, Spain.,Obstetrics, Instituto Bernabeu of Fertility and Gynecology, 03016, Alicante, Spain
| | - A Palacios-Marques
- Obstetrics, Instituto Bernabeu of Fertility and Gynecology, 03016, Alicante, Spain.,Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hospital General Universitario de Alicante, 03010, Alicante, Spain.,ISABIAL (Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria y Biomédica de Alicante), Alicante, Spain
| | - R Bermejo
- Division of Gynecology, Hospital Universitario San Juan de Alicante, 03550, Alicante, Spain.,Division of Gynecology, School of Medicine, Miguel Hernández University, Alicante, Spain
| | - F Quereda
- Division of Gynecology, Hospital Universitario San Juan de Alicante, 03550, Alicante, Spain.,Division of Gynecology, School of Medicine, Miguel Hernández University, Alicante, Spain
| | - J C Martínez-Escoriza
- Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hospital General Universitario de Alicante, 03010, Alicante, Spain.,ISABIAL (Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria y Biomédica de Alicante), Alicante, Spain
| | - R Bernabeu
- Reproductive Medicine, Instituto Bernabeu of Fertility and Gynecology, 03016, Alicante, Spain
| | - A Bernabeu
- Reproductive Medicine, Instituto Bernabeu of Fertility and Gynecology, 03016, Alicante, Spain
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15
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Nemoto D, Kikuchi N, Hitomi S. Periprosthetic knee joint infection caused by Sneathia sanguinegens. J Infect Chemother 2022; 28:1165-1167. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jiac.2022.03.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2021] [Revised: 03/12/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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16
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Emerging tools for understanding the human microbiome. PROGRESS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE 2022; 191:29-51. [DOI: 10.1016/bs.pmbts.2022.06.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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17
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Das B. An introduction to human microbiome. PROGRESS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE 2022; 191:1-28. [DOI: 10.1016/bs.pmbts.2022.06.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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18
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Zheng N, Guo R, Wang J, Zhou W, Ling Z. Contribution of Lactobacillus iners to Vaginal Health and Diseases: A Systematic Review. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021; 11:792787. [PMID: 34881196 PMCID: PMC8645935 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.792787] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2021] [Accepted: 11/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Lactobacillus iners, first described in 1999, is a prevalent bacterial species of the vaginal microbiome. As L. iners does not easily grow on de Man-Rogosa-Sharpe agar, but can grow anaerobically on blood agar, it has been initially overlooked by traditional culture methods. It was not until the wide application of molecular biology techniques that the function of L. iners in the vaginal microbiome was carefully explored. L. iners has the smallest genome among known Lactobacilli and it has many probiotic characteristics, but is partly different from other major vaginal Lactobacillus species, such as L. crispatus, in contributing to the maintenance of a healthy vaginal microbiome. It is not only commonly present in the healthy vagina but quite often recovered in high numbers in bacterial vaginosis (BV). Increasing evidence suggests that L. iners is a transitional species that colonizes after the vaginal environment is disturbed and offers overall less protection against vaginal dysbiosis and, subsequently, leads to BV, sexually transmitted infections, and adverse pregnancy outcomes. Accordingly, under certain conditions, L. iners is a genuine vaginal symbiont, but it also seems to be an opportunistic pathogen. Further studies are necessary to identify the exact role of this intriguing species in vaginal health and diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nengneng Zheng
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Renyong Guo
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Key Laboratory of Clinical In Vitro Diagnostic Techniques of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jinxi Wang
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Wei Zhou
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Zongxin Ling
- Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.,Institute of Microbe & Host Health, Linyi University, Linyi, China
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