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Saleh RO, Salahdin OD, Ahmad I, Bansal P, Kaur H, Deorari M, Hjazi A, Abosaoda MK, Mohammed IH, Jawad MA. An updated study of the relationship between bacterial infections and women's immune system, focusing on bacterial compositions with successful pregnancy. J Reprod Immunol 2024; 165:104283. [PMID: 38991487 DOI: 10.1016/j.jri.2024.104283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2024] [Revised: 05/19/2024] [Accepted: 06/16/2024] [Indexed: 07/13/2024]
Abstract
Genital tract infections can cause a variety of harmful health outcomes, including endometritis, bacterial vaginosis, and pelvic inflammatory disease, in addition to infertility. Anaerobic bacteria, such as Gardnerella vaginalis, Megasphaera spp., and Atopobium vaginae, are more commonly identified in cases of bacterial vaginosis than lactobacilli. It is unknown how the microorganisms that cause pelvic inflammatory diseases and endometritis enter the uterus. Both prospective and retrospective research have connected pelvic inflammatory disorders, chronic endometritis, and bacterial vaginosis to infertility. Similar to bacterial vaginosis, endometritis-related infertility is probably caused by a variety of factors, such as inflammation, immune system recognition of sperm antigens, bacterial toxins, and a higher risk of STDs. Preconception care for symptomatic women may include diagnosing and treating pelvic inflammatory disease, chronic endometritis, and bacterial vaginosis before conception to optimize the results of both natural and assisted reproduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raed Obaid Saleh
- Department of Medical Laboratory Techniques, Al-Maarif University College, Al-Anbar, Iraq
| | | | - Irfan Ahmad
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Science, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia
| | - Pooja Bansal
- Department of Biotechnology and Genetics, Jain (Deemed-to-be) University, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560069, India; Department of Allied Healthcare and Sciences, Vivekananda Global University, Jaipur, Rajasthan 303012, India
| | - Harpreet Kaur
- School of Basic & Applied Sciences, Shobhit University, Gangoh, Uttar Pradesh 247341, India; Department of Health & Allied Sciences, Arka Jain University, Jamshedpur, Jharkhand 831001, India
| | - Mahamedha Deorari
- Uttaranchal Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Uttaranchal University, Dehradun, India
| | - Ahmed Hjazi
- Department of Medical Laboratory, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj 11942, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Munther Kadhim Abosaoda
- College of Pharmacy, the Islamic University, Najaf, Iraq; College of Pharmacy, the Islamic University of Al Diwaniyah, Al Diwaniyah, Iraq; College of Pharmacy, the Islamic University of Babylon, Al Diwaniyah, Iraq
| | | | - Mohammed Abed Jawad
- Department of Medical Laboratories Technology, Al-Nisour University College, Baghdad, Iraq
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Song M, Huang X, Hou Y, Yang F, Li X, Li J. Perinatal group A streptococcal infection in vagina and its impact on pregnancy outcomes. Am J Transl Res 2024; 16:1806-1814. [PMID: 38883355 PMCID: PMC11170569 DOI: 10.62347/zkie2772] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2023] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 06/18/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To investigate the prevalence, antimicrobial susceptibility, and the effects on pregnancy and neonatal outcomes of Group A Streptococcal (GAS) infections in the vagina of perinatal women. METHODS From June 2020 to October 2022, 270 perinatal pregnant women underwent vaginal swabs for GAS culture. The antibiotic sensitivity of the positive strains was assessed. Based on GAS detection results, the patients were divided into an observation group (GAS positive) and a control group (GAS negative). Clinical data from both groups were collected to compare the vaginal microecological changes. The adverse outcomes for pregnancy and infants in both groups were retrospectively analyzed. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to identify the risk factors for adverse outcomes. RESULTS Among the 270 pregnant women, 30 tested positive for GAS and 240 tested negative, with a colonization rate of 11.1%. No resistance to penicillin, ampicillin, linezolid, vancomycin, or tigecycline was found among the GAS strains. The resistance rates to tetracycline and clindamycin were 73.3% and 70.0%, respectively. Higher vaginal pH (≥4.5), and increased incidences of bacterial vaginitis, aerobic vaginitis, and microecological imbalances were observed in the observation group compared to the control group (all P<0.05). The observation group also experienced more adverse pregnancy and infant outcomes, such as chorioamnionitis, postpartum infections, fetal distress, and neonatal pneumonia (all P<0.05). Univariate and multivariate analyses indicated that a vaginal pH≥4.5 and microecological imbalance were positively associated with poor maternal and infant outcomes in women with GAS infections (all P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS The study found no β-lactam resistant GAS strains. Additionally, a higher vaginal pH (≥4.5) and microecological imbalance were linked to an increased risk of adverse pregnancy and infant outcomes in women with GAS infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Song
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Jinan Maternal and Child Health Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Xiaoge Huang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Jinan Maternal and Child Health Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Yanmei Hou
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Jinan Maternal and Child Health Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Fang Yang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Jinan Maternal and Child Health Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Xiaoping Li
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Jinan Maternal and Child Health Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Juan Li
- Department of Pathology, Jinan Maternal and Child Health Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University Jinan, Shandong, China
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Vidhate P, Wakchoure P, Borole S, Khan AA. Lactobacillus as probiotics: opportunities and challenges for potential benefits in female reproductive health. Am J Transl Res 2024; 16:720-729. [PMID: 38586104 PMCID: PMC10994795 DOI: 10.62347/igwr5474] [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: 11/08/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024]
Abstract
The growing interest of the scientific community in the study of probiotics has gathered valuable data about its beneficial effects for multiple clinical conditions. This data also provides evidence for the functions and properties of probiotics and how they contribute to health benefits by influencing normal microbiota. Lactobacillus is an important genus which has long been utilized in the food industry and is also found as normal oral, intestinal and vaginal microbiota. Lactobacillus has shown multiple health benefits but its relative importance as a probiotic is majorly explored for gastrointestinal health. Healthy vaginal microbiota typically harbors Lactobacillus spp. providing several health benefits for female reproductive health, but there is more data required in order to compare the relative benefits with probiotic Lactobacillus added through either natural food sources or with standard probiotics supplements. The present article discusses the current status of knowledge about vaginal Lactobacillus as a probiotic and also compares the potential of probiotics from natural sources and through supplements along with recent approaches in this area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pallavi Vidhate
- Division of Microbiology, ICMR-National AIDS Research Institute Pune, Maharashtra, India
| | - Pooja Wakchoure
- Division of Microbiology, ICMR-National AIDS Research Institute Pune, Maharashtra, India
| | - Samiksha Borole
- Division of Microbiology, ICMR-National AIDS Research Institute Pune, Maharashtra, India
| | - Abdul Arif Khan
- Division of Microbiology, ICMR-National AIDS Research Institute Pune, Maharashtra, India
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4
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Du L, Dong X, Song J, Lei T, Liu X, Lan Y, Liu X, Wang J, Yue B, He M, Fan Z, Guo T. Temporal and spatial differences in the vaginal microbiome of Chinese healthy women. PeerJ 2023; 11:e16438. [PMID: 38054020 PMCID: PMC10695111 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.16438] [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: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Up the reproductive tract, there are large differences in the composition of vaginal microbes. Throughout the menstrual cycle, the structure of the vaginal microbiome shifts. Few studies have examined both in combination. Our study was designed to explore trends in the microbiome of different parts of the vagina in healthy women over the menstrual cycle. Methods We performed metagenomic sequencing to characterize the microbiome differences between the cervical orifice and mid-vagina throughout the menstrual cycle. Results Our results showed the vaginal microbiome of healthy women in the cervical orifice and the mid-vagina was similar during the periovulatory and luteal phases, with Lactobacillus being the dominant bacteria. In the follicular phase, Acinetobacter was detected in the cervical orifice. From the follicular phase to the luteal phase, the community state types (all five community status types were defined as CSTs) in samples No. 10 and No. 11 changed from CST III to CST I. In addition, the composition of the vaginal microbiome in healthy women from different regions of China was significantly different. We also detected viruses including Human alphaherpesvirus 1 (HSV-1) during periovulatory phase. Conclusion This study is valuable for understanding whether the microbial composition of the vagina is consistent in different parts of the menstrual cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Limin Du
- Sichuan University, Key Laboratory of Bioresources and Ecoenvironment (Ministry of Education), College of Life Sciences, Chengdu, China
| | - Xue Dong
- Ambulatory Surgery Department, West China Second Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Jiarong Song
- Sichuan University, Key Laboratory of Bioresources and Ecoenvironment (Ministry of Education), College of Life Sciences, Chengdu, China
| | - Tingting Lei
- Suining Municipal Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Suining, Sichuan, China
| | - Xianming Liu
- Mianyang Tumor Hospital, Sichuan Province, Mianyang, China
| | - Yue Lan
- Sichuan University, Key Laboratory of Bioresources and Ecoenvironment (Ministry of Education), College of Life Sciences, Chengdu, China
| | - Xu Liu
- Sichuan University, Key Laboratory of Bioresources and Ecoenvironment (Ministry of Education), College of Life Sciences, Chengdu, China
| | - Jiao Wang
- Sichuan University, Key Laboratory of Bioresources and Ecoenvironment (Ministry of Education), College of Life Sciences, Chengdu, China
| | - Bisong Yue
- Sichuan University, Key Laboratory of Bioresources and Ecoenvironment (Ministry of Education), College of Life Sciences, Chengdu, China
| | - Miao He
- Institute of Blood Transfusion, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Chengdu, China
| | - Zhenxin Fan
- Sichuan University, Key Laboratory of Bioresources and Ecoenvironment (Ministry of Education), College of Life Sciences, Chengdu, China
| | - Tao Guo
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, West China Second Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
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5
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DuPont HL, Salge MMH. The Importance of a Healthy Microbiome in Pregnancy and Infancy and Microbiota Treatment to Reverse Dysbiosis for Improved Health. Antibiotics (Basel) 2023; 12:1617. [PMID: 37998819 PMCID: PMC10668833 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics12111617] [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: 10/21/2023] [Revised: 11/05/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The microbiome of newborn infants during the first 1000 days, influenced early on by their mothers' microbiome health, mode of delivery and breast feeding, orchestrates the education and programming of the infant's immune system and determines in large part the general health of the infant for years. METHODS PubMed was reviewed for maternal infant microbiome health and microbiota therapy in this setting with prebiotics, probiotics, vaginal seeding and fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT). RESULTS A healthy nonobese mother, vaginal delivery and strict breast feeding contribute to microbiome health in a newborn and young infant. With reduced microbiome diversity (dysbiosis) during pregnancy, cesarean delivery, prematurity, and formula feeding contribute to dysbiosis in the newborn. Microbiota therapy is an important approach to repair dysbiosis in pregnant women and their infants. Currently available probiotics can have favorable metabolic effects on mothers and infants, but these effects are variable. In research settings, reversal of infant dysbiosis can be achieved via vaginal seeding or FMT. Next generation probiotics in development should replace current probiotics and FMT. CONCLUSIONS The most critical phase of human microbiome development is in the first 2-3 years of life. Preventing and treating dysbiosis during pregnancy and early life can have a profound effect on an infant's later health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Herbert L. DuPont
- Division of Epidemiology, Human Genetics and Environmental Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Texas, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas McGovern Medical School, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Kelsey Research Foundation, Houston, TX 77005, USA
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Nori SRC, McGuire TK, Lawton EM, McAuliffe FM, Sinderen DV, Walsh CJ, Cotter PD, Feehily C. Profiling of vaginal Lactobacillus jensenii isolated from preterm and full-term pregnancies reveals strain-specific factors relating to host interaction. Microb Genom 2023; 9. [PMID: 38010361 DOI: 10.1099/mgen.0.001137] [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] [Indexed: 11/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Each year, 15 million infants are born preterm (<37 weeks gestation), representing the leading cause of mortality for children under the age of five. Whilst there is no single cause, factors such as maternal genetics, environmental interactions, and the vaginal microbiome have been associated with an increased risk of preterm birth. Previous studies show that a vaginal microbiota dominated by Lactobacillus is, in contrast to communities containing a mixture of genera, associated with full-term birth. However, this binary principle does not fully consider more nuanced interactions between bacterial strains and the host. Here, through a combination of analyses involving genome-sequenced isolates and strain-resolved metagenomics, we identify that L. jensenii strains from preterm pregnancies are phylogenetically distinct from strains from full-term pregnancies. Detailed analysis reveals several genetic signatures that distinguish preterm birth strains, including genes predicted to be involved in cell wall synthesis, and lactate and acetate metabolism. Notably, we identify a distinct gene cluster involved in cell surface protein synthesis in our preterm strains, and profiling the prevalence of this gene cluster in publicly available genomes revealed it to be predominantly present in the preterm-associated clade. This study contributes to the ongoing search for molecular biomarkers linked to preterm birth and opens up new avenues for exploring strain-level variations and mechanisms that may contribute to preterm birth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sai Ravi Chandra Nori
- Teagasc Food Research Centre, Fermoy, Co. Cork, Ireland
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
- School of Microbiology, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
- SFI Centre for Research Training in Genomics Data Science, School of Mathematics, Statistics & Applied Mathematics, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | | | | | - Fionnuala M McAuliffe
- UCD Perinatal Research Centre, School of Medicine, University College Dublin, National Maternity Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Douwe Van Sinderen
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
- School of Microbiology, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Calum J Walsh
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection & Immunity, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Paul D Cotter
- Teagasc Food Research Centre, Fermoy, Co. Cork, Ireland
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
- School of Microbiology, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Conor Feehily
- Teagasc Food Research Centre, Fermoy, Co. Cork, Ireland
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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Venturini S, Reffo I, Avolio M, Basaglia G, Del Fabro G, Callegari A, Tonizzo M, Sabena A, Rondinella S, Mancini W, Conte C, Crapis M. The Management of Recurrent Urinary Tract Infection: Non-Antibiotic Bundle Treatment. Probiotics Antimicrob Proteins 2023:10.1007/s12602-023-10141-y. [PMID: 37584833 DOI: 10.1007/s12602-023-10141-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/11/2023] [Indexed: 08/17/2023]
Abstract
Recurrent urinary tract infections (rUTIs) are a common condition with high morbidity and negatively impact the quality of life. They account for approximately 25% of all antibiotic prescriptions and are a public health concern in an era of increasing multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs). Several non-antibiotic treatment strategies have been tried to curb antimicrobial use, and many are effective to some degree, but no experience testing multimodal interventions. We created a "care bundle" consisting of behavioral interventions, vaginal and oral probiotics, D-mannose, and cranberry to be followed for six months. We enrolled women with rUTIs over three years. Changes in urinary tract infections, antibiotic use, chronic symptoms, and quality of life were compared in the six months before and after participation in the study. Forty-seven women were enrolled in the study, six of whom were excluded from the final analysis. We observed a 76% reduction in urinary tract infections (p < 0.001) and a reduction in total antibiotic exposure of more than 90% (p < 0.001); all chronic symptoms showed a trend toward reduction. Adherence to the bundle was high (87.2%). Overall, 80.5% of women experienced an improvement in their quality of life. In our experience, a bundle protocol is effective in reducing recurrences and antimicrobial use in a cohort of women with rUTIs and results in a subjective improvement in chronic symptoms and quality of life. Further research with larger sample size is needed to confirm these findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergio Venturini
- Department of Infectious Diseases, ASFO Santa Maria degli Angeli Hospital of Pordenone, Pordenone, Italy
| | - Ingrid Reffo
- Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, ASFO Santa Maria dei Battuti Hospital of San Vito al Tagliamento (Pordenone), Pordenone, Italy.
| | - Manuela Avolio
- Department of Microbiology, ASFO Santa Maria degli Angeli Hospital of Pordenone, Pordenone, Italy
| | - Giancarlo Basaglia
- Department of Microbiology, ASFO Santa Maria degli Angeli Hospital of Pordenone, Pordenone, Italy
| | - Giovanni Del Fabro
- Department of Infectious Diseases, ASFO Santa Maria degli Angeli Hospital of Pordenone, Pordenone, Italy
| | - Astrid Callegari
- Department of Infectious Diseases, ASFO Santa Maria degli Angeli Hospital of Pordenone, Pordenone, Italy
| | - Maurizio Tonizzo
- Department of Internal Medicine, ASFO Santa Maria degli Angeli Hospital of Pordenone, Pordenone, Italy
| | - Anna Sabena
- Department of Internal Medicine, ASFO Santa Maria degli Angeli Hospital of Pordenone, Pordenone, Italy
| | - Stefania Rondinella
- Department of Internal Medicine, ASFO Santa Maria degli Angeli Hospital of Pordenone, Pordenone, Italy
| | - Walter Mancini
- Department of Nephrology, ASFO Santa Maria degli Angeli Hospital of Pordenone, Pordenone, Italy
| | - Carmina Conte
- Department of Nephrology, ASFO Santa Maria degli Angeli Hospital of Pordenone, Pordenone, Italy
| | - Massimo Crapis
- Department of Infectious Diseases, ASFO Santa Maria degli Angeli Hospital of Pordenone, Pordenone, Italy
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Gaziano R, Sabbatini S, Monari C. The Interplay between Candida albicans, Vaginal Mucosa, Host Immunity and Resident Microbiota in Health and Disease: An Overview and Future Perspectives. Microorganisms 2023; 11:1211. [PMID: 37317186 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11051211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2023] [Revised: 05/02/2023] [Accepted: 05/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC), which is primarily caused by Candida albicans, is an infection that affects up to 75% of all reproductive-age women worldwide. Recurrent VVC (RVVC) is defined as >3 episodes per year and affects nearly 8% of women globally. At mucosal sites of the vagina, a delicate and complex balance exists between Candida spp., host immunity and local microbial communities. In fact, both immune response and microbiota composition play a central role in counteracting overgrowth of the fungus and maintaining homeostasis in the host. If this balance is perturbed, the conditions may favor C. albicans overgrowth and the yeast-to-hyphal transition, predisposing the host to VVC. To date, the factors that affect the equilibrium between Candida spp. and the host and drive the transition from C. albicans commensalism to pathogenicity are not yet fully understood. Understanding the host- and fungus-related factors that drive VVC pathogenesis is of paramount importance for the development of adequate therapeutic interventions to combat this common genital infection. This review focuses on the latest advances in the pathogenic mechanisms implicated in the onset of VVC and also discusses novel potential strategies, with a special focus on the use of probiotics and vaginal microbiota transplantation in the treatment and/or prevention of recurrent VVC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberta Gaziano
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Samuele Sabbatini
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Medical Microbiology Section, University of Perugia, 06132 Perugia, Italy
| | - Claudia Monari
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Medical Microbiology Section, University of Perugia, 06132 Perugia, Italy
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Anglenius H, Mäkivuokko H, Ahonen I, Forssten SD, Wacklin P, Mättö J, Lahtinen S, Lehtoranta L, Ouwehand AC. In Vitro Screen of Lactobacilli Strains for Gastrointestinal and Vaginal Benefits. Microorganisms 2023; 11:microorganisms11020329. [PMID: 36838294 PMCID: PMC9967617 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11020329] [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: 12/28/2022] [Revised: 01/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Traditional probiotics comprise mainly lactic acid bacteria that are safe for human use, tolerate acid and bile, and adhere to the epithelial lining and mucosal surfaces. In this study, one hundred commercial and non-commercial strains that were isolated from human feces or vaginal samples were tested with regards to overall growth in culture media, tolerance to acid and bile, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) production, and adhesion to vaginal epithelial cells (VECs) and to blood group antigens. As a result, various of the tested lactobacilli strains were determined to be suitable for gastrointestinal or vaginal applications. Commercial strains grew better than the newly isolated strains, but tolerance to acid was a common property among all tested strains. Tolerance to bile varied considerably between the strains. Resistance to bile and acid correlated well, as did VEC adhesion and H2O2 production, but H2O2 production was not associated with resistance to bile or acid. Except for L. iners strains, vaginal isolates had better overall VEC adhesion and higher H2O2 production. Species- and strain-specific differences were evident for all parameters. Rank-ordered clustering with nine clusters was used to identify strains that were suitable for gastrointestinal or vaginal health, demonstrating that the categorization of strains for targeted health indications is possible based on the parameters that were measured in this study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heli Anglenius
- IFF Health and Biosciences, 02460 Kantvik, Finland
- Correspondence:
| | | | | | | | | | - Jaana Mättö
- Finnish Red Cross Blood Service, 00310 Helsinki, Finland
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Ajeeb TT, Gonzalez E, Solomons NW, Koski KG. Human milk microbial species are associated with infant head-circumference during early and late lactation in Guatemalan mother-infant dyads. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:908845. [PMID: 36466698 PMCID: PMC9709448 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.908845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Human milk contains abundant commensal bacteria that colonize and establish the infant's gut microbiome but the association between the milk microbiome and head circumference during infancy has not been explored. For this cross-sectional study, head-circumference-for-age-z-scores (HCAZ) of vaginally delivered breastfed infants were collected from 62 unrelated Mam-Mayan mothers living in eight remote rural communities in the Western Highlands of Guatemala during two stages of lactation, 'early' (6-46 days postpartum, n = 29) or 'late' (109-184 days postpartum, n = 33). At each stage of lactation, infants were divided into HCAZ ≥ -1 SD (early: n = 18; late: n = 14) and HCAZ < -1 SD (early: n = 11; late: n = 19). Milk microbiome communities were assessed using 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing and DESeq2 was used to compare the differential abundance (DA) of human milk microbiota with infant HCAZ subgroups at both stages of lactations. A total of 503 ESVs annotated 256 putative species across the 64 human milk samples. Alpha-diversity using Chao index uncovered a difference in microbial community richness between HCAZ ≥ -1 SD and HCAZ < -1 SD groups at late lactation (p = 0.045) but not at early lactation. In contrast, Canonical Analysis of Principal Coordinates identified significant differences between HCAZ ≥ -1 SD and HCAZ < -1 SD at both stages of lactation (p = 0.003); moreover, 26 milk microbial taxa differed in relative abundance (FDR < 0.05) between HCAZ ≥ -1 SD and HCAZ < -1 SD, with 13 differentially abundant at each lactation stage. Most species in the HCAZ ≥ -1 SD group were Streptococcus species from the Firmicutes phylum which are considered human colonizers associated with human milk whereas the HCAZ < -1 SD group at late lactation had more differentially abundant taxa associated with environmentally and 'potentially opportunistic' species belonging to the Actinobacteria genus. These findings suggest possible associations between brain growth of breastfed infants and the milk microbiome during lactation. Importantly, these data provide the first evidence of cross talk between the human milk microbiome and the infant brain that requires further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamara T. Ajeeb
- School of Human Nutrition, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
- Department of Clinical Nutrition, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Emmanuel Gonzalez
- Canadian Centre for Computational Genomics, McGill Genome Centre, Montréal, QC, Canada
- Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
- Gerald Bronfman Department of Oncology, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Noel W. Solomons
- Center for Studies of Sensory Impairment, Aging and Metabolism (CeSSIAM), Guatemala City, Guatemala
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11
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Zhao C, Chen Y, Gao L, Huang J, Yang X, Pei L, Ye Z, Zhu L. Acidic Electrolyzed Water Inhibits the Viability of Gardnerella spp. via Oxidative Stress Response. Front Med (Lausanne) 2022; 9:817957. [PMID: 35280911 PMCID: PMC8916223 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2022.817957] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2021] [Accepted: 01/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The vaginal microbiota, dominated by Lactobacilli, plays an important role in maintaining women's health. Disturbance of the vaginal microbiota allows infection by various pathogens such as Gardnerella spp. (GS) and related anaerobic bacteria resulting in bacterial vaginosis (BV). At present, the treatment options for BV are extremely limited. Treatment of antibacterial drugs and vaginal acidification are the two primary therapeutic methods. Acid electrolyzed water (AEW) is known to inactivate microorganisms and is considered a medical application in recent years. Studies have found that Lactobacillus acidophilus (LA) probiotics helps to inhibit GS-induced BV. Our study took GS and LA as the research object, which aims to explore AEW as a potential alternative therapy for BV and its underlying mechanisms. We first obtained the pH of AEW (3.71–4.22) close to normal vaginal pH (3.8–4.5) to maintain normal vaginal acidification conditions. Plate counting experiments showed that AEW (pH: 4.07, ORP: 890.67, ACC: 20 ppm) (20 ppm) could better inhibit the viability of GS but had a more negligible effect on LA. Then, we preliminarily explored the possible mechanism of AEW anti-GS using cell biology experiments and transmission electron microscopy. Results showed that the membrane permeability was significantly increased and the integrity of cell membrane was destroyed by AEW in GS than those in LA. AEW also caused protein leakage and cell lysis in GS without affecting LA. Meanwhile, AEW induced a number of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in GS, with no obvious LA changes. Finally, we found that 20 ppm AEW exhibited excellent antibacterial effect on the vaginal secretions of women diagnosed with BV by Amsel criteria and sialic acid plum method. Taken together, our findings manifest that 20 ppm AEW has an excellent antibacterial effect in GS with less effect on LA, which might be expected to become a potential therapy for BV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chongyu Zhao
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Urology, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yu Chen
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lvfen Gao
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jue Huang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiurou Yang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Luowei Pei
- School of Biosystems Engineering and Food Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Zhangying Ye
- School of Biosystems Engineering and Food Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Zhangying Ye
| | - Linyan Zhu
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Linyan Zhu
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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: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.7] [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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