Association of Chlamydia trachomatis burden with the vaginal microbiota, bacterial vaginosis, and metronidazole treatment

Bacterial vaginosis (BV), a dysbiosis of the vaginal microbiota, is a common coinfection with Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct), and BV-associated bacteria (BVAB) and their products have been implicated in aiding Ct evade natural immunity. Here, we determined if a non-optimal vaginal microbiota was associated with a higher genital Ct burden and if metronidazole, a standard treatment for BV, would reduce Ct burden or aid in natural clearance of Ct infection. Cervicovaginal samples were collected from women at enrollment and, if testing positive for Ct infection, at a follow-up visit approximately one week later. Cervical Ct burden was assessed by inclusion forming units (IFU) and Ct genome copy number (GCN), and 16S rRNA gene sequencing was used to determine the composition of the vaginal microbiota. We observed a six-log spectrum of IFU and an eight-log spectrum of GCN in our study participants at their enrollment visit, but BV, as indicated by Amsel's criteria, Nugent scoring, or VALENCIA community state typing, did not predict infectious and total Ct burden, although IFU : GCN increased with Amsel and Nugent scores and in BV-like community state types. Ct burden was, however, associated with the abundance of bacterial species in the vaginal microbiota, negatively with Lactobacillus crispatus and positively with Prevotella bivia. Women diagnosed with BV were treated with metronidazole, and Ct burden was significantly reduced in those who resolved BV with treatment. A subset of women naturally cleared Ct infection in the interim, typified by low Ct burden at enrollment and resolution of BV. Abundance of many BVAB decreased, and Lactobacillus increased, in response to metronidazole treatment, but no changes in abundances of specific vaginal bacteria were unique to women who spontaneously cleared Ct infection.

Dynamics of Serum-Neutralizing Antibody Responses in Vaccinees through Multiple Doses of the BNT162b2 Vaccine

SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines are administered as effective prophylactic measures for reducing virus transmission rates and disease severity. To enhance the durability of post-vaccination immunity and combat SARS-CoV-2 variants, boosters have been administered to two-dose vaccinees. However, long-term humoral responses following booster vaccination are not well characterized. A 16-member cohort of healthy SARS-CoV-2 naïve participants were enrolled in this study during a three-dose BNT162b2 vaccine series. Serum samples were collected from vaccinees over 420 days and screened for antigen (Ag)-specific antibody titers, IgG subclass distribution, and neutralizing antibody (nAb) responses. Vaccine boosting restored peak Ag-specific titers with sustained α-RBD IgG and IgA antibody responses when measured at six months post-boost. RBD- and spike-specific IgG4 antibody levels were markedly elevated in three-dose but not two-dose immune sera. Although strong neutralization responses were detected in two- and three-dose vaccine sera, these rapidly decayed to pre-immune levels by four and six months, respectively. While boosters enhanced serum IgG Ab reactivity and nAb responses against variant strains, all variants tested showed resistance to two- and three-dose immune sera. Our data reflect the poor durability of vaccine-induced nAb responses which are a strong predictor of protection from symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection. The induction of IgG4-switched humoral responses may permit extended viral persistence via the downregulation of Fc-mediated effector functions.

Characterization of Vaginal Microbial Community Dynamics in the Pathogenesis of Incident Bacterial Vaginosis, a Pilot Study

BACKGROUND

Despite more than 60 years of research, the etiology of bacterial vaginosis (BV) remains controversial. In this pilot study, we used shotgun metagenomic sequencing to characterize vaginal microbial community changes before the development of incident BV (iBV).

METHODS

A cohort of African American women with a baseline healthy vaginal microbiome (no Amsel criteria, Nugent score 0-3 with no Gardnerella vaginalis morphotypes) were followed for 90 days with daily self-collected vaginal specimens for iBV (≥2 consecutive days of a Nugent score of 7-10). Shotgun metagenomic sequencing was performed on select vaginal specimens from 4 women, every other day for 12 days before iBV diagnosis. Sequencing data were analyzed through Kraken2 and bioBakery 3 workflows, and specimens were classified into community state types. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction was performed to compare the correlation of read counts with bacterial abundance.

RESULTS

Common BV-associated bacteria such as G. vaginalis , Prevotella bivia , and Fannyhessea vaginae were increasingly identified in the participants before iBV. Linear modeling indicated significant increases in G. vaginalis and F . vaginae relative abundance before iBV, whereas the relative abundance of Lactobacillus species declined over time. The Lactobacillus species decline correlated with the presence of Lactobacillus phages. We observed enrichment in bacterial adhesion factor genes on days before iBV. There were also significant correlations between bacterial read counts and abundances measured by quantitative polymerase chain reaction.

CONCLUSIONS

This pilot study characterizes vaginal community dynamics before iBV and identifies key bacterial taxa and mechanisms potentially involved in the pathogenesis of iBV.

A novel Gardnerella, Prevotella, and Lactobacillus standard that improves accuracy in quantifying bacterial burden in vaginal microbial communities

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is the most common vaginal dysbiosis. In this condition, a polymicrobial biofilm develops on vaginal epithelial cells. Accurately quantifying the bacterial burden of the BV biofilm is necessary to further our understanding of BV pathogenesis. Historically, the standard for calculating total bacterial burden of the BV biofilm has been based on quantifying Escherichia coli 16S rRNA gene copy number. However, E. coli is improper for measuring the bacterial burden of this unique micro-environment. Here, we propose a novel qPCR standard to quantify bacterial burden in vaginal microbial communities, from an optimal state to a mature BV biofilm. These standards consist of different combinations of vaginal bacteria including three common BV-associated bacteria (BVAB) Gardnerella spp. (G), Prevotella spp. (P), and Fannyhessea spp. (F) and commensal Lactobacillus spp. (L) using the 16S rRNA gene (G:P:F:L, G:P:F, G:P:L and 1G:9L). We compared these standards to the traditional E. coli (E) reference standard using known quantities of mock vaginal communities and 16 vaginal samples from women. The E standard significantly underestimated the copy numbers of the mock communities, and this underestimation was significantly greater at lower copy numbers of these communities. The G:P:L standard was the most accurate across all mock communities and when compared to other mixed vaginal standards. Mixed vaginal standards were further validated with vaginal samples. This new G:P:L standard can be used in BV pathogenesis research to enhance reproducibility and reliability in quantitative measurements of BVAB, spanning from the optimal to non-optimal (including BV) vaginal microbiota.

Investigating the synergistic effect of socio-demographic fac- tors on behaviors and attitudes concerning alcohol and illicit drug use among Italian students: a large cross-sectional study

Background

Alcohol, drug consumption and polysubstance use are some of the most important causes of illnesses and mortality among adolescents, who have been identified as common users of these substances. Aim of this study was to assess and describe the current scenery of alcohol and other drugs consumption habits among a wide sample of Italian high school and university students.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was carried out using an online survey. The questionnaire was developed and administered via an internet forum for middle school, high school and university students named "Skuola.net". The statistical analysis included descriptive statistics, univariate and multivariate analysis. Additive interactions were assessed by calculating the synergy index.

Results

A total of 11,379 Italian students answered the questionnaire. The prevalence of alcohol drinkers was 34.2%; among these, 17.8% of the individuals showed unhealthy drinking behaviors (frequency of alcohol use of four times or more per week); 10.3% of individuals declared daily assumption of six or more glasses of alcohol. Concerning drugs, 15.7% of the responders classified themselves as illicit drug users, with cannabis getting the highest prevalence rates (6.9%). Finally, concerning alcohol, a synergistic effect was recorded for male and adult individuals (SI = 1.04); while concerning illicit drugs, a synergistic effect was found between male gender and older age (SI = 1.42), and between university students and male gender (SI = 1.10).

Conclusions

This study gives an overview about the attitudes of a wide sample of Italian students concerning alcohol and drugs habits. These results are in line with evidences from the scientific literature and will be helpful for developing future prevention strategies towards this target population.

Human genital antibody-mediated inhibition of Chlamydia trachomatis infection and evidence for ompA genotype-specific neutralization

The endocervix, the primary site of Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct) infection in women, has a unique repertoire of locally synthesized IgG and secretory IgA (SIgA) with contributions from serum IgG. Here, we assessed the ability of genital and serum-derived IgG and IgA from women with a recent positive Ct test to neutralize Ct elementary bodies (EBs) and inhibit inclusion formation in vitro in human endocervical epithelial cells. We also determined if neutralization was influenced by the major outer membrane protein (MOMP) of the infecting strain, as indicated by ompA gene sequencing and genotyping. At equivalent low concentrations of Ct EB (D/UW-3/Cx + E/UW-5/Cx)-specific antibody, genital-derived IgG and IgA and serum IgA, but not serum IgG, significantly inhibited inclusion formation, with genital IgA being most effective, followed by genital IgG, then serum IgA. The well-characterized Ct genotype D strain, D/UW-3/Cx, was neutralized by serum-derived IgG from patients infected with genotype D strains, genital IgG from patients infected with genotype D or E strains, and by genital IgA from patients infected with genotype D, E, or F strains. Additionally, inhibition of D/UW-3/Cx infection by whole serum, rather than purified immunoglobulin, was associated with levels of serum EB-specific IgG rather than the genotype of infecting strain. In contrast, a Ct genotype Ia clinical isolate, Ia/LSU-56/Cx, was neutralized by whole serum in a genotype and genogroup-specific manner, and inhibition also correlated with EB-specific IgG concentrations in serum. Taken together, these data suggest that (i) genital IgA most effectively inhibits Ct infection in vitro, (ii) human antibody-mediated inhibition of Ct infection is significantly influenced by the ompA genotype of the infecting strain, (iii) the genital antibody repertoire develops or matures differently compared to systemic antibody, and (iv) ompA genotype-specificity of inhibition of infection by whole serum can be overcome by high concentrations of Ct-specific IgG.

Differences in the Genital Microbiota in Women Who Naturally Clear Chlamydia trachomatis Infection Compared to Women Who Do Not Clear; A Pilot Study

In vitro studies indicate IFNγ is central to Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct) eradication, but its function may be compromised by anaerobes typically associated with bacterial vaginosis (BV), a frequent co-morbidity in women with Ct. Here we investigated the associations between natural clearance of cervical Ct infection, the vaginal microbiome, and the requirements for IFNγ by evaluating the vaginal microbial and cytokine composition of Ct treatment visit samples from women who cleared Ct infection in the interim between their Ct screening and Ct treatment visit. The pilot cohort was young, predominantly African American, and characterized by a high rate of BV that was treated with metronidazole at the Ct screening visit. The rate of natural Ct clearance was 23.6% by the Ct treatment visit (median 9 days). 16S rRNA gene sequencing revealed that metronidazole-treated women who had a Lactobacillus spp.-dominant vaginal microbiota (CST 2 or 3) at the Ct treatment visit, were more prevalent in the Ct clearing population than the non-clearing population (86% v. 50%). L. iners (CST2) was the major Lactobacillus spp. present in Ct clearers, and 33% still remained anaerobe-dominant (CST1). Vaginal IFNγ levels were not significantly different in Ct clearers and non-clearers and were several logs lower than that required for killing Ct in vitro. An expanded panel of IFNγ-induced and proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines also did not reveal differences between Ct clearers and non-clearers, but, rather, suggested signatures better associated with specific CSTs. Taken together, these findings suggest that BV-associated bacteria may impede Ct clearance, but a Lactobacillus spp.-dominant microbiome is not an absolute requirement to clear. Further, IFNγ may be required at lower concentrations than in vitro modeling indicates, suggesting it may act together with other factors in vivo. Data also revealed that the vaginal bacteria-driven inflammation add complexity to the genital cytokine milieu, but changes in this microbiota may contribute to, or provide cytokine biomarkers, for a shift to Ct clearance.