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NPJ Biofilms and Microbiomes Sep 2021The composition of the maternal vaginal microbiome influences the duration of pregnancy, onset of labor, and even neonatal outcomes. Maternal microbiome research in...
The composition of the maternal vaginal microbiome influences the duration of pregnancy, onset of labor, and even neonatal outcomes. Maternal microbiome research in sub-Saharan Africa has focused on non-pregnant and postpartum composition of the vaginal microbiome. Here we aimed to illustrate the relationship between the vaginal microbiome of 99 laboring Ugandan women and intrapartum fever using routine microbiology and 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing from two hypervariable regions (V1-V2 and V3-V4). To describe the vaginal microbes associated with vaginal microbial communities, we pursued two approaches: hierarchical clustering methods and a novel Grades of Membership (GoM) modeling approach for vaginal microbiome characterization. Leveraging GoM models, we created a basis composed of a preassigned number of microbial topics whose linear combination optimally represents each patient yielding more comprehensive associations and characterization between maternal clinical features and the microbial communities. Using a random forest model, we showed that by including microbial topic models we improved upon clinical variables to predict maternal fever. Overall, we found a higher prevalence of Granulicatella, Streptococcus, Fusobacterium, Anaerococcus, Sneathia, Clostridium, Gemella, Mobiluncus, and Veillonella genera in febrile mothers, and higher prevalence of Lactobacillus genera (in particular L. crispatus and L. jensenii), Acinobacter, Aerococcus, and Prevotella species in afebrile mothers. By including clinical variables with microbial topics in this model, we observed young maternal age, fever reported earlier in the pregnancy, longer labor duration, and microbial communities with reduced Lactobacillus diversity were associated with intrapartum fever. These results better defined relationships between the presence or absence of intrapartum fever, demographics, peripartum course, and vaginal microbial topics, and expanded our understanding of the impact of the microbiome on maternal and potentially neonatal outcome risk.
Topics: Adult; Bacteria; Biodiversity; Cluster Analysis; Female; Humans; Labor, Obstetric; Lactobacillus; Microbiota; Pregnancy; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; Uganda; Vagina
PubMed: 34508087
DOI: 10.1038/s41522-021-00244-1 -
MSystems Apr 2021The vaginal microbiota plays an important role in women's reproductive and urogenital health. It is now well accepted that a "healthy" vaginal microbiome is dominated by...
The vaginal microbiota plays an important role in women's reproductive and urogenital health. It is now well accepted that a "healthy" vaginal microbiome is dominated by species. Disturbances in this microbial community can lead to several adverse outcomes, including pelvic inflammatory disease and bacterial vaginosis (BV), as well as increased susceptibility to sexually transmitted infections, miscarriage, and preterm births. However, vaginal communities, especially those of women in the developing world, can be comprised of a diverse set of microorganisms in the absence of overt clinical symptoms. The implications of these diverse vaginal microbiomes for women's health remain poorly understood. Rhesus macaques are an excellent translational animal model to address these questions due to significant physiological and genetic homology with humans. In this study, we performed a longitudinal analysis of clinical and microbiome data from 16 reproductive-age female rhesus macaques. At both the taxonomic and functional levels, the rhesus macaque vaginal microbiome was most similar to that of women who harbor a diverse vaginal community associated with asymptomatic/symptomatic bacterial vaginosis. Specifically, rhesus macaque vaginal microbiomes harbored a diverse set of anaerobic Gram-negative bacteria, including , , , and Interestingly, some animals were transiently colonized by and some with Our in-depth and comprehensive analysis highlights the importance of the model to understand the health implications of a diverse vaginal microbiome and test interventions for manipulating this community. It is widely accepted that the "healthy" vaginal microbiome of women in the developed world is dominated by species. However, in the developing world, many asymptomatic women harbor diverse vaginal microbial communities that are typically associated with bacterial vaginosis. Many questions remain about the drivers and health implications of a diverse vaginal microbial community. Rhesus macaques provide an excellent translational model to address these questions due to significant physiological and genetic homology with humans. In this study, we performed a longitudinal analysis of clinical and microbiome data from a large cohort of reproductive-age rhesus macaques. At the taxonomic, genomic, and functional levels, the rhesus macaque vaginal microbiome was most similar to that of humans, who harbor a diverse vaginal community associated with asymptomatic/symptomatic bacterial vaginosis. Our in-depth and comprehensive analysis highlights the utility of macaques as a model to study diverse vaginal community state types and test interventions for manipulating the vaginal microbiome.
PubMed: 33906914
DOI: 10.1128/mSystems.01322-20 -
Ceska Gynekologie 2021Smoking is considered a risk factor for bacterial vaginosis. It is currently unknown which parameters of the vaginal environment are affected and how smoking triggers...
Smoking in women with chronic vaginal discomfort is not associated with decreased abundance of Lactobacillus spp. but promotes Mobiluncus and Gardnerella spp. overgrowth - secondary analysis of trial data including microbio-me analysis.
BACKGROUND
Smoking is considered a risk factor for bacterial vaginosis. It is currently unknown which parameters of the vaginal environment are affected and how smoking triggers the disease.
AIM OF THE STUDY
The primary objective is to estimate the effect size of smoking on vaginal pH and the Nugent score in patients with chronic vulvovaginal discomfort prior to the development of episode of vaginosis. The secondary goal is to investigate the effect of smoking on individual microscopic parameters of the vaginal environment and on subjectively reported symptoms of vaginal discomfort.
METHODS
Smoking reported by patients was tested as a predictor, using multivariate logistic and ordinal logistic regression analysis on a dataset from the first visit of a randomized trial NCT04171947, which enrolled patients with intermediate vaginal environment. We tested the primary hypothesis (odds ratio (OR) for vaginal pH > 4.5 and Nugent score > 3 in smokers) at the significance level á = 5%. For exploratory analyses of the effect of smoking on the parameters of the vaginal environment, á was corrected as per Bonferoni.
RESULTS
In a cross-sectional sample of 250 women after adjusting for other risk factors, smoking had an impact on the Nugent score (OR = 3.3 (1.3-8.5), P = 0.011), while pH was not affected (OR = 1.2 (0.5-2.8), P = 0.698). Smoking was associated with the prevalence of clue cells (P < 0.000), Gardnerella spp. (P = 0.001) and Mobiluncus spp. (P = 0.001), while the prevalence of Lactobacillus remained unchanged (P = 0.049).
CONCLUSION
Contrarily to common assumptions, vaginal Lactobacillus is not directly affected by smoking, which rather promotes the growth of bacteria of Gardnerella and Mobiluncus spp. Given that other parameters remained unaffected, it appears that smoking leads to vaginal dysbio-sis by creating specific favourable conditions for these two opportunistic pathogens.
Topics: Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Gardnerella; Gardnerella vaginalis; Humans; Lactobacillus; Mobiluncus; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Smoking; Vagina
PubMed: 33752405
DOI: 10.48095/cccg202122 -
Biofilm Dec 2023Bacterial vaginosis (BV) affects approximately 26% of women of childbearing age globally, presenting with 3-5 times increased risk of miscarriage and two-fold risk of...
Bacterial vaginosis (BV) affects approximately 26% of women of childbearing age globally, presenting with 3-5 times increased risk of miscarriage and two-fold risk of pre-term birth Antibiotics (metronidazole and clindamycin) are typically employed to treat BV; however the success rate is low due to the formation of recalcitrant polymicrobial biofilms. As a novel therapeutic, promising results have been obtained using endolysins, although to date their efficacy has only been demonstrated against simple biofilm models. In this study, a four-species biofilm was developed consisting of and . Biofilms were grown in NYC III broth and treated using antibiotics and an anti- endolysin (CCB7.1) for 24 h. Biofilm composition, viability and structure were assessed using colony counts, live/dead qPCR and scanning electron microscopy. All species colonised biofilms to varying degrees, with being the most abundant. Biofilm composition remained largely unchanged when challenged with escalated concentrations of conventional antibiotics. A targeted endolysin candidate (CCB7.1) showed efficacy against several species planktonically, and significantly reduced viable within polymicrobial biofilms at 1 to 4X pMIC (p < 0.05 vs. vehicle control). Collectively, this study highlights the resilience of biofilm-embedded pathogens against the currently used antibiotics and provides a polymicrobial model that allows for more effective pre-clinical screening of BV therapies. The -specific endolysin CCB7.1 demonstrated significant activity against within polymicrobial biofilms, altering the overall community dynamic and composition.
PubMed: 36655001
DOI: 10.1016/j.bioflm.2022.100101 -
Animal Microbiome May 2023Managed southern white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum simum) serve as assurance populations for wild conspecifics threatened by poaching and other anthropocentric...
BACKGROUND
Managed southern white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum simum) serve as assurance populations for wild conspecifics threatened by poaching and other anthropocentric effects, though many managed populations experience subfertility and reproductive failure. Gut microbiome and host health are inextricably linked, and reproductive outcomes in managed southern white rhinoceros may be mediated in part by their diet and gut microbial diversity. Thus, understanding microbial dynamics within managed populations may help improve conservation efforts. We characterized the taxonomic composition of the gut microbiome in the managed population of female southern white rhinoceros (n = 8) at the North Carolina Zoo and investigated the effects of seasonality (summer vs. winter) and age classes (juveniles (n = 2; 0-2 years), subadults (n = 2; 3-7 years), and adults (n = 4; >7 years)) on microbial richness and community structure. Collection of a fecal sample was attempted for each individual once per month from July-September 2020 and January-March 2021 resulting in a total of 41 samples analyzed. Microbial DNA was extracted and sequenced using the V3-V4 region of the 16S rRNA bacterial gene. Total operational taxonomic units (OTUs), alpha diversity (species richness, Shannon diversity), and beta diversity (Bray-Curtis dissimilarity, linear discriminant analysis effect size) indices were examined, and differentially enriched taxa were identified.
RESULTS
There were differences (p < 0.05) in alpha and beta diversity indices across individuals, age groups, and sampling months. Subadult females had higher levels of Shannon diversity (Wilcoxon, p < 0.05) compared to adult females and harbored a community cluster distinct from both juveniles and adults. Samples collected during winter months (January-March 2021) possessed higher species richness and statistically distinct communities compared to summer months (July-September 2020) (PERMANOVA, p < 0.05). Reproductively active (n = 2) and currently nonreproductive adult females (n = 2) harbored differentially enriched taxa, with the gut microbiome of nonreproductive females significantly enriched (p = 0.001) in unclassified members of Mobiluncus, a genus which possesses species associated with poor reproductive outcomes in other animal species when identified in the cervicovaginal microbiome.
CONCLUSION
Together, our results increase the understanding of age and season related microbial variation in southern white rhinoceros at the North Carolina Zoo and have identified a potential microbial biomarker for reproductive concern within managed female southern white rhinoceros.
PubMed: 37147724
DOI: 10.1186/s42523-023-00249-5 -
International Journal of Systematic and... Aug 2021Two rod-shaped and Gram-stain-positive bacteria (strains C64 and C62) were isolated in 2020 from faeces of greater white-fronted geese () from Poyang Lake, PR China....
Two rod-shaped and Gram-stain-positive bacteria (strains C64 and C62) were isolated in 2020 from faeces of greater white-fronted geese () from Poyang Lake, PR China. Their optimal growth conditions were at 37 °C, pH 7.0 and with 0.5 % (w/v) NaCl. The two isolates showed a highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to DSM 19116 (92.1 %). Phylogenetic/phylogenomic analyses indicated that strains C64 and C62 clustered independently in the vicinity of the genera , and within the family , but could not be classified clearly as members of any of these known genera. The average amino acid identity values between our isolates and available genomes of members of the family were around the genus threshold value (45-65 %). The major cellular fatty acids of the strains were Cω and C. The predominant polar lipids were phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine, diacylglycerol, triacylglycerol and cardiolipin. The amino acid composition of peptidoglycan contained alanine, glutamic acid and glycine. The major respiratory menaquinones were MK-8(H) and MK-9(H). The whole cell sugars included galactose, arabinose and glucose. On the basis of the results of the 16S rRNA gene sequences comparison, whole-genome phylogenomic analysis, phenotypic and chemotaxonomic characteristics, we propose that strains C64 and C62 represent a novel species belonging to a novel genus within the family , for which the name gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is C64 (=CGMCC 1.18410=GDMCC 1.1969=KCTC 49511=KACC 22143).
Topics: Actinomycetaceae; Animals; Bacterial Typing Techniques; Base Composition; China; DNA, Bacterial; Fatty Acids; Feces; Geese; Phospholipids; Phylogeny; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; Sequence Analysis, DNA; Vitamin K 2
PubMed: 34431769
DOI: 10.1099/ijsem.0.004978 -
Immunological Investigations Aug 2020We aimed to study the relation between both bacterial colonization of the uterine endometrium & endometrial miR-17-5p levels and endometriosis, and then to evaluate...
UNLABELLED
We aimed to study the relation between both bacterial colonization of the uterine endometrium & endometrial miR-17-5p levels and endometriosis, and then to evaluate endometrial miR-17-5p as a biomarker of endometriosis. A comparative observational study was carried over 51 endometriosis patients and 51 controls admitted into Obstetrics and Gynecology department, Mansoura Faculty of Medicine. Endometrial tissue samples were collected and aimed for bacterial culture and identification of resulting organisms besides estimation of tissue levels of microRNA-17-5p by quantitative real time PCR. G. vaginalis, S. agalactiae, S. aureus, Mobiluncus and E. coli were associated with endometriosis. MicroRNA-17-5p was up-regulated in endometriosis patients ( value was <0.0001*). Its sensitivity and specificity were 90% and 76.5%. MiR-17-5p showed higher results in culture positive than negative cases. On studying the relation between the positivity of endometrial tissue culture and miR-17-5p and so endometriosis, value was <0.0001*. We concluded that G. vaginalis, S. agalactiae, S. aureus, Mobiluncus and E. coli were associated with development of endometriosis. Endometrial miR-17-5p was elevated in association to positive detection of bacterial species. MiR-17-5p might be a bio- marker of endometriosis.
ABBREVIATIONS
CFU/ml: Colony Forming Unit per Milliliter; miR-17-5p: MicroRNA-17-5p; qRT PCR: Quantitative Real Time Polymerase Chain Reaction.
Topics: Adult; Bacterial Infections; Disease Susceptibility; Egypt; Endometriosis; Endometrium; Female; Humans; MicroRNAs; Middle Aged; Population Surveillance; ROC Curve; Risk Assessment; Risk Factors; Young Adult
PubMed: 31747809
DOI: 10.1080/08820139.2019.1693592 -
Scientific Reports Oct 2020Vaginal infection is a gynecological problem in women of reproductive age with multiple health outcomes. The most common forms of infection include bacterial vaginosis...
Vaginal infection is a gynecological problem in women of reproductive age with multiple health outcomes. The most common forms of infection include bacterial vaginosis (BV), vulvovaginal candidiasis (VC), and aerobic vaginitis (AV). Our main goals were to evaluate different types of vaginal infections in Ecuadorian women in a large urban area (Quito) and to characterize the vaginal microbiota colonization by opportunistic species. We collected vaginal swabs and epidemiological surveys from 414 women from June 2016 to July of 2017. We analyzed vaginal samples for the presence of any vaginal infection. The microbiological examination was done through Gram-stain, wet mount smears, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays using primers for target genes, such as 16S rRNA (Atopobium vaginae, Mobiluncus mulieris, and Gardnerella species), ddl (Enterococcus faecalis), adk (Escherichia coli) and KER1 (Candida albicans) genes. Most women showed a healthy vaginal microbiota (66.7%). Nearly one-tenth (10.4%) of the participants had intermediate microbiota, and the remaining women (22.9%) had a single vaginal infection (BV, AV, or VC) or coinfections. From the 95 participants that had an infection, AV was the main diagnosed vaginal infection (51.6%), followed by BV (24.2%) and finally VC (7.4%). The remaining women (16.8%) showed coinfections, being BV and AV the most common coinfection. Using univariable logistic regression analyses we found an increased odds of healthy microbiota in women with a sexual partner (P = 0.02, OR = 1.64). Also, women in a free union relationship (P = 0.000, OR = 16.65) had an increased odds of having coinfections. On the other hand, the use of birth control (condom OR = 0.388 or other contraceptive method OR = 0.363) was associated with significantly lower odds of intermediate microbiota (P ≤ 0.05). We found no statistically significant differences between women with infection and a particular group age. Using multivariate logistic regression analyses we initially found an increased odds of having BV in women with M. mulieris (P = 0.020, OR = 4.98) and Gardnerella species (P = 0.010, OR = 4.16). Women with E. coli showed an increased odds of having AV (P = 0.009, OR = 2.81). The presence of C. albicans in women showed an increased odds of having VC (P = 0.007, OR = 17.94). Finally, women with M. mulieris showed a reverse odds of having healthy microbiota (P = 0.008, OR = 0.06). We found no statistically significant differences between women with symptomatic and asymptomatic infections or the presence of Enterococcus faecalis. We found using logistic regression analyses that M. mulieris was the most prevalent opportunistic pathogen among women with vaginal infection. Further studies should evaluate the possibility to use M. mulieris as a potential key predictor for vaginal infections.
Topics: Adult; Age Factors; Candidiasis, Vulvovaginal; Ecuador; Female; Humans; Microbiota; Middle Aged; Prevalence; Risk Factors; Vagina; Vaginal Diseases; Vaginosis, Bacterial; Young Adult
PubMed: 33110095
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-74655-z -
Frontiers in Cellular and Infection... 2020Pregnancy outcomes and women's health are directly affected by vaginal microbiota. This microbiota consists of a dynamic ecosystem of various microbes in different...
Pregnancy outcomes and women's health are directly affected by vaginal microbiota. This microbiota consists of a dynamic ecosystem of various microbes in different ratios, which in healthy conditions protect the vaginal epithelium from infections. However, cases of vaginal infection are regularly diagnosed in women of reproductive age, contributing to more severe outcomes. Therefore, our main goal was to determine the prevalence of bacterial vaginosis (BV), aerobic vaginitis (AV), and vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) among Ecuadorian pregnant and non-pregnant women. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 217 women between 13 and 40 years old seeking primary healthcare in Carlos Andrade Marin Hospital (HCAM), Gynecological-Obstetric Hospital Isidro Ayora (HGOIA) and Center for Teaching Health Cipriana Dueñas during October 2018 to February 2019. The classical characterization of the vaginal microbiota was performed through microscopy by the Nugent criteria to evaluate the presence of BV, healthy and intermediate microbiota, by the criteria of Donders to determine the presence of AV and by the Marot-Leblond criteria to diagnose VVC. DNA extraction from vaginal samples and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) analysis was performed to characterize the presence of spp., spp., and spp. Finally, quantification of the lactobacilli was performed by quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) for samples from women with normal vaginal microbiota and women with AV. Our results showed 52% of women with healthy microbiota, 7% with intermediate microbiota, and 41% with vaginal dysbiosis, comprising 27% with AV, 8% with BV and 4% with VVC and 2% with co-infections or co-dysbiosis. Additionally, a higher amount of lactobacilli were found in pregnant women when compared to non-pregnant women, while AV cases were characterized by a significant drop of spp., more precisely, between 1E3 and 1E5 colony forming units (CFU)/ml. Finally, women with normal vaginal microbiota showed an average load of lactobacilli between 1E6 and 1E7 CFU/ml. This pilot study showed no statistically significant differences between pregnant and non-pregnant women, pointing to the possibility to use lactobacilli quantification for the prevention of future vaginal infections.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Humans; Lactobacillus; Microbiota; Pilot Projects; Pregnancy; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; Vagina; Young Adult
PubMed: 32637367
DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2020.00303 -
Current Microbiology Feb 2024The strains Marseille-Q7072 (= CSUR Q7072 = CECT 30604) and Marseille-Q7826 (= CSUR Q7826 = CECT 30727) were isolated from vaginal samples. As MALDI-TOF mass...
The strains Marseille-Q7072 (= CSUR Q7072 = CECT 30604) and Marseille-Q7826 (= CSUR Q7826 = CECT 30727) were isolated from vaginal samples. As MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry failed to identify them, their genomes were directly sequenced to determine their taxogenomic identities. Both strains are anaerobic without any oxidase and catalase activity. C is the most abundant fatty acid for both strains. Strain Marseille-Q7072 is non-spore-forming, non-motile, Gram-stain-positive, and coccus-shaped, while strain Marseille-Q7826 is non-spore-forming, motile, Gram-stain-variable, and curved rod-shaped. The genomic comparison of the Marseille-Q7072 and Marseille-Q7826 strains showed that all digital DNA-DNA hybridisation (dDDH) and mean orthologous nucleotide identity (OrthoANI) values were below published species thresholds (70% and 95-96%, respectively) with other closely related species with standing in nomenclature. Thus, we conclude that both strains are new bacterial species. Strain Marseille-Q7072 is a new member of the Bacillota phylum, for which the name Peptoniphilus genitalis sp. nov. is proposed, while the Marseille-Q7826 strain is a new member of the Actinomycetota phylum, for which the name Mobiluncus massiliensis sp. nov. is proposed.
Topics: Female; Humans; Mobiluncus; Bacteria; Clostridiales; Microbiota; DNA
PubMed: 38372813
DOI: 10.1007/s00284-023-03584-7