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PloS One 2012To obtain more detailed understanding of the causes of disturbance of the vaginal microflora (VMF), a longitudinal study was carried out for 17 women during two...
BACKGROUND
To obtain more detailed understanding of the causes of disturbance of the vaginal microflora (VMF), a longitudinal study was carried out for 17 women during two menstrual cycles.
METHODS
Vaginal swabs were obtained daily from 17 non-pregnant, menarchal volunteers. For each woman, Gram stains were scored, the quantitative changes of 5 key vaginal species, i.e. Atopobium vaginae, Lactobacillus crispatus, L. iners, (sialidase positive) Gardnerella vaginalis and Prevotella bivia were quantified with qPCR and hydrogen-peroxide production was assessed on TMB+ agar.
RESULTS
Women could be divided in 9 subjects with predominantly normal VMF (grades Ia, Ib and Iab, group N) and 8 with predominantly disturbed VMF (grades I-like, II, III and IV, group D). VMF was variable between women, but overall stable for most of the women. Menses were the strongest disturbing factor of the VMF. L. crispatus was present at log7-9 cells/ml in grade Ia, Iab and II VMF, but concentrations declined 100-fold during menses. L. crispatus below log7 cells/ml corresponded with poor H(2)O(2)-production. L. iners was present at log 10 cells/ml in grade Ib, II and III VMF. Sialidase negative G. vaginalis strains (average log5 cells/ml) were detected in grade I, I-like and IV VMF. In grade II VMF, predominantly a mixture of both sialidase negative and positive G. vaginalis strains (average log9 cells/ml) were present, and predominantly sialidase positive strains in grade III VMF. The presence of A. vaginae (average log9 cells/ml) coincided with grade II and III VMF. P. bivia (log4-8 cells/ml) was mostly present in grade III vaginal microflora. L. iners, G. vaginalis, A. vaginae and P. bivia all increased around menses for group N women, and as such L. iners was considered a member of disturbed VMF.
CONCLUSIONS
This qPCR-based study confirms largely the results of previous culture-based, microscopy-based and pyrosequencing-based studies.
Topics: Actinobacteria; Adolescent; Adult; Bacterial Load; Female; Gardnerella vaginalis; Gentian Violet; Humans; Hydrogen Peroxide; Lactobacillus; Longitudinal Studies; Menstrual Cycle; Menstruation; Microbial Consortia; Neuraminidase; Phenazines; Prevotella; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; Vagina
PubMed: 23028904
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0045281 -
MSphere Jun 2022Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a dysbiosis of the vaginal microbiome, characterized by low levels of lactobacilli and overgrowth of a diverse group of bacteria, associated...
Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a dysbiosis of the vaginal microbiome, characterized by low levels of lactobacilli and overgrowth of a diverse group of bacteria, associated with higher risk of a variety of infections, surgical complications, cancer, and preterm birth (PTB). Despite the lack of a consistently applicable etiology, spp. are often associated with both BV and PTB, and has known symbiotic relationships with both Peptostreptococcus anaerobius and Gardnerella vaginalis. Higher risk of PTB can also be predicted by a composite of metabolites linked to bacterial metabolism, but their specific bacterial source remains poorly understood. Here, we characterize diversity of metabolic strategies among BV-associated bacteria and lactobacilli and the symbiotic metabolic relationships between and its partners and show how these influence the availability of metabolites associated with BV/PTB and/or pro- or anti-inflammatory immune responses. We confirm a commensal relationship between and , refining its mechanism, which sustains a substantial increase in acetate production. In contrast, the relationship between and strains, with sequence variant G2, is mutualistic, with outcome dependent on the metabolic strategy of the strain. Taken together, our data show how knowledge of inter- and intraspecies metabolic diversity and the effects of symbiosis may refine our understanding of the mechanism and approach to risk prediction in BV and/or PTB. Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is the most common vaginal infection for women of childbearing age. Although 50% of women with BV do not have any symptoms, it approximately doubles the risk of catching a sexually transmitted infection and also increases the risk of preterm delivery in pregnant women. Recent studies of the vaginal microbiota have suggested that variation between species in the same genus or between strains of the same species explain better or poorer outcomes or at least some coexistence patterns for bacteria of concern. We tested whether such variation is manifested in how vaginal bacteria grow in the laboratory and whether and how they may share nutrients. We then showed that this affected the overall cocktail of chemicals they produce, including bacterially derived chemicals that we have previously shown are linked to a higher risk of preterm delivery.
Topics: Bacteria; Female; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Lactobacillus; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; Pregnancy; Premature Birth; Symbiosis; Vaginosis, Bacterial
PubMed: 35491843
DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00166-22 -
Revista Internacional de Andrologia Mar 2024It is estimated that microorganisms colonize 90% of the body surface. In some tracts, such as the genitourinary tract, the microbiota varies throughout life, influenced...
It is estimated that microorganisms colonize 90% of the body surface. In some tracts, such as the genitourinary tract, the microbiota varies throughout life, influenced by hormonal stimulation and sexual practices. This study evaluated the semen differences and presence of , , and in semen samples from patients with symptoms of chronic prostatitis and men asymptomatic for urogenital infections. Fifty-three semen samples were included: 22 samples from men with symptoms of chronic prostatitis and 31 asymptomatic men (control group). In addition to the presence of , , and , semen parameters, total antioxidant capacity of seminal plasma, prostatic antigen and some proinflammatory cytokines were evaluated in each semen sample. Volunteers with symptoms of chronic prostatitis presented a lower percentage of sperm morphology (4.3% control group 6.0%, = 0.004); in the semen samples of volunteers in the group asymptomatic for urogenital infections, microorganisms associated with the vaginal microbiota were detected more frequently. The presence of bacteria in the vaginal microbiota can also benefit male reproductive health, which undergoes various modifications related to lifestyle habits that are susceptible to modification. Microorganisms associated with the vaginal microbiota, such as , , and , may have a protective role against the development of male genitourinary diseases such as prostatitis.
Topics: Humans; Male; Prostatitis; Semen; Adult; Microbiota; Coitus; Gardnerella vaginalis; Lactobacillus; Vagina; Middle Aged; Actinobacteria; Female; Young Adult; Chronic Disease; Case-Control Studies; Semen Analysis; Cytokines
PubMed: 38735876
DOI: 10.22514/j.androl.2024.006 -
Clinical Nutrition (Edinburgh, Scotland) Mar 2022Malnutrition has been confirmed to play an important role in colorectal cancer (CRC) progression via the gut microenvironment. However, the characteristics of the gut...
BACKGROUD
Malnutrition has been confirmed to play an important role in colorectal cancer (CRC) progression via the gut microenvironment. However, the characteristics of the gut microbiota or its potential biological mechanism in CRC remain inconclusive.
METHODS
In this work, Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment (PG-SGA) tool and 16sRNA sequencing were prepared to detect the variation in gut microbiota and the association between nutrition status and gut microbiota. RDA/CCA analysis was used to evaluate the relationship between faecal microbiota from malnourished CRC and clinical nutrition indicators. To investigate the mechanism of the gut microbiota in CRC, faecal samples from malnourished CRC patients were transplanted into C57BL/6J and DSS/AOM mouse models. Moreover, FACS and IHC were prepared to detect the infiltration of B cells and macrophages. qPCR and Elisa assays were performed to explore the expression of cytokines.
RESULT
We found dramatic variation in the faecal microbiota among patients with different nutritional statuses, discovering that specific microbiota species, namely, Atopobium vaginae, Selenomonas sputigena and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, may be considered diagnostic biomarkers in malnutrition and indicate poor prognosis. High expression level of A. vaginae in CRC tissues revealed the poorer overall survival compared with low expression level (Mean survival: 23.0 months vs 29.0 months). Faecal from malnourished colorectal cancer were found to be protumorigenic. More importantly, our evidence suggests that after faecal microbiota transplantation, B cells and macrophages are recruited to activate specific tumour immunity in CRC. Depletion of B cells significantly suppressed faecal microbiota-induced M2b polarization as well as the protumorigenic activity of tumour-associated macrophages in vivo.
CONCLUSION
Faecal microbiota in CRC under malnutrition conditions exhibits specific characteristics that accelerate CRC progression and regulate B cells and macrophages. The use of specific faecal microbial species could be a feasible approach for identifying the malnutrition status of patients and demonstrating the poor prognosis of CRC.
Topics: Animals; Colorectal Neoplasms; Feces; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Humans; Malnutrition; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Tumor Microenvironment
PubMed: 35124471
DOI: 10.1016/j.clnu.2022.01.001 -
Frontiers in Cellular and Infection... 2019Microbiota is a crucial player in gynecologic health, in which bacteria can shift to a dysbiotic state triggering a pathogenic process. Based on an ecological...
Microbiota is a crucial player in gynecologic health, in which bacteria can shift to a dysbiotic state triggering a pathogenic process. Based on an ecological understanding of the problem, the aim of this study is to select a potential probiotic strain to improve female reproductive tract based on its capacity to initially lower pH and to promote the reduction of pathogenic bacteria. Based on this rationale, strain BPL005 was initially selected for its capacity to reduce pH levels and produce organic acids. Subsequently, strain BPL005 (CECT 8800) was demonstrated to have a protective role on endometrial infections in an model of bacterial colonization of primary endometrial epithelial cells with , and . In this model, BPL005 when co-cultured with those pathogens was shown to lower pH and to produce organic acids, being lactic acid the most relevant. The co-cultivation of strain BPL005 with tested reference pathogens produced a significant reduction in and levels and a non-significant reduction in and . The colonization of BPL005 in the culture decreased IL-6, IL-8, and MCP-1, heightened in the presence of pathogens, and increased IL-1RA and IL-1 beta. Finally, safety was evaluated showing no signs of cytotoxicity, irritation in vaginal tests, or allergic contact dermatitis potential through the Local Lymph Node Assay. Overall, these results show the potential of BPL005 strain as a probiotic in gynecological health.
Topics: Actinobacteria; Antibiosis; Carboxylic Acids; Cells, Cultured; Epithelial Cells; Female; Gardnerella vaginalis; Genitalia, Female; Humans; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus; Microbiota; Probiotics; Propionibacterium acnes; Reproductive Tract Infections; Streptococcus agalactiae
PubMed: 31058101
DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2019.00114 -
Access Microbiology 2024(formerly ) is an anaerobic organism commonly associated with female genital flora, with rare cases of invasive disease reported in females. We discuss the case of an...
(formerly ) is an anaerobic organism commonly associated with female genital flora, with rare cases of invasive disease reported in females. We discuss the case of an 81-year-old male who presented with an acute history of back pain and signs of urinary tract infection in the context of intermittent self-urinary catheterisation. Multiple blood cultures grew with a later finding of lumbar vertebral osteomyelitis as the cause of back pain. Treatment was commenced with ampicillin, later switched to ceftriaxone, with improvement of acute signs of infection. Gram-positive anaerobic organisms including are possibly under-recognised causes of urinary tract particularly in older males. These bacteria may prove challenging to grow in standard protocols for urine culture; anaerobic or extended incubation could be considered particularly in complicated cases of urinary tract infection without an identifiable pathogen.
PubMed: 38737801
DOI: 10.1099/acmi.0.000785.v3 -
The Journal of Infection Aug 2014Sexually transmitted infections are a significant cause of genital disease, infertility and hospital admissions. The economic impact is high. An accurate diagnosis is...
OBJECTIVES
Sexually transmitted infections are a significant cause of genital disease, infertility and hospital admissions. The economic impact is high. An accurate diagnosis is often difficult and time consuming. We report the development and validation of a novel bead-based multiplex sexually transmitted infection profiling (STIP) assay that detects 18 sexually transmitted infections using a multiplex PCR followed by Luminex bead-based hybridisation.
METHODS
STIP was validated using urogenital samples pretested by commercially available quantitative PCR, microscopy or by culturing methods.
RESULTS
STIP specifically detects Chlamydia trachomatis, Herpes simplex virus 1 and 2, Treponema pallidum, Trichomonas vaginalis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Mycoplasma (M.) genitalium, M. hominis, M. pneumonia, M. spermatophilum, Ureaplasma urealyticum and U. parvum, and quantifies bacterial vaginosis-associated Atopobium vaginae and Gardnerella vaginalis as well as three Candida species and normal genital flora-associated Lactobacillus species. STIP reached an overall concordance of 95-100% with commercially available quantitative PCR tests. Compared to Nugent score, STIP reached a sensitivity of 95% and a specificity of 86% for bacterial vaginosis detection. Candida specimens, pretested by direct culturing, were identified with a sensitivity of 97% and a specificity of 99%.
CONCLUSIONS
STIP is a powerful high-throughput tool in assessing a broad spectrum of urogenital infections.
Topics: Cervix Uteri; Cytological Techniques; DNA, Bacterial; DNA, Fungal; DNA, Viral; Female; Humans; Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction; Sensitivity and Specificity; Sexually Transmitted Diseases; Specimen Handling; Vagina
PubMed: 24814157
DOI: 10.1016/j.jinf.2014.04.006 -
American Journal of Obstetrics and... Jun 2018Data evaluating the impact of contraceptives on the vaginal microbiome are limited and inconsistent.
BACKGROUND
Data evaluating the impact of contraceptives on the vaginal microbiome are limited and inconsistent.
OBJECTIVE
We hypothesized that women initiating copper intrauterine device use would have increased bacterial vaginosis and bacterial vaginosis-associated microbes with use compared to women initiating and using hormonal contraceptive methods.
STUDY DESIGN
Vaginal swabs (N = 1047 from 266 participants seeking contraception) for Nugent score determination of bacterial vaginosis and quantitative polymerase chain reaction analyses for assessment of specific microbiota were collected from asymptomatic, healthy women aged 18-35 years in Harare, Zimbabwe, who were confirmed to be free of nonstudy hormones by mass spectrometry at each visit. Contraception was initiated with an injectable (depot medroxyprogesterone acetate [n = 41], norethisterone enanthate [n = 44], or medroxyprogesterone acetate and ethinyl estradiol [n = 40]), implant (levonorgestrel [n = 45] or etonogestrel [n = 48]), or copper intrauterine device (n = 48) and repeat vaginal swabs were collected after 30, 90, and 180 days of continuous use. Self-reported condom use was similar across all arms at baseline. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to detect Lactobacillus crispatus, L jensenii, L gasseri/johnsonii group, L vaginalis, L iners, Gardnerella vaginalis, Atopobium vaginae, and Megasphaera-like bacterium phylotype I from swabs. Modified Poisson regression and mixed effects linear models were used to compare marginal prevalence and mean difference in quantity (expressed as gene copies/swab) prior to and during contraceptive use.
RESULTS
Bacterial vaginosis prevalence increased in women initiating copper intrauterine devices from 27% at baseline, 35% at 30 days, 40% at 90 days, and 49% at 180 days (P = .005 compared to marginal prevalence at enrollment). Women initiating hormonal methods had no change in bacterial vaginosis prevalence over 180 days. The mean increase in Nugent score was 1.2 (95% confidence interval, 0.5-2.0; P = .001) in women using copper intrauterine devices. Although the frequency and density of beneficial lactobacilli did not change among intrauterine device users over 6 months, there was an increase in the log concentration of G vaginalis (4.7, 5.2, 5.8, 5.9; P = .046) and A vaginae (3.0, 3.8, 4.6, 5.1; P = .002) between baseline and 30, 90, and 180 days after initiation. Among other contraceptive groups, women using depot medroxyprogesterone acetate had decreased L iners (mean decrease log concentration = 0.8; 95% confidence interval, 0.3-1.5; P = .004) and there were no significant changes in beneficial Lactobacillus species over 180 days regardless of contraceptive method used.
CONCLUSION
Copper intrauterine device use may increase colonization by bacterial vaginosis-associated microbiota, resulting in increased prevalence of bacterial vaginosis. Use of most hormonal contraception does not alter vaginal microbiota.
Topics: Adult; Contraceptive Agents, Female; DNA, Bacterial; Desogestrel; Drug Implants; Ethinyl Estradiol; Female; Gardnerella vaginalis; Humans; Intrauterine Devices, Copper; Lactobacillus crispatus; Lactobacillus gasseri; Levonorgestrel; Medroxyprogesterone Acetate; Megasphaera; Microbiota; Norethindrone; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Protective Factors; Risk Factors; Vagina; Vaginosis, Bacterial; Young Adult
PubMed: 29505773
DOI: 10.1016/j.ajog.2018.02.017 -
Bioengineered Feb 2022To explore a new marker which can detect bacterial vaginosis (BV) with high sensitivity and specificity quantitatively. According to the Nugent Score, vaginal secretions...
To explore a new marker which can detect bacterial vaginosis (BV) with high sensitivity and specificity quantitatively. According to the Nugent Score, vaginal secretions from study participants were divided into BV, healthy, and BV-intermediate groups. First, we compared the obvious differences and high abundance of bacteria in the three groups using 16S rRNA-sequencing, and screened out candidate markers. Then, quantitative detection of these candidate markers from the three groups was done using real-time reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), followed by evaluation of the sensitivity and specificity. Finally, we verified the new markers using clinical cases. were screened out by 16S rRNA-sequencing. RT-qPCR data were transformed and analyzed through ROC curves. PCR results for these bacteria were log-transformed using as the numerator and other BV-related bacteria as the denominator. Four new indicators were found. Of these, log / (L/G) <0 was the best indicator. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of our system were 93.5%, 97.2%, 96.6 and 94.6%, respectively. Combination of data for 16S rRNA-sequencing and RT-qPCR revealed four indicators for BV detection. Of these, log L/G < 0 was the best indicator. Creating a molecular-diagnostic system independent of the Nugent Score for BV could have an important impact on the clinical management of BV.: log / (logL/G); Bacterial vaginosis (BV); vaginal secretions (VSs); polymerase chain reaction (PCR); rRNA-sequencing (rRNA-seq); real-time reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR); operational taxonomic unit (OTU); non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS); receiver operating characteristic (ROC).
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; China; Cohort Studies; Diagnostic Techniques, Obstetrical and Gynecological; Female; Gardnerella vaginalis; Humans; Lactobacillus crispatus; Middle Aged; RNA, Bacterial; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; RNA-Seq; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; Reproducibility of Results; Sensitivity and Specificity; Sequence Analysis, RNA; Vaginosis, Bacterial; Young Adult
PubMed: 35038957
DOI: 10.1080/21655979.2022.2027059 -
International Urogynecology Journal Dec 2018Persistent and de novo symptoms decrease satisfaction after urogynecologic surgery. We investigated whether the preoperative bladder microbiome is associated with...
INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS
Persistent and de novo symptoms decrease satisfaction after urogynecologic surgery. We investigated whether the preoperative bladder microbiome is associated with urinary symptoms prior to and after urogynecologic surgery.
METHODS
One hundred twenty-six participants contributed responses to the validated OABq symptom questionnaire. Catheterized (bladder) urine samples and vaginal and perineal swabs were collected immediately preoperatively. Bacterial DNA in the urine samples and swabs was sequenced and classified.
RESULTS
Preoperative symptom severity was significantly worse in sequence-positive patients. Higher OABq Symptom Severity (OABqSS) scores (more symptomatic) were associated with higher abundance in bladder urine of two bacterial species: Atopobium vaginae and Finegoldia magna. The presence of Atopobium vaginae in bladder urine also was correlated with its presence in either the vagina or perineum.
CONCLUSIONS
Two specific bacterial species detected in bladder urine, Atopobium vaginae and Finegoldia magna, are associated with preoperative urinary symptom severity in women undergoing POP/SUI surgery. The reservoir for Atopobium vaginae may be adjacent pelvic floor niches. This observation should be validated in a larger cohort to determine whether there is a microbiologic etiology for certain preoperative urinary symptoms.
Topics: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Cohort Studies; Female; Gynecologic Surgical Procedures; Humans; Middle Aged; Perineum; Postoperative Complications; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; Urine; Vagina
PubMed: 30116843
DOI: 10.1007/s00192-018-3732-1