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Southern African Journal of Infectious... 2021Vaginal swabs have been traditionally used for the diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis (BV). Currently, there are limited studies that have investigated the use of other...
BACKGROUND
Vaginal swabs have been traditionally used for the diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis (BV). Currently, there are limited studies that have investigated the use of other sample types other than vaginal swabs for the detection of BV from South African populations. This study investigated whether urine can be used for the detection of BV-associated microorganisms in South African pregnant women.
METHODS
One-hundred self-collected vaginal swabs and urine samples were obtained from women presenting for antenatal care at King Edward VIII Hospital in Durban. The BD MAX™ vaginal panel assay was used for diagnosing BV and droplet digital polymerase chain reaction was used to quantify and . The absolute counts were determined on the QX200 Droplet Reader (Bio-Rad) using the QuantaSoft Software. Data analysis was performed with statistical computing software called R, version 3.6.1.
RESULTS
Median copy numbers obtained for and across urine and swabs in BV-positive samples were not significantly different ( = 0.134 and = 0.652, respectively). This was confirmed by the correlation analysis that showed a good correlation between the two sample types ( [ = 0.63] and [ = 0.50]). However, the data obtained for differed, and a weak correlation between urine and swabs was observed ( = 0.21). Bacterial vaginosis-negative samples had no significant difference in median copy numbers for across the urine and swabs ( = 0.062), and a good correlation between the sample types was noted ( = 0.71).
CONCLUSION
This study highlights the appropriateness of urine for the detection of microorganisms associated with BV.
PubMed: 34485489
DOI: 10.4102/sajid.v36i1.199 -
The Journal of Infectious Diseases Aug 2021Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is a clinical syndrome that has been associated with a wide range of potential causal pathogens. Three broad groups of organisms have...
Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is a clinical syndrome that has been associated with a wide range of potential causal pathogens. Three broad groups of organisms have been isolated from the genital tract of people with PID: sexually transmitted organisms such as Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Chlamydia trachomatis, Mycoplasma genitalium, and Trichomonas vaginalis; bacterial vaginosis (BV)-associated species and genera such as Atopobium vaginae, Sneathia, and Megasphaera; and genera and species usually associated with the gastrointestinal or respiratory tracts such as Bacteroides, Escherichia coli, Streptococcus, or Haemophilus influenza. Although PID is often considered to be synonymous with gonorrhea or chlamydia, these pathogens are found in only one quarter to one third of people with PID, suggesting that broader screening and diagnostic and treatment strategies need to be considered to reduce the burden of PID and its associated sequelae.
Topics: Chlamydia Infections; Chlamydia trachomatis; Female; Gonorrhea; Humans; Mycoplasma Infections; Mycoplasma genitalium; Neisseria gonorrhoeae; Pelvic Inflammatory Disease; Sexually Transmitted Diseases; Vagina
PubMed: 34396407
DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiab067 -
Seminars in Cancer Biology Nov 2022Gynecologic cancers, starting in the reproductive organs of females, include cancer of cervix, endometrium, ovary commonly and vagina and vulva rarely. The changes in... (Review)
Review
Gynecologic cancers, starting in the reproductive organs of females, include cancer of cervix, endometrium, ovary commonly and vagina and vulva rarely. The changes in the composition of microbiome in gut and vagina affect immune and metabolic signaling of the host cells resulting in chronic inflammation, angiogenesis, cellular proliferation, genome instability, epithelial barrier breach and metabolic dysregulation that may lead to the onset or aggravated progression of gynecologic cancers. While microbiome in gynecologic cancers is just at horizon, certain significant microbiome signature associations have been found. Cervical cancer is accompanied with high loads of human papillomavirus, Fusobacteria and Sneathia species; endometrial cancer is reported to have presence of Atopobium vaginae and Porphyromonas species and significantly elevated levels of Proteobacteria and Firmicutes phylum bacteria, with Chlamydia trachomatis, Lactobacillus and Mycobacterium reported in ovarian cancer. Balancing microbiome composition in gynecologic cancers has the potential to be used as a therapeutic target. For example, the Lactobacillus species may play an important role in blocking adhesions of incursive pathogens to vaginal epithelium by lowering the pH, producing bacteriocins and employing competitive exclusions. The optimum or personalized balance of the microbiota can be maintained using pre- and probiotics, and fecal microbiota transplantations loaded with specific bacteria. Current evidence strongly suggest that a healthy microbiome can train and trigger the body's immune response to attack various gynecologic cancers. Furthermore, microbiome modulations can potentially contribute to improvements in immuno-oncology therapies.
Topics: Humans; Female; Vagina; Lactobacillus; Microbiota; Genital Neoplasms, Female; Probiotics
PubMed: 34302959
DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2021.07.013 -
Journal of Molecular Medicine (Berlin,... Oct 2021A panel of 10 IgG enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) were developed for the detection of anti-microbial immune responses in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of...
A panel of 10 IgG enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) were developed for the detection of anti-microbial immune responses in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with demyelinating diseases (DD). The anti-microbial ELISA assays follow on prior human brain tissue RNA sequencing studies that established multiple sclerosis (MS) microbial candidates. Lysates included in the ELISA panel were derived from Akkermansia muciniphila, Atopobium vaginae, Bacteroides fragilis, Lactobacillus paracasei, Odoribacter splanchnicus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Cutibacterium (Propionibacterium) acnes, Fusobacterium necrophorum, Porphyromonas gingivalis, and Streptococcus mutans. CSF responses from patients with demyelinating diseases (DD, N = 14) were compared to those with other neurological diseases (OND, N = 8) and controls (N = 13). Commercial positive and negative control CSF specimens were run with each assay. ELISA index values were derived for each specimen against each of the 10 bacterial lysates. CSF reactivity was significantly higher in the DD group compared to the controls against Akkermansia, Atopobium, Bacteroides, Lactobacillus, Odoribacter, and Fusobacterium. Four of the 11 tested DD group subjects had elevated antibody indexes against at least one of the 10 bacterial species, suggesting intrathecal antibody production. This CSF serological study supports the hypothesis that several of the previously identified MS candidate microbes contribute to demyelination in some patients. KEY MESSAGES: A panel of 10 IgG enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) were developed for the detection of anti-microbial immune responses in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with demyelinating diseases, including multiple sclerosis and acute disseminated encephalomyelitis. CSF reactivity was significantly higher in the demyelination group compared to the controls against the bacteria Akkermansia, Atopobium, Bacteroides, Lactobacillus, Odoribacter, and Fusobacterium. Several of the demyelination subjects had elevated antibody indexes against at least one of the 10 antigens, suggesting at least limited intrathecal production of anti-bacterial antibodies. This CSF serological study supports the hypothesis that several of the previously identified MS candidate microbes contribute to demyelination in some patients.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Antibodies, Bacterial; Autoantibodies; Bacteria; Cerebrospinal Fluid; Female; Humans; Immunoglobulin G; Male; Middle Aged; Multiple Sclerosis; Polyradiculoneuropathy; Young Adult
PubMed: 34100959
DOI: 10.1007/s00109-021-02085-z -
Journal of Gynecology Obstetrics and... Nov 2021Bacterial Vaginosis (BV) is the most common vaginal infection. A large amount of evidence shows that the anatomical scope of BV's pathogenic effect is far beyond the... (Review)
Review
Bacterial Vaginosis (BV) is the most common vaginal infection. A large amount of evidence shows that the anatomical scope of BV's pathogenic effect is far beyond the lower reproductive tract. BV is closely related to adverse reproductive outcomes, which may be due to the infection of the vaginal flora ascending to the upper genital tract. In addition, the incidence of BV is relatively high in infertile women. The vaginal microbiome also plays an important role in women's health and diseases. For most women, the normal vaginal microbiota is dominated by Lactobacillus, which can maintain a healthy vaginal environment by producing lactic acid, HO and bacteriocin, etc. BV is characterized by the imbalanced vaginal flora. It changes the acidic environment that is normally dominated by Lactobacillus, and causes an overgrowth of anaerobic and facultative anaerobic bacteria such as Gardnerella vaginalis and Atopobium vaginae. Studies have shown that bacterial infections in the vagina can spread to upper genital tract and cause adverse fertility outcome. Therefore, early diagnosis and therapeutics of symptomatic BV is helpful to improve the outcome of poor fertility.
Topics: Adult; Female; Humans; Reproductive Health; Treatment Outcome; Vagina; Vaginosis, Bacterial
PubMed: 34087449
DOI: 10.1016/j.jogoh.2021.102174 -
Frontiers in Cellular and Infection... 2021To evaluate the association between the early pregnancy vaginal microbiome and spontaneous preterm birth (sPTB) and early term birth (sETB) among African American women.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the association between the early pregnancy vaginal microbiome and spontaneous preterm birth (sPTB) and early term birth (sETB) among African American women.
METHODS
Vaginal samples collected in early pregnancy (8-14 weeks' gestation) from 436 women enrolled in the Emory University African American Vaginal, Oral, and Gut Microbiome in Pregnancy Study underwent 16S rRNA gene sequencing of the V3-V4 region, taxonomic classification, and community state type (CST) assignment. We compared vaginal CST and abundance of taxa for women whose pregnancy ended in sPTB (N = 44) or sETB (N= 84) to those who delivered full term (N = 231).
RESULTS
Nearly half of the women had a vaginal microbiome classified as CST IV (Diverse CST), while one-third had CST III ( dominated) and just 16% had CST I, II, or V (non-iners dominated). Compared to vaginal CST I, II, or V (non-iners dominated), both CST III ( dominated) and CST IV (Diverse) were associated with sPTB with an adjusted odds ratio (95% confidence interval) of 4.1 (1.1, infinity) and 7.7 (2.2, infinity), respectively, in multivariate logistic regression. In contrast, no vaginal CST was associated with sETB. The linear decomposition model (LDM) based on amplicon sequence variant (ASV) relative abundance found a significant overall effect of the vaginal microbiome on sPTB (p=0.034) but not sETB (p=0.320), whereas the LDM based on presence/absence of ASV found no overall effect on sPTB (p=0.328) but a significant effect on sETB (p=0.030). In testing for ASV-specific effects, the LDM found that no ASV was significantly associated with sPTB considering either relative abundance or presence/absence data after controlling for multiple comparisons (FDR 10%), although in marginal analysis the relative abundance of (p=0.011), non-iners (p=0.016), and (p=0.035) and the presence of (p=0.049), BVAB2 (p=0.024), (p=0.011), and (p=0.044) were associated with sPTB. The LDM identified the higher abundance of 7 ASVs and the presence of 13 ASVs, all commonly residents of the gut, as associated with sETB at FDR < 10%.
CONCLUSIONS
In this cohort of African American women, an early pregnancy vaginal CST III or IV was associated with an increased risk of sPTB but not sETB. The relative abundance and presence of distinct taxa within the early pregnancy vaginal microbiome was associated with either sPTB or sETB.
Topics: Actinobacteria; Black or African American; Female; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Microbiota; Pregnancy; Premature Birth; Prevotella; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; Term Birth; Vagina
PubMed: 33996627
DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.641005 -
Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland) Feb 2021Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is associated with a highly structured polymicrobial biofilm on the vaginal epithelium where species presumably play a pivotal role. , , and...
Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is associated with a highly structured polymicrobial biofilm on the vaginal epithelium where species presumably play a pivotal role. , , and are vaginal pathogens detected during the early stages of incident BV. Herein, we aimed to analyze the impact of and on a pre-established biofilm using a novel in vitro triple-species biofilm model. Total biofilm biomass was determined by the crystal violet method. We also discriminated the bacterial populations in the biofilm and in its planktonic fraction by using PNA FISH. We further analyzed the influence of and on the expression of key virulence genes of by quantitative PCR. In our tested conditions, and were able to incorporate into pre-established biofilms but did not induce an increase in total biofilm biomass, when compared with 48-h biofilms. However, they were able to significantly influence the expression of , a gene suggested to be associated with biofilm maintenance in . This study suggests that microbial relationships between co-infecting bacteria can deeply affect the biofilm, a crucial marker of BV.
PubMed: 33672647
DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10020247 -
Microbial Genomics Mar 2021The vaginal microbiome plays an important role in human health and species of vaginal bacteria have been associated with reproductive disease. Strain-level variation is...
The vaginal microbiome plays an important role in human health and species of vaginal bacteria have been associated with reproductive disease. Strain-level variation is also thought to be important, but the diversity, structure and evolutionary history of vaginal strains is not as well characterized. We developed and validated an approach to measure strain variation from metagenomic data based on SNPs within the core genomes for six species of vaginal bacteria: , , , , and . Despite inhabiting the same environment, strain diversity and structure varies across species. All species except are characterized by multiple distinct groups of strains. Even so, strain diversity is lower in the species, consistent with a more recent colonization of the human vaginal microbiome. Both strain diversity and the frequency of multi-strain samples is related to species-level diversity of the microbiome in which they occur, suggesting similar ecological factors influencing diversity within the vaginal niche. We conclude that the structure of strain-level variation provides both the motivation and means of testing whether strain-level differences contribute to the function and health consequences of the vaginal microbiome.
Topics: Adult; Bacteria; Cohort Studies; Female; Humans; Microbiota; Phylogeny; Pregnancy; Vagina; Young Adult
PubMed: 33656436
DOI: 10.1099/mgen.0.000543 -
Anaerobe Jun 2021The present study aimed to determine the utility of detection of co-infection of Gardnerella vaginalis and Atopobium vaginae using qualitative PCR for diagnosing...
The present study aimed to determine the utility of detection of co-infection of Gardnerella vaginalis and Atopobium vaginae using qualitative PCR for diagnosing bacterial vaginosis (BV). Vaginal samples (n = 385) categorized as positive (n = 108) or negative (n = 208) for bacterial vaginosis based on the Nugent scoring system, were analyzed for the presence of G. vaginalis and A. vaginae by conventional PCR. We compared the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and odds ratio for the detection of each bacterium alone with the combination of the two bacteria for diagnosing BV. The detection of co-infection of the two bacteria demonstrated a sensitivity of 96%, a specificity of 82.9%, a positive predictive value of 68.5%, a negative predictive value of 98.2% with an odds ratio of 116 (CI -32 - 409). In our study, we found a high sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value and odds ratio for the detection of co-infection of A. vaginae and G. vaginalis for the diagnosis of BV.
Topics: Actinobacteria; Adolescent; Adult; Bacteriological Techniques; Coinfection; Female; Gardnerella vaginalis; Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections; Humans; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Sensitivity and Specificity; Vaginosis, Bacterial; Young Adult
PubMed: 33582302
DOI: 10.1016/j.anaerobe.2021.102343 -
Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics Aug 2021To investigate associations between bacterial species in the vagina in mid-trimester pregnant women from Brazil.
PURPOSE
To investigate associations between bacterial species in the vagina in mid-trimester pregnant women from Brazil.
METHODS
The vaginal microbiome in 613 subjects was identified by analysis of the V1-V3 region of bacterial 16S ribosomal RNA and the relative prevalence of individual bacteria were determined.
RESULTS
The bacterial species present in the greatest number of women were Lactobacillus crispatus (306 women), L. iners (298 women) and Gardnerella vaginalis (179 women). When present in the vagina, L. crispatus was the most abundant bacterium more than 85% of the time. In contrast, L. iners and G. vaginalis were most abundant in 63% and 41% of women who were positive for these microorganisms, respectively (p < 0.0001 vs. L. crispatus). The proportion of L. crispatus was negatively associated with the proportions of L. iners, L. jensenii, L. gasseri, G. vaginalis, Megasphaera, Atopobium vaginae and Prevotella (p < 0.0001). In contrast, the proportion of G. vaginalis was positively associated with levels of Megasphaera, A. vaginae and Prevotella (p < 0.0001) while L. iners proportion was unrelated to the proportion of L. jensenii, G. vaginalis, Megasphaera, A. vaginae or Prevotella.
CONCLUSION
The composition of the vaginal microbiota in mid-trimester pregnant women is influenced by the relative concentrations of L. crispatus, L. iners and G. vaginalis.
Topics: Adult; Bacteria; Brazil; Female; Gardnerella vaginalis; Humans; Lactobacillus; Lactobacillus crispatus; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Trimester, Second; Pregnant Women; Prevalence; Prospective Studies; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; Vagina; Vaginosis, Bacterial
PubMed: 33521838
DOI: 10.1007/s00404-021-05978-z