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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 -
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 -
International Journal of Microbiology 2021Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is extremely common among the African population and is associated with the transmission and acquisition of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)...
Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is extremely common among the African population and is associated with the transmission and acquisition of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence and characteristics of BV among HIV-infected and -uninfected women in rural Eastern Cape province of South Africa. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted between September 2017 and March 2018 on women aged 18 years and above ( = 100), attending Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital and Ngangelizwe Community Health Centre with signs and symptoms suggestive of vaginal infection. High vaginal swabs were collected, and BV was diagnosed using Nugent's score. The prevalence rate of BV was 70% irrespective of HIV status. Of the 61 HIV-infected patients, 49 (80.3%) and 12 (19.7%) were BV positive and BV negative, respectively; whilst of the 39 HIV-uninfected women, 21 (53.8%) and 18 (46.2%) were BV positive and BV negative, respectively (OR = 3.5; CI: 1.4-8.5; =0.005). Women aged above 35 years were highly likely to develop BV (=0.049). The presence of species (>25 per high microscopic field) was significantly associated with BV among HIV-infected patients (=0.030). A recent history of antibiotic use (≤3 months) was significantly associated with BV among HIV-negative patients (=0.044). This study shows that BV is more prevalent among HIV-positive women than their HIV-negative counterparts, and its occurrence is higher among those aged above 35 years. The predominance of species in the vagina microbiota of HIV-infected women might play a significant role in the development of BV. These findings suggest that the treatment of BV could restore normal flora and reduce susceptibility to and transmission of HIV.
PubMed: 34335783
DOI: 10.1155/2021/9913878 -
American Journal of Translational... 2021To investigate the associations between Vaginal Pathogenic Community with Bacterial vaginosis, Candida vaginitis, and Trichomonas vaginalis in Chinese women.
BACKGROUND
To investigate the associations between Vaginal Pathogenic Community with Bacterial vaginosis, Candida vaginitis, and Trichomonas vaginalis in Chinese women.
METHOD
In this experiment, ten BV, nine VVC, eight TV patients, and four non-infected healthy women were recruited. The vaginal samples were collected from the vaginal orifice, the middle of the vagina, and vaginal fornix from every participant and conducted with next-generation sequencing (NGS). The NGS was based upon the analysis of bacterial 16S rRNA genes by using the Illumina Miseq system.
RESULTS
No significant difference in microbiome community structures was observed for the three sampling sites from the same subject. Compared with the healthy population, patients with BV and TV showed more diverse symptoms and had a lower amount of but a higher number of BV-related bacteria like , and . On the contrary, the species composition of the VVC group is relatively simple, which has a significantly high abundance of . Eight genera, including , and , were closely correlated with BV. Among vaginal pathogenic bacteria, and were more common, with higher copy numbers in the TV group.
CONCLUSIONS
The data outlined the overall structure of vaginal communities, indicating that BV and TV were touching related to a sharp increase in the rich taxonomy and diversity of vaginal microbiota. VVC group presented a lower variety, with a significantly high abundance of .
PubMed: 34306475
DOI: No ID Found -
Journal of Infection in Developing... Jun 2021This study aimed to determine the incidence of lower genital infections and related factors in preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM) and preterm labor.
INTRODUCTION
This study aimed to determine the incidence of lower genital infections and related factors in preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM) and preterm labor.
METHODOLOGY
A case-control study was conducted on pregnant women who were admitted to the Hospital of Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vietnam between November 2017 and May 2019. Cases from 22 to 36 gestational weeks were included as group 1 (patients with preterm labor and intact membranes) or as group 2 (those with PPROM). The control group included women with singleton pregnancies who were matched on gestational age and recruited concurrently with the study cases. Gram stain was perfomed to identify Lactobacillus, Gardnerella, mobiluncus, Candida, and leucocytes. Trichomonas vaginalis was detected by wet mount. Cultures of vaginal secretions and aminotic fluid were performed to identify aerobic bacteria.
RESULTS
Bacterial vaginosis was higher in group 1 (28.9%) compared to control (11.4%). The incidence of isolated aerobic bacteria was 44.1% in group 2, 11.1% in group 1, and 12.7% in the control group (p < 0.001). Fungal infection was not shown to be a risk factor for preterm labor (p = 0.990), whereas, bacterial vaginosis was (OR = 3.16; 95%CI = 1.23-8.15; p = 0.016). Isolated aerobic bacteria were associated with premature rupture of membranes (OR = 5.45; 95%CI = 2.11-14.05; p < 0.001).
CONCLUSIONS
Bacteria vaginosis increased the risk of preterm labor and preterm premature rupture of membranes. Isolated aerobic bacteria were related to PPROM, while fungal infection was not associated with preterm labor.
Topics: Adult; Case-Control Studies; Female; Fetal Membranes, Premature Rupture; Humans; Obstetric Labor, Premature; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious; Prenatal Diagnosis; Reproductive Tract Infections; Risk Factors; Vietnam; Young Adult
PubMed: 34242190
DOI: 10.3855/jidc.13244 -
BJU International Jan 2022To undertake the first comprehensive evaluation of the urinary microbiota associated with Hunner lesion (HL) interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS)....
OBJECTIVE
To undertake the first comprehensive evaluation of the urinary microbiota associated with Hunner lesion (HL) interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS). Despite no previous identification of a distinct IC/BPS microbial urotype, HL IC/BPS, an inflammatory subtype of IC/BPS, was hypothesized most likely to be associated with a specific bacterial species or microbial pattern.
PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS
The bacterial microbiota of midstream urine specimens from HL IC/BPS and age- and gender-matched IC/BPS patients without HL (non-HL IC/BPS) were examined using the pan-bacterial domain clinical-level molecular diagnostic Pacific Biosciences full-length 16S gene sequencing protocol, informatics pipeline and database. We characterized the differential presence, abundances, and diversity of species, as well as gender-specific differences between and among HL and non-HL IC/BPS patients.
RESULTS
A total of 59 patients with IC/BPS were enrolled (29 HL, 30 non-HL; 43 women, 16 men) from a single centre and the microbiota in midstream urine specimens was available for comparison. The species abundance differentiation between the HL and non-HL groups (12 species) was not significantly different after Bonferroni adjustments for multiple comparisons. Similarly, the nine differentiating species noted between female HL and non-HL patients were not significantly different after similar statistical correction. However, four species abundances (out of the 10 species differences identified prior to correction) remained significantly different between male HL and non-HL subjects: Negativicoccus succinivorans, Porphyromonas somerae, Mobiluncus curtisii and Corynebacterium renale. Shannon diversity metrics showed significantly higher diversity among HL male patients than HL female patients (P = 0.045), but no significant diversity differences between HL and non-HL patients overall.
CONCLUSIONS
We were not able to identify a unique pathogenic urinary microbiota that differentiates all HL from all non-HL IC/BPS. It is likely that the male-specific differences resulted from colonization/contamination remote from the bladder. We were not able to show that bacteria play an important role in patients with HL IC/BPS.
Topics: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Bacteria; Corynebacterium; Cystitis, Interstitial; DNA, Bacterial; Female; Humans; Male; Microbiota; Middle Aged; Mobiluncus; Porphyromonas; Sex Factors; Urine; Veillonellaceae
PubMed: 34143561
DOI: 10.1111/bju.15519 -
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 -
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 -
The Journal of Molecular Diagnostics :... Feb 2021Bacterial vaginosis (BV) diagnosis in pregnancy is based on the Nugent score, which consists of semiquantitation of bacterial morphotypes. Limited data exist concerning...
Bacterial vaginosis (BV) diagnosis in pregnancy is based on the Nugent score, which consists of semiquantitation of bacterial morphotypes. Limited data exist concerning molecular-based diagnosis in asymptomatic pregnant women. Using high-throughput quantitative PCR, 34 microorganisms were screened in asymptomatic pregnant women and compared with the Nugent score. Three-hundred and four vaginal samples had a Nugent score <7 (69.9%) and 131, a Nugent score ≥7 (30.1%), consistent with BV. More pregnant women with BV share Atopobiumvaginae, bacterial vaginosis associated bacteria-2, Gardnerella spp., Mobiluncus curtisii, Mo. mulieris, Mycoplasma hominis, Ureaplasma urealyticum, Prevotella bivia, Megasphaera 1, and Megasphaera 2 in their vaginal sample. Fewer pregnant women with BV share Lactobacillus crispatus, L. gasseri, L. jensenii, and Enterococcus faecalis in their vaginal sample (P < 0.001). Classification and regression tree analysis was performed to determine which combinations of detected bacteria optimally diagnose BV in this population. A set of only four bacteria of 34 microorganisms (A. vaginae, Gardnerella spp., L. crispatus, and P. bivia) was the best combination to identify BV in a cohort of asymptomatic pregnant women, with a sensitivity of 77.1%, and specificity of 97.0% compared with the Nugent score. The quantitative PCR in the present study responds to the limits of the Nugent score by implementing an easily reproducible quantitative assay to assess the absence of BV in pregnancy.
Topics: Adult; Female; Humans; Pregnant Women; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; Regression Analysis; Vaginosis, Bacterial
PubMed: 33259953
DOI: 10.1016/j.jmoldx.2020.11.004