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European Journal of Clinical... Jul 2022This case describes a 77-year-old woman with dysregulated type II diabetes, presenting with a prosthetic joint infection and bacteremia. Computed tomography (CT) of the... (Review)
Review
This case describes a 77-year-old woman with dysregulated type II diabetes, presenting with a prosthetic joint infection and bacteremia. Computed tomography (CT) of the pelvis and sacrum revealed manifest periprosthetic collections, suggestive of a septic arthritis with loosening of the hip prosthesis. Synovial fluid grew Fannyhessea vaginae, identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). To our knowledge, this is the first report of a prosthetic joint infection due to this organism.
Topics: Actinobacteria; Actinomycetaceae; Aged; Arthritis, Infectious; Bacteremia; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; Female; Humans; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization
PubMed: 35610391
DOI: 10.1007/s10096-022-04461-0 -
The Journal of Antimicrobial... Jul 2022Bacterial vaginosis (BV), the most common cause of vaginal discharge, is characterized by the presence of a polymicrobial biofilm on the vaginal epithelium, formed...
In vitro interactions within a biofilm containing three species found in bacterial vaginosis (BV) support the higher antimicrobial tolerance associated with BV recurrence.
BACKGROUND
Bacterial vaginosis (BV), the most common cause of vaginal discharge, is characterized by the presence of a polymicrobial biofilm on the vaginal epithelium, formed primarily by Gardnerella spp., but also other anaerobic species. Interactions between bacteria in multi-species biofilms are likely to contribute to increased virulence and to enhanced antimicrobial tolerance observed in vivo. However, functional studies addressing this question are lacking.
OBJECTIVES
To gain insights into the role that interactions between BV-associated species in multi-species BV biofilms might have on antimicrobial tolerance, single- and triple-species biofilms formed by Gardnerella vaginalis, Fannyhessea (Atopobium) vaginae and Peptostreptococcus anaerobius were characterized, before and after metronidazole or clindamycin treatment.
METHODS
Total biofilm biomass, total cells and cfu counts prior to and after antibiotic treatment were first determined. In addition, bacterial populations in the triple-species biofilms were also quantified by quantitative PCR (qPCR) and peptide nucleic acid (PNA) fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH).
RESULTS
Despite the effect observed in single-species biofilms, neither metronidazole nor clindamycin was effective in reducing triple-species biofilm biomass. Similar results were obtained when evaluating the number of total or culturable cells. Interestingly, despite differences between strain susceptibilities to antibiotics, the composition of the triple-species biofilms was not strongly affected by antibiotics.
CONCLUSIONS
Taken together, these results strengthen the idea that, when co-incubated, bacteria can interact synergistically, leading to increased tolerance to antimicrobial therapy, which helps explain the observed clinically high BV recurrence rates.
Topics: Actinobacteria; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Anti-Infective Agents; Bacteria; Biofilms; Clindamycin; Female; Gardnerella vaginalis; Humans; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; Metronidazole; Vagina; Vaginosis, Bacterial
PubMed: 35578895
DOI: 10.1093/jac/dkac155 -
BMC Microbiology May 2022To explore the impact of pre-pregnancy vaginal Mycoplasma hominis (M. hominis) colonization of low abundance on female fecundability.
OBJECTIVE
To explore the impact of pre-pregnancy vaginal Mycoplasma hominis (M. hominis) colonization of low abundance on female fecundability.
METHODS
In total, 89 females participating in a pre-pregnancy health examination program were included, and their pregnancy outcomes were followed up for 1 year. Vaginal swabs were collected, 16S rRNA genes were sequenced, and M. hominis colonization was confirmed by qPCR. Cox models were used to estimate the fecundability odds ratio (FOR) for women with M. hominis.
RESULTS
The prevalence of M. hominis was 22.47% (20/89), and the abundance was relatively low (the cycle thresholds of the qPCR were all more than 25). In terms of the vaginal microbiome, the Simpson index of the positive group was significantly lower than that of the negative group (P = 0.003), which means that the microbiome diversity appeared to increase with M. hominis positivity. The relative abundance of M. hominis was negatively correlated with Lactobacillus crispatus (rho = - 0.24, P = 0.024), but positively correlated with Gardnerella vaginalis, Atopobium vaginae and Prevotella bivia (P all < 0.05). The cumulative one-year pregnancy rate for the M. hominis positive group was lower than that in the negative group (58.96% vs 66.76%, log-rank test: P = 0.029). After controlling for potential confounders, the risk of pregnancy in the M. hominis positive group was reduced by 38% when compared with the positive group (FOR = 0.62, 95% CI: 0.42-0.93).
CONCLUSION
The vaginal colonization of M. hominis at a low level in pre-pregnant women is negatively correlated with female fecundability.
Topics: Cohort Studies; Female; Fertility; Gardnerella vaginalis; Humans; Male; Mycoplasma hominis; Pregnancy; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; Vagina; Vaginosis, Bacterial
PubMed: 35513786
DOI: 10.1186/s12866-022-02545-7 -
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 -
NPJ Biofilms and Microbiomes Apr 2022Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a recurrent dysbiosis that is frequently associated with preterm birth, increased risk for acquisition of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)...
Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a recurrent dysbiosis that is frequently associated with preterm birth, increased risk for acquisition of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). The overgrowth of a key pathobiont, Gardnerella vaginalis, as a recalcitrant biofilm is central to the development of this dysbiosis. Overgrowth of vaginal biofilms, seeded by initial G. vaginalis colonization, leads to recurrent symptomatic BV which is poorly resolved by classically used antibiotics. In this light, the use of bacteriophages and/or their proteins, represents a promising alternative. Here we identify 84 diverse anti-Gardnerella endolysins across 7 protein families. A subset of 36 endolysin candidates were refactored and overexpressed in an E. coli BL21 (DE3) system and 5 biochemically and structurally diverse endolysins were fully characterized. Each candidate endolysin showed good lytic activity against planktonic G. vaginalis ATCC14018, as well as G. vaginalis clinical isolates. These endolysin candidates were assayed in biofilm prevention and disruption assays, with biofilm disruption at low microgram concentrations (5 μg/ml) observed. In addition to clonal G. vaginalis biofilms, endolysin candidates could also successfully disrupt polyspecies biofilms. Importantly, none of our candidates showed lytic activity against commensal lactobacilli present in the vaginal microbiota such as L. crispatus, L. jensenii, L. gasseri, and L. iners or against Atopobium vaginae (currently classified as Fannyhessa vaginae). The potency and selectivity of these novel endolysins constitute a promising alternative treatment to combat BV, avoiding problems associated with antibiotic resistance, while retaining beneficial commensal bacteria in the vaginal flora. The diverse library of candidates reported here represents a strong repository of endolysins for further preclinical development.
Topics: Biofilms; Dysbiosis; Endopeptidases; Escherichia coli; Female; Gardnerella vaginalis; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Pregnancy; Premature Birth; Vaginosis, Bacterial
PubMed: 35440653
DOI: 10.1038/s41522-022-00285-0 -
Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics Jul 2022The incidence of extra pelvic infections due to vaginal microflora bacteria has increased as growth media and methods of isolation have improved. However, bone...
The incidence of extra pelvic infections due to vaginal microflora bacteria has increased as growth media and methods of isolation have improved. However, bone infections seem to be still relatively rare, and little is known about their risk factors, clinical presentation, treatment and final outcome. We describe here a spondylodiscitis due to Gardnerella vaginalis, Atopobium vaginae, Peptostreptococcus indolicus and Prevotella amnii, anaerobic bacteria from vaginal microbiota. Our patient had no obvious predisposing factor and recovered after antibiotic treatment. To our knowledge, this case is the first reported spondylodiscitis caused by polymicrobial vaginal flora in a healthy, immunocompetent woman.
Topics: Discitis; Female; Gardnerella vaginalis; Humans; Microbiota; Vagina; Vaginosis, Bacterial
PubMed: 35435485
DOI: 10.1007/s00404-022-06432-4 -
Frontiers in Cellular and Infection... 2022Bacterial colonization and associations with bacterial vaginosis (BV) signs and symptoms (Amsel criteria) may vary between populations. We assessed relationships between...
BACKGROUND
Bacterial colonization and associations with bacterial vaginosis (BV) signs and symptoms (Amsel criteria) may vary between populations. We assessed relationships between vaginal bacteria and Amsel criteria among two populations.
METHODS
Kenyan participants from the placebo arm of the Preventing Vaginal Infections (PVI) trial and participants from a Seattle-based cross-sectional BV study were included. Amsel criteria were recorded at study visits, and the vaginal microbiota was characterized using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Logistic regression models, accounting for repeat visits as appropriate, were fit to evaluate associations between bacterial relative abundance and each Amsel criterion.
RESULTS
Among 84 PVI participants (496 observations) and 220 Seattle participants, the prevalence of amine odor was 25% and 40%, clue cells 16% and 37%, vaginal discharge 10% and 52%, elevated vaginal pH 69% and 67%, and BV 13% and 44%, respectively. BV-associated bacterium 1 (BVAB1) was positively associated with all Amsel criteria in both populations. type 1, (, spp., , and were positively associated with all Amsel criteria in the Seattle study, and all but discharge in the PVI trial.
CONCLUSIONS
Core vaginal bacteria are consistently associated with BV signs and symptoms across two distinct populations of women.
Topics: Bacteria; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Humans; Kenya; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; United States; Vagina; Vaginosis, Bacterial
PubMed: 35310847
DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.801770 -
Clinical Laboratory Mar 202216S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene sequence analysis is the common method to identify the bacteria in human vaginal flora. While specific DNA primers were designed to target...
BACKGROUND
16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene sequence analysis is the common method to identify the bacteria in human vaginal flora. While specific DNA primers were designed to target 16S rRNA gene sequences, DNA fragment analysis using capillary electrophoresis can obtain more accurate qualitative and quantitative information on the microbiome. This study aimed to assess the ability of capillary electrophoresis method to analyze the diversity of vaginal microbiome and provide a theoretical basis for the accurate gene detection of vaginal flora.
METHODS
We collected 75 vaginal secretion samples from female outpatients aged 25 - 50, who had undergone rou-tine gynecologic examinations in Fujian provincial hospital from March 2021 to April 2021. Clinical diagnosis was based on the results of microscopic examination of Gram-stained specimens and biochemical tests of bacteria (pH value, catalase, leukocyte esterase, sialidases, β-glucuronidase, and acetylglucosaminidase). Vaginal secretion samples were collected and then total bacterial DNA was extracted. We used six pairs of fluorescent dye tagged specific primers that were designed based on the 16S rRNA genes of four Lactobacillus species (L. iners, L. crispatus, L. jensenii, L. gasseri), Gardnerella vaginalis, and Atopobium vaginae. PCR products of six species of bacteria were detected and analyzed by a 3130 Genetic Analyzer.
RESULTS
Seventy-five samples were divided into two groups according to the vaginal microbiome evaluation, including 50 cases which had vaginal bacteria balance and 25 cases which had vaginal bacteria disorder. PCR amplification of 16S ribosomal RNA genes of L. iners, L. crispatus, L. jensenii, L. gasseri, Gardnerella vaginalis, and Atopobium vaginae was successfully performed on the DNA extracted from vaginal secretion samples. Four Lac-tobacillus species were detected in 4 - 33 cases of "Balance" group, and Gardnerella vaginalis was detected in 23 cases of "Disorder" group and, simultaneously, Atopobium vaginae was detected in 20 cases.
CONCLUSIONS
Based on the technique of DNA fragment analysis using capillary electrophoresis method, the most common vaginal bacteria in Chinese healthy women are L. iners and L. crispatus. Gardnerella vaginalis and Atopobium vaginae are the most common pathogenic bacteria detected in the patients who had vaginal bacteria disorder. Using capillary electrophoresis method to detect the vaginal bacteria will be useful for accurate identifica-tion of vaginal microbiome. There will be an application value to find out the composition of the vaginal microbiome rapidly and detect specific gene markers to identify potential pathogenic bacteria when women are at risk of serious illness before they develop obvious symptoms.
Topics: Adult; Electrophoresis, Capillary; Female; Gardnerella vaginalis; Humans; Microbiota; Middle Aged; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; Vagina; Vaginosis, Bacterial
PubMed: 35254031
DOI: 10.7754/Clin.Lab.2021.210601 -
Biochimie Jun 2022Gynecological cancers that affect female reproductive tract, remain at the top of the global cancer burden list with high relapse rate and mortality. Notwithstanding... (Review)
Review
Gynecological cancers that affect female reproductive tract, remain at the top of the global cancer burden list with high relapse rate and mortality. Notwithstanding development of several novel therapeutic interventions including poly-ADP-ribose polymerase inhibitors, this family of malignancies remain deadly. The human microbiome project demonstrated that dysbiosis of health resident microflora is associated with several pathologies including malignancies of the female reproductive tract and detailed characterization of species variation and host-microbe interaction could provide clues for identification of early diagnostic biomarker, preventive and therapeutic interventions. Emerging evidence suggests that several microbial signatures are significantly associated with gynecological cancers. An increased population of Proteobacteria and Firmicutes followed by significantly reduced Lactobacilli are associated with lethal epithelial ovarian cancer. Similarly, a constant association of elevated level of Atopobium vaginae, Porphyromonas somerae, Micrococci and Gardnerella vaginalis are observed in endometrial and cervical cancers. Moreover, human papilloma virus infection significantly augments colonization of pathogenic microbes including Sneathia sanguinegens, Anaerococcus tetradius, and Peptostreptococcus anaerobius and drives carcinoma of the cervix. Interestingly, microbial dysbiosis in female reproductive tract modulates expression of several microbial and immune-responsive genes such as TLR-4, TLR-5, TLR-6 and NOD-1. Therefore, stringent investigation into the microbial dysbiosis and its underlying mechanism could provide valuable cues for identification of early diagnostic biomarker, preventive and therapeutic interventions against rogue gynecological malignancies.
Topics: Biomarkers; Dysbiosis; Female; Genital Neoplasms, Female; Humans; Lactobacillus; Microbiota
PubMed: 35176353
DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2022.02.005 -
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