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Kwon KM, Kim EH, Sim KH, Lee YJ, Kang EJ, Han KH, Jin JS, Kim DK, Ahn JH, Hwang IH. Phenylacetic acid, an anti-vaginitis metabolite produced by the vaginal symbiotic bacterium Chryseobacterium gleum. Sci Rep 2024; 14:12226. [PMID: 38806600 PMCID: PMC11133378 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-62947-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/30/2024] Open
Abstract
The human microbiome contains genetic information that regulates metabolic processes in response to host health and disease. While acidic vaginal pH is maintained in normal conditions, the pH level increases in infectious vaginitis. We propose that this change in the vaginal environment triggers the biosynthesis of anti-vaginitis metabolites. Gene expression levels of Chryseobacterium gleum, a vaginal symbiotic bacterium, were found to be affected by pH changes. The distinctive difference in the metabolic profiles between two C. gleum cultures incubated under acidic and neutral pH conditions was suggested to be an anti-vaginitis molecule, which was identified as phenylacetic acid (PAA) by spectroscopic data analysis. The antimicrobial activity of PAA was evaluated in vitro, showing greater toxicity toward Gardnerella vaginalis and Candida albicans, two major vaginal pathogens, relative to commensal Lactobacillus spp. The activation of myeloperoxidase, prostaglandin E2, and nuclear factor-κB, and the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 were reduced by an intravaginal administration of PAA in the vaginitis mouse model. In addition, PAA displayed the downregulation of mast cell activation. Therefore, PAA was suggested to be a messenger molecule that mediates interactions between the human microbiome and vaginal health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kang Mu Kwon
- Department of Pharmacy, Woosuk University, Wanju, Jeonbuk, 55338, Republic of Korea
| | - Eun-Hye Kim
- Department of Korean Pharmacy, Woosuk University, Wanju, Jeonbuk, 55338, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyeong Hwa Sim
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Daegu Catholic University, 33 Duryugongwon-ro 17-gil, Nam-gu, Daegu, 42472, Republic of Korea
| | - Youn Ju Lee
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Daegu Catholic University, 33 Duryugongwon-ro 17-gil, Nam-gu, Daegu, 42472, Republic of Korea
| | - Eun-Ji Kang
- Department of Food and Biotechnology, Woosuk University, Wanju, Jeonbuk, 55338, Republic of Korea
| | - Kap-Hoon Han
- Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering, Woosuk University, Wanju, Jeonbuk, 55338, Republic of Korea
| | - Jong-Sik Jin
- Department of Oriental Medicine Resources, Jeonbuk National University, Iksan, Jeonbuk, 54596, Republic of Korea
| | - Dae Keun Kim
- Department of Pharmacy, Woosuk University, Wanju, Jeonbuk, 55338, Republic of Korea
- Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Woosuk University, Wanju, 55338, Republic of Korea
| | - Ji-Hye Ahn
- Department of Korean Pharmacy, Woosuk University, Wanju, Jeonbuk, 55338, Republic of Korea.
| | - In Hyun Hwang
- Department of Pharmacy, Woosuk University, Wanju, Jeonbuk, 55338, Republic of Korea.
- Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Woosuk University, Wanju, 55338, Republic of Korea.
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2
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Gorczyca K, Kozioł MM, Kimber-Trojnar Ż, Kępa J, Satora M, Rekowska AK, Leszczyńska-Gorzelak B. Premature rupture of membranes and changes in the vaginal microbiome - Probiotics. Reprod Biol 2024; 24:100899. [PMID: 38805904 DOI: 10.1016/j.repbio.2024.100899] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2023] [Revised: 05/17/2024] [Accepted: 05/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/30/2024]
Abstract
Preterm birth affects approximately 15 million women worldwide, of which 30 % is due to preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM). The reasons for shortening the duration of pregnancy are seen in genetic, hormonal, immunological and socio-economic conditions. Recent years have provided a lot of evidence on the impact of the microbiota and whole microbiome on pregnant women, suggesting that the microorganisms inhabiting the vagina significantly affect the risk of preterm delivery. The aim of the study was to review studies evaluating the composition of the vaginal microflora and its role in the occurrence of preterm labor caused by PPROM, and to evaluate the potential beneficial effect of probiotics on preventing the development of preterm labor. Vaginal microbial dysbiosis is observed in PPROM, which, due to its association with a high risk of prematurity and infection, increases neonatal morbidity and mortality. Further research on biomarkers for screening, early prognosis and diagnosis of PPROM seems advisable. Probiotics as a potential intervention can prevent the development of pathological vaginal flora, reducing the risk of infection in women planning pregnancy and pregnant women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kamila Gorczyca
- Chair and Department of Obstetrics and Perinatology, Medical University of Lublin, Jaczewskiego 8 Street, 20-090 Lublin, Poland
| | - Małgorzata M Kozioł
- Chair and Department of Medical Microbiology, Medical University of Lublin, Chodzki 1 Street, 20-093 Lublin, Poland.
| | - Żaneta Kimber-Trojnar
- Chair and Department of Obstetrics and Perinatology, Medical University of Lublin, Jaczewskiego 8 Street, 20-090 Lublin, Poland
| | - Joanna Kępa
- Students Scientific Association at the Chair and Department of Obstetrics and Perinatology, Medical University of Lublin, Jaczewskiego 8 Street, 20-090 Lublin, Poland
| | - Małgorzata Satora
- Students Scientific Association at the Chair and Department of Obstetrics and Perinatology, Medical University of Lublin, Jaczewskiego 8 Street, 20-090 Lublin, Poland
| | - Anna K Rekowska
- Students Scientific Association at the Chair and Department of Obstetrics and Perinatology, Medical University of Lublin, Jaczewskiego 8 Street, 20-090 Lublin, Poland
| | - Bożena Leszczyńska-Gorzelak
- Chair and Department of Obstetrics and Perinatology, Medical University of Lublin, Jaczewskiego 8 Street, 20-090 Lublin, Poland
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3
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Dong W, Wang S, Wang X, Xu G, Liu Q, Li Z, Lv N, Pan Y, Xiong Q, Liu D, Zhu B. Characteristics of Vaginal Microbiota of Women of Reproductive Age with Infections. Microorganisms 2024; 12:1030. [PMID: 38792859 PMCID: PMC11124179 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12051030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2024] [Revised: 05/09/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
The vaginal microbiota can be classified into five major community state types (CSTs) based on the bacterial content. However, the link between different CST subtypes and vaginal infection remains unclear. Here, we analyzed 2017 vaginal microbiota samples from women of a reproductive age with vaginal infections that were published in the last decade. We found that L. iners was the most dominant in 34.8% of the vaginal samples, followed by L. crispatus (21.2%). CST I was common in healthy individuals, whereas CST III and IV were associated with dysbiosis and infection. CST III-B, IV-A, IV-B, and IV-C0 were prevalent in patients with bacterial vaginosis (BV). Based on the relative abundance of bacteria at the (sub)genus level, a random forest classifier was developed to predict vaginal infections with an area under the curve of 0.83. We further identified four modules of co-occurring bacterial taxa: L. crispatus, Gardnerella, Prevotella, and Bacteroides. The functional prediction revealed that nucleotide biosynthesis pathways were upregulated in patients with human papilloma virus, and carbohydrate degradation pathways were downregulated in patients with BV. Overall, our study identified the bacterial signatures of healthy and infected vaginal microbiota, providing unique insights into the clinical diagnosis and health status prediction of women of a reproductive age.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wanting Dong
- CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; (W.D.)
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Siyi Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; (W.D.)
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Xi Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; (W.D.)
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Guojin Xu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; (W.D.)
| | - Qiuying Liu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; (W.D.)
| | - Zheng Li
- CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; (W.D.)
| | - Na Lv
- CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; (W.D.)
| | - Yuanlong Pan
- CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; (W.D.)
| | - Qian Xiong
- CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; (W.D.)
| | - Donglai Liu
- Division II of In Vitro Diagnostics for Infectious Diseases, Institute for In Vitro Diagnostics Control, National Institutes for Food and Drug Control, Beijing 100050, China
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Quality Research and Evaluation of Medical Devices, Beijing 100050, China
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Quality Research and Evaluation of In Vitro Diagnostics, Beijing 100050, China
| | - Baoli Zhu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; (W.D.)
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
- Department of Pathogenic Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou 646000, China
- Jinan Microecological Biomedicine Shandong Laboratory, Jinan 250117, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Antimicrobial Resistance and Pathogen Genomics, Beijing 100101, China
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4
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Lei Y, Ding D, Duan J, Luo Y, Huang F, Kang Y, Chen Y, Li S. Soil Microbial Community Characteristics and Their Effect on Tea Quality under Different Fertilization Treatments in Two Tea Plantations. Genes (Basel) 2024; 15:610. [PMID: 38790239 PMCID: PMC11121415 DOI: 10.3390/genes15050610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2024] [Revised: 05/03/2024] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Fertilization is an essential aspect of tea plantation management that supports a sustainable tea production and drastically influences soil microbial communities. However, few research studies have focused on the differences of microbial communities and the variation in tea quality in response to different fertilization treatments. In this work, the soil fertility, tea quality, and soil microbial communities were investigated in two domestic tea plantations following the application of chemical and organic fertilizers. We determined the content of mineral elements in the soil, including nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, and found that the supplementation of chemical fertilizer directly increased the content of mineral elements. However, the application of organic fertilizer significantly improved the accumulation of tea polyphenols and reduced the content of caffeine. Furthermore, amplicon sequencing results showed that the different ways of applying fertilizer have limited effect on the alpha diversity of the microbial community in the soil while the beta diversity was remarkably influenced. This work also suggests that the bacterial community structure and abundance were also relatively constant while the fungal community structure and abundance were dramatically influenced; for example, Chaetomiaceae at the family level, Hypocreaceae at the order level, Trichoderma at the genus level, and Fusarium oxysporum at the species level were predominantly enriched in the tea plantation applying organic fertilizer. Moreover, the bacterial and fungal biomarkers were also analyzed and it was found that Proteobacteria and Gammaproteobacteria (bacteria) and Tremellomycetes (fungi) were potentially characterized as biomarkers in the plantation under organic fertilization. These results provide a valuable basis for the application of organic fertilizer to improve the soil of tea plantations in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Lei
- Tea Research Institute, Hunan Academy of Agricultural Science, Changsha 410125, China; (Y.L.); (D.D.); (J.D.); (Y.L.); (F.H.); (Y.K.); (Y.C.)
- National Medium and Small Leaf Tea Plant Germplasm Resource Repository (Changsha), Changsha 410125, China
- National Center for Tea Improvement, Hunan Branch/Hunan Tea Variety and Seedling Engineering Technology Research Center, Changsha 410125, China
| | - Ding Ding
- Tea Research Institute, Hunan Academy of Agricultural Science, Changsha 410125, China; (Y.L.); (D.D.); (J.D.); (Y.L.); (F.H.); (Y.K.); (Y.C.)
- National Medium and Small Leaf Tea Plant Germplasm Resource Repository (Changsha), Changsha 410125, China
- National Center for Tea Improvement, Hunan Branch/Hunan Tea Variety and Seedling Engineering Technology Research Center, Changsha 410125, China
| | - Jihua Duan
- Tea Research Institute, Hunan Academy of Agricultural Science, Changsha 410125, China; (Y.L.); (D.D.); (J.D.); (Y.L.); (F.H.); (Y.K.); (Y.C.)
- National Medium and Small Leaf Tea Plant Germplasm Resource Repository (Changsha), Changsha 410125, China
- National Center for Tea Improvement, Hunan Branch/Hunan Tea Variety and Seedling Engineering Technology Research Center, Changsha 410125, China
| | - Yi Luo
- Tea Research Institute, Hunan Academy of Agricultural Science, Changsha 410125, China; (Y.L.); (D.D.); (J.D.); (Y.L.); (F.H.); (Y.K.); (Y.C.)
- National Medium and Small Leaf Tea Plant Germplasm Resource Repository (Changsha), Changsha 410125, China
- National Center for Tea Improvement, Hunan Branch/Hunan Tea Variety and Seedling Engineering Technology Research Center, Changsha 410125, China
| | - Feiyi Huang
- Tea Research Institute, Hunan Academy of Agricultural Science, Changsha 410125, China; (Y.L.); (D.D.); (J.D.); (Y.L.); (F.H.); (Y.K.); (Y.C.)
- National Medium and Small Leaf Tea Plant Germplasm Resource Repository (Changsha), Changsha 410125, China
- National Center for Tea Improvement, Hunan Branch/Hunan Tea Variety and Seedling Engineering Technology Research Center, Changsha 410125, China
| | - Yankai Kang
- Tea Research Institute, Hunan Academy of Agricultural Science, Changsha 410125, China; (Y.L.); (D.D.); (J.D.); (Y.L.); (F.H.); (Y.K.); (Y.C.)
- National Medium and Small Leaf Tea Plant Germplasm Resource Repository (Changsha), Changsha 410125, China
- National Center for Tea Improvement, Hunan Branch/Hunan Tea Variety and Seedling Engineering Technology Research Center, Changsha 410125, China
| | - Yingyu Chen
- Tea Research Institute, Hunan Academy of Agricultural Science, Changsha 410125, China; (Y.L.); (D.D.); (J.D.); (Y.L.); (F.H.); (Y.K.); (Y.C.)
- National Medium and Small Leaf Tea Plant Germplasm Resource Repository (Changsha), Changsha 410125, China
- National Center for Tea Improvement, Hunan Branch/Hunan Tea Variety and Seedling Engineering Technology Research Center, Changsha 410125, China
| | - Saijun Li
- Tea Research Institute, Hunan Academy of Agricultural Science, Changsha 410125, China; (Y.L.); (D.D.); (J.D.); (Y.L.); (F.H.); (Y.K.); (Y.C.)
- National Medium and Small Leaf Tea Plant Germplasm Resource Repository (Changsha), Changsha 410125, China
- National Center for Tea Improvement, Hunan Branch/Hunan Tea Variety and Seedling Engineering Technology Research Center, Changsha 410125, China
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5
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Moore KA, Petersen AP, Zierden HC. Microorganism-derived extracellular vesicles: emerging contributors to female reproductive health. NANOSCALE 2024; 16:8216-8235. [PMID: 38572613 DOI: 10.1039/d3nr05524h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/05/2024]
Abstract
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are cell-derived nanoparticles that carry small molecules, nucleic acids, and proteins long distances in the body facilitating cell-cell communication. Microorganism-derived EVs mediate communication between parent cells and host cells, with recent evidence supporting their role in biofilm formation, horizontal gene transfer, and suppression of the host immune system. As lipid-bound bacterial byproducts, EVs demonstrate improved cellular uptake and distribution in vivo compared to cell-free nucleic acids, proteins, or small molecules, allowing these biological nanoparticles to recapitulate the effects of parent cells and contribute to a range of human health outcomes. Here, we focus on how EVs derived from vaginal microorganisms contribute to gynecologic and obstetric outcomes. As the composition of the vaginal microbiome significantly impacts women's health, we discuss bacterial EVs from both healthy and dysbiotic vaginal microbiota. We also examine recent work done to evaluate the role of EVs from common vaginal bacterial, fungal, and parasitic pathogens in pathogenesis of female reproductive tract disease. We highlight evidence for the role of EVs in women's health, gaps in current knowledge, and opportunities for future work. Finally, we discuss how leveraging the innate interactions between microorganisms and mammalian cells may establish EVs as a novel therapeutic modality for gynecologic and obstetric indications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaitlyn A Moore
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742, USA.
| | - Alyssa P Petersen
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742, USA
| | - Hannah C Zierden
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742, USA.
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742, USA
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
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6
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Pedro NA, Mira NP. A molecular view on the interference established between vaginal Lactobacilli and pathogenic Candida species: Challenges and opportunities for the development of new therapies. Microbiol Res 2024; 281:127628. [PMID: 38246122 DOI: 10.1016/j.micres.2024.127628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2023] [Revised: 01/03/2024] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
Vaginal infectious diseases caused by viruses and bacteria have been linked to the occurrence of dysbiosis, that is, a reduction in the abundance of the normally dominating vaginal Lactobacillus species. Mucosal infections in the vagina and/or vulva caused by Candida species, usually known as vulvovaginal candidiasis (or VVC), are among the leading causes of diseases in the vaginal tract. The existence of a clear link between the occurrence of dysbiosis and the development of VVC is still unclear, although multiple observations point in that direction. Based on the idea that vaginal health is linked to a microbiota dominated by lactobacilli, several probiotics have been used in management of VVC, either alone or in combination with antifungals, having obtained different degrees of success. In most cases, the undertaken trials resorted to lactobacilli species other than those indigenous to the vaginal tract, although in vitro these vaginal species were shown to reduce growth, viability and virulence of Candida. In this paper we overview the role of lactobacilli and Candida in the vaginal micro- and myco-biomes, while discussing the results obtained in what concerns the establishment of interference mechanisms in vivo and the environmental factors that could determine that. We also overview the molecular mechanisms by which lactobacilli species have been shown to inhibit pathophysiology of Candida, including the description of the genes and pathways determining their ability to thrive in the presence of each other. In a time where concerns are increasing with the emergence of antifungal resistance and the slow pace of discovery of new antifungals, a thorough understanding of the molecular mechanisms underneath the anti-Candida effect prompted by vaginal lactobacilli is of utmost importance to assure a knowledge-based design of what can be a new generation of pharmaceuticals, eventually focusing therapeutic targets other than the usual ones.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nuno A Pedro
- iBB, Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences, Instituto Superior Técnico - Department of Bioengineering, Universidade de Lisboa, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal; Associate Laboratory i4HB-Institute for Health and Bioeconomy at Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Nuno P Mira
- iBB, Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences, Instituto Superior Técnico - Department of Bioengineering, Universidade de Lisboa, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal; Associate Laboratory i4HB-Institute for Health and Bioeconomy at Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal.
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7
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Cohen S, Ost KS, Doran KS. Impact of interkingdom microbial interactions in the vaginal tract. PLoS Pathog 2024; 20:e1012018. [PMID: 38457371 PMCID: PMC10923463 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1012018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/10/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Shirli Cohen
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Aurora, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Kyla S. Ost
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Aurora, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Kelly S. Doran
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Aurora, Colorado, United States of America
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8
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Kamel M, Aleya S, Alsubih M, Aleya L. Microbiome Dynamics: A Paradigm Shift in Combatting Infectious Diseases. J Pers Med 2024; 14:217. [PMID: 38392650 PMCID: PMC10890469 DOI: 10.3390/jpm14020217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2023] [Revised: 02/15/2024] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Infectious diseases have long posed a significant threat to global health and require constant innovation in treatment approaches. However, recent groundbreaking research has shed light on a previously overlooked player in the pathogenesis of disease-the human microbiome. This review article addresses the intricate relationship between the microbiome and infectious diseases and unravels its role as a crucial mediator of host-pathogen interactions. We explore the remarkable potential of harnessing this dynamic ecosystem to develop innovative treatment strategies that could revolutionize the management of infectious diseases. By exploring the latest advances and emerging trends, this review aims to provide a new perspective on combating infectious diseases by targeting the microbiome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed Kamel
- Department of Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, Giza 11221, Egypt
| | - Sami Aleya
- Faculty of Medecine, Université de Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Hauts-du-Chazal, 25030 Besançon, France
| | - Majed Alsubih
- Department of Civil Engineering, King Khalid University, Guraiger, Abha 62529, Saudi Arabia
| | - Lotfi Aleya
- Laboratoire de Chrono-Environnement, Université de Bourgogne Franche-Comté, UMR CNRS 6249, La Bouloie, 25030 Besançon, France
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9
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Ottinger S, Robertson CM, Branthoover H, Patras KA. The human vaginal microbiota: from clinical medicine to models to mechanisms. Curr Opin Microbiol 2024; 77:102422. [PMID: 38215548 PMCID: PMC11160953 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2023.102422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2023] [Revised: 12/12/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/14/2024]
Abstract
The composition of the vaginal microbiota is linked to numerous reproductive health problems, including increased susceptibility to infection, pregnancy complications, and impaired vaginal tissue repair; however, the mechanisms contributing to these adverse outcomes are not yet fully defined. In this review, we highlight recent clinical advancements associating vaginal microbiome composition and function with health outcomes. Subsequently, we provide a summary of emerging models employed to identify microbe-microbe interactions contributing to vaginal health, including metagenomic sequencing, multi-omics approaches, and advances in vaginal microbiota cultivation. Last, we review new in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo models, such as organoids and humanized microbiota murine models, used to define and mechanistically explore host-microbe interactions at the vaginal mucosa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha Ottinger
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Clare M Robertson
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Holly Branthoover
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Kathryn A Patras
- Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Alkek Center for Metagenomics and Microbiome Research, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
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10
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Challa A, Sharma U, Tyagi R, Kumar P, Sood S, Kachhawa G, Jagannathan NR, Gupta S. Predictive Performance of 1 H-NMR Metabolomics-Derived Biomarkers of Bacterial Vaginosis. Sex Transm Dis 2024; 51:125-127. [PMID: 37934152 DOI: 10.1097/olq.0000000000001897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2023]
Abstract
ABSTRACT 1 H-NMR metabolomics-derived biomarkers maltose, acetate, formate, and lactate have excellent potential as predictive biomarkers for bacterial vaginosis with an area under curve of 0.97 (95% confidence interval, 0.88-1.00), sensitivity of 0.90, and specificity of 0.95.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Garima Kachhawa
- Obstetrics and Gynaecology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | | | - Somesh Gupta
- From the Departments of Dermatology and Venereology
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11
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Zhang W, Jia Q, Han M, Zhang X, Guo L, Sun S, Yin W, Bo C, Han R, Sai L. Bifidobacteria in disease: from head to toe. Folia Microbiol (Praha) 2024; 69:1-15. [PMID: 37644256 DOI: 10.1007/s12223-023-01087-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
Bifidobacteria as a strictly anaerobic gram-positive bacteria, is widely distributed in the intestine, vagina and oral cavity, and is one of the first gut flora to colonize the early stages of life. Intestinal flora is closely related to health, and dysbiosis of intestinal flora, especially Bifidobacteria, has been found in a variety of diseases. Numerous studies have shown that in addition to maintaining intestinal homeostasis, Bifidobacteria may be involved in diseases covering all parts of the body, including the nervous system, respiratory system, genitourinary system and so on. This review collects evidence for the variation of Bifidobacteria in typical diseases among various systems, provides mild and effective therapeutic options for those diseases that are difficult to cure, and moves Bifidobacteria from basic research to further clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weiliang Zhang
- Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Shandong Academy of Occupational Health and Occupational Medicine, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Qiang Jia
- Shandong Academy of Occupational Health and Occupational Medicine, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Mingming Han
- Shandong Academy of Occupational Health and Occupational Medicine, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Xin Zhang
- Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Shandong Academy of Occupational Health and Occupational Medicine, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Limin Guo
- Rongcheng Municipal Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Rongcheng, Shandong, China
| | - Shichao Sun
- Shandong Academy of Occupational Health and Occupational Medicine, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, China
- Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine Doctoral candidate Class of 2022, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Wenhui Yin
- Shandong Academy of Occupational Health and Occupational Medicine, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Cunxiang Bo
- Shandong Academy of Occupational Health and Occupational Medicine, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Ru Han
- Shandong Academy of Occupational Health and Occupational Medicine, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, China.
| | - Linlin Sai
- Shandong Academy of Occupational Health and Occupational Medicine, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, China.
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12
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Zhao Y, Wang P, Sun X, Zhao M, Chen Y, Gao X. Candida albicans Infection Disrupts the Metabolism of Vaginal Epithelial Cells and Inhibits Cellular Glycolysis. Microorganisms 2024; 12:292. [PMID: 38399696 PMCID: PMC10891792 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12020292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2024] [Revised: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) is a common gynecologic disorder caused by fungal infections of the vaginal mucosa, with the most common pathogen being Candida albicans (C. albicans). Exploring metabolite changes in the disease process facilitates further discovery of targets for disease treatment. However, studies on the metabolic changes caused by C. albicans are still lacking. In this study, we used C. albicans-infected vaginal epithelial cells to construct an in vitro model of VVC, analyzed the metabolites by UHPLC-Q-Exactive MS, and screened the potential metabolites based on metabolomics. The results showed that C. albicans infection resulted in significant up-regulation of D-arabitol, palmitic acid, adenosine, etc.; significant down-regulation of lactic acid, nicotinamide (NAM), nicotinate (NA), etc.; and disruption of amino acid metabolism, and that these significantly altered metabolites might be potential therapeutic targets of VVC. Further experiments showed that C. albicans infection led to a decrease in glycolytic enzymes in damaged cells, inhibiting glycolysis and leading to significant alterations in glycolytic metabolites. The present study explored the potential metabolites of VVC induced by C. albicans infection based on metabolomics and verified the inhibitory effect of C. albicans on vaginal epithelial cell glycolysis, which is valuable for the diagnosis and treatment of VVC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanni Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Functions and Applications of Medicinal Plants, School of Pharmacy, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550031, China
- Microbiology and Biochemical Pharmaceutical Engineering Research Center, Guizhou Provincial Department of Education, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550031, China
| | - Pengjiao Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Functions and Applications of Medicinal Plants, School of Pharmacy, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550031, China
- Microbiology and Biochemical Pharmaceutical Engineering Research Center, Guizhou Provincial Department of Education, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550031, China
| | - Xiaodong Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Functions and Applications of Medicinal Plants, School of Pharmacy, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550031, China
- Microbiology and Biochemical Pharmaceutical Engineering Research Center, Guizhou Provincial Department of Education, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550031, China
| | - Mei Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Functions and Applications of Medicinal Plants, School of Pharmacy, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550031, China
- Microbiology and Biochemical Pharmaceutical Engineering Research Center, Guizhou Provincial Department of Education, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550031, China
| | - Yixuan Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Functions and Applications of Medicinal Plants, School of Pharmacy, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550031, China
- Microbiology and Biochemical Pharmaceutical Engineering Research Center, Guizhou Provincial Department of Education, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550031, China
| | - Xiuli Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Functions and Applications of Medicinal Plants, School of Pharmacy, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550031, China
- Microbiology and Biochemical Pharmaceutical Engineering Research Center, Guizhou Provincial Department of Education, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550031, China
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13
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Cao W, Fu X, Zhou J, Qi Q, Ye F, Li L, Wang L. The effect of the female genital tract and gut microbiome on reproductive dysfunction. Biosci Trends 2024; 17:458-474. [PMID: 38104979 DOI: 10.5582/bst.2023.01133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
Microorganisms are ubiquitous in the human body; they are present in various areas including the gut, mouth, skin, respiratory tract, and reproductive tract. The interaction between the microbiome and reproductive health has become an increasingly compelling area of study. Disruption of the female genital tract microbiome can significantly impact the metabolism of amino acids, carbohydrates, and lipids, increasing susceptibility to reproductive tract diseases such as vaginitis, chronic endometritis, endometrial polyps, endometriosis, and polycystic ovary syndrome. The gut microbiome, considered an endocrine organ, plays a crucial role in the reproductive endocrine system by interacting with hormones like estrogen and androgens. Imbalances in the gut microbiome composition can lead to various diseases and conditions, including polycystic ovary syndrome, endometriosis, and cancer, although research on their mechanisms remains limited. This review highlights the latest advancements in understanding the female genital tract and gut microbiomes in gynecological diseases. It also explores the potential of microbial communities in the treatment of reproductive diseases. Future research should focus on identifying the molecular mechanisms underlying the association between the microbiome and reproductive diseases to develop new and effective strategies for disease prevention, diagnosis, and treatment related to female reproductive organs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenli Cao
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Zhoushan Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Zhoushan, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xiayan Fu
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Zhoushan Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Zhoushan, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jing Zhou
- Laboratory for Reproductive Immunology, Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- The Academy of Integrative Medicine, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Female Reproductive Endocrine-related Diseases, Shanghai, China
| | - Qing Qi
- Laboratory for Reproductive Immunology, Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- The Academy of Integrative Medicine, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Female Reproductive Endocrine-related Diseases, Shanghai, China
| | - Feijun Ye
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Zhoushan Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Zhoushan, Zhejiang, China
| | - Lisha Li
- Laboratory for Reproductive Immunology, Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- The Academy of Integrative Medicine, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Female Reproductive Endocrine-related Diseases, Shanghai, China
| | - Ling Wang
- Laboratory for Reproductive Immunology, Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- The Academy of Integrative Medicine, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Female Reproductive Endocrine-related Diseases, Shanghai, China
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14
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Zhou Z, Feng Y, Xie L, Ma S, Cai Z, Ma Y. Alterations in gut and genital microbiota associated with gynecological diseases: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Reprod Biol Endocrinol 2024; 22:13. [PMID: 38238814 PMCID: PMC10795389 DOI: 10.1186/s12958-024-01184-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 01/22/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Increasing number of studies have demonstrated certain patterns of microbial changes in gynecological diseases; however, the interaction between them remains unclear. To evaluate the consistency or specificity across multiple studies on different gynecological diseases and microbial alterations at different sites of the body (gut and genital tract), we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis. METHODS We searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library up to December 5, 2022(PROSPERO: CRD42023400205). Eligible studies focused on gynecological diseases in adult women, applied next-generation sequencing on microbiome, and reported outcomes including alpha or beta diversity or relative abundance. The random-effects model on standardized mean difference (SMD) was conducted using the inverse-variance method for alpha diversity indices. RESULTS Of 3327 unique articles, 87 eligible studies were included. Significant decreases were found in gut microbiome of patients versus controls (observed species SMD=-0.35; 95%CI, -0.62 to -0.09; Shannon index SMD=-0.23; 95%CI, -0.40 to -0.06), whereas significant increases were observed in vaginal microbiome (Chao1 SMD = 1.15; 95%CI, 0.74 to 1.56; Shannon index SMD = 0.51; 95%CI, 0.16 to 0.86). Most studies of different diagnostic categories showed no significant differences in beta diversity. Disease specificity was observed, but almost all the changes were only replicated in three studies, except for the increased Aerococcus in bacterial vaginosis (BV). Patients with major gynecological diseases shared the enrichment of Prevotella and depletion of Lactobacillus, and an overlap in microbes was implied between BV, cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, and cervical cancer. CONCLUSIONS These findings demonstrated an association between alterations in gut and genital microbiota and gynecological diseases. The most observed results were shared alterations across diseases rather than disease-specific alterations. Therefore, further investigation is required to identify specific biomarkers for diagnosis and treatment in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziwei Zhou
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Medical Center, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yifei Feng
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Medical Center, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lishan Xie
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Medical Center, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Song Ma
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Medical Center, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhaoxia Cai
- Guangzhou Liwan Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ying Ma
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Medical Center, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
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15
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Bommana S, Hu YJ, Kama M, Wang R, Kodimerla R, Jijakli K, Read TD, Dean D. Unique microbial diversity, community composition, and networks among Pacific Islander endocervical and vaginal microbiomes with and without Chlamydia trachomatis infection in Fiji. mBio 2024; 15:e0306323. [PMID: 38117091 PMCID: PMC10790706 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.03063-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct) is the most common sexually transmitted bacterium globally. Endocervical and vaginal microbiome interactions are rarely examined within the context of Ct or among vulnerable populations. We evaluated 258 vaginal and 92 paired endocervical samples from Fijian women using metagenomic shotgun sequencing. Over 37% of the microbiomes could not be classified into sub-community state types (subCSTs). We, therefore, developed subCSTs IV-D0, IV-D1, IV-D2, and IV-E-dominated primarily by Gardnerella vaginalis-to improve classification. Among paired microbiomes, the endocervix had a significantly higher alpha diversity and, independently, higher diversity for high-risk human papilloma virus (HPV) genotypes compared to low-risk and no HPV. Ct-infected endocervical networks had smaller clusters without interactions with potentially beneficial Lactobacillus spp. Overall, these data suggest that G. vaginalis may generate polymicrobial biofilms that predispose to and/or promote Ct and possibly HPV persistence and pathogenicity. Our findings expand on the existing repertoire of endocervical and vaginal microbiomes and fill in knowledge gaps regarding Pacific Islanders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sankhya Bommana
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Francisco, Oakland, California, USA
| | - Yi-Juan Hu
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Mike Kama
- Ministry of Health and Medical Services, Suva, Fiji
| | - Ruohong Wang
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Francisco, Oakland, California, USA
| | - Reshma Kodimerla
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Francisco, Oakland, California, USA
| | - Kenan Jijakli
- Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Timothy D. Read
- Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Deborah Dean
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Francisco, Oakland, California, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, Joint Graduate Program, University of California San Francisco and University of California Berkeley, San Francisco, California, USA
- Bixby Center for Global Reproductive Health, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
- University of California San Francisco, Benioff Center for Microbiome Medicine, San Francisco, California, USA
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16
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Gouello A, Henry L, Chadli D, Salipante F, Gibert J, Boutet-Dubois A, Lavigne JP. Evaluation of the Microbiome Identification of Forensically Relevant Biological Fluids: A Pilot Study. Diagnostics (Basel) 2024; 14:187. [PMID: 38248064 PMCID: PMC10814007 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics14020187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2023] [Revised: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
In forensic sciences, body fluids, or biological traces, are a major source of information, and their identification can play a decisive role in criminal investigations. Currently, the nature of biological fluids is assessed using immunological, physico-chemical, mRNA and epigenetic methods, but these have limits in terms of sensitivity and specificity. The emergence of next-generation sequencing technologies offers new opportunities to identify the nature of body fluids by determining bacterial communities. The aim of this pilot study was to assess whether analysis of the bacterial communities in isolated and mixed biological fluids could reflect the situation observed in real forensics labs. Several samples commonly encountered in forensic sciences were tested from healthy volunteers: saliva, vaginal fluid, blood, semen and skin swabs. These samples were analyzed alone or in combination in a ratio of 1:1. Sequencing was performed on the Ion Gene StudioTM S5 automated sequencer. Fluids tested alone revealed a typical bacterial signature with specific bacterial orders, enabling formal identification of the fluid of interest, despite inter-individual variations. However, in biological fluid mixtures, the predominance of some bacterial microbiomes inhibited interpretation. Oral and vaginal microbiomes were clearly preponderant, and the relative abundance of their bacterial communities and/or the presence of common species between samples made it impossible to detect bacterial orders or genera from other fluids, although they were distinguishable from one another. However, using the beta diversity, salivary fluids were identified and could be distinguished from fluids in combination. While this method of fluid identification is promising, further analyses are required to consolidate the protocol and ensure reliability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Audrey Gouello
- Institut de Recherche Criminelle de la Gendarmerie Nationale, 95000 Cergy-Pontoise, France; (A.G.); (L.H.); (D.C.); (J.G.)
- VBIC, INSERM U1047, Université Montpellier, Service de Microbiologie et Hygiène Hospitalière, CHU Nîmes, 30908 Nîmes, France;
| | - Laura Henry
- Institut de Recherche Criminelle de la Gendarmerie Nationale, 95000 Cergy-Pontoise, France; (A.G.); (L.H.); (D.C.); (J.G.)
- Sciences Sorbonne Universtity, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Djamel Chadli
- Institut de Recherche Criminelle de la Gendarmerie Nationale, 95000 Cergy-Pontoise, France; (A.G.); (L.H.); (D.C.); (J.G.)
- Aix-Marseille University, 13005 Marseille, France
| | - Florian Salipante
- Service de Biostatistiques, Epidémiologie, Santé Publique et Innovation en Méthodologie, Université Montpellier, CHU Nîmes, 30029 Nîmes, France;
| | - Joséphine Gibert
- Institut de Recherche Criminelle de la Gendarmerie Nationale, 95000 Cergy-Pontoise, France; (A.G.); (L.H.); (D.C.); (J.G.)
| | - Adeline Boutet-Dubois
- VBIC, INSERM U1047, Université Montpellier, Service de Microbiologie et Hygiène Hospitalière, CHU Nîmes, 30908 Nîmes, France;
| | - Jean-Philippe Lavigne
- VBIC, INSERM U1047, Université Montpellier, Service de Microbiologie et Hygiène Hospitalière, CHU Nîmes, 30908 Nîmes, France;
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17
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Teh HE, Pung CK, Arasoo VJT, Yap PSX. A Landscape View of the Female Genital Tract Microbiome in Healthy Controls and Women With Reproductive Health Conditions Associated With Ectopic Pregnancy. Br J Biomed Sci 2024; 80:12098. [PMID: 38283642 PMCID: PMC10811206 DOI: 10.3389/bjbs.2023.12098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/30/2024]
Abstract
Disruption of the female genital microbiome is associated with several pregnancy complications, including miscarriage, preterm onset of labour, and tubal pregnancy. Ectopic pregnancy is a known cause of maternal morbidity and mortality, but early diagnosis and treatment of ectopic pregnancy remain a challenge. Despite growing established associations between genital microbiome and female reproductive health, few studies have specifically focused on its link with ectopic pregnancy. Therefore, the current review aims to provide a comprehensive account of the female genital microbiome in healthy and fertile women compared to those in ectopic pregnancy and its associated risk factors. The microbial diversity from various sites of the female genital tract was explored for a reliable proxy of female reproductive health in sequencing-based ectopic pregnancy research. Our report confirmed the predominance of Lactobacillus in the vagina and the cervix among healthy women. The relative abundance decreased in the vaginal and cervical microbiome in the disease state. In contrast, there were inconsistent findings on the uterine microbiome across studies. Additionally, we explore a spectrum of opportunities to enhance our understanding of the female genital tract microbiome and reproductive conditions. In conclusion, this study identifies gaps within the field and emphasises the need for visionary solutions in metagenomic tools for the early detection of ectopic pregnancy and other gynaecological diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Polly Soo Xi Yap
- Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University Malaysia, Bandar Sunway, Selangor, Malaysia
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18
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Li KT, Li F, Jaspan H, Nyemba D, Myer L, Aldrovandi G, Joseph-Davey D. Changes in the Vaginal Microbiome During Pregnancy and the Postpartum Period in South African Women: a Longitudinal Study. Reprod Sci 2024; 31:275-287. [PMID: 37721699 PMCID: PMC10784382 DOI: 10.1007/s43032-023-01351-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 09/19/2023]
Abstract
Pregnant women in sub-Saharan Africa have high rates of maternal morbidity. There is interest in the impact of the vaginal microbiome on maternal health, including HIV and sexually transmitted infection (STI) acquisition. We characterized the vaginal microbiota of South African women ≥ 18 years with and without HIV in a longitudinal cohort over two visits during pregnancy and one visit postpartum. At each visit, we obtained HIV testing and self-collected vaginal swabs for point-of-care testing for STIs and microbiota sequencing. We categorized microbial communities and evaluated changes over pregnancy and associations with HIV status and STI diagnosis. Across 242 women (mean age 29, 44% living with HIV, 33% diagnosed with STIs), we identified four main community state types (CSTs): two lactobacillus-dominant CSTs (dominated by Lactobacillus crispatus and Lactobacillus iners respectively) and two diverse, non-lactobacillus-dominant CSTs (one dominated by Gardnerella vaginalis and one by diverse facultative anaerobes). From the first antenatal visit to the third trimester (24-36 weeks gestation), 60% of women in the Gardnerella-dominant CST shifted to lactobacillus-dominant CSTs. From the third trimester to postpartum (mean 17 days post-delivery), 80% of women in lactobacillus-dominant CSTs shifted to non-lactobacillus-dominant CSTs with a large proportion in the facultative anaerobe-dominant CST. Microbial composition differed by STI diagnosis (PERMANOVA R2 = 0.002, p = 0.004), and women diagnosed with an STI were more likely to be categorized as L. iners-dominant or Gardnerella-dominant CSTs. Overall, we found a shift toward lactobacillus dominance during pregnancy and the emergence of a distinct, highly diverse anaerobe-dominant microbiota profile in the postpartum period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine T Li
- Division of Infectious Disease, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Fan Li
- Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Heather Jaspan
- Department of Pathology, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Departments of Pediatrics and Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Dorothy Nyemba
- Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Landon Myer
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Grace Aldrovandi
- Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Dvora Joseph-Davey
- Division of Infectious Disease, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
- Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
- Department of Epidemiology, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
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19
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Onyango S, Mi JD, Koech A, Okiro P, Temmerman M, von Dadelszen P, Tribe RM, Omuse G. Microbiota dynamics, metabolic and immune interactions in the cervicovaginal environment and their role in spontaneous preterm birth. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1306473. [PMID: 38196946 PMCID: PMC10774218 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1306473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Differences in the cervicovaginal microbiota are associated with spontaneous preterm birth (sPTB), a significant cause of infant morbidity and mortality. Although establishing a direct causal link between cervicovaginal microbiota and sPTB remains challenging, recent advancements in sequencing technologies have facilitated the identification of microbial markers potentially linked to sPTB. Despite variations in findings, a recurring observation suggests that sPTB is associated with a more diverse and less stable vaginal microbiota across pregnancy trimesters. It is hypothesized that sPTB risk is likely to be modified via an intricate host-microbe interactions rather than due to the presence of a single microbial taxon or broad community state. Nonetheless, lactobacilli dominance is generally associated with term outcomes and contributes to a healthy vaginal environment through the production of lactic acid/maintenance of a low pH that excludes other pathogenic microorganisms. Additionally, the innate immunity of the host and metabolic interactions between cervicovaginal microbiota, such as the production of bacteriocins and the use of proteolytic enzymes, exerts a profound influence on microbial populations, activities, and host immune responses. These interplays collectively impact pregnancy outcomes. This review aims to summarize the complexity of cervicovaginal environment and microbiota dynamics, and associations with bacterial vaginosis and sPTB. There is also consideration on how probiotics may mitigate the risk of sPTB and bacterial vaginosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stanley Onyango
- Department of Pathology, Aga Khan University, Nairobi, Kenya
- Centre of Excellence Women and Child Health, Aga Khan University, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Jia Dai Mi
- Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, Department of Women and Children’s Health, School of Life Course and Population Sciences, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Angela Koech
- Centre of Excellence Women and Child Health, Aga Khan University, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Patricia Okiro
- Department of Pathology, Aga Khan University, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Marleen Temmerman
- Centre of Excellence Women and Child Health, Aga Khan University, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Peter von Dadelszen
- Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, Department of Women and Children’s Health, School of Life Course and Population Sciences, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Rachel M. Tribe
- Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, Department of Women and Children’s Health, School of Life Course and Population Sciences, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Geoffrey Omuse
- Department of Pathology, Aga Khan University, Nairobi, Kenya
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20
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Tsamir-Rimon M, Borenstein E. A manifold-based framework for studying the dynamics of the vaginal microbiome. NPJ Biofilms Microbiomes 2023; 9:102. [PMID: 38102172 PMCID: PMC10724123 DOI: 10.1038/s41522-023-00471-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The vaginal microbiome plays a crucial role in our health. The composition of this community can be classified into five community state types (CSTs), four of which are primarily consisted of Lactobacillus species and considered healthy, while the fifth features non-Lactobacillus populations and signifies a disease state termed Bacterial vaginosis (BV), which is associated with various symptoms and increased susceptibility to diseases. Importantly, however, the exact mechanisms and dynamics underlying BV development are not yet fully understood, including specifically possible routes from a healthy to a BV state. To address this gap, this study set out to characterize the progression from healthy- to BV-associated compositions by analyzing 8026 vaginal samples and using a manifold-detection framework. This approach, inspired by single-cell analysis, aims to identify low-dimensional trajectories in the high-dimensional composition space. It further orders samples along these trajectories and assigns a score (pseudo-time) to each analyzed or new sample based on its proximity to the BV state. Our results reveal distinct routes of progression between healthy and BV states for each CST, with pseudo-time scores correlating with community diversity and quantifying the health state of each sample. Several BV indicators can also be successfully predicted based on pseudo-time scores, and key taxa involved in BV development can be identified using this approach. Taken together, these findings demonstrate how manifold detection can be used to successfully characterize the progression from healthy Lactobacillus-dominant populations to BV and to accurately quantify the health condition of new samples along the route of BV development.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Elhanan Borenstein
- Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
- School of Computer Science, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
- Santa Fe Institute, Santa Fe, NM, USA.
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21
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Väinämö S, Saqib S, Kalliala I, Kervinen K, Luiro K, Niinimäki M, Halttunen-Nieminen M, Virtanen S, Nieminen P, Salonen A, Holster T. Longitudinal analysis of vaginal microbiota during IVF fresh embryo transfer and in early pregnancy. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0165023. [PMID: 37882794 PMCID: PMC10715154 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.01650-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Infertility is a global public health issue which leads many couples to seek fertility treatments, of which in vitro fertilization (IVF) is considered to be the most effective. Still, only about one-third of the women achieve live birth after the first IVF embryo transfer (IVF-ET). Factors affecting embryo implantation are poorly known, but the female reproductive tract microbiota may play a key role. Our study confirms the beneficial role of vaginal lactobacilli, especially Lactobacillus crispatus, in the probability of achieving clinical pregnancy and live birth following IVF-ET. Our findings regarding the intra-individual shift of vaginal microbiota between non-pregnancy and pregnancy states are novel and provide new information about the dynamics of microbiota in the early steps of human reproduction. These findings may help clinicians in their attempts to optimize the conditions for ET by microbiota screening or modulation and timing the ET when the microbiota is the most favorable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofia Väinämö
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Schahzad Saqib
- Human Microbiome Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Ilkka Kalliala
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
- Human Microbiome Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Kaisa Kervinen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Kaisu Luiro
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Maarit Niinimäki
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland
- Medical Research Center, Oulu University Hospital and University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Mervi Halttunen-Nieminen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Seppo Virtanen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
- Human Microbiome Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Pekka Nieminen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Anne Salonen
- Human Microbiome Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Tiina Holster
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
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22
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Schwecht I, Nazli A, Gill B, Kaushic C. Lactic acid enhances vaginal epithelial barrier integrity and ameliorates inflammatory effects of dysbiotic short chain fatty acids and HIV-1. Sci Rep 2023; 13:20065. [PMID: 37973920 PMCID: PMC10654711 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-47172-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The vaginal microenvironment is key in mediating susceptibility to sexually transmitted infections. A polymicrobial environment with reduced Lactobacilllus spp. is characteristic of vaginal dysbiosis, associated with increased production of several short chain fatty acids (SCFAs), vaginal inflammation and an increased risk of HIV-1 acquisition. In contrast, a eubiotic vaginal microbiome (VMB), dominated by Lactobacillus spp. correlates with increased production of lactic acid (LA), an acidic milieu and protection against HIV-1. Vaginal metabolites, specifically LA and SCFAs including butyric, succinic and acetic acids are associated with modulation of HIV-1 risk. We assessed the impact of combined and individual SCFAs and LA on vaginal epithelial cells (VK2) grown in air-liquid interface cultures. Treatment of VK2 cells with eubiotic SCFA + LA mixture showed increased epithelial barrier integrity, reduced FITC dextran leakage and enhanced expression of cell-cell adhesion proteins. Treatment with dysbiotic SCFA + LA mixture diminished epithelial barrier integrity, increased NFκB activation and inflammatory mediators: TNF-α, IL-6, IL-8 and RANTES. LA was found to be the primary contributor of the beneficial effects. Eubiotic SCFA + LA mixture ameliorated HIV-1 mediated barrier disruption and HIV-1 leakage, whereas dysbiotic SCFA + LA treatment exacerbated HIV-1 effects. These findings indicate a key role for LA in future prophylactic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ingrid Schwecht
- Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
- McMaster Immunology Research Center, Michael G. DeGroote Center for Learning and Discovery, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Aisha Nazli
- Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
- McMaster Immunology Research Center, Michael G. DeGroote Center for Learning and Discovery, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Biban Gill
- Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
- McMaster Immunology Research Center, Michael G. DeGroote Center for Learning and Discovery, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Charu Kaushic
- Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.
- McMaster Immunology Research Center, Michael G. DeGroote Center for Learning and Discovery, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.
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23
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Ma Z(S. A new hypothesis on BV etiology: dichotomous and crisscrossing categorization of complex versus simple on healthy versus BV vaginal microbiomes. mSystems 2023; 8:e0004923. [PMID: 37646521 PMCID: PMC10654060 DOI: 10.1128/msystems.00049-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2023] [Accepted: 06/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE BV may influence as many as one-third of women, but its etiology remains unclear. A traditional view is that dominance by Lactobacillus is the hallmark of a healthy vaginal microbiome and lack of dominance may make women BV-prone. Recent studies show that the human VMs can be classified into five major types, four of which possess type-specific dominant species of Lactobacillus. The remaining one (type IV) is not dominated by Lactobacillus and contains a handful of strictly anaerobic bacteria. Nevertheless, exceptions to the first hypothesis have been noticed from the very beginning, and there is not a definite relationship, suggested yet, between the five VM types and BV status. Here, we propose and test a novel hypothesis that assumes the existence of four VM types from dichotomous crisscrossing of "complex versus simple (high diversity or low dominance versus low diversity or high dominance)" on "healthy versus BV." Consequently, there are simple BV versus complex BV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhanshan (Sam) Ma
- Computational Biology and Medical Ecology Lab, State Key Lab of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
- Center for Excellence in Animal Evolution and Genetics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
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24
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Jordan SJ, Wilson L, Ren J, Gupta K, Barnes S, Geisler WM. Natural Clearance of Chlamydia trachomatis Infection Is Associated With Distinct Differences in Cervicovaginal Metabolites. J Infect Dis 2023; 228:1119-1126. [PMID: 37163744 PMCID: PMC10582912 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiad155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2022] [Revised: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 05/12/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Natural clearance of Chlamydia trachomatis in women occurs in the interval between screening and treatment. In vitro, interferon-γ (IFN-γ)-mediated tryptophan depletion results in C. trachomatis clearance, but whether this mechanism occurs in vivo remains unclear. We previously found that women who naturally cleared C. trachomatis had lower cervicovaginal levels of tryptophan and IFN-γ compared to women with persisting infection, suggesting IFN-γ-independent pathways may promote C. trachomatis clearance. METHODS Cervicovaginal lavages from 34 women who did (n = 17) or did not (n = 17) naturally clear C. trachomatis were subjected to untargeted high-performance liquid chromatography mass-spectrometry to identify metabolites and metabolic pathways associated with natural clearance. RESULTS In total, 375 positively charged metabolites and 149 negatively charged metabolites were annotated. Compared to women with persisting infection, C. trachomatis natural clearance was associated with increased levels of oligosaccharides trehalose, sucrose, melezitose, and maltotriose, and lower levels of indoline and various amino acids. Metabolites were associated with valine, leucine, and isoleucine biosynthesis pathways. CONCLUSIONS The cervicovaginal metabolome in women who did or did not naturally clear C. trachomatis is distinct. In women who cleared C. trachomatis, depletion of various amino acids, especially valine, leucine, and isoleucine, suggests that amino acids other than tryptophan impact C. trachomatis survival in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen J Jordan
- Department of Medicine, Indiana University, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Landon Wilson
- Targeted Metabolomics and Proteomics Laboratory, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Jie Ren
- Department of Biostatics and Health Data Science, Indiana University, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Kanupriya Gupta
- Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Stephen Barnes
- Targeted Metabolomics and Proteomics Laboratory, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - William M Geisler
- Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
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25
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Gill B, Schwecht I, Rahman N, Dhawan T, Verschoor C, Nazli A, Kaushic C. Metabolic signature for a dysbiotic microbiome in the female genital tract: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Am J Reprod Immunol 2023; 90:e13781. [PMID: 37766408 DOI: 10.1111/aji.13781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2023] [Revised: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The vaginal microbiome (VMB) is a critical determinant of reproductive health, where a microbial shift towards a dysbiotic environment has implications for susceptibility to, and clinical presentation of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Metabolomic profiling of the vaginal microenvironment has led to the identification of metabolic responses to clinical conditions of dysbiosis. However, no studies have examined metabolic markers that are common across conditions and can serve as a signature for vaginal dysbiosis. METHOD OF STUDY We have conducted a comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis to identify consistently deregulated metabolites along with their impact on host and microbial metabolism during dysbiosis. We employed two complementary approaches including a vote counting analysis for all eligible studies identified in the systematic review, in addition to a meta-analysis for a subset of studies with sufficient available data. Significantly deregulated metabolites were then selected for pathway enrichment analysis. RESULTS Our results revealed a total of 502 altered metabolites reported across 10 dysbiotic conditions from 16 studies. Following a rigorous, collective analysis, six metabolites which were consistently downregulated and could be generalized to all dysbiotic conditions were identified. In addition, five downregulated and one upregulated metabolite was identified from a bacterial vaginosis (BV) focused sub-analysis. These metabolites have the potential to serve as a metabolic signature for vaginal dysbiosis. Their role in eight altered metabolic pathways indicates a disruption of amino acid, carbohydrate, and energy metabolism during dysbiosis. CONCLUSION Based on this analysis, we propose a schematic model outlining the common metabolic perturbations associated with vaginal dysbiosis, which can be potential targets for therapeutics and prophylaxis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Biban Gill
- Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
- McMaster Immunology Research Center, Michael G. DeGroote Center for Learning and Discovery, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Ingrid Schwecht
- Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
- McMaster Immunology Research Center, Michael G. DeGroote Center for Learning and Discovery, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Nuzhat Rahman
- Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
- McMaster Immunology Research Center, Michael G. DeGroote Center for Learning and Discovery, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Tushar Dhawan
- Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
- McMaster Immunology Research Center, Michael G. DeGroote Center for Learning and Discovery, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Chris Verschoor
- Health Sciences North Research Institute, Northern Ontario School of Medicine, Sudbury, ON, Canada
| | - Aisha Nazli
- Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
- McMaster Immunology Research Center, Michael G. DeGroote Center for Learning and Discovery, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Charu Kaushic
- Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
- McMaster Immunology Research Center, Michael G. DeGroote Center for Learning and Discovery, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
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26
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Tandon D, Shah N, Goriwale M, Karandikar K, Begum S, Patil AD, Munne K, Kamat S, Aranha C, Bhor VM. Mapping the vaginal microbiota variations in women from a community clinic in Mumbai, India. Indian J Med Microbiol 2023; 45:100393. [PMID: 37573043 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmmb.2023.100393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2022] [Revised: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 08/14/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE The vaginal microbiome contributes significantly to women's reproductive health and fluctuates due to various physiological and pathological factors. The study's objective is to map the vaginal microbiome of non-pregnant women and evaluate variations based on various potential factors influencing vaginal milieu. METHODS Fifty-two sexually active, non-pregnant women between 18 and 45 years were recruited from a community clinic and clinical history was recorded. Vaginal swabs were collected to assess the vaginal microbiome by sequencing the V3-V4 region of the 16S rRNA using the Illumina HiSeq platform, followed by data analysis with QIIME 2. Vaginal milieu was assessed by Nugent score and profiling cytokines in the cervico-vaginal lavage. RESULTS Lactobacillus iners (34.3%) were the most abundant species in all women. Significant changes in abundance of genera (Lactobacillus, Prevotella and Anaerococcus), expression of pro-inflammatory cytokine IFN-γ and changes in alpha and beta diversity was observed in women having asymptomatic bacterial vaginosis (BV). Differences in beta diversity were seen between healthy women and women exhibiting presence of Candida spp. Variations in the abundance of genera (Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, Porphyromonas) were observed in women who had delivery less than twelve months back, probably as more of these women (50%, 53.7%) had higher abnormal Nugent score. CONCLUSION Lactobacillus iners was the most prevalent vaginal species in women from a Mumbai community clinic. Maximum variations in the vaginal microbiome characterized by a perturbation of the Lactobacillus predominant vaginal microbiota are seen in those women who have asymptomatic BV and childbirth within last twelve months.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deepti Tandon
- Department of Clinical Research, ICMR-National Institute for Research in Reproductive and Child Health, Mumbai, India.
| | - Nainisha Shah
- Department of Clinical Research, ICMR-National Institute for Research in Reproductive and Child Health, Mumbai, India.
| | - Mayuri Goriwale
- Department of Clinical Research, ICMR-National Institute for Research in Reproductive and Child Health, Mumbai, India.
| | - Kalyani Karandikar
- Department of Molecular Immunology and Microbiology, ICMR- National Institute for Research in Reproductive and Child Health (NIRRCH), Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.
| | - Shahina Begum
- Department of Biostatistics, ICMR-National Institute for Research in Reproductive and Child Health (NIRRCH), Maharashtra, India.
| | - Anushree D Patil
- Department of Clinical Research, ICMR-National Institute for Research in Reproductive and Child Health, Mumbai, India.
| | - Kiran Munne
- Department of Child Health Research, ICMR-National Institute for Research in Reproductive and Child Health, Mumbai, India.
| | - Sharmila Kamat
- Department of Child Health Research, ICMR-National Institute for Research in Reproductive and Child Health, Mumbai, India.
| | - Clara Aranha
- Department of Molecular Immunology and Microbiology, ICMR- National Institute for Research in Reproductive and Child Health (NIRRCH), Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.
| | - Vikrant M Bhor
- Department of Molecular Immunology and Microbiology, ICMR- National Institute for Research in Reproductive and Child Health (NIRRCH), Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.
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27
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Romero R, Theis KR, Gomez-Lopez N, Winters AD, Panzer JJ, Lin H, Galaz J, Greenberg JM, Shaffer Z, Kracht DJ, Chaiworapongsa T, Jung E, Gotsch F, Ravel J, Peddada SD, Tarca AL. The Vaginal Microbiota of Pregnant Women Varies with Gestational Age, Maternal Age, and Parity. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0342922. [PMID: 37486223 PMCID: PMC10434204 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.03429-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2022] [Accepted: 06/25/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2023] Open
Abstract
The composition of the vaginal microbiota is heavily influenced by pregnancy and may factor into pregnancy complications, including spontaneous preterm birth. However, results among studies have been inconsistent due, in part, to variation in sample sizes and ethnicity. Thus, an association between the vaginal microbiota and preterm labor continues to be debated. Yet, before assessing associations between the composition of the vaginal microbiota and preterm labor, a robust and in-depth characterization of the vaginal microbiota throughout pregnancy in the specific study population under investigation is required. Here, we report a large longitudinal study (n = 474 women, 1,862 vaginal samples) of a predominantly African-American cohort-a population that experiences a relatively high rate of pregnancy complications-evaluating associations between individual identity, gestational age, and other maternal characteristics with the composition of the vaginal microbiota throughout gestation resulting in term delivery. The principal factors influencing the composition of the vaginal microbiota in pregnancy are individual identity and gestational age at sampling. Other factors are maternal age, parity, obesity, and self-reported Cannabis use. The general pattern across gestation is for the vaginal microbiota to remain or transition to a state of Lactobacillus dominance. This pattern can be modified by maternal parity and obesity. Regardless, network analyses reveal dynamic associations among specific bacterial taxa within the vaginal ecosystem, which shift throughout the course of pregnancy. This study provides a robust foundational understanding of the vaginal microbiota in pregnancy and sets the stage for further investigation of this microbiota in obstetrical disease. IMPORTANCE There is debate regarding links between the vaginal microbiota and pregnancy complications, especially spontaneous preterm birth. Inconsistencies in results among studies are likely due to differences in sample sizes and cohort ethnicity. Ethnicity is a complicating factor because, although all bacterial taxa commonly inhabiting the vagina are present among all ethnicities, the frequencies of these taxa vary among ethnicities. Therefore, an in-depth characterization of the vaginal microbiota throughout pregnancy in the specific study population under investigation is required prior to evaluating associations between the vaginal microbiota and obstetrical disease. This initial investigation is a large longitudinal study of the vaginal microbiota throughout gestation resulting in a term delivery in a predominantly African-American cohort, a population that experiences disproportionally negative maternal-fetal health outcomes. It establishes the magnitude of associations between maternal characteristics, such as age, parity, body mass index, and self-reported Cannabis use, on the vaginal microbiota in pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Romero
- Pregnancy Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
| | - Kevin R. Theis
- Pregnancy Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Nardhy Gomez-Lopez
- Pregnancy Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
- Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Andrew D. Winters
- Pregnancy Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Jonathan J. Panzer
- Pregnancy Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Huang Lin
- Biostatistics and Bioinformatics Branch, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Jose Galaz
- Pregnancy Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
- Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Jonathan M. Greenberg
- Pregnancy Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Zachary Shaffer
- Pregnancy Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
- Department of Physiology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - David J. Kracht
- Pregnancy Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Tinnakorn Chaiworapongsa
- Pregnancy Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Eunjung Jung
- Pregnancy Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Busan Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, Busan, Republic of Korea
| | - Francesca Gotsch
- Pregnancy Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Jacques Ravel
- Institute for Genome Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Shyamal D. Peddada
- Biostatistics and Bioinformatics Branch, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Adi L. Tarca
- Pregnancy Research Branch, Division of Obstetrics and Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
- Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
- Department of Computer Science, Wayne State University College of Engineering, Detroit, Michigan, USA
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28
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Liao J, Shenhav L, Urban JA, Serrano M, Zhu B, Buck GA, Korem T. Microdiversity of the vaginal microbiome is associated with preterm birth. Nat Commun 2023; 14:4997. [PMID: 37591872 PMCID: PMC10435516 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-40719-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Preterm birth (PTB) is the leading cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality. The vaginal microbiome has been associated with PTB, yet the mechanisms underlying this association are not fully understood. Understanding microbial genetic adaptations to selective pressures, especially those related to the host, may yield insights into these associations. Here, we analyze metagenomic data from 705 vaginal samples collected during pregnancy from 40 women who delivered preterm spontaneously and 135 term controls from the Multi-Omic Microbiome Study-Pregnancy Initiative. We find that the vaginal microbiome of pregnancies that ended preterm exhibited unique genetic profiles. It was more genetically diverse at the species level, a result which we validate in an additional cohort, and harbored a higher richness and diversity of antimicrobial resistance genes, likely promoted by transduction. Interestingly, we find that Gardnerella species drove this higher genetic diversity, particularly during the first half of the pregnancy. We further present evidence that Gardnerella spp. underwent more frequent recombination and stronger purifying selection in genes involved in lipid metabolism. Overall, our population genetics analyses reveal associations between the vaginal microbiome and PTB and suggest that evolutionary processes acting on vaginal microbes may play a role in adverse pregnancy outcomes such as PTB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingqiu Liao
- Program for Mathematical Genomics, Department of Systems Biology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA.
| | - Liat Shenhav
- Center for Studies in Physics and Biology, Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Julia A Urban
- Program for Mathematical Genomics, Department of Systems Biology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Myrna Serrano
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
- Center for Microbiome Engineering and Data Analysis, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Bin Zhu
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
- Center for Microbiome Engineering and Data Analysis, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Gregory A Buck
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
- Center for Microbiome Engineering and Data Analysis, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
- Department of Computer Science, School of Engineering, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Tal Korem
- Program for Mathematical Genomics, Department of Systems Biology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.
- CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholars program, CIFAR, Toronto, ON, Canada.
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29
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Zhu B, Spaine KM, Edupuganti L, Matveyev A, Serrano MG, Buck GA. Characteristics of vaginal microbes and classification of the vaginal microbiome. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.08.16.553525. [PMID: 37645743 PMCID: PMC10462076 DOI: 10.1101/2023.08.16.553525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
Background The vaginal microbiome (VMB) has been classified into several discrete community state types, some of which have been associated with adverse human health conditions. However, the roles of the many vaginal bacteria in modulating the VMB and health remain unclear. Methods The associations among the vaginal taxa and other vaginal taxa, the vaginal pH, and the host gene expression responses were determined by calculating the correlation among the relative abundance of the vaginal taxa, the association between the vaginal pH and the predominant taxon in the VMB, and the correlation between the relative abundance of the vaginal taxa and human gene expression at the transcriptional level, respectively. Using these associations, an alternative more informative method, the biological vagitype (BVT), is proposed to classify community state types of the VMB. Findings Most Lactobacillus spp., with the exception of Lactobacillus iners , show significant correlations with host gene expression profiles and negative associations with dysbiosis-associated vaginal taxa. Many non- Lactobacillus spp. exhibit varied correlations with Lactobacillus spp., the vaginal pH, and host gene expression. Compared to other dysbiotic taxa, including Candidatus Lachnocurva vaginae, Gardnerella vaginalis has a stronger positive correlation with vaginal pH and a stronger negative correlation with Lactobacillus spp. Most dysbiosis-associated taxa are associated with stress responses of the host at the transcriptional level, but the genus Mycoplasma has a uniquely strong positive correlation with host immune responses. The association between BVTs of the VMBs and host characteristics, e.g., race/ethnicity, microbial infection, smoking, antibiotics, high blood pressure, economic state, diet, and others, was examined. The BVT classification method improved overall performance in associating specific vaginal microbial populations with host characteristics and phenotypes. Interpretation This study sheds light on the biological characteristics of the vaginal microbiota, including some less abundant or still unculturable taxa. Since the BVT method was established based on these biological characteristics, the classification outcome of the VMB may have more clinical relevance. Because the BVT method performs better in associating specific vaginal community types with diseases, e.g., bacterial vaginosis and gonorrhea, it could be beneficial for the predictive modeling of adverse health. Funding This work was supported by grants [UH3AI083263, U54HD080784, and R01HD092415] from the National Institutes of Health; and support from the [GAPPS BMGF PPB] grant from the Global Alliance to Prevent Prematurity and Stillbirth. We would also like to thank the Office of Research on Women's Health at NIH for their generous support. Research in context Evidence before this study: The vaginal microbiome (VMB) refers to the community of microorganisms in the female lower reproductive tract. The VMB is often a simple ecosystem dominated by a single species. The most predominant bacteria in the VMB include several Lactobacillus species and two non- Lactobacillus species, i.e., Candidatus Lachnocurva vaginae and Gardnerella vaginalis. Lactobacillus species produce lactic acid to lower the vaginal pH and inhibit the growth of disease-associated bacteria. Thus, the predominance of protective Lactobacilli, i.e., L. crispatus, L. jensenii , and L. gasseri , in the VMB is associated with overall vaginal health. However, the role of L. iners in promoting a healthy vaginal ecosystem is less clear. Actually, the biological and health relevance of many bacteria in the female lower reproductive tract is largely unknown. Some bacteria have low relative abundances, e.g., Peptostreptococcus and Coriobacteriaceae spp.; and others are not yet culturable, e.g., Candidatus Lachnocurva vaginae and BVAB TM7. When abundance of a taxon is low, its association with a host characteristic is a challenge. Previous methods to classify the VMB were based simply on their microbial compositions, and the biological characteristics of the vaginal bacteria were largely ignored. Thus, classification of these VMBs into biologically relevant community types, as described herein, should be helpful in determining their relevance to women's reproductive health. Added value of this study: This study examines three biological characteristics of bacteria in the VMB, i.e., the associations among different bacterial taxa, the vaginal pH, and the host response. Based on these three characteristics, the influence of these bacteria, particularly low abundant and unculturable bacteria, on vaginal health is evaluated. L. iners seems to be neutral in maintaining overall vaginal health. Gardnerella vaginalis is apparently more easily inhibited by Lactobacillus spp. than Candidatus Lachnocurva vaginae because of its stronger positive correlation with vaginal pH and negative correlation with Lactobacillus . The genus of Mycoplasma has a unique positive correlation with local immune responses, implying a role for Mycoplasma in promoting inflammation. Compared with previous methods to classify the VMB, a new method, considering the above three biological characteristics of bacteria in the VMB, has been established. The new method performs better in associating specific vaginal communities with host characteristics and phenotypes; e.g., bacterial vaginosis and gonorrhea. Implications of all the available evidence: Accurate biological classification of the VMB is fundamental for assessing its impact on women's health. Our classification scheme represents a step further toward that correct classification, eventually leading to new strategies for clinical assessment of the potential use of the VMB to diagnose or predict women's reproductive health.
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Ma H, Zhao W, Song T, Baijiu Z, Zhang Z. Comparative Analysis of the Pre-Parturition and Post-Parturition Genital Tract Microbiota in Plateau Bangor Sewa Sheep. Vet Sci 2023; 10:523. [PMID: 37624310 PMCID: PMC10459245 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci10080523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2023] [Revised: 08/09/2023] [Accepted: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023] Open
Abstract
(1) Background: Bangor Sewa sheep are an economically significant livestock species on the plateau. The roles of microbiota in reproduction are complex and critical for animal health. But little is known currently about the microbiome of plateau Bangor Sewa sheep. The purpose of this study was to discover the changes in the genital tract microbiota of pre- and post-partum Bangor Sewa sheep. (2) Methods: Samples from the birth canal were obtained for 16S rRNA sequencing, three days before and after delivery, respectively. (3) Results: The results showed that there was a noticeable difference in three phyla and 74 genera between the pre- and post-parturition groups in the microbiota of Bangor Sewa sheep. The changes included a decrease in the abundance of genera related to health (unclassified_Cellulomonadaceae, Cellulomonas, Fibrobacti, Flavobacterium, Eubacterium_ventriosum_group, Acetitomaculum, Aeromicrobium, Dietzia, Romboutsia, Ruminococcus, etc.) and an increased abundance of negatively related genera (Nocardioides, unclassified_Clostridia, Sphingobacteriaceae, unclassified_Ruminococcaceae, Prevotellaceae_UCG_004, Micromonospora, Streptococcus, Facklamia, Bosea, etc.) spp. (4) Conclusions: Microbes can serve as indicators of the physical state of Bangor Sewa sheep. These findings laid the foundation for deciphering the effects of microbial changes during birth on the reproductive health of plateau Bangor Sewa sheep.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongcai Ma
- Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, Tibet Autonomous Region Academy of Agriculture and Animal Science, Lhasa 850009, China; (H.M.); (T.S.)
| | - Wangsheng Zhao
- School of Life Science and Engineering, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang 621010, China;
| | - Tianzeng Song
- Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, Tibet Autonomous Region Academy of Agriculture and Animal Science, Lhasa 850009, China; (H.M.); (T.S.)
| | - Zhaxi Baijiu
- Cultural Service Center of Maqian Township, Nagqu 852599, China;
| | - Zhenzhen Zhang
- School of Life Science and Engineering, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang 621010, China;
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Chen X, Wang J, Chen J, Wang G, Zhang R, Qiu J. Vaginal homeostasis features of Vulvovaginal Candidiasis through vaginal metabolic profiling. Med Mycol 2023; 61:myad085. [PMID: 37573133 DOI: 10.1093/mmy/myad085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2023] [Revised: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 08/11/2023] [Indexed: 08/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) is an inflammatory disease primarily infected by Candida albicans. The condition has good short-term treatment effects, high recurrence, and seriously affects the quality of life of women. Metabolomics has been applied to research a variety of inflammatory diseases. In the present study, the vaginal metabolic profiles of VVC patients and healthy populations (Cnotrol (CTL)) were explored by a non-targeted metabolomics approach. In total, 211 differential metabolites were identified, with the VVC group having 128 over-expressed and 83 under-expressed metabolites compared with healthy individuals. Functional analysis showed that these metabolites were mainly involved in amino acid metabolism and lipid metabolism. In addition, network software analysis indicated that the differential metabolites were associated with mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling and NF-κB signaling. Further molecular docking suggested that linoleic acid can bind to the acyl-CoA synthetase 1 (ACSL1) protein, which has been shown to be associated with multiple inflammatory diseases and is an upstream regulator of the MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathways that mediate inflammation. Therefore, our preliminary analysis results suggest that VVC has a unique metabolic profile. Linoleic acid, a significantly elevated unsaturated fatty acid in the VVC group, may promote VVC development through the ACSL1/MAPK and ACSL1/NF-κB signaling pathways. This study's findings contribute to further exploring the mechanism of VVC infection and providing new perspectives for the treatment of Candida albicans vaginal infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyi Chen
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Tongren Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Jinbo Wang
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Tongren Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Jing Chen
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Tongren Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Guanghua Wang
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Tongren Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Runjie Zhang
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Tongren Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Jin Qiu
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Tongren Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
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Diwan P, Nirwan M, Bahuguna M, Kumari SP, Wahlang J, Gupta RK. Evaluating Alterations of the Oral Microbiome and Its Link to Oral Cancer among Betel Quid Chewers: Prospecting Reversal through Probiotic Intervention. Pathogens 2023; 12:996. [PMID: 37623956 PMCID: PMC10459687 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12080996] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2023] [Revised: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Areca nut and slaked lime, with or without tobacco wrapped in Piper betle leaf, prepared as betel quid, is extensively consumed as a masticatory product in many countries across the world. Betel Quid can promote the malignant transformation of oral lesions as well as trigger benign cellular and molecular changes. In the oral cavity, it causes changes at the compositional level in oral microbiota called dysbiosis. This dysbiosis may play an important role in Oral Cancer in betel quid chewers. The abnormal presence and increase of bacteria Fusobacterium nucleatum, Capnocytophaga gingivalis, Prevotella melaninogenica, Peptostreptococcus sp., Porphyromonas gingivalis, and Streptococcus mitis in saliva and/or other oral sites of the cancer patients has attracted frequent attention for its association with oral cancer development. In the present review, the authors have analysed the literature reports to revisit the oncogenic potential of betel quid and oral microbiome alterations, evaluating the potential of oral microbiota both as a driver and biomarker of oral cancer. The authors have also shared a perspective that the restoration of local microbiota can become a potentially therapeutic or prophylactic strategy for the delay or reversal of lip and oral cavity cancers, especially in high-risk population groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prerna Diwan
- Department of Microbiology, Ram Lal Anand College, University of Delhi, New Delhi 110021, India; (M.N.); (M.B.); (S.P.K.); (R.K.G.)
| | - Mohit Nirwan
- Department of Microbiology, Ram Lal Anand College, University of Delhi, New Delhi 110021, India; (M.N.); (M.B.); (S.P.K.); (R.K.G.)
| | - Mayank Bahuguna
- Department of Microbiology, Ram Lal Anand College, University of Delhi, New Delhi 110021, India; (M.N.); (M.B.); (S.P.K.); (R.K.G.)
| | - Shashi Prabha Kumari
- Department of Microbiology, Ram Lal Anand College, University of Delhi, New Delhi 110021, India; (M.N.); (M.B.); (S.P.K.); (R.K.G.)
| | - James Wahlang
- Department of Biochemistry, St. Edmund’s College, Shillong 793003, India;
| | - Rakesh Kumar Gupta
- Department of Microbiology, Ram Lal Anand College, University of Delhi, New Delhi 110021, India; (M.N.); (M.B.); (S.P.K.); (R.K.G.)
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Dass M, Singh Y, Ghai M. A Review on Microbial Species for Forensic Body Fluid Identification in Healthy and Diseased Humans. Curr Microbiol 2023; 80:299. [PMID: 37491404 PMCID: PMC10368579 DOI: 10.1007/s00284-023-03413-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2023] [Accepted: 07/08/2023] [Indexed: 07/27/2023]
Abstract
Microbial communities present in body fluids can assist in distinguishing between types of body fluids. Metagenomic studies have reported bacterial genera which are core to specific body fluids and are greatly influenced by geographical location and ethnicity. Bacteria in body fluids could also be due to bacterial infection; hence, it would be worthwhile taking into consideration bacterial species associated with diseases. The present review reports bacterial species characteristic of diseased and healthy body fluids across geographical locations, and bacteria described in forensic studies, with the aim of collating a set of bacteria to serve as the core species-specific markers for forensic body fluid identification. The most widely reported saliva-specific bacterial species are Streptococcus salivarius, Prevotella melaninogenica, Neisseria flavescens, with Fusobacterium nucleatum associated with increased diseased state. Lactobacillus crispatus and Lactobacillus iners are frequently dominant in the vaginal microbiome of healthy women. Atopobium vaginae, Prevotella bivia, and Gardnerella vaginalis are more prevalent in women with bacterial vaginosis. Semen and urine-specific bacteria at species level have not been reported, and menstrual blood bacteria are indistinguishable from vaginal fluid. Targeting more than one bacterial species is recommended for accurate body fluid identification. Although metagenomic sequencing provides information of a broad microbial profile, the specific bacterial species could be used to design biosensors for rapid body fluid identification. Validation of microbial typing methods and its application in identifying body fluids in a mixed sample would allow regular use of microbial profiling in a forensic workflow.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mishka Dass
- Department of Genetics, School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu Natal, Westville Campus, Private Bag X 54001, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal South Africa
| | - Yashna Singh
- Department of Genetics, School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu Natal, Westville Campus, Private Bag X 54001, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal South Africa
| | - Meenu Ghai
- Department of Genetics, School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu Natal, Westville Campus, Private Bag X 54001, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal South Africa
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Navarro S, Abla H, Delgado B, Colmer-Hamood JA, Ventolini G, Hamood AN. Glycogen availability and pH variation in a medium simulating vaginal fluid influence the growth of vaginal Lactobacillus species and Gardnerella vaginalis. BMC Microbiol 2023; 23:186. [PMID: 37442975 PMCID: PMC10339506 DOI: 10.1186/s12866-023-02916-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Glycogen metabolism by Lactobacillus spp. that dominate the healthy vaginal microbiome contributes to a low vaginal pH (3.5-4.5). During bacterial vaginosis (BV), strict and facultative anaerobes including Gardnerella vaginalis become predominant, leading to an increase in the vaginal pH (> 4.5). BV enhances the risk of obstetrical complications, acquisition of sexually transmitted infections, and cervical cancer. Factors critical for the maintenance of the healthy vaginal microbiome or the transition to the BV microbiome are not well defined. Vaginal pH may affect glycogen metabolism by the vaginal microflora, thus influencing the shift in the vaginal microbiome. RESULTS The medium simulating vaginal fluid (MSVF) supported growth of L. jensenii 62G, L. gasseri 63 AM, and L. crispatus JV-V01, and G. vaginalis JCP8151A at specific initial pH conditions for 30 d. L. jensenii at all three starting pH levels (pH 4.0, 4.5, and 5.0), G. vaginalis at pH 4.5 and 5.0, and L. gasseri at pH 5.0 exhibited the long-term stationary phase when grown in MSVF. L. gasseri at pH 4.5 and L. crispatus at pH 5.0 displayed an extended lag phase over 30 d suggesting inefficient glycogen metabolism. Glycogen was essential for the growth of L. jensenii, L. crispatus, and G. vaginalis; only L. gasseri was able to survive in MSVF without glycogen, and only at pH 5.0, where it used glucose. All four species were able to survive for 15 d in MSVF with half the glycogen content but only at specific starting pH levels - pH 4.5 and 5.0 for L. jensenii, L. gasseri, and G. vaginalis and pH 5.0 for L. crispatus. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that variations in the vaginal pH critically influence the colonization of the vaginal tract by lactobacilli and G. vaginalis JCP8151A by affecting their ability to metabolize glycogen. Further, we found that L. jensenii 62G is capable of glycogen metabolism over a broader pH range (4.0-5.0) while L. crispatus JV-V01 glycogen utilization is pH sensitive (only functional at pH 5.0). Finally, our results showed that G. vaginalis JCP8151A can colonize the vaginal tract for an extended period as long as the pH remains at 4.5 or above.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephany Navarro
- Department of Immunology and Molecular Microbiology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX USA
| | - Habib Abla
- School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX USA
| | - Betsaida Delgado
- Honors College, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX USA
- Woody L. Hunt School of Dental Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX USA
| | - Jane A. Colmer-Hamood
- Department of Immunology and Molecular Microbiology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX USA
- Department of Medical Education, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX USA
| | - Gary Ventolini
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Permian Basin, Odessa, TX USA
| | - Abdul N. Hamood
- Department of Immunology and Molecular Microbiology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX USA
- Department of Surgery, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX USA
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Costello EK, DiGiulio DB, Robaczewska A, Symul L, Wong RJ, Shaw GM, Stevenson DK, Holmes SP, Kwon DS, Relman DA. Abrupt perturbation and delayed recovery of the vaginal ecosystem following childbirth. Nat Commun 2023; 14:4141. [PMID: 37438386 PMCID: PMC10338445 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-39849-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Accepted: 06/28/2023] [Indexed: 07/14/2023] Open
Abstract
The vaginal ecosystem is closely tied to human health and reproductive outcomes, yet its dynamics in the wake of childbirth remain poorly characterized. Here, we profile the vaginal microbiota and cytokine milieu of participants sampled longitudinally throughout pregnancy and for at least one year postpartum. We show that delivery, regardless of mode, is associated with a vaginal pro-inflammatory cytokine response and the loss of Lactobacillus dominance. By contrast, neither the progression of gestation nor the approach of labor strongly altered the vaginal ecosystem. At 9.5-months postpartum-the latest timepoint at which cytokines were assessed-elevated inflammation coincided with vaginal bacterial communities that had remained perturbed (highly diverse) from the time of delivery. Time-to-event analysis indicated a one-year postpartum probability of transitioning to Lactobacillus dominance of 49.4%. As diversity and inflammation declined during the postpartum period, dominance by L. crispatus, the quintessential health-associated commensal, failed to return: its prevalence before, immediately after, and one year after delivery was 41%, 4%, and 9%, respectively. Revisiting our pre-delivery data, we found that a prior live birth was associated with a lower odds of L. crispatus dominance in pregnant participants-an outcome modestly tempered by a longer ( > 18-month) interpregnancy interval. Our results suggest that reproductive history and childbirth in particular remodel the vaginal ecosystem and that the timing and degree of recovery from delivery may help determine the subsequent health of the woman and of future pregnancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth K Costello
- Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.
| | - Daniel B DiGiulio
- Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Anna Robaczewska
- Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Laura Symul
- Department of Statistics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Ronald J Wong
- Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Gary M Shaw
- Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - David K Stevenson
- Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Susan P Holmes
- Department of Statistics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Douglas S Kwon
- Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT, and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
| | - David A Relman
- Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.
- Section of Infectious Diseases, Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, CA, 94304, USA.
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Santacroce L, Palmirotta R, Bottalico L, Charitos IA, Colella M, Topi S, Jirillo E. Crosstalk between the Resident Microbiota and the Immune Cells Regulates Female Genital Tract Health. Life (Basel) 2023; 13:1531. [PMID: 37511906 PMCID: PMC10381428 DOI: 10.3390/life13071531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2023] [Revised: 06/28/2023] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The female genital tract (FGT) performs several functions related to reproduction, but due to its direct exposure to the external environment, it may suffer microbial infections. Both the upper (uterus and cervix) and lower (vagina) FGT are covered by an epithelium, and contain immune cells (macrophages, dendritic cells, T and B lymphocytes) that afford a robust protection to the host. Its upper and the lower part differ in terms of Lactobacillus spp., which are dominant in the vagina. An alteration of the physiological equilibrium between the local microbiota and immune cells leads to a condition of dysbiosis which, in turn, may account for the outcome of FGT infection. Aerobic vaginitis, bacterial vaginosis, and Chlamydia trachomatis are the most frequent infections, and can lead to severe complications in reproduction and pregnancy. The use of natural products, such as probiotics, polyphenols, and lactoferrin in the course of FGT infections is an issue of current investigation. In spite of positive results, more research is needed to define the most appropriate administration, according to the type of patient.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luigi Santacroce
- Microbiology and Virology Section, Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", 70124 Bari, Italy
| | - Raffaele Palmirotta
- Microbiology and Virology Section, Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", 70124 Bari, Italy
| | - Lucrezia Bottalico
- Department of Clinical Disciplines, School of Technical Medical Sciences, "Alexander Xhuvani" University of Elbasan, 3001 Elbasan, Albania
| | | | - Marica Colella
- Microbiology and Virology Section, Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", 70124 Bari, Italy
| | - Skender Topi
- Department of Clinical Disciplines, School of Technical Medical Sciences, "Alexander Xhuvani" University of Elbasan, 3001 Elbasan, Albania
| | - Emilio Jirillo
- Microbiology and Virology Section, Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", 70124 Bari, Italy
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Zalambani C, Rizzardi N, Marziali G, Foschi C, Morselli S, Djusse ME, Naldi M, Fato R, Calonghi N, Marangoni A. Role of D(-)-Lactic Acid in Prevention of Chlamydia trachomatis Infection in an In Vitro Model of HeLa Cells. Pathogens 2023; 12:883. [PMID: 37513730 PMCID: PMC10383594 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12070883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2023] [Revised: 06/21/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
A vaginal microbiota dominated by certain Lactobacillus species may have a protective effect against Chlamydia trachomatis infection. One of the key antimicrobial compounds produced is lactic acid, which is believed to play a central role in host defense. Lactobacillus strains producing the D(-)-lactic acid isomer are known to exert stronger protection. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying this antimicrobial action are not well understood. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of D(-)-lactic acid isomer in the prevention of C. trachomatis infection in an in vitro HeLa cell model. We selected two strains of lactobacilli belonging to different species: a vaginal isolate of Lactobacillus crispatus that releases both D(-) and L(+) isomers and a strain of Lactobacillus reuteri that produces only the L(+) isomer. Initially, we demonstrated that L. crispatus was significantly more effective than L. reuteri in reducing C. trachomatis infectivity. A different pattern of histone acetylation and lactylation was observed when HeLa cells were pretreated for 24 h with supernatants of Lactobacillus crispatus or L. reuteri, resulting in different transcription of genes such as CCND1, CDKN1A, ITAG5 and HER-1. Similarly, distinct transcription patterns were found in HeLa cells treated with 10 mM D(-)- or L(+)-lactic acid isomers. Our findings suggest that D(-) lactic acid significantly affects two non-exclusive mechanisms involved in C. trachomatis infection: regulation of the cell cycle and expression of EGFR and α5β1-integrin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Zalambani
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology (FABIT), University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Nicola Rizzardi
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology (FABIT), University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Giacomo Marziali
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology (FABIT), University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Claudio Foschi
- Microbiology, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences (DIMEC), University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy
- Microbiology Unit, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy
| | - Sara Morselli
- Microbiology, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences (DIMEC), University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy
| | - Marielle Ezekielle Djusse
- Microbiology, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences (DIMEC), University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy
| | - Marina Naldi
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology (FABIT), University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Romana Fato
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology (FABIT), University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Natalia Calonghi
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology (FABIT), University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Antonella Marangoni
- Microbiology, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences (DIMEC), University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy
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Rahman Z, Bhale NA, Dikundwar AG, Dandekar MP. Multistrain Probiotics with Fructooligosaccharides Improve Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion-Driven Neurological Deficits by Revamping Microbiota-Gut-Brain Axis. Probiotics Antimicrob Proteins 2023:10.1007/s12602-023-10109-y. [PMID: 37365420 DOI: 10.1007/s12602-023-10109-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023]
Abstract
Recent burgeoning literature unveils the importance of gut microbiota in the neuropathology of post-stroke brain injury and recovery. Indeed, ingestion of prebiotics/probiotics imparts positive effects on post-stroke brain injury, neuroinflammation, gut dysbiosis, and intestinal integrity. However, information on the disease-specific preference of selective prebiotics/probiotics/synbiotics and their underlying mechanism is yet elusive. Herein, we examined the effect of a new synbiotic formulation containing multistrain probiotics (Lactobacillus reuteri UBLRu-87, Lactobacillus plantarum UBLP-40, Lactobacillus rhamnosus UBLR-58, Lactobacillus salivarius UBLS-22, and Bifidobacterium breve UBBr-01), and prebiotic fructooligosaccharides using a middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model of cerebral ischemia in female and male rats. Three weeks pre-MCAO administration of synbiotic rescinded the MCAO-induced sensorimotor and motor deficits on day 3 post-stroke in rotarod, foot-fault, adhesive removal, and paw whisker test. We also observed a decrease in infarct volume and neuronal death in the ipsilateral hemisphere of synbiotic-treated MCAO rats. The synbiotic treatment also reversed the elevated levels/mRNA expression of the glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), NeuN, IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-6, matrix metalloproteinase-9, and caspase-3 and decreased levels of occludin and zonula occludens-1 in MCAO rats. 16S rRNA gene-sequencing data of intestinal contents indicated an increase in genus/species of Prevotella (Prevotella copri), Lactobacillus (Lactobacillus reuteri), Roseburia, Allobaculum, and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, and decreased abundance of Helicobacter, Desulfovibrio, and Akkermansia (Akkermansia muciniphila) in synbiotic-treated rats compared to the MCAO surgery group. These findings confer the potential benefits of our novel synbiotic preparation for MCAO-induced neurological dysfunctions by reshaping the gut-brain-axis mediators in rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziaur Rahman
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Balanagar, Hyderabad, 500037, Telangana, India
| | - Nagesh A Bhale
- Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Balanagar, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
| | - Amol G Dikundwar
- Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Balanagar, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
| | - Manoj P Dandekar
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Balanagar, Hyderabad, 500037, Telangana, India.
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Liao J, Shenhav L, Urban JA, Serrano M, Zhu B, Buck GA, Korem T. Microdiversity of the Vaginal Microbiome is Associated with Preterm Birth. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.01.13.523991. [PMID: 36711990 PMCID: PMC9882146 DOI: 10.1101/2023.01.13.523991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Preterm birth (PTB) is the leading cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality. The vaginal microbiome has been associated with PTB, yet the mechanisms underlying this association are not fully understood. Understanding microbial genetic adaptations to selective pressures, especially those related to the host, may yield new insights into these associations. To this end, we analyzed metagenomic data from 705 vaginal samples collected longitudinally during pregnancy from 40 women who delivered preterm spontaneously and 135 term controls from the Multi-Omic Microbiome Study-Pregnancy Initiative (MOMS-PI). We find that the vaginal microbiome of pregnancies that ended preterm exhibits unique genetic profiles. It is more genetically diverse at the species level, a result which we validate in an additional cohort, and harbors a higher richness and diversity of antimicrobial resistance genes, likely promoted by transduction. Interestingly, we find that Gardnerella species, a group of central vaginal pathobionts, are driving this higher genetic diversity, particularly during the first half of the pregnancy. We further present evidence that Gardnerella spp. undergoes more frequent recombination and stronger purifying selection in genes involved in lipid metabolism. Overall, our results reveal novel associations between the vaginal microbiome and PTB using population genetics analyses, and suggest that evolutionary processes acting on the vaginal microbiome may play a vital role in adverse pregnancy outcomes such as preterm birth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingqiu Liao
- Program for Mathematical Genomics, Department of Systems Biology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Liat Shenhav
- Center for Studies in Physics and Biology, Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Julia A. Urban
- Program for Mathematical Genomics, Department of Systems Biology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Myrna Serrano
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
- Center for Microbiome Engineering and Data Analysis, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Bin Zhu
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
- Center for Microbiome Engineering and Data Analysis, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Gregory A. Buck
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
- Center for Microbiome Engineering and Data Analysis, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
- Department of Computer Science, School of Engineering, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Tal Korem
- Program for Mathematical Genomics, Department of Systems Biology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
- CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholars program, CIFAR, Toronto, Canada
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Zhao C, Li Y, Chen B, Yue K, Su Z, Xu J, Xue W, Zhao G, Zhang L. Mycobiome Study Reveals Different Pathogens of Vulvovaginal Candidiasis Shape Characteristic Vaginal Bacteriome. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0315222. [PMID: 36995230 PMCID: PMC10269694 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.03152-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2022] [Accepted: 03/01/2023] [Indexed: 03/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) can alter the vaginal microbiome composition and structure, and this may be correlated with its variable treatment efficacy. Integrated analysis of the mycobiome and bacteriome in VVC could facilitate accurate diagnosis of infected patients and further decipher the characterized bacteriome in different types of VVC. Our mycobiome analysis determined two common types of VVC, which were clustered into two community state types (CSTs) featured by Candida glabrata (CST I) and Candida albicans (CST II). Subsequently, we compared the vaginal bacteriome in two CSTs of VVC and two other types of reproductive tract infections (RTIs), bacterial vaginosis (BV) and Ureaplasma urealyticum (UU) infection. The vaginal bacteriome in VVC patients was between the healthy and other RTIs (BV and UU) status, it bore the greatest resemblance to that of healthy subjects. While BV and UU patients have the unique vaginal microbiota community structure, which very different with healthy women. Compared with CST II, the vaginal bacteriome of CST I VVC was characterized by Prevotella, a key signature in BV. In comparison, CST II was featured by Ureaplasma, the pathogen of UU. The findings of our study highlight the need for co-analysis and simultaneous consideration of vaginal mycobiome and bacteriome in the diagnosis and treatment of VVC to solve common clinical problems, such as unsatisfactory cure rates and recurrent symptoms. IMPORTANCE Fungi headed by C. albicans play a critical role in VVC but are not sufficient for its occurrence, indicating the involvement of other factors, such as the vaginal bacteriome. We found that different CST correspond to different bacterial composition in patients with VVC, and this could underlie the alteration of vaginal microorganism environment in VVC patients. We believe that this correlation should not be ignored, and it may be related to the unsatisfactory treatment outcomes and high recurrence rate of VVC. Here, we provided evidence for associations between vaginal bacteriome patterns and fungal infection. Screening specific biomarkers for three common RTIs paves a theoretical basis for further development of personalized precision treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Changying Zhao
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
- Microbiome-X, National Institute of Health Data Science of China, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
- Shandong Children’s Microbiome Center, Children’s Hospital affiliated with Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Ying Li
- Qilu Hospital of Shandong University Dezhou Hospital & Dezhou People's Hospital, Dezhou, China
| | - Bin Chen
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
- Microbiome-X, National Institute of Health Data Science of China, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Kaile Yue
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
- Microbiome-X, National Institute of Health Data Science of China, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Zhenzhen Su
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
- Microbiome-X, National Institute of Health Data Science of China, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Jing Xu
- Qilu Hospital of Shandong University Dezhou Hospital & Dezhou People's Hospital, Dezhou, China
| | - Wanhua Xue
- Qilu Hospital of Shandong University Dezhou Hospital & Dezhou People's Hospital, Dezhou, China
| | - Guoping Zhao
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
- Microbiome-X, National Institute of Health Data Science of China, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
- CAS Key Laboratory of Computational Biology, Bio-Med Big Data Center, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Lei Zhang
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
- Microbiome-X, National Institute of Health Data Science of China, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
- Shandong Children’s Microbiome Center, Children’s Hospital affiliated with Shandong University, Jinan, China
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
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Correia GD, Marchesi JR, MacIntyre DA. Moving beyond DNA: towards functional analysis of the vaginal microbiome by non-sequencing-based methods. Curr Opin Microbiol 2023; 73:102292. [PMID: 36931094 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2023.102292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2022] [Revised: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2023]
Abstract
Over the last two decades, sequencing-based methods have revolutionised our understanding of niche-specific microbial complexity. In the lower female reproductive tract, these approaches have enabled identification of bacterial compositional structures associated with health and disease. Application of metagenomics and metatranscriptomics strategies have provided insight into the putative function of these communities but it is increasingly clear that direct measures of microbial and host cell function are required to understand the contribution of microbe-host interactions to pathophysiology. Here we explore and discuss current methods and approaches, many of which rely upon mass-spectrometry, being used to capture functional insight into the vaginal mucosal interface. In addition to improving mechanistic understanding, these methods offer innovative solutions for the development of diagnostic and therapeutic strategies designed to improve women's health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gonçalo Ds Correia
- Institute of Reproductive and Developmental Biology, Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Imperial College London, London W12 0NN, UK; March of Dimes Prematurity Research Centre at Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Julian R Marchesi
- March of Dimes Prematurity Research Centre at Imperial College London, London, UK; Centre for Digestive Diseases, Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Imperial College London, Imperial College London, London W2 1NY, UK
| | - David A MacIntyre
- Institute of Reproductive and Developmental Biology, Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Imperial College London, London W12 0NN, UK; March of Dimes Prematurity Research Centre at Imperial College London, London, UK.
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Berard AR, Brubaker DK, Birse K, Lamont A, Mackelprang RD, Noël-Romas L, Perner M, Hou X, Irungu E, Mugo N, Knodel S, Muwonge TR, Katabira E, Hughes SM, Levy C, Calienes FL, Lauffenburger DA, Baeten JM, Celum C, Hladik F, Lingappa J, Burgener AD. Vaginal epithelial dysfunction is mediated by the microbiome, metabolome, and mTOR signaling. Cell Rep 2023; 42:112474. [PMID: 37149863 PMCID: PMC10242450 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2022] [Revised: 03/15/2023] [Accepted: 04/19/2023] [Indexed: 05/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is characterized by depletion of Lactobacillus and overgrowth of anaerobic and facultative bacteria, leading to increased mucosal inflammation, epithelial disruption, and poor reproductive health outcomes. However, the molecular mediators contributing to vaginal epithelial dysfunction are poorly understood. Here we utilize proteomic, transcriptomic, and metabolomic analyses to characterize biological features underlying BV in 405 African women and explore functional mechanisms in vitro. We identify five major vaginal microbiome groups: L. crispatus (21%), L. iners (18%), Lactobacillus (9%), Gardnerella (30%), and polymicrobial (22%). Using multi-omics we show that BV-associated epithelial disruption and mucosal inflammation link to the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway and associate with Gardnerella, M. mulieris, and specific metabolites including imidazole propionate. Experiments in vitro confirm that type strain G. vaginalis and M. mulieris supernatants and imidazole propionate directly affect epithelial barrier function and activation of mTOR pathways. These results find that the microbiome-mTOR axis is a central feature of epithelial dysfunction in BV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alicia R Berard
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3E 3P5, Canada; Center for Global Health and Diseases, Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Douglas K Brubaker
- Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering and Regenstrief Center for Healthcare Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
| | - Kenzie Birse
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3E 3P5, Canada; Center for Global Health and Diseases, Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Alana Lamont
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3E 3P5, Canada
| | - Romel D Mackelprang
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98105, USA
| | - Laura Noël-Romas
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3E 3P5, Canada; Center for Global Health and Diseases, Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Michelle Perner
- Medical Microbiology and Infectious Disease University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0J9, Canada
| | - Xuanlin Hou
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98105, USA
| | - Elizabeth Irungu
- Partners in Health Research and Development, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Mbagathi Road, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Nelly Mugo
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98105, USA; Partners in Health Research and Development, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Mbagathi Road, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Samantha Knodel
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3E 3P5, Canada; Center for Global Health and Diseases, Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Timothy R Muwonge
- Infectious Disease Institute, Makerere University, Makerere, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Elly Katabira
- Infectious Disease Institute, Makerere University, Makerere, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Sean M Hughes
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Claire Levy
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | | | | | - Jared M Baeten
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98105, USA; Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA; Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA; Gilead Sciences, Foster City, CA 94404, USA
| | - Connie Celum
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98105, USA; Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA; Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Florian Hladik
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA; Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA; Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Jairam Lingappa
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98105, USA; Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Adam D Burgener
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3E 3P5, Canada; Center for Global Health and Diseases, Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA; Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Framstegsgatan, 171 64 Solna, Sweden.
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Short CES, Quinlan R, Lee YS, Preda VG, Smith A, Marchesi JR, Shattock R, Bennett PR, MacIntyre DA, Taylor GP. Comparative analysis of vaginal microbiota sampling using menstrual cups and high vaginal swabs in pregnant women living with HIV-1 infection. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 13:1190160. [PMID: 37228662 PMCID: PMC10204588 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1190160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2023] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Menstrual cups (MCs) are increasingly used to collect cervicovaginal secretions to characterise vaginal mucosal immunology, in conjunction with high vaginal swabs (HVS) for metataxonomics, particularly in HIV transmission studies. We hypothesised that both methods of collecting bacterial biomass are equivalent for 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Material and Methods Cervicovaginal fluid (CVF) samples from 16 pregnant women with HIV-1 (PWWH) were included to represent the major vaginal bacterial community state types (CST I-V). Women underwent sampling during the second trimester by liquid amies HVS followed by a MC (Soft disc™) and samples were stored at -80°C. Bacterial cell pellets obtained from swab elution and MC (500 µL, 1 in 10 dilution) were resuspended in 120 µL PBS for DNA extraction. Bacterial 16S rRNA gene sequencing was performed using V1-V2 primers and were analysed using MOTHUR. Paired total DNA, bacterial load, amplicon read counts, diversity matrices and bacterial taxa were compared by sampling method using MicrobiomeAnalyst, SPSS and R. Results The total DNA eluted from one aliquot of diluted CVF from an MC was similar to that of a HVS (993ng and 609ng, p=0.18); the mean bacterial loads were also comparable for both methods (MC: 8.0 log10 16S rRNA gene copies versus HVS: 7.9 log10 16S rRNA gene copies, p=0.27). The mean number of sequence reads generated from MC samples was lower than from HVS (MC: 12730; HVS:14830, p=0.05). The α-diversity metrices were similar for both techniques; MC Species Observed: 41 (range 12-96) versus HVS: 47 (range 16-96), p=0.15; MC Inverse Simpson Index: 1.98 (range 1.0-4.0) versus HVS: 0.48 (range 1.0-4.4), p=0.22). The three most abundant species observed were: Lactobacillus iners, Lactobacillus crispatus and Gardnerella vaginalis. Hierarchical clustering of relative abundance data showed that samples obtained using different techniques in an individual clustered in the same CST group. Conclusion These data demonstrate that despite sampling slightly different areas of the lower genital tract, there was no difference in bacterial load or composition between methods. Both are suitable for characterisation of vaginal microbiota in PWWH. The MC offers advantages, including a higher volume of sample available for DNA extraction and complimentary assays.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte-Eve S. Short
- Section of Virology, Department of Infectious Disease, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- St Mary’s Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom
- March of Dimes Prematurity Research Centre, Division of the Institute of Reproductive and Developmental Biology, Department of Metabolism, Digestion, and Reproduction, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Rachael Quinlan
- Section of Virology, Department of Infectious Disease, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- St Mary’s Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom
- March of Dimes Prematurity Research Centre, Division of the Institute of Reproductive and Developmental Biology, Department of Metabolism, Digestion, and Reproduction, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Yun S. Lee
- March of Dimes Prematurity Research Centre, Division of the Institute of Reproductive and Developmental Biology, Department of Metabolism, Digestion, and Reproduction, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Veronica G. Preda
- Section of Virology, Department of Infectious Disease, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- St Mary’s Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ann Smith
- Faculty of Health and Applied Sciences, University West of England, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Julian R. Marchesi
- March of Dimes Prematurity Research Centre, Division of the Institute of Reproductive and Developmental Biology, Department of Metabolism, Digestion, and Reproduction, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- Marchesi Laboratory, Department of Metabolism, Digestion, and Reproduction, Division of Digestive Disease, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Robin Shattock
- Section of Immunology of Infection, Department of Infectious Disease, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Phillip R. Bennett
- St Mary’s Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom
- March of Dimes Prematurity Research Centre, Division of the Institute of Reproductive and Developmental Biology, Department of Metabolism, Digestion, and Reproduction, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - David A. MacIntyre
- March of Dimes Prematurity Research Centre, Division of the Institute of Reproductive and Developmental Biology, Department of Metabolism, Digestion, and Reproduction, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Graham P. Taylor
- Section of Virology, Department of Infectious Disease, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- St Mary’s Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom
- March of Dimes Prematurity Research Centre, Division of the Institute of Reproductive and Developmental Biology, Department of Metabolism, Digestion, and Reproduction, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
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Lajarin-Reinares M, Naveira-Souto I, Mallandrich M, Suñer-Carbó J, Llagostera Casas M, Calvo MA, Fernandez-Campos F. Repurposing Disulfiram as an Antifungal Agent: Development of a New Disulfiram Vaginal Mucoadhesive Gel. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:pharmaceutics15051436. [PMID: 37242678 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15051436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2023] [Revised: 05/02/2023] [Accepted: 05/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Alternative formulations need to be developed to improve the efficacy of treatments administered via the vaginal route. Mucoadhesive gels with disulfiram, a molecule that was originally approved as an antialcoholism drug, offer an attractive alternative to treat vaginal candidiasis. The aim of the current study was to develop and optimize a mucoadhesive drug delivery system for the local administration of disulfiram. Such formulations were composed of polyethylene glycol and carrageenan to improve the mucoadhesive and mechanical properties and to prolong the residence time in the vaginal cavity. Microdilution susceptibility testing showed that these gels had antifungal activity against Candida albicans, Candida parapsilosis, and Nakaseomyces glabratus. The physicochemical properties of the gels were characterized, and the in vitro release and permeation profiles were investigated with vertical diffusion Franz cells. After quantification, it was determined that the amount of the drug retained in the pig vaginal epithelium was sufficient to treat candidiasis infection. Together, our findings suggest that mucoadhesive disulfiram gels have the potential to be an effective alternative treatment for vaginal candidiasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Lajarin-Reinares
- Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Campus Microbiology Unit, Autonomous University of Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain
- R & D Development, Reig Jofre Laboratories, 08970 Sant Joan Despí, Spain
| | - Iria Naveira-Souto
- R & D Development, Reig Jofre Laboratories, 08970 Sant Joan Despí, Spain
| | - Mireia Mallandrich
- Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology and Physical Chemistry, School of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Joaquim Suñer-Carbó
- Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology and Physical Chemistry, School of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Montserrat Llagostera Casas
- Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Campus Microbiology Unit, Autonomous University of Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Maria Angels Calvo
- Department of Animal Health and Anatomy, Faculty of Veterinary, Autonomous University of Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain
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Gaziano R, Sabbatini S, Monari C. The Interplay between Candida albicans, Vaginal Mucosa, Host Immunity and Resident Microbiota in Health and Disease: An Overview and Future Perspectives. Microorganisms 2023; 11:1211. [PMID: 37317186 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11051211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2023] [Revised: 05/02/2023] [Accepted: 05/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC), which is primarily caused by Candida albicans, is an infection that affects up to 75% of all reproductive-age women worldwide. Recurrent VVC (RVVC) is defined as >3 episodes per year and affects nearly 8% of women globally. At mucosal sites of the vagina, a delicate and complex balance exists between Candida spp., host immunity and local microbial communities. In fact, both immune response and microbiota composition play a central role in counteracting overgrowth of the fungus and maintaining homeostasis in the host. If this balance is perturbed, the conditions may favor C. albicans overgrowth and the yeast-to-hyphal transition, predisposing the host to VVC. To date, the factors that affect the equilibrium between Candida spp. and the host and drive the transition from C. albicans commensalism to pathogenicity are not yet fully understood. Understanding the host- and fungus-related factors that drive VVC pathogenesis is of paramount importance for the development of adequate therapeutic interventions to combat this common genital infection. This review focuses on the latest advances in the pathogenic mechanisms implicated in the onset of VVC and also discusses novel potential strategies, with a special focus on the use of probiotics and vaginal microbiota transplantation in the treatment and/or prevention of recurrent VVC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberta Gaziano
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Samuele Sabbatini
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Medical Microbiology Section, University of Perugia, 06132 Perugia, Italy
| | - Claudia Monari
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Medical Microbiology Section, University of Perugia, 06132 Perugia, Italy
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Bradfield Strydom M, Khan S, Walpola RL, Ware RS, Tiralongo E. Interplay of the microbiome and antifungal therapy in recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis (RVVC): A narrative review. J Med Microbiol 2023; 72. [PMID: 37171871 DOI: 10.1099/jmm.0.001705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis (RVVC) is a microbial, immune and sexual health disorder impacting up to 10 % of the adult female population. Fluconazole is a well-established antifungal drug commonly utilized for acute and long-term RVVC treatment. This insight review provides an overview of known vaginal and gastrointestinal microbiota characteristics in RVVC, presents the potential impacts of fluconazole therapy on multi-microbiome relationships and discusses implications for future research and clinical practice. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) and molecular methods to accurately define vaginal microbiota trends in RVVC are not comprehensively available, limiting understanding of microbiota roles in RVVC. Inconsistencies and variances in Lactobacillus profiles in RVVC women suggest poorly understood disease implications on the bacterial and fungal microbiomes. Investigations of environmental conditions like vaginal pH, drug therapy's impact, especially fluconazole maintenance therapy, and the elucidation of multi-microbiome relationships in RVVC are required to further investigate disease pathogenesis and responsible antimicrobial prescribing.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sohil Khan
- School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia
- Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia
| | - Ramesh L Walpola
- School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Robert S Ware
- Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia
| | - Evelin Tiralongo
- School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia
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Li K, Li F, Jaspan H, Nyemba D, Myer L, Aldrovandi G, Joseph-Davey D. Changes in the vaginal microbiome during pregnancy and the postpartum period in South African women: a longitudinal study. RESEARCH SQUARE 2023:rs.3.rs-2617869. [PMID: 37131718 PMCID: PMC10153297 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-2617869/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
African women have more diverse vaginal microbiota than women of European descent, and there is interest in the impact of this diversity on maternal health, including HIV and STI acquisition. We characterized the vaginal microbiota in a cohort of women ≥ 18 years with and without HIV in a longitudinal cohort over two visits during pregnancy and one visit postpartum. At each visit we obtained HIV testing and self-collected vaginal swabs for point of care testing for STIs and microbiome sequencing. We categorized microbial communities and evaluated changes over pregnancy and associations with HIV status and STI diagnosis. Across 242 women (mean age 29, 44% living with HIV, 33% diagnosed with STIs), we identified four main community state types (CSTs): two lactobacillus-dominant CSTs (dominated by Lactobacillus crispatus and Lactobacillus iners respectively) and two diverse, non-lactobacillus-dominant CSTs (one dominated by Gardnerella vaginalis and one by other facultative anaerobes). From first antenatal visit to third trimester (24-36 weeks gestation), 60% of women in the Gardnerella -dominant CST shifted to L actobacillus -dominant CSTs. From third trimester to postpartum (mean 17 days post-delivery), 80% of women in Lactobacillus -dominant CSTs shifted to non-lactobacillus-dominant CSTs with a large proportion in the facultative anaerobe-dominant CST. Microbial composition differed by STI diagnosis (PERMANOVA R 2 = 0.002, p = 0.004), and women diagnosed with an STI were more likely to be categorized with L. iners -dominant or Gardnerella -dominant CSTs. Overall we found a shift toward lactobacillus dominance during pregnancy, and the emergence of a distinct, highly diverse anaerobe-dominant microbiome population in the postpartum period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine Li
- UCLA Health System: University of California Los Angeles Health System
| | - Fan Li
- UCLA Medical School: University of California Los Angeles David Geffen School of Medicine
| | | | | | - Landon Myer
- University of Cape Town Faculty of Health Sciences
| | - Grace Aldrovandi
- UCLA Medical School: University of California Los Angeles David Geffen School of Medicine
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Zhang PP, He XP, Tang W, Chen HW, Han YY. Alterations in vaginal microbiota in uterine fibroids patients with ultrasound-guided high-intensity focused ultrasound ablation. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1138962. [PMID: 37138604 PMCID: PMC10150040 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1138962] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/31/2023] [Indexed: 05/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Vaginal microbiota dysbiosis is closely related to diseases of the vagina and uterus. Uterine fibroids (UF) are the most common benign neoplasms of the uterus, and increased diversity in vaginal microbial of UF patients. High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) is effective invasive treatment for fibroids in women who are not good surgical candidates. Whether HIFU of uterine fibroids will cause the change in vaginal microbiota has not been reported. We aimed to investigate the vaginal microbiota of UF patients with/without HIFU treatment using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Methods Vaginal secretions were collected from 77 UF patients (pre-operative and post-operative) and were used for comparative composition, diversity, and richness analyses of microbial communities. Results The microbial α-diversity was significantly lower in the vaginal of UF patients with HIFU treatment. The relative abundance of some pathogenic bacteria of UF patients with HIFU treatment were significantly decreased in the bacterial phylum and genus level. Proteobacteria were found to be significantly upregulated as a biomarker in the HIFU treatment group in our study. Conclusion These findings might confirm the effectiveness of HIFU treatment from the point of view of microbiota.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ping-Ping Zhang
- Department of Radiology, Panyu Central Hospital, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xue-Ping He
- Department of Radiology, Panyu Central Hospital, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wen Tang
- Department of Radiology, Guangdong Women and Children Hospital, Guangzhou, China
| | - Han-Wei Chen
- Department of Radiology, Panyu Health Management Center (Panyu Rehabilitation Hospital), Guangzhou, China
| | - Yuan-Yuan Han
- Department of Radiology, Panyu Central Hospital, Guangzhou, China
- School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China
- Medical Imaging Institute of Panyu, Guangzhou, China
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Pedro NA, Fontebasso G, Pinto SN, Alves M, Mira NP. Acetate modulates the inhibitory effect of Lactobacillus gasseri against the pathogenic yeasts Candida albicans and Candida glabrata. MICROBIAL CELL (GRAZ, AUSTRIA) 2023; 10:88-102. [PMID: 37009625 PMCID: PMC10054710 DOI: 10.15698/mic2023.04.795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2022] [Revised: 03/10/2023] [Accepted: 03/16/2023] [Indexed: 04/04/2023]
Abstract
The exploration of the interference prompted by commensal bacteria over fungal pathogens is an interesting alternative to develop new therapies. In this work we scrutinized how the presence of the poorly studied vaginal species Lactobacillus gasseri affects relevant pathophysiological traits of Candida albicans and Candida glabrata. L. gasseri was found to form mixed biofilms with C. albicans and C. glabrata resulting in pronounced death of the yeast cells, while bacterial viability was not affected. Reduced viability of the two yeasts was also observed upon co-cultivation with L. gasseri under planktonic conditions. Either in planktonic cultures or in biofilms, the anti-Candida effect of L. gasseri was augmented by acetate in a concentration-dependent manner. During planktonic co-cultivation the two Candida species counteracted the acidification prompted by L. gasseri thus impacting the balance between dissociated and undissociated organic acids. This feature couldn't be phenocopied in single-cultures of L. gasseri resulting in a broth enriched in acetic acid, while in the co-culture the non-toxic acetate prevailed. Altogether the results herein described advance the design of new anti-Candida therapies based on probiotics, in particular, those based on vaginal lactobacilli species, helping to reduce the significant burden that infections caused by Candida have today in human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nuno A. Pedro
- iBB, Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences, Instituto Superior Técnico – Department of Bioengineering, Universidade de Lisboa, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal
- Associate Laboratory i4HB—Institute for Health and Bioeconomy at Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Gabriela Fontebasso
- iBB, Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences, Instituto Superior Técnico – Department of Bioengineering, Universidade de Lisboa, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal
- Associate Laboratory i4HB—Institute for Health and Bioeconomy at Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Sandra N. Pinto
- iBB, Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences, Instituto Superior Técnico – Department of Bioengineering, Universidade de Lisboa, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal
- Associate Laboratory i4HB—Institute for Health and Bioeconomy at Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Marta Alves
- CQE-Centro Química Estrutural, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Nuno P. Mira
- iBB, Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences, Instituto Superior Técnico – Department of Bioengineering, Universidade de Lisboa, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal
- Associate Laboratory i4HB—Institute for Health and Bioeconomy at Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal
- * Corresponding Author: Nuno P Mira, Instituto Superior Técnico, Department of Bioengineering, University of Lisbon, Portugal; E-mail:
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Lee CY, Dillard LR, Papin JA, Arnold KB. New perspectives into the vaginal microbiome with systems biology. Trends Microbiol 2023; 31:356-368. [PMID: 36272885 DOI: 10.1016/j.tim.2022.09.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2022] [Revised: 09/19/2022] [Accepted: 09/21/2022] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
The vaginal microbiome (VMB) is critical to female reproductive health; however, the mechanisms associated with optimal and non-optimal states remain poorly understood due to the complex community structure and dynamic nature. Quantitative systems biology techniques applied to the VMB have improved understanding of community composition and function using primarily statistical methods. In contrast, fewer mechanistic models that use a priori knowledge of VMB features to develop predictive models have been implemented despite their use for microbiomes at other sites, including the gastrointestinal tract. Here, we explore systems biology approaches that have been applied in the VMB, highlighting successful techniques and discussing new directions that hold promise for improving understanding of health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina Y Lee
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Lillian R Dillard
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA; Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Genetics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Jason A Papin
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Kelly B Arnold
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
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