Vaginal sialoglycan foraging by Gardnerella vaginalis: Mucus barriers as a meal for unwelcome guests?

Glycobiology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kavita Agarwal ◽  
Amanda L Lewis
Keyword(s):  
Sialic Acid ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Bacterial Vaginosis ◽  
Anaerobic Bacteria ◽  
Poor Health ◽  
Current Understanding ◽  
Gardnerella Vaginalis ◽  
Vaginal Microbiome ◽  
Sialidase Activity ◽  
Vaginal Secretions

Abstract Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a condition of the vaginal microbiome in which there are few lactobacilli and abundant anaerobic bacteria. Members of the genus Gardnerella are often one of the most abundant bacteria in BV. BV is associated with a wide variety of poor health outcomes for women. It has been recognized since the 1980s that women with BV have detectable and sometimes markedly elevated levels of sialidase activity in vaginal fluids and that bacteria associated with this condition produce this activity in culture. Mounting evidence collected using diverse methodologies points to the conclusion that BV is associated with a reduction in intact sialoglycans in cervico-vaginal secretions. Here we review evidence for the contributions of vaginal bacteria, especially Gardnerella, in the processes of mucosal sialoglycan degradation, uptake, metabolism, and depletion. Our understanding of the impacts of vaginal sialoglycan degradation is still limited. However, the potential implications of sialic acid depletion are discussed in light of our current understanding of the roles played by sialoglycans in vaginal physiology.

scholarly journals Genome Sequences of 15 Gardnerella vaginalis Strains Isolated from the Vaginas of Women with and without Bacterial Vaginosis: TABLE 1 

2016 ◽  
Vol 4 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lloyd S. Robinson ◽  
Justin Perry ◽  
Sai Lek ◽  
Aye Wollam ◽  
Erica Sodergren ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Preterm Birth ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Bacterial Vaginosis ◽  
Draft Genome ◽  
Gardnerella Vaginalis ◽  
Genome Sequences ◽  
Predominant Species ◽  
Adverse Health ◽  
Adverse Health Outcomes

Gardnerella vaginalis is a predominant species in bacterial vaginosis, a dysbiosis of the vagina that is associated with adverse health outcomes, including preterm birth. Here, we present the draft genome sequences of 15 Gardnerella vaginalis strains (now available through BEI Resources) isolated from women with and without bacterial vaginosis.

scholarly journals Criteria for diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis using the test Femoflor-16

2017 ◽  
Vol 66 (4) ◽  
pp. 57-67 ◽  
Author(s):  
Veronika V. Nazarova ◽  
Elena V. Shipitsyna ◽  
Ekaterina N. Gerasimova ◽  
Alevtina M. Savicheva
Keyword(s):  
Bacterial Vaginosis ◽  
Vaginal Discharge ◽  
Bacterial Load ◽  
Anaerobic Bacteria ◽  
Microscopic Investigation ◽  
Reproductive Age ◽  
Gardnerella Vaginalis ◽  
Nugent Score ◽  
Adverse Pregnancy ◽  
Amsel Criteria

Background. Bacterial vaginosis is disturbance of the balance of the vaginal microflora, associated with a number of infectious diseases of the urogenital tract and adverse pregnancy outcomes. In this country, for the detection of vaginal dysbiotic conditions, the test Femoflor-16 (DNA-Technology, Moscow) is widely used, however interpretation algorithms of this test do not include the category of BV. Aim. The study aimed to elaborate diagnostic criteria for the detection of BV using Femoflor-16 test. Materials and methods. Women of reproductive age addressing a gynecologist with vaginal discharge were enrolled in the study. For clinical diagnosis of BV, the Amsel criteria were used, laboratory analysis for BV was performed via microscopic investigation of vaginal discharge using the Nugent score. Samples of vaginal discharge from all women were analyzed with the test Femoflor-16, intended for characterizing vaginal microbiocenosis using multiplex quantitative real-time PCR. Results. A total of 280 women were included in the study. BV was diagnosed in 86 women (31%) using the Amsel criteria, and in 81 women (29%) using the Nugent score. All groups of anaerobic bacteria included in Femoflor-16 test were shown to be associated with BV, with the exception of bacteria of the genus Mobiluncus, which are detected together with phylogenetically related but not BV-associated bacteria of the genus Corynebacterium. A low amount of lactobacilli (< 10% of total bacterial load) coupled with an elevated amount of Gardnerella vaginalis/Prevotella bivia/Porphyromonas (> 1%) and/or Eubacterium (> 2%) and/or Sneathia/Leptotrichia/Fusobacterium (> 0.1%) and/or Megasphaera/Veillonella/Dialister (> 0.1%) and/or Lachnobacterium/Clostridium (> 0.1%) and/or Peptostreptococcus (> 0.1%) and/or Atopobium vaginae (> 0.2%) detected BV with a sensitivity of 99% and specificity of 93%. Conclusions. Criteria for BV diagnosis using the test Femoflor-16 have been elaborated, which enable to detect BV or exclude it with a sensitivity of 99% and specificity of 93%. These criteria for BV and criteria of the test manufacturers for severe anaerobic dysbiosis determine to a large extent the same category of the vaginal microbiocenosis.

scholarly journals 2576. The Microbiome of Recurrent Bacterial Vaginosis Compared with Asymptomatic Controls

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. S895-S895
Author(s):  
Elizabeth O Shay ◽  
Oluwatosin Goje ◽  
Roshan Padmanabhan ◽  
Charis Eng
Keyword(s):  
16S Rrna ◽  
16S Rrna Gene ◽  
Bacterial Vaginosis ◽  
Alpha Diversity ◽  
Dna Probe ◽  
Gardnerella Vaginalis ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
Vaginal Microbiome ◽  
Β Diversity ◽  
Probe Test

Abstract Background Bacterial vaginosis (BV) affects nearly 1 in 3 women in the United States and is poorly understood. The study of the vaginal microbiome, using 16S rRNA-gene amplicon sequencing, has increased our knowledge of BV. We aimed to characterize the vaginal microbiome of women with recurrent BV firstly in comparison to controls, and secondly in comparison to a sub-population of our asymptomatic controls, positive for Gardnerella vaginalis via a vaginal pathogens DNA direct probe test (DNA probe). Methods Women aged 18–40 years, with recurrent BV, and asymptomatic controls were prospectively enrolled. Vaginal samples were collected from each participant. DNA was extracted, amplified using primers targeting the V3-V4 variable region of the 16S rRNA-gene, and then sequenced and processed through a hybrid Qiime MICCA bioinformatics pipeline. We also tested for G. vaginalis using the DNA probe. Results Seventeen recurrent BV patients and 46 controls were enrolled. Β diversity (P = 0.045), but not alpha diversity (P = 0.076) differed between groups. The genera Gardnerella and Prevotella were relatively more abundant, while Lactobacillus was relatively less abundant in recurrent BV vs. control groups. Of the patients for whom results of the DNA probe for Gardnerella vaginalis were available, 11 (69%) recurrent BV patients and 14 (35%) controls were positive. Control patients, negative by the DNA probe test, showed decreased alpha diversity (P = 0.0001) and significantly different β diversity (P = 0.001) compared with recurrent BV patients. Neither alpha (P = 0.31) nor β (P = 0.096) diversity differed between recurrent BV patients and controls that were G. vaginalis positive. Conclusion The microbiome of recurrent BV patients is distinct from that of asymptomatic controls; recurrent BV patients exhibit different β diversity, less Lactobacillus and more Gardnerella and Prevotella. Asymptomatic Gardnerella vaginalis-colonized controls demonstrate similar microbiome profiles to those of recurrent BV patients. These findings suggest that individual factors may influence whether or not a patient with a BV microbiomic profile experiences symptoms. Further investigation into these mechanisms could yield insights into the treatment of recurrent BV. Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures.

scholarly journals Finding a Balance in the Vaginal Microbiome: How Do We Treat and Prevent the Occurrence of Bacterial Vaginosis?

Antibiotics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 719
Author(s):  
Rebecca Jane Joseph ◽  
Hooi-Leng Ser ◽  
Yi-He Kuai ◽  
Loh Teng-Hern Tan ◽  
Valliammai Jayanthi Thirunavuk Arasoo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bacterial Vaginosis ◽  
Reproductive Tract ◽  
Vaginal Microbiota ◽  
Female Reproductive Tract ◽  
Gardnerella Vaginalis ◽  
Vaginal Microbiome ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Healthy State ◽  
Vaginal Health ◽  
Pathogenic Microbes

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) has been reported in one-third of women worldwide at different life stages, due to the complex balance in the ecology of the vaginal microbiota. It is a common cause of abnormal vaginal discharge and is associated with other health issues. Since the first description of anaerobic microbes associated with BV like Gardnerella vaginalis in the 1950s, researchers have stepped up the game by incorporating advanced molecular tools to monitor and evaluate the extent of dysbiosis within the vaginal microbiome, particularly on how specific microbial population changes compared to a healthy state. Moreover, treatment failure and BV recurrence rate remain high despite the standard antibiotic treatment. Consequently, researchers have been probing into alternative or adjunct treatments, including probiotics or even vaginal microbiota transplants, to ensure successful treatment outcomes and reduce the colonization by pathogenic microbes of the female reproductive tract. The current review summarizes the latest findings in probiotics use for BV and explores the potential of vaginal microbiota transplants in restoring vaginal health.

scholarly journals Diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis

2013 ◽  
Vol 141 (7-8) ◽  
pp. 560-564
Author(s):  
Slobodanka Djukic ◽  
Ivana Cirkovic ◽  
Biljana Arsic ◽  
Eliana Garalejic
Keyword(s):  
Bacterial Vaginosis ◽  
Anaerobic Bacteria ◽  
Infectious Agent ◽  
Mycoplasma Hominis ◽  
Clinical Syndrome ◽  
Gardnerella Vaginalis ◽  
Clinical Criteria ◽  
Vaginal Microflora ◽  
Molecular Tests ◽  
Ultimate Cause

Bacterial vaginosis is a common, complex clinical syndrome characterized by alterations in the normal vaginal flora. When symptomatic, it is associated with a malodorous vaginal discharge and on occasion vaginal burning or itching. Under normal conditions, lactobacilli constitute 95% of the bacteria in the vagina. Bacterial vaginosis is associated with severe reduction or absence of the normal H2O2?producing lactobacilli and overgrowth of anaerobic bacteria and Gardnerella vaginalis, Atopobium vaginae, Mycoplasma hominis and Mobiluncus species. Most types of infectious disease are diagnosed by culture, by isolating an antigen or RNA/DNA from the microbe, or by serodiagnosis to determine the presence of antibodies to the microbe. Therefore, demonstration of the presence of an infectious agent is often a necessary criterion for the diagnosis of the disease. This is not the case for bacterial vaginosis, since the ultimate cause of the disease is not yet known. There are a variety of methods for the diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis but no method can at present be regarded as the best. Diagnosing bacterial vaginosis has long been based on the clinical criteria of Amsel, whereby three of four defined criteria must be satisfied. Nugent?s scoring system has been further developed and includes validation of the categories of observable bacteria structures. Up?to?date molecular tests are introduced, and better understanding of vaginal microbiome, a clear definition for bacterial vaginosis, and short?term and long?term fluctuations in vaginal microflora will help to better define molecular tests within the broader clinical context.

scholarly journals The Female Vaginal Microbiome in Health and Bacterial Vaginosis

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaodi Chen ◽  
Yune Lu ◽  
Tao Chen ◽  
Rongguo Li
Keyword(s):  
Bacterial Vaginosis ◽  
Therapeutic Strategies ◽  
Reproductive Age ◽  
Gardnerella Vaginalis ◽  
Obstetric Outcomes ◽  
Antimicrobial Compounds ◽  
Vaginal Microbiome ◽  
Sharp Decline ◽  
Women Of Reproductive Age ◽  
Sexually Transmitted

The vaginal microbiome is an intricate and dynamic microecosystem that constantly undergoes fluctuations during the female menstrual cycle and the woman’s entire life. A healthy vaginal microbiome is dominated by Lactobacillus which produce various antimicrobial compounds. Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is characterized by the loss or sharp decline in the total number of Lactobacillus and a corresponding marked increase in the concentration of anaerobic microbes. BV is a highly prevalent disorder of the vaginal microbiota among women of reproductive age globally. BV is confirmed to be associated with adverse gynecologic and obstetric outcomes, such as sexually transmitted infections, pelvic inflammatory disease, and preterm birth. Gardnerella vaginalis is the most common microorganism identified from BV. It is the predominant microbe in polymicrobial biofilms that could shelter G. vaginalis and other BV-associated microbes from adverse host environments. Many efforts have been made to increase our understanding of the vaginal microbiome in health and BV. Thus, improved novel and accurate diagnosis and therapeutic strategies for BV have been developed. This review covers the features of vaginal microbiome, BV, BV-associated diseases, and various strategies of diagnosis and treatment of BV, with an emphasis on recent research progresses.

scholarly journals Microbial Composition Predicts Genital Tract Inflammation and Persistent Bacterial Vaginosis in South African Adolescent Females

2017 ◽  
Vol 86 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Katie Lennard ◽  
Smritee Dabee ◽  
Shaun L. Barnabas ◽  
Enock Havyarimana ◽  
Anna Blakney ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bacterial Vaginosis ◽  
South African ◽  
Adolescent Females ◽  
Gardnerella Vaginalis ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
Vaginal Microbiome ◽  
Microbial Composition ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Specificity And Sensitivity ◽  
Increased Risk

ABSTRACTYoung African females are at an increased risk of HIV acquisition, and genital inflammation or the vaginal microbiome may contribute to this risk. We studied these factors in 168 HIV-negative South African adolescent females aged 16 to 22 years. Unsupervised clustering of 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed three clusters (subtypes), one of which was strongly associated with genital inflammation. In a multivariate model, the microbiome compositional subtype and hormonal contraception were significantly associated with genital inflammation. We identified 40 taxa significantly associated with inflammation, including those reported previously (Prevotella,Sneathia,Aerococcus,Fusobacterium, andGemella) as well as several novel taxa (including increased frequencies of bacterial vaginosis-associated bacterium 1 [BVAB1], BVAB2, BVAB3,Prevotella amnii,Prevotella pallens,Parvimonas micra,Megasphaera,Gardnerella vaginalis, andAtopobium vaginaeand decreased frequencies ofLactobacillus reuteri,Lactobacillus crispatus,Lactobacillus jensenii, andLactobacillus iners). Women with inflammation-associated microbiomes had significantly higher body mass indices and lower levels of endogenous estradiol and luteinizing hormone. Community functional profiling revealed three distinct vaginal microbiome subtypes, one of which was characterized by extreme genital inflammation and persistent bacterial vaginosis (BV); this subtype could be predicted with high specificity and sensitivity based on the Nugent score (≥9) or BVAB1 abundance. We propose that women with this BVAB1-dominated subtype may have chronic genital inflammation due to persistent BV, which may place them at a particularly high risk for HIV infection.

scholarly journals Gardnerella vaginalis and Prevotella bivia Trigger Distinct and Overlapping Phenotypes in a Mouse Model of Bacterial Vaginosis

2019 ◽  
Vol 220 (7) ◽  
pp. 1099-1108 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicole M Gilbert ◽  
Warren G Lewis ◽  
Guocai Li ◽  
Dorothy K Sojka ◽  
Jean Bernard Lubin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bacterial Vaginosis ◽  
Reproductive Tract ◽  
Adverse Outcomes ◽  
Gardnerella Vaginalis ◽  
Sialidase Activity ◽  
Ascending Infection ◽  
Prevotella Bivia ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Adverse Pregnancy ◽  
Tract Infections

AbstractBackgroundBacterial vaginosis (BV) is a common imbalance of the vaginal microbiota characterized by overgrowth of diverse Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, and Gram-negative anaerobes. Women with BV are at increased risk of secondary reproductive tract infections and adverse pregnancy outcomes. However, which specific bacteria cause clinical features of BV is unclear.MethodsWe previously demonstrated that Gardnerella vaginalis could elicit many BV features in mice. In this study, we established a BV model in which we coinfected mice with G. vaginalis and another species commonly found in women with BV: Prevotella bivia.ResultsThis coinfection model recapitulates several aspects of human BV, including vaginal sialidase activity (a diagnostic BV feature independently associated with adverse outcomes), epithelial exfoliation, and ascending infection. It is notable that G. vaginalis facilitated uterine infection by P. bivia.ConclusionsTaken together, our model provides a framework for advancing our understanding of the role of individual or combinations of BV-associated bacteria in BV pathogenesis.

scholarly journals Importance of Isolation and Biotypization of Gardnerella Vaginalis in Diagnosis of Bacterial Vaginosis

2008 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 270-276 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fatima Numanović ◽  
Mirsada Hukić ◽  
Mahmud Nurkić ◽  
Merima Gegić ◽  
Zineta Delibegović ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bacterial Vaginosis ◽  
Natural Habitat ◽  
Anaerobic Bacteria ◽  
Clinical Signs ◽  
Gardnerella Vaginalis ◽  
Subjective Symptoms ◽  
Vaginal Infection ◽  
Vaginal Secretion ◽  
Aerobic And Anaerobic ◽  
Amsel Criteria

The natural habitat of Gardnerella vaginalis is a vagina since it could be located among 69% of women who have no signs of vaginal infection and in the vagina of as many as 13,5% girls. G. vaginalis is almost certainly identified among women diagnosed with bacterial vaginosis as well as in the urethra of their sexual partner. The increase in prevalence and concentration of G. vaginalis among patients diagnosed with this syndrome confirms that G. vaginalis plays a significant role in its pathogenesis. In our research, based on Amsel criteria for three or more clinical signs of bacterial vaginosis, it was diagnosed in 20,5% of women with subjective problems of vaginal infection, and in 48,80% of women with subjective symptoms characteristic of this disease. G. vaginalis was isolated from vaginal secretion of women without clinical signs characteristic of bacterial vaginosis. In 2,58% of cases it was solitary, while in 1,28% it was found in combination with other aerobic and anaerobic bacteria and, in 1,28% women combined with Candida albicans. The isolation of G. vaginalis was significantly increased (p<0,05) in the group of women with clinical signs of bacterial vaginosis in comparison to the group of women without these signs. Frequent recurrence of bacterial vaginosis, which is found in 20-30% of women within a three months treatment, is explained as reinfection with other biotype of G. vaginalis, different from a source biotype or as a consequence of wrong treatment. Following Piot biotype scheme, biotypes 2., 3. and 7. G. vaginalis are significantly more often isolated from women who suffer from bacterial vaginosis. Biotype 7. G. vaginalis, isolated from the group of women without clinical signs of bacterial vaginosis, accounted for 2,58% cases. Following Benit biotype scheme, biotypes IVa, IVc and Ilc were identified in 12,90% cases, while biotypes Illa, IIa, Ia, IVb, IIb were found in 6,45% cases. Lipase-positive isolates of G. vaginalis were significantly more frequently accompanied by the syndrome of bacterial vaginosis.

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