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 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 Relationship between the Oral and Vaginal Microbiota of South African Adolescents with High Prevalence of Bacterial Vaginosis

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (7) ◽  
pp. 1004 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christina Balle ◽  
Rachel Esra ◽  
Enock Havyarimana ◽  
Shameem Z. Jaumdally ◽  
Katie Lennard ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bacterial Vaginosis ◽  
South African ◽  
Bacterial Species ◽  
Hypervariable Region ◽  
Vaginal Microbiota ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
Oral Microbiota ◽  
Prevotella Intermedia ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
High Prevalence

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) and periodontal disease (PD) are characterised as bacterial dysbioses. Both are associated with an increased risk of poor pregnancy outcomes, yet it is unknown whether PD and BV are related. We characterised the oral microbiota of young South African females with a high prevalence of BV and investigated the association between oral communities and vaginal microbiota. DNA was extracted from vaginal lateral wall, saliva and supragingival plaque samples from 94 adolescent females (aged 15–19 years). 16S rRNA gene sequencing of the V4 hypervariable region was performed for analysis of the oral and vaginal microbiota and BV status was determined by Nugent scoring. The core oral microbiota was predominately comprised of Firmicutes followed by Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes. The salivary microbiota of participants with BV was more diverse than those with lactobacillus-dominated communities (p = 0.030). PD-associated bacterial species, including Prevotella intermedia and Porphyromonas endodontalis were enriched in the supragingival microbiota of women with non-optimal vaginal communities compared to those with Lactobacillus-dominant communities, while Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Prevotella intermedia were enriched in the saliva of women with non-optimal vaginal microbiota. These data suggest a relationship between oral and vaginal dysbiosis, warranting further investigation into whether they are casually related.

scholarly journals Ultrafine particles altered gut microbial population and metabolic profiles in a sex-specific manner in an obese mouse model

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kundi Yang ◽  
Mengyang Xu ◽  
Jingyi Cao ◽  
Qi Zhu ◽  
Monica Rahman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ultrafine Particles ◽  
Microbial Population ◽  
Phosphate Buffer Solution ◽  
Biodiesel Fuel ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Obese Mouse ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
Obese Mice ◽  
Microbial Composition ◽  
Increased Risk

AbstractEmerging evidence has highlighted the connection between exposure to air pollution and the increased risk of obesity, metabolic syndrome, and comorbidities. Given the recent interest in studying the effects of ultrafine particle (UFP) on the health of obese individuals, this study examined the effects of gastrointestinal UFP exposure on gut microbial composition and metabolic function using an in vivo murine model of obesity in both sexes. UFPs generated from light-duty diesel engine combustion of petrodiesel (B0) and a petrodiesel/biodiesel fuel blend (80:20 v/v, B20) were administered orally. Multi-omics approaches, including liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS) based targeted metabolomics and 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, semi-quantitatively compared the effects of 10-day UFP exposures on obese C57B6 mouse gut microbial population, changes in diversity and community function compared to a phosphate buffer solution (PBS) control group. Our results show that sex-specific differences in the gut microbial population in response to UFP exposure can be observed, as UFPs appear to have a differential impact on several bacterial families in males and females. Meanwhile, the alteration of seventy-five metabolites from the gut microbial metabolome varied significantly (ANOVA p < 0.05) across the PBS control, B0, and B20 groups. Multivariate analyses revealed that the fuel-type specific disruption to the microbial metabolome was observed in both sexes, with stronger disruptive effects found in females in comparison to male obese mice. Metabolic signatures of bacterial cellular oxidative stress, such as the decreased concentration of nucleotides and lipids and increased concentrations of carbohydrate, energy, and vitamin metabolites were detected. Furthermore, blood metabolites from the obese mice were differentially affected by the fuel types used to generate the UFPs (B0 vs. B20).

scholarly journals Ratio of Klebsiella/Bifidobacterium in early life correlates with later development of paediatric allergy

2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (5) ◽  
pp. 681-695 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.S.Y. Low ◽  
S.-E. Soh ◽  
Y.K. Lee ◽  
K.Y.C. Kwek ◽  
J.D. Holbrook ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Intestinal Microbiota ◽  
Allergic Disease ◽  
Early Life ◽  
16S Rrna Gene Sequencing ◽  
Early Infancy ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
Microbial Composition ◽  
Healthy Infants ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Paediatric Allergy

Several studies have reported that intestinal microbial colonisation patterns differ between non-allergic and allergic infants. However, the microbial signature underlying the pathogenesis of allergies remains unclear. We aim to gain insight into the development of the intestinal microbiota of healthy infants and infants who develop allergy in early life, and identify potential microbiota biomarkers of later allergic disease. Using a case-control design in a Chinese sub-cohort of a Singaporean birth cohort (GUSTO), we utilised 16S rRNA gene sequencing to assess intestinal microbial composition and diversity of 21 allergic and 18 healthy infants at 3 weeks, 3 months and 6 months of age, and correlated the microbiota with allergy at ages 18 and 36 months. Pronounced differences in intestinal microbiota composition between allergic and healthy infants were observed at 3 months of age. The intestine of healthy infants was colonised with higher abundance of commensal Bifidobacterium. Conversely, Klebsiella, an opportunistic pathogen, was significantly enriched in the allergic infants. Interestingly, infants with a high Klebsiella/Bifidobacterium (K/B) ratio (above the population median K/B ratio) at age 3 months had an odds ratio of developing allergy by 3 years of age of 9.00 (95% confidence interval 1.46-55.50) compared to those with low K/B ratio. This study demonstrated a relationship between the ratio of genera Klebsiella and Bifidobacterium during early infancy and development of paediatric allergy in childhood. Our study postulates that an elevated K/B ratio in early infancy could be a potential indicator of an increased risk of allergy development. This line of research might enable future intervention strategies in early life to prevent or treat allergy. Our study provides new insights into microbial signatures associated with childhood allergy, in particular, suggests that an elevated K/B ratio could be a potential early-life microbiota biomarker of allergic disease.

scholarly journals Short- and long-term effects of amoxicillin/clavulanic acid or doxycycline on the gastrointestinal microbiome of growing cats

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Evangelia Stavroulaki ◽  
Jan S. Suchodolski ◽  
Rachel Pilla ◽  
Geoffrey T. Fosgate ◽  
Chi-Hsuan Sung ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clavulanic Acid ◽  
Antibiotic Treatment ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
Upper Respiratory Tract ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Microbial Composition ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Group 15 ◽  
Amoxicillin Clavulanic Acid

Antibiotic treatment in early life influences gastrointestinal (GI) microbial composition and function. In humans, the resultant intestinal dysbiosis is associated with an increased risk for certain diseases later in life. The objective of this study was to determine the temporal effects of antibiotic treatment on the GI microbiome of young cats. Fecal samples were collected from cats randomly allocated to receive either amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (20 mg/kg q12h) for 20 days (AMC group; 15 cats) or doxycycline (10 mg/kg q24h) for 28 days (DOX group;15 cats) as part of the standard treatment of upper respiratory tract infection. In addition, feces were collected from healthy control cats (CON group;15 cats). All cats were approximately two months of age at enrolment. Samples were collected on days 0 (baseline), 20 or 28 (AMC and DOX, respectively; last day of treatment), 60, 120, and 300. DNA was extracted and sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene and qPCR assays were performed. Fecal microbial composition was different on the last day of treatment for AMC cats, and 1 month after the end of antibiotic treatment for DOX cats, compared to CON cats. Species richness was significantly greater in DOX cats compared to CON cats on the last day of treatment. Abundance of Enterobacteriales was increased, and that of Erysipelotrichi was decreased in cats of the AMC group on the last day of treatment compared to CON cats. The abundance of the phylum Proteobacteria was increased in cats of the DOX group on days 60 and 120 compared to cats of the CON group. Only minor differences in abundances between the treatment groups and the control group were present on day 300. Both antibiotics appear to delay the developmental progression of the microbiome, and this effect is more profound during treatment with amoxicillin/clavulanic acid and one month after treatment with doxycycline. Future studies are required to determine if these changes influence microbiome function and whether they have possible effects on disease susceptibility in cats.

scholarly journals Spatial and Temporal Analysis of the Stomach and Small-Intestinal Microbiota in Fasted Healthy Humans

mSphere ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna M. Seekatz ◽  
Matthew K. Schnizlein ◽  
Mark J. Koenigsknecht ◽  
Jason R. Baker ◽  
William L. Hasler ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gastrointestinal Tract ◽  
Upper Gastrointestinal Tract ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
Gi Tract ◽  
Microbial Composition ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Healthy Humans ◽  
Health And Disease ◽  
Upper Gastrointestinal ◽  
Over Time

ABSTRACTAlthough the microbiota in the proximal gastrointestinal (GI) tract have been implicated in health and disease, much about these microbes remains understudied compared to those in the distal GI tract. This study characterized the microbiota across multiple proximal GI sites over time in healthy individuals. As part of a study of the pharmacokinetics of oral mesalamine administration, healthy, fasted volunteers (n = 8; 10 observation periods total) were orally intubated with a four-lumen catheter with multiple aspiration ports. Samples were taken from stomach, duodenal, and multiple jejunal sites, sampling hourly (≤7 h) to measure mesalamine (administered att = 0), pH, and 16S rRNA gene-based composition. We observed a predominance ofFirmicutesacross proximal GI sites, with significant variation compared to stool. The microbiota was more similar within individuals over time than between subjects, with the fecal microbiota being unique from that of the small intestine. The stomach and duodenal microbiota displayed highest intraindividual variability compared to jejunal sites, which were more stable across time. We observed significant correlations in the duodenal microbial composition with changes in pH; linear mixed models identified positive correlations with multipleStreptococcusoperational taxonomic units (OTUs) and negative correlations with multiplePrevotellaandPasteurellaceaeOTUs. Few OTUs correlated with mesalamine concentration. The stomach and duodenal microbiota exhibited greater compositional dynamics than the jejunum. Short-term fluctuations in the duodenal microbiota were correlated with pH. Given the unique characteristics and dynamics of the proximal GI tract microbiota, it is important to consider these local environments in health and disease states.IMPORTANCEThe gut microbiota are linked to a variety of gastrointestinal diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease. Despite this importance, microbiota dynamics in the upper gastrointestinal tract are understudied. Our article seeks to understand what factors impact microbiota dynamics in the healthy human upper gut. We found that the upper gastrointestinal tract contains consistently prevalent bacterial OTUs that dominate the overall community. Microbiota variability is highest in the stomach and duodenum and correlates with pH.

scholarly journals Microbial Composition of Human Appendices from Patients following Appendectomy

mBio ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Caitriona M. Guinane ◽  
Amany Tadrous ◽  
Fiona Fouhy ◽  
C. Anthony Ryan ◽  
Eugene M. Dempsey ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Human Health ◽  
High Throughput ◽  
High Throughput Sequencing ◽  
Evolutionary Development ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
Limited Data ◽  
Microbial Composition ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Study Results ◽  
Human Appendix

ABSTRACT The human appendix has historically been considered a vestige of evolutionary development with an unknown function. While limited data are available on the microbial composition of the appendix, it has been postulated that this organ could serve as a microbial reservoir for repopulating the gastrointestinal tract in times of necessity. We aimed to explore the microbial composition of the human appendix, using high-throughput sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene V4 region. Seven patients, 5 to 25 years of age, presenting with symptoms of acute appendicitis were included in this study. Results showed considerable diversity and interindividual variability among the microbial composition of the appendix samples. In general, however, Firmicutes was the dominant phylum, with the majority of additional sequences being assigned at various levels to Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteria, and Fusobacteria. Despite the large diversity in the microbiota found within the appendix, however, a few major families and genera were found to comprise the majority of the sequences present. Interestingly, also, certain taxa not generally associated with the human intestine, including the oral pathogens Gemella, Parvimonas, and Fusobacterium, were identified among the appendix samples. The prevalence of genera such as Fusobacterium could also be linked to the severity of inflammation of the organ. We conclude that the human appendix contains a robust and varied microbiota distinct from the microbiotas in other niches within the human microbiome. The microbial composition of the human appendix is subject to extreme variability and comprises a diversity of biota that may play an important, as-yet-unknown role in human health. IMPORTANCE There are currently limited data available on the microbial composition of the human appendix. It has been suggested, however, that it may serve as a “safe house” for commensal bacteria that can reinoculate the gut at need. The present study is the first comprehensive view of the microbial composition of the appendix as determined by high-throughput sequencing. We have determined that the human appendix contains a wealth of microbes, including members of 15 phyla. Important information regarding the associated bacterial diversity of the appendix which will help determine the role, if any, the appendix microbiota has in human health is presented.

scholarly journals Differential Patterns of Microbiota Recovery in Symbiotic and Aposymbiotic Corals following Antibiotic Disturbance

mSystems ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shavonna M. Bent ◽  
Carolyn A. Miller ◽  
Koty H. Sharp ◽  
Colleen M. Hansel ◽  
Amy Apprill
Keyword(s):  
Recovery Period ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
Initial State ◽  
Microbial Composition ◽  
Coral Mucus ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Coral Microbiome ◽  
Algal Symbionts ◽  
Astrangia Poculata ◽  
Coral Health

ABSTRACT Microbial relationships are critical to coral health, and changes in microbiomes are often exhibited following environmental disturbance. However, the dynamics of coral-microbial composition and external factors that govern coral microbiome assembly and response to disturbance remain largely uncharacterized. Here, we investigated how antibiotic-induced disturbance affects the coral mucus microbiota in the facultatively symbiotic temperate coral Astrangia poculata, which occurs naturally with high (symbiotic) or low (aposymbiotic) densities of the endosymbiotic dinoflagellate Breviolum psygmophilum. We also explored how differences in the mucus microbiome of natural and disturbed A. poculata colonies affected levels of extracellular superoxide, a reactive oxygen species thought to have both beneficial and detrimental effects on coral health. Using a bacterial and archaeal small-subunit (SSU) rRNA gene sequencing approach, we found that antibiotic exposure significantly altered the composition of the mucus microbiota but that it did not influence superoxide levels, suggesting that superoxide production in A. poculata is not influenced by the mucus microbiota. In antibiotic-treated A. poculata exposed to ambient seawater, mucus microbiota recovered to its initial state within 2 weeks following exposure, and six bacterial taxa played a prominent role in this reassembly. Microbial composition among symbiotic colonies was more similar throughout the 2-week recovery period than that among aposymbiotic colonies, whose microbiota exhibited significantly more interindividual variability after antibiotic treatment and during recovery. This work suggests that the A. poculata mucus microbiome can rapidly reestablish itself and that the presence of B. psygmophilum, perhaps by supplying nutrients, photosynthate, or other signaling molecules, exerts influence on this process. IMPORTANCE Corals are animals whose health is often maintained by symbiotic microalgae and other microorganisms, yet they are highly susceptible to environmental-related disturbances. Here, we used a known disruptor, antibiotics, to understand how the coral mucus microbial community reassembles itself following disturbance. We show that the Astrangia poculata microbiome can recover from this disturbance and that individuals with algal symbionts reestablish their microbiomes in a more consistent manner compared to corals lacking symbionts. This work is important because it suggests that this coral may be able to recover its mucus microbiome following disturbance, it identifies specific microbes that may be important to reassembly, and it demonstrates that algal symbionts may play a previously undocumented role in microbial recovery and resilience to environmental change.

scholarly journals Evidence for Multidrug Resistance in NonpathogenicMycoplasmaSpecies Isolated from South African Poultry

2018 ◽  
Vol 84 (21) ◽  
Author(s):  
Amanda Beylefeld ◽  
Pamela Wambulawaye ◽  
Dauda Garba Bwala ◽  
Johannes Jacobus Gouws ◽  
Obed Mooki Lukhele ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Multidrug Resistance ◽  
South African ◽  
Macrolide Resistance ◽  
Quinolone Resistance ◽  
23S Rrna ◽  
Clear Correlation ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
Poultry Production ◽  
Content Type ◽  
23S Rrna Gene

ABSTRACTOne hundred seventy-eight mycoplasma strains isolated from South African poultry flocks between 2003 and 2015 were identified by full-genome sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene and were classified as follows:Mycoplasma gallisepticum(25%),M. gallinarum(25%),M. gallinaceum, (23%),M. pullorum(14%),M. synoviae(10%), andM. iners(3%), as well as oneAcheoplasma laidlawiistrain (1%). MIC testing was performed on the axenic samples, and numerous strains of each species were resistant to either chlortetracycline or tylosin or both, with variable sensitivity to enrofloxacin. The strains of all species tested remained sensitive to tiamulin, except for oneM. gallinaceumsample that demonstrated intermediate sensitivity. The mutation of A to G at position 2059 (A2059G) in the 23S rRNA gene, which is associated with macrolide resistance, was found in the South AfricanM. gallisepticumandM. synoviaestrains, as well as a clear correlation between macrolide resistance inM. gallinarumandM. gallinaceumand mutations G354A and G748A in the L4 ribosomal protein and 23S rRNA gene, respectively. No correlation between resistance and point mutations in the genes studied could be found forM. pullorum. Only a few strains were resistant to enrofloxacin, apart from oneM. synoviaestrain with point mutation D420N, which has been associated with quinolone resistance, and no other known markers for quinolone resistance were found in this study. Proportionally more antimicrobial-resistant strains were detected inM. gallinaceum,M. gallinarum, andM. pullorumthan inM. gallisepticumandM. synoviae. Of concern, threeM. gallinaceumstrains showed multidrug resistance to chlortetracycline, tylosin, and oxytetracycline.IMPORTANCENonpathogenic poultryMycoplasmaspecies are often overlooked due to their lesser impact on poultry health and production compared to the OIE-listed pathogenic strainsM. gallisepticumandM. synoviae. The use of antimicrobials as in-feed growth promoters and for the control of mycoplasmosis is common in poultry production across the world. Here, we provide evidence that certain nonpathogenicMycoplasmaspecies are acquiring multidrug resistance traits. This would have significant implications if these species, for which no vaccines are applied, are able to transfer their antibiotic resistance genes to other mycoplasmas and bacteria that may enter the human food chain.

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