scholarly journals Alterations of Vaginal Microbiota in Women With Infertility and Chlamydia trachomatis Infection

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hongliang Chen ◽  
Li Wang ◽  
Lanhua Zhao ◽  
Lipei Luo ◽  
Shuling Min ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chlamydia Trachomatis ◽  
Female Genital Tract ◽  
Operational Taxonomic Unit ◽  
Vaginal Microbiota ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
Tubal Infertility ◽  
Chlamydia Trachomatis Infection ◽  
Sexually Transmitted ◽  
Female Genital

Chlamydia trachomatis (C. trachomatis) is the most common etiological agent of bacterial sexually transmitted infections (STIs) worldwide and causes serious health sequelae such as cervicitis, pelvic inflammatory disease, and even infertility if ascending from the lower to the upper female genital tract. Previous studies have revealed the pivotal role of vaginal microbiota in susceptibility to STIs. However, alterations in the vaginal microbiota in women who are infertile and infected with C. trachomatis remain unknown. This study used metagenomic analysis of sequenced 16S rRNA gene amplicons to examine the vaginal microbial profiles of women with tubal infertility who were C. trachomatis-negative and those who were C. trachomatis-positive pre- and post-antibiotic treatment. Women who were C. trachomatis-negative and deemed healthy were recruited as references of eubiosis and dysbiosis. Women with tubal infertility and C. trachomatis infection presented a unique Lactobacillus iners-dominated vaginal microbiota rather than one dominated by Lactobacillus crispatus and displayed a decrease in Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, Enterobacter, Atopobium, and Streptococcus, accompanied by decreased levels of cytokines such as interferon (IFN)-γ and interleukin (IL)-10. This altered vaginal microbiota could be restored with varying degrees after standard treatment for C. trachomatis. This shift could be a predictive vaginal microbiota signature for C. trachomatis infection among females with tubal infertility, while no significant differences in phylum, class, and operational taxonomic unit (OTU) levels were observed between women with tubal infertility who were C. trachomatis-negative and healthy controls. This is the first study to provide data on the association of vaginal microbiota with C. trachomatis infection among women with tubal infertility and highlights unprecedented potential opportunities to predict C. trachomatis infection.

Evidence for cGAS-STING signaling in the female genital tract resistance to Chlamydia trachomatis infection

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xin Su ◽  
Hong Xu ◽  
Maegan French ◽  
Yujie Zhao ◽  
Lingli Tang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Innate Immunity ◽  
Chlamydia Trachomatis ◽  
Signaling Pathway ◽  
Genital Tract ◽  
Essential Role ◽  
Cultured Cells ◽  
Female Genital Tract ◽  
Lower Genital Tract ◽  
Female Genital

Sexually transmitted Chlamydia trachomatis can ascend to the upper genital tract due to its resistance to innate immunity in the lower genital tract. C. trachomatis can activate cGAS-STING signaling pathway in cultured cells via either cGAS or STING. The current study was designed to evaluate the role of the cGAS-STING pathway in innate immunity against C. trachomatis in the mouse genital tract. Following intravaginal inoculation, C. trachomatis significantly declined by day 5 following a peak infection on day 3 while the mouse-adapted C. muridarum continued to rise for >1 week, indicating that C. trachomatis is susceptible to the innate immunity in the female mouse genital tract. This conclusion was supported by the observation of a similar shedding course in mice deficient in adaptive immunity. Thus, C. trachomatis can be used to evaluate innate immunity in the female genital tract. It was found that mice deficient in either cGAS or STING significantly increased the yields of live C. trachomatis on day 5, indicating an essential role of the cGAS-STING signaling pathway in innate immunity of the mouse genital tract. Comparison of live C. trachomatis recovered from different genital tissues revealed that the cGAS-STING-dependent immunity against C. trachomatis was restricted to the mouse lower genital tract regardless of whether C. trachomatis was inoculated intravaginally or transcervically. Thus, we have demonstrated an essential role of the cGAS-STING signaling pathway in innate immunity against chlamydial infection, laying a foundation for further illuminating the mechanisms of the innate immunity in the female lower genital tract.

scholarly journals Chlamydia trachomatis infection: a challenge for the urologist

2011 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tommaso Cai ◽  
Sandra Mazzoli ◽  
Nicola Mondaini ◽  
Gianni Malossini ◽  
Riccardo Bartoletti
Keyword(s):  
Chlamydia Trachomatis ◽  
Bacterial Infections ◽  
Reproductive Tract ◽  
Diagnosis And Treatment ◽  
Everyday Clinical Practice ◽  
Chlamydia Trachomatis Infection ◽  
Sexually Transmitted ◽  
New Findings ◽  
Asymptomatic Infections

<p>The role of <em>Chlamydia trachomatis</em> (Ct) in everyday clinical practice is now on the increase because Ct infections are the most prevalent sexually transmitted bacterial infections worldwide. Ct can cause urethritis, cervicitis, pharyngitis, or epididymitis, although asymptomatic infections are quite common. Ct infection remains asymptomatic in approximately 50% of infected men and 70% of infected women, with risk for reproductive tract sequelae both in women and men. A proper early diagnosis and treatment is essential in order to prevent persistent consequences. An accurate comprehension of the pathology, diagnosis and treatment of this entity is essential for the urologist. We review the literature about the new findings in diagnosis and treatment of Ct infection in sexually active young men.</p>

The Gynecologic Health Consequences of Chlamydia trachomatis Infection in Military Servicewomen

2018 ◽  
Vol 36 (06) ◽  
pp. 340-350 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine Nadeau ◽  
Dennis Fujii ◽  
Jessica Lentscher ◽  
Amanda Haney ◽  
Richard Burney
Keyword(s):  
Chlamydia Trachomatis ◽  
The United States ◽  
Chlamydia Infection ◽  
Tubal Infertility ◽  
Military Health ◽  
Vitro Fertilization ◽  
Chlamydia Trachomatis Infection ◽  
Sexually Transmitted ◽  
The Military

Abstract Chlamydia trachomatis is the most common sexually transmitted bacterial infection in the United States. Within the U.S. military, the age- and race-adjusted chlamydia infection rates among female service members are consistently higher than civilian rates, with a 20% annual acquisition rate among young active-duty women. The sequelae of chlamydia disproportionately impact women in terms of severity and cost. Untreated chlamydia progresses to pelvic inflammatory disease in 40% of cases, and is a leading cause of fallopian tube damage and pelvic adhesive disease resulting in ectopic pregnancy, tubal infertility, and acute and chronic pelvic pain. Tubal infertility is among the leading indications for in vitro fertilization (IVF) nationally and rates among couples undergoing IVF at military treatment centers are double the national average. Collectively, chlamydia infection represents a significant resource burden to the military health care system and, in view of the serious gynecologic health sequelae, a significant threat to the readiness of servicewomen. In this review, we discuss the gynecologic impact of chlamydia infection within the military, the critical gaps for research funding, and opportunities for intervention.

scholarly journals Comparison of Female Genital Tract Cytokine and Microbiota Signatures Induced by Initiation of Intramuscular DMPA and NET-EN Hormonal Contraceptives - a Prospective Cohort Analysis

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Smritee Dabee ◽  
Ramla F. Tanko ◽  
Bryan P. Brown ◽  
Rubina Bunjun ◽  
Christina Balle ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Risk ◽  
Genital Tract ◽  
Cohort Analysis ◽  
Female Genital Tract ◽  
Vaginal Microbiota ◽  
African Women ◽  
Hormonal Contraceptives ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
Female Genital

BackgroundCervicovaginal inflammation, bacterial microbiota and hormonal contraceptives all influence sexual and reproductive health. To date, the effects of intramuscular depo-medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA-IM) versus injectable norethisterone enanthate (NET-EN) on vaginal microbiota or cytokines have not been compared back-to-back, although in-vitro data suggest that DMPA-IM and NET-EN have different pharmacokinetic and biologic activities. This study aimed at comparing the effects of DMPA-IM versus NET-EN initiation on cervicovaginal cytokines and microbiota in women at high risk for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) assigned to the respective contraceptives.MethodsWe collected socio-demographic characteristics and vaginal samples from women initiating DMPA-IM (ECHO Trial; n = 53) and NET-EN (UChoose Trial; n = 44) at baseline and after two consecutive injections to assess cytokine concentrations by Luminex, vaginal microbiota by 16S rRNA gene sequencing, STIs, bacterial vaginosis (BV) and candidiasis.ResultsCytokine concentrations did not change significantly after initiating DMPA-IM or NET-EN, although NET-EN versus DMPA-IM-associated profiles were distinct. While the abundance of bacterial taxa associated with optimal and non-optimal microbiota fluctuated with DMPA-IM use, overall community composition did not significantly change with either contraceptive. HSV-2 serology, chlamydial infection, gonorrhoea and candidiasis did not influence the associations between contraceptive type and cervicovaginal cytokines or microbiota.ConclusionsBoth DMPA-IM and NET-EN use did not lead to broad inflammatory or microbiota changes in the female genital tract of sub-Saharan African women. This suggests that NET-EN is likely a viable option for contraception in African women at high risk of BV and STIs.

scholarly journals Differential Regulation of CD4 Lymphocyte Recruitment between the Upper and Lower Regions of the Genital Tract during Chlamydia trachomatis Infection

2000 ◽  
Vol 68 (3) ◽  
pp. 1519-1528 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathleen A. Kelly ◽  
Jennifer C. Walker ◽  
Shimul H. Jameel ◽  
Heather L. Gray ◽  
Roger G. Rank
Keyword(s):  
Chlamydia Trachomatis ◽  
Genital Tract ◽  
Female Genital Tract ◽  
Chlamydia Trachomatis Infection ◽  
Flow Cytometric ◽  
Cd4 Lymphocyte ◽  
Local Recruitment ◽  
Tubal Pathology ◽  
Female Genital

ABSTRACT Genital infection with Chlamydia trachomatis results in both the local recruitment of protective immune responses and an inflammatory infiltrate that may also participate in tubal pathology. As a beginning to understanding the etiology of immune system-mediated tubal pathology, we evaluated the regional recruitment of lymphocyte subsets to different areas of the female genital tract (GT) over the course of a murine infection with the mouse pneumonitis agent ofChlamydia trachomatis (MoPn). Using flow cytometric techniques we found that the CD4 lymphocyte subset was preferentially recruited to the upper GT (oviduct and uterine horn) over the lower GT (cervical-vaginal region) throughout the course of MoPn infection. The influx of CD4 cells also correlated with the expression of endothelial cell adhesion molecules (ECAMs) and in vitro lymphocyte adherence in the upper GT. Interestingly, the expression of ECAMs in the lower GT was not maintained longer than 7 days after infection, even in the presence of viable chlamydiae. Taken together, these data suggest that regulatory mechanisms of lymphocyte recruitment differ between the upper and lower regions of the GT and may influence the clearance of chlamydiae and the development of tubal pathology.

scholarly journals Role of Gamma Interferon in Controlling Murine Chlamydial Genital Tract Infection

1999 ◽  
Vol 67 (10) ◽  
pp. 5518-5521 ◽  
Author(s):  
James I. Ito ◽  
Joseph M. Lyons
Keyword(s):  
Chlamydia Trachomatis ◽  
Tract Infection ◽  
Genital Tract ◽  
Chlamydial Infection ◽  
Female Genital Tract ◽  
Gamma Interferon ◽  
Genital Tract Infection ◽  
Ifn Γ ◽  
Female Genital

ABSTRACT Earlier investigations have not shown an important role for gamma interferon (IFN-γ) in the early clearance of chlamydial infection from the murine female genital tract. In a model using a human genital isolate of Chlamydia trachomatis in IFN-γ and IFN-γ receptor knockout mice, we were able to demonstrate a major role for IFN-γ in mediating control of infection throughout the course of infection.

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