Past, Present, and Future Strategies for Enhanced Assessment of Embryo's Genome and Reproductive Competence in Women of Advanced Reproductive Age

Recent advancements in genomic analysis allow testing of an increasing number of genetic features in human preimplantation embryos. Typical single gene mutation and whole chromosomes testing can now be integrated with assessment of mitochondrial DNA and polygenic conditions. Diagnostic expansion into epigenetic and transcriptomic assessment in the near future are potential technological targets which may improve the prognostic outlook of patients of advanced reproductive age and overall in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment outcomes. In this review, we discuss the technological progress of recent years and their future applications in preimplantation genetic testing in IVF

Mechanism of Human Papillomavirus Binding to Human Spermatozoa and Fertilizing Ability of Infected Spermatozoa

Human papillomaviruses (HPVs) are agents of the most common sexually transmitted diseases in females and males. Precise data about the presence, mechanism of infection and clinical significance of HPV in the male reproductive tract and especially in sperm are not available. Here we show that HPV can infect human sperm, it localizes at the equatorial region of sperm head through interaction between the HPV capsid protein L1 and syndecan-1. Sperm transfected with HPV E6/E7 genes and sperm exposed to HPV L1 capsid protein are capable to penetrate the oocyte and transfer the virus into oocytes, in which viral genes are then activated and transcribed. These data show that sperm might function as vectors for HPV transfer into the oocytes, and open new perspectives on the role of HPV infection in males and are particularly intriguing in relation to assisted reproduction techniques

Consistent and reproducible outcomes of blastocyst biopsy and aneuploidy screening across different biopsy practitioners: a multicentre study involving 2586 embryo biopsies

Is blastocyst biopsy and quantitative real-time PCR based comprehensive chromosome screening a consistent and reproducible approach across different biopsy practitioners

WGA analysis and aCGH of single sperm.

<p><b>a</b>. Gel electrophoresis of WGA products from single human sperm. Ct: cycle threshold as determined by Real-Time PCR with SYBR Green. <b>b</b>. Real-Time PCR of the same WGA products. The difference in fluorescence (fluorescence at the end of each cycle minus baseline fluorescence level) is plotted against the cycle number. Hybridization failed for samples with a cycle threshold >10. <b>c</b>. Molecular karyotype of a normal 23,X sperm co-hybridized with female (upper panel) and male reference (lower panel). <b>d</b>. Molecular karyotype of a normal 23,Y sperm co-hybridized with a female (upper panel) and a male reference (lower panel).</p

Subject characteristics and summary of aCGH results on single sperm.

<p>Subject characteristics and summary of aCGH results on single sperm.</p

Flow diagram of the protocol developed for aCGH on single human sperm.

<p>Flow diagram of the protocol developed for aCGH on single human sperm.</p