Implementing STI/HIV prevention and care interventions for men who have sex with men in Senegal

Exploratory research conducted by the Horizons Program in 2002 revealed that men who have sex with men (MSM) in Dakar, Senegal, are particularly vulnerable to sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV. Further, the stigma and discrimination suffered by many MSM result in the concealment of sexual behaviors from health-care providers, making it difficult to receive appropriate services. Finally, there is a lack of HIV-prevention campaigns geared to this group. Key stakeholders in Dakar developed and implemented an intervention to meet the STI/HIV prevention needs of MSM and address prevailing stigma that effectively serves as a barrier to care. The intervention included peer education; diagnosis and treatment of STIs, and HIV counseling and testing; and education and sensitization of the media. The AIDS/STI Division within the Ministry of Health coordinated the intervention. The Horizons Program assessed the feasibility and acceptability of the intervention and its outcomes on the target group. This brief summarizes findings from one of the first intervention studies to address the HIV and sexual health needs of MSM in Africa, and highlights both gains and limitations of the intervention strategies implemented

Characterization of vaginal microbiota of normal and bacterial vaginosis floras

Grâce aux avancées de la technologie et nouvelles stratégies OMICS, de nombreuses études se sont intéressées au microbiote vaginal ces dernières années. Elles ont révélé l'impact de ce dernier sur la santé de la femme. En effet, un déséquilibre de la flore vaginale la rend vulnérable, la prédisposant à la vaginose bactérienne ainsi qu’à des complications gynéco-obstétricales sévères. La pathogénèse de la vaginose reste encore méconnue et le traitement classique par antibiothérapie échoue dans plus de 50% des cas. En analysant 50 prélèvements vaginaux provenant de patientes atteintes de vaginose et de femmes saines vivant en France et au Sénégal, nous avons constaté une plus grande diversité bactérienne chez les patientes par rapport aux témoins avec l'augmentation d'espèces telles que Gardnerella vaginalis, Atopobium vaginae ainsi que les procaryotes sensibles à l'oxygène, y compris les Cocci anaérobies à Gram-positif et les Prevotella. Les femmes saines renfermaient plus d’espèces de Lactobacillaceae et de Proteobacteria dans leurs flores. La combinaison de la métagénomique et la culturomique a permis d’identifier un complexe de 11 espèces/genres bactériens associés à la vaginose. L’utilisation de la culturomique a permis d’accroître le répertoire des bactéries humaines avec l’isolement de 27 nouvelles espèces. Le faible taux de recouvrement entre les données de métagénomique et celles de culturomique montre la nécessité de persévérer dans l’isolement des bactéries par culturomique. L’obtention d'isolats permettra d'explorer in vitro les compétitions entre les bactéries et pourrait servir également de matière première pour développer un traitement par bactériothérapieOver the last decades, thanks to the technologic progresses including advanced molecular techniques and new OMICS strategies, many studies have focused on the vaginal microbiota. Thus, revealing the impact of the vaginal flora on women health. Indeed, the disruption of the vaginal bacterial community makes it prone to bacterial vaginosis and severe obstetrical and gynecological disorders. The pathogenesis of bacterial vaginosis is still unknown, and relapses are very frequent. Conventional treatment with antibiotic therapy fails in more than 50% of cases. The analysis of 50 vaginal samples from bacterial vaginosis patients and healthy women living in France and Senegal, showed a higher bacterial diversity in patients compared to controls with the increase of species such as Gardnerella vaginalis, Atopobium vaginae as well as oxygen-sensitive prokaryotes including Gram-positive anaerobic cocci, and Prevotella spp. Healthy women harbored more Lactobacillaceae species and Proteobacteria in their microbiota. The combination of metagenomics and culturomics has allowed the identification of a complex of 11 bacterial species/genera associated with bacterial vaginosis. The use of the culturomics approach has extended the repertoire of human-associated bacteria, with the isolation of 27 new bacterial species. The low range overlap between metagenomic and culturomics data indicates the need to continue the isolation of bacteria by culturomics. Obtaining isolates will make it possible to explore in vitro the competitions between the bacteria but can also be used as primary material for the development new treatments by bacteriotherap

Corynebacterium fournierii sp. nov., isolated from the female genital tract of a patient with bacterial vaginosis

Strain Marseille-P2948T, a novel Grampositive,catalase-positive bacterium was isolatedfrom a vaginal sample of a patient with bacterialvaginosis. It was characterised using the taxonogenomicapproach. Phylogenetic analysis revealedthat the 16S rRNA and the rpoB genes exhibit 98.7 and93.4% similarity, respectively, with those of Corynebacteriumureicelerivorans strain IMMIB RIV-301T. Biochemical tests of strain Marseille-P2948Tgave results that were similar to those of other validlynamed Corynebacterium species, whereas chemotaxonomictests showed the presence of C16:0, C18:1n9,C18:0, and C18:2n6 in the fatty acid profile. The draftgenome of strain Marseille-P2948T is 2,383,644 bplong in size with a G?C content of 65.03%. Of the2210 predicted genes, 2147 are protein-coding genesand 63 are RNAs. Based on phenotypic, phylogenicand genomic results, it was concluded that the isolaterepresents a new species within the genus Corynebacterium.The name Corynebacterium fournierii sp. nov.is proposed and the type strain is Marseille-P2948T(= CSUR P2948 = DSM 103271).Keywords Corynebacterium fournierii Bacterialvaginosis Culturomics Taxogenomics Genom

Bacterial Vaginosis: What Do We Currently Know?

International audienceThe vaginal microbiome is a well-defined compartment of the human microbiome. It has unique conditions, characterized by the dominance of one bacterial species, the Lactobacilli. This microbiota manifests itself by a low degree of diversity and by a strong dynamic of change in its composition under the influence of various exogenous and endogenous factors. The increase in diversity may paradoxically be associated with dysbiosis, such as bacterial vaginosis (BV). BV is the result of a disturbance in the vaginal ecosystem; i.e., a sudden replacement of Lactobacilli by anaerobic bacteria such as Gardnerella vaginalis, Atopobium vaginae, Ureaplasma urealyticum, Mycoplasma hominis , and others. It is the most common cause of vaginal discharge in women of childbearing age, approximately 30% of all causes. The etiology of this dysbiosis remains unknown, but its health consequences are significant, including obstetrical complications, increased risk of sexually transmitted infections and urogenital infections. Its diagnosis is based on Amsel’s clinical criteria and/or a gram stain based on the Nugent score. While both of these methods have been widely applied worldwide for approximately three decades, Nugent score are still considered the “gold standard” of BV diagnostic tools. Given the limitations of these tools, methods based on molecular biology have been developed as alternative rational strategies for the diagnosis of BV. The treatment of BV aims at restoring the balance of the vaginal flora to stop the proliferation of harmful microorganisms. Prescription of antibiotics such as metronidazole, clindamycin, etc. is recommended. Faced with the considerable uncertainty about the cause of BV, the high rate of recurrence, the unacceptable treatment options, and clinical management which is often insensitive and inconsistent, research on this topic is intensifying. Knowledge of its composition and its associated variations represents the key element in improving the therapeutic management of patients with the most suitable treatments possible

“Murdochiella vaginalis” sp. nov., a new bacterial species cultivated from the vaginal flora of a woman with bacterial vaginosis

Here, we summarize the majors characteristics of “Murdochiella vaginalis” strain Marseille P2341 (=DSM 102237 =CSUR P2341), a new member of the Murdochiella genus cultivated from the vaginal swab of a 33-year-old woman with bacterial vaginosis. Keywords: Murdochiella vaginalis, Culturomics, Bacterial vaginosis, Vaginal flora, Human microbiot

Draft Genome Sequence of Ezakiella peruensis Strain M6.X2, a Human Gut Gram-Positive Anaerobic Coccus

International audienc

“Collinsella vaginalis” sp. nov., a new bacterial species cultivated from human female genital tract

International audienceno abstrac

“Collinsella vaginalis” sp. nov., a new bacterial species cultivated from human female genital tract

We present a brief description of “Collinsella vaginalis” strain P2666 (=CSUR P2666), a new bacterium that was cultivated from the vaginal sample of a 26-year-old woman affected from bacterial vaginosis. Keywords: “Collinsella vaginalis”, Culturomics, Vaginal flora, Bacterial vaginosis, Human microbiot

Sexuality of adolescent girls born with HIV in Senegal: an anthropological analysis

Objectives: In Senegal, the dominant social norm upholds virginity before marriage and edifies abstinence for adolescents as a cardinal moral value. Currently, sex outside of marriage remains socially condemned. The onset of sex for adolescent girls born with HIV in Senegal brings up several challenges. In Dakar, initiatives, especially through digital applications, are being developed to support these young people. These programs are much rarer in rural settings. A study conducted in 2021 explored how adolescent girls born with HIV who live outside of Dakar experience sexuality, what socio-health constraints they face, and what support they receive from the healthcare system. Method: An anthropological study titled ‘Treatment Failure among Children and Adolescents Living with HIV in Senegal, Outside Dakar’ (ETEA-VIH, ANRS 12421) was conducted in 2021 in 14 regional hospitals and health centers. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 87 HIV-positive children and adolescents, 95 parents/guardians, and 47 health care workers. Adolescent girls’ onset of sexuality was specifically analyzed for 40 adolescent girls age 12–19 years old. Results: Generally, parents feign oblivion about their children’s sexual lives. Mothers dread a pregnancy out of marriage because they are responsible for overseeing sex education and would be ‘blamed’ for the transgression. The occurrence of an unintended pregnancy can lead to exclusion from the family and a risk of transmitting HIV to the child due to the lack of medical and social support. HIV remains a stigmatizing disease that families keep secret. The risk of disclosure is a major concern. Despite sexual and reproductive health (SRH) programs, most healthcare workers are reluctant to discuss sexuality or to offer contraception to adolescent girls. Information spaces have been set up in some regional hospitals by associations trained in SRH. They are rarer in health centers. Accessibility to digital applications and discussion forums is limited due to the lack of smartphones and Internet access. Conclusion: In rural settings, HIV-positive adolescent girls are confronted with the silence that surrounds sexuality and HIV. An individualized approach and confidential access to contraception should be prioritized to support them with assistance from PLHIV associations