Assessing the testicular sperm microbiome: a low-biomass site with abundant contamination

We thank all men who generously donated testicular material for the purpose of this study. We also acknowledge the research support by Copan Italia S.p.A Inc., and Clearblue, SPD Swiss Precision Diagnostics GmbH. This study is part of a PhD Thesis conducted at the Official Doctoral Program in Biomedicine of the University of Granada, Spain. This work was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness (MINECO) and European Regional Development Fund (FEDER): grant numbers RYC-2016-21199 and ENDORE (SAF2017-87526-R); by FEDER/Junta de Andalucia-Consejeria de Economia y Conocimiento: MENDO (B-CTS-500-UGR18); by Junta de Andalucia: (PAIDI P20_00158) by the University of Granada, Plan Propio de Investigacion 2016, Excellence actions: Units of Excellence; Unit of Excellence on Exercise and Health (UCEES), and the Junta de Andalucia, Consejeria de Conocimiento, Investigacion y Universidades and European Regional Development Fund: (SOMM17/6107/UGR); by Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation, and Universities: (PRE2018085440 and FPU19/01638); and by Spanish Ministry of Education, Culture, and Sport: (FPU15/01193). Funding for open access charge: Universidad de Granada/CBUA Sequence data of all testicular spermatozoa and negative control samples have been deposited in the National Centre for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) Sequence Read Archive (SRA) database (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sra) under the BioProject ID PRJNA643898. The preliminary results of this study were presented as a poster communication at the 35th Annual ESHRE Meeting (Vienna, 2019).Research question: The semen harbours a diverse range of microorganisms. The origin of the seminal microbes, however, has not yet been established. Do testicular spermatozoa harbour microbes and could they potentially contribute to the seminal microbiome composition? Design: The study included 24 samples, comprising a total of 307 testicular maturing spermatozoa. A high-throughput sequencing method targeting V3 and V4 regions of 16S rRNA gene was applied. A series of negative controls together with stringent in-silico decontamination methods were analysed. Results: Between 50 and 70% of all the detected bacterial reads accounted for contamination in the testicular sperm samples. After stringent decontamination, Blautia (P = 0.04), Cellulosibacter (P = 0.02), Clostridium XIVa (P = 0.01), Clostridium XIVb (P = 0.04), Clostridium XVIII (P = 0.02), Collinsella (P = 0.005), Prevotella (P = 0.04), Prolixibacter (P = 0.02), Robinsoniella (P = 0.04), and Wandonia (P = 0.04) genera demonstrated statistically significant abundance among immature spermatozoa. Conclusions: Our results indicate that the human testicle harbours potential bacterial signature, though in a low-biomass, and could contribute to the seminal microbiome composition. Further, applying stringent decontamination methods is crucial for analysing microbiome in low-biomass site.Copan Italia S.p.A Inc.ClearblueSPD Swiss Precision Diagnostics GmbHSpanish GovernmentEuropean Commission RYC-2016-21199 SAF2017-87526-RFEDER/Junta de Andalucia-Consejeria de Economia y Conocimiento: MENDO B-CTS-500-UGR18 Junta de Andalucia PAIDI P20_00158University of Granada, Plan Propio de Investigacion 2016, Excellence actions: Units of ExcellenceUnit of Excellence on Exercise and Health (UCEES)Junta de Andalucia Consejeria de Conocimiento, Investigacion y UniversidadesEuropean Commission SOMM17/6107/UGRSpanish Government PRE2018085440 FPU19/01638 FPU15/01193Universidad de Granada/CBUA Sequence BioProject PRJNA64389

Ovarian Aging: Molecular Mechanisms and Medical Management

This is a short review of the basic molecular mechanisms of ovarian aging, written with a particular focus on the use of this data to improve the diagnostic and therapeutic protocols both for women affected by physiological (age-related) ovarian decay and for those suffering premature ovarian insufficiency. Ovarian aging has a genetic basis that conditions the ovarian activity via a plethora of cell-signaling pathways that control the functions of different types of cells in the ovary. There are various factors that can influence these pathways so as to reduce their efficiency. Oxidative stress, often related to mitochondrial dysfunction, leading to the apoptosis of ovarian cells, can be at the origin of vicious circles in which the primary cause feeds back other abnormalities, resulting in an overall decline in the ovarian activity and in the quantity and quality of oocytes. The correct diagnosis of the molecular mechanisms involved in ovarian aging can serve to design treatment strategies that can slow down ovarian decay and increase the quantity and quality of oocytes that can be obtained for an in vitro fertilization attempt. The available treatment options include the use of antioxidants, melatonin, growth hormones, and mitochondrial therapies. All of these treatments have to be considered in the context of each couple’s history and current clinical condition, and a customized (patient-tailored) treatment protocol is to be elaborated

MANUAL DE BUENAS PRÁCTICAS DE LABORATORIO

Con el objeto de entregar resultados de calidad exacta y precisa a los usuarios de nuestros servicios, se presenta el "Manual de buenas prácticas de laboratorio"; desarrollado en base al manual del Centro Nacional de Metrología (CENAM) de Querétaro en México. Asimismo, el documento recoge experiencias de los laboratorios de Suelos y Agua del INIA y adopta la Norma Técnica Peruana ISO/IEC 17025: 2017. El manual describe procesos de seguridad laboral, operatividad y mantenimiento de instrumentos y equipos de laboratorio, para que nuestros profesionales del INIA adopten y tengan una herramienta de consulta técnica durante el proceso de análisis y obtención de resultados en suelos, aguas y tejidos que brinda nuestra institución