Microbiota & infertility: microorganisms and immune factors in the idiopathic infertility

In the present work, the possible relationship between the idiopathic infertility, the alteration of the vaginal microbiota and that of the local immune response is investigated. The next-generation Ion Torrent PGM sequencing platform allowed the survey of the vaginal microbial composition, while the Luminex assay permitted the dosage of the soluble local immune mediators. After the analysis, the women affected by idiopathic infertility showed a vaginal microbiota similar to that of women affected by bacterial vaginosis (Chapter 1) and, especially, to those women who belong to the Intermediate group (Chapter 2). Among Lactobacilli, L. iners, crispatus and gasseri have a peculiar pattern in women affected by idiopathic infertility. Furthermore, secondary players such as A. vaginae, P. bivia, U. parvum, and E. fergusonii contribute to the affected microbiome. Simultaneously, an altered immune response is detected in the vaginal niche of the Idiopathic group

A story of liver and gut microbes: How does the intestinal flora affect liver disease? A review of the literature

Each individual is endowed with a unique gut microbiota (GM) footprint that mediates numerous host-related physiological functions, such as nutrient metabolism, maintenance of the structural integrity of the gut mucosal barrier, immunomodulation, and protection against microbial pathogens. Because of increased scientific interest in the GM, its central role in the pathophysiology of many intestinal and extraintestinal conditions has been recognized. Given the close relationship between the gastrointestinal tract and the liver, many pathological processes have been investigated in the light of a microbial-centered hypothesis of hepatic damage. In this review we introduce to neophytes the vast world of gut microbes, including prevalent bacterial distribution in healthy individuals, how the microbiota is commonly analyzed, and the current knowledge of the role of GM in liver disease pathophysiology. Also, we highlight the potentials and downsides of GM-based therapy

Up-regulation of the monocyte chemotactic protein-3 in sera from bone marrow transplanted children with torquetenovirus infection

Torquetenovirus (TTV) represents a commensal human virus producing life-long viremia in approximately 80% of healthy individuals of all ages. A potential pathogenic role for TTV has been suggested in immunocompromised patients with hepatitis of unknown etiology sustained by strong proinflammatory cytokines

Introduction of NGS in Environmental Surveillance for Healthcare-Associated Infection Control

The hospital environment significantly contributes to the onset of healthcare associated infections (HAIs), representing the most frequent and severe complications related to health care. The monitoring of hospital surfaces is generally addressed by microbial cultural isolation, with some performance limitations. Hence there is need to implement environmental surveillance systems using more effective methods. This study aimed to evaluate next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies for hospital environment microbiome characterization, in comparison with conventional and molecular methods, in an Italian pediatric hospital. Environmental samples included critical surfaces of randomized rooms, surgical rooms, intensive care units and delivery rooms. The resistome of the contaminating population was also evaluated. NGS, compared to other methods, detected with higher sensitivity the environmental bacteria, and was the only method able to detect even unsearched bacteria. By contrast, however, it did not detect mycetes, nor it could distinguish viable from dead bacteria. Microbiological and PCR methods could identify and quantify mycetes, in addition to bacteria, and PCR could define the population resistome. These data suggest that NGS could be an effective method for hospital environment monitoring, especially if flanked by PCR for species identification and resistome characterization, providing a potential tool for the control of HAI transmission

The Bacterial DNA Profiling of Chorionic Villi and Amniotic Fluids Reveals Overlaps with Maternal Oral, Vaginal, and Gut Microbiomes

The in utero microbiome hypothesis has been long debated. This hypothesis will change our comprehension of the pioneer human microbiome if proved correct. In 60 uncomplicated pregnancies, we profiled the microbiome of chorionic villi (CV) and amniotic fluids (AF) in relation to maternal saliva, rectum, and vagina and the soluble cytokines cascade in the vagina, CV and AF. In our series, 12/37 (32%) AF and 10/23 (44%) CV tested positive for bacterial DNA. CV and AF harbored bacterial DNA of Streptococcus and Lactobacillus, overlapping that of the matched oral and vaginal niches, which showed a dysbiotic microbiome. In these pregnant women, the immune profiling revealed an immune hyporesponsiveness in the vagina and a high intraamniotic concentration of inflammatory cytokines. To understand the eventual role of bacterial colonization of the CV and AF and the associated immune response in the pregnancy outcome, further appropriate studies are needed. In this context, further studies should highlight if the hematogenous route could justify the spread of bacterial DNA from the oral microbiome to the placenta and if vaginal dysbiosis could favor the likelihood of identifying CV and AF positive for bacterial DNA

Anti-Spike Antibodies Present in the Milk of SARS-CoV-2 Vaccinated Mothers Are Complement-Activating

Although only 0.8–1% of SARS-CoV-2 infections are in the 0–9 age-group, pneumonia is still the leading cause of infant mortality globally. Antibodies specifically directed against SARS-CoV-2 spike protein (S) are produced during severe COVID-19 manifestations. Following vaccination, specific antibodies are also detected in the milk of breastfeeding mothers. Since antibody binding to viral antigens can trigger activation of the complement classical - pathway, we investigated antibody-dependent complement activation by anti-S immunoglobulins (Igs) present in breast milk following SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. This was in view of the fact that complement could play a fundamentally protective role against SARS-CoV-2 infection in newborns. Thus, 22 vaccinated, lactating healthcare and school workers were enrolled, and a sample of serum and milk was collected from each woman. We first tested for the presence of anti-S IgG and IgA in serum and milk of breastfeeding women by ELISA. We then measured the concentration of the first subcomponents of the three complement pathways (i.e., C1q, MBL, and C3) and the ability of anti-S Igs detected in milk to activate the complement in vitro. The current study demonstrated that vaccinated mothers have anti-S IgG in serum as well as in breast milk, which is capable of activating complement and may confer a protective benefit to breastfed newborns

Lactobacillus iners and gasseri, Prevotella bivia and HPV Belong to the Microbiological Signature Negatively Affecting Human Reproduction

Infertile couples undergoing the use of assisted reproductive technology are a good study model to evaluate the microbiological signatures affecting reproductive health. We tested vaginal lavages, follicular fluids, embryo culture mediums, and seminal fluids from 47 couples for their microbiome composition and HPV infection. Twenty-five infertile couples were diagnosed with unexplained infertility, whereas 22 were diagnosed with explained infertility. Lactobacilli were dominant in the vaginal lavages of both patient groups, and the most abundant species was L. iners (CST III), which is linked to a decreased fertility rate. Besides this, L. gasseri—which is known to be associated with oocyte DNA fragmentation and decreased sperm mobility—was identified in the seminal fluids, follicular fluids, and embryo culture media of the unexplained infertility group. Prevotella was increased in the seminal fluids of the explained infertility group, along with HPV-positive seminal fluids: an infection commonly associated with infertility, especially male infertility. Prevotella has been described to negatively affect sperm motility. Taken together, these results suggest that the profiling of the reproductive tract microbiome can add new perspectives to human reproduction

Vaginal Dysbiosis and Partial Bacterial Vaginosis: The Interpretation of the “Grey Zones” of Clinical Practice

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) affects one-third of reproductive age women, increasing the risk of acquiring sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and posing a risk for reproductive health. The current diagnosis with Gram stain (Nugent Score) identifies a transitional stage named partial BV or intermediate microbiota, raising the problem of how to clinically handle it. We retrospectively analyzed cervicovaginal swabs from 985 immunocompetent non-pregnant symptomaticspp. women (vaginal discharge, burning, itching) by Nugent score and qPCR for BV, aerobic or fungal vaginitis, and STIs (Mycoplasmas spp., Chlamydia t., Trichomonas v., and Neisseria g.). Nugent scores 0–3 and 7–10 were confirmed in 99.3% and 89.7% cases, respectively, by qPCR. Among Nugent scores 4–6 (partial BV), qPCR identified 46.1% of BV cases, with 37.3% of cases negative for BV, and only 16.7% of partial BV. Gram staining and qPCR were discordant (p value = 0.0001) mainly in the partial BV. Among the qPCR BV cases, the presence of aerobic vaginitis and STIs was identified, with a significant association (p < 0.0001) between the STIs and partial BV/overt BV. qPCR is more informative and accurate, and its use as an alternative or in combination with Gram staining could help clinicians in having an overview of the complex vaginal microbiota and in the interpretation of partial BV that can correspond to vaginitis and/or STIs

Microbiota in vivo imaging approaches to study host-microbe interactions in preclinical and clinical setting

In vivo imaging in preclinical and clinical settings can enhance knowledge of the host-microbiome interactions. Imaging techniques are a crucial node between findings at the molecular level and clinical implementation in diagnostics and therapeutics. The purpose of this study was to review existing knowledge on the microbiota in the field of in vivo imaging and provide guidance for future research, emphasizing the critical role that molecular imaging plays in increasing understanding of the host-microbe interaction.Preclinical microbiota animal models lay the foundation for the clinical translatability of novel microbiota-based therapeutics. Adopting animal models in which factors such as host genetic landscape, microbiota profile, and diet can be controlled enables investigating how the microbiota contributes to immunological dysregulation and inflammatory disorders. Current preclinical imaging of gut microbiota relies on models where the bacteria can be isolated, labelled, and re-administered. In vivo, optical imaging, ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging define the bacteria's biodistribution in preclinical models, whereas nuclear imaging investigates bacterial metabolic activity.For the clinical investigation of microbe-host interactions, molecular nuclear imaging is increasingly becoming a promising approach. Future microbiota research should develop selective imaging probes to investigate in vivo microbiota profiles and individual strains of specific microbes. Preclinical knowledge can be translated into the molecular imaging field with great opportunities for studying the microbiome