Molecular Testing for the Diagnosis of Bacterial Vaginosis.

Previously established diagnostic approaches for the diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis (BV), such as the Amsel criteria or the Nugent scoring system, do not always correspond to modern trends in understanding the etiology and pathogenesis of polymicrobial conditions. Inter-examiner variability and interpretation of data complicate the wet mount microscopy method. Gram staining of smears does not always provide reliable information regarding bacterial taxa, biofilms, or vaginal dysbiosis.

Vaginal Microbiota Molecular Profiling in Women with Bacterial Vaginosis: A Novel Diagnostic Tool.

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a most common microbiological syndrome. Multiplex next-generation sequencing (NGS) or molecular tests allow a complete and accurate vaginal microbiota profiling in order to determine the primary causative agent. Due to the high costs and limited availability of NGS, the multiplex real-time PCR draws more attention.

Local Immune Biomarker Expression Depending on the Uterine Microbiota in Patients with Idiopathic Infertility.

The endometrium has traditionally been considered sterile. Nowadays, active studies are performed on the female upper genital tract microbiota. Bacteria and/or viruses colonizing the endometrium are known to alter its functional properties, including receptivity and embryo implantation.

Performance of the first commercial dual resistance assay, AmpliSens -ML/FQ-Resist-FL, for detection of potential macrolide and quinolone resistance-associated mutations and prevalence of resistance mutations in St. Petersburg, Russia.

Objectives: Antimicrobial resistance in (MG) is a poorly surveyed and controlled global health concern. We evaluated the first commercial dual resistance assay, AmpliSens -ML/FQ-Resist-FL assay, for detection of potential macrolide and quinolone resistance-associated mutations (MRAMs and QRAMs, respectively) and estimated the prevalence of these mutations in MG in St. Petersburg, Russia.

Secure application of graphene in medicine.

Objective: The objective of our study was to explore the possible graphene impact on microorganism growth as well as on laboratory animal overall condition. The experiments applied samples of graphene three concentrations and two 15 × 15 mm quartz glasses one of which carrying deposited graphene lattice. We have also used 5% blood agar, thioglycollate broth, bacterial suspensions of standard turbidity containing pure clinical isolate of microorganisms.

Antimicrobial resistance profiles and genes in uropathogenic Enterobacteriaceae in reproductive-age women in St. Petersburg, Russia: implication for treatment of pyelonephritis in pregnancy.

Background: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are common in women, and during pregnancy can cause significant morbidity. Growing and greatly varying antimicrobial resistance (AMR) of Enterobacteriaceae, responsible for most UTIs, necessitates regular local AMR surveillance. In obstetric population, where beta-lactams are the mainstay for treatment of severe UTIs, particular focus should be placed on beta-lactam resistance.

Significant shifts in the distribution of vaccine capsular polysaccharide types and rates of antimicrobial resistance of perinatal group B streptococci within the last decade in St. Petersburg, Russia.

Evaluation of circulating group B streptococcus (GBS) strains is important to assess the potential effects of GBS prevention strategies in a certain region. This study aimed at estimating the distributions of capsular polysaccharide (CPS) types and pilus profiles, and the rates of antimicrobial resistance among GBS strains isolated from colonized pregnant women and newborns in 2010-2011 and 2017-2018 in St. Petersburg, Russia.

Bacterial vaginosis-associated vaginal microbiota is an age-independent risk factor for Chlamydia trachomatis, Mycoplasma genitalium and Trichomonas vaginalis infections in low-risk women, St. Petersburg, Russia.

The large majority of studies investigating associations between bacterial vaginosis (BV) and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) have been conducted among predominantly young women with high risk for STIs. Since a risky sexual behavior is a significant risk factor for both STIs and BV, this creates a bias toward an increased association between BV and STIs. This study evaluated associations between BV-associated vaginal microbiota and STIs (Chlamydia trachomatis, Mycoplasma genitalium, Trichomonas vaginalis, and Neisseria gonorrhoeae) in a population of women with low risk for STIs and investigated STI outcomes depending on the dominating Lactobacillus species.

Risk of newly detected infections and cervical abnormalities in adult women seropositive or seronegative for naturally acquired HPV-16/18 antibodies.

Background: Infections with human papillomavirus (HPV) types 16 and 18 account for ~70% of invasive cervical cancers but the degree of protection from naturally acquired anti-HPV antibodies is uncertain. We examined the risk of HPV infections as defined by HPV DNA detection and cervical abnormalities among women >25 years in the Human Papilloma VIrus Vaccine Immunogenicity ANd Efficacy trial's (VIVIANE, NCT00294047) control arm.

Methods: Serum anti-HPV-16/18 antibodies were determined at baseline and every 12 months in baseline DNA-negative women (N = 2687 for HPV-16 and 2705 for HPV-18) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) from blood samples.

Quantitation of all Four Gardnerella vaginalis Clades Detects Abnormal Vaginal Microbiota Characteristic of Bacterial Vaginosis More Accurately than Putative G. vaginalis Sialidase A Gene Count.

Background: Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a vaginal disorder characterized by a depletion of the normal lactobacillus-dominant microbiota and overgrowth of mainly anaerobic bacteria.

Objectives: The study aimed to evaluate the distribution and abundance of the Gardnerella vaginalis clades and sialidase A gene in vaginal samples from Russian women, and investigate if the G. vaginalis sialidase A gene count detects an abnormal vaginal microbiota characteristic of BV more accurately than G.

Comprehensive global genome dynamics of show ancient diversification followed by contemporary mixing and recent lineage expansion.

is the world's most prevalent bacterial sexually transmitted infection and leading infectious cause of blindness, yet it is one of the least understood human pathogens, in part due to the difficulties of in vitro culturing and the lack of available tools for genetic manipulation. Genome sequencing has reinvigorated this field, shedding light on the contemporary history of this pathogen. Here, we analyze 563 full genomes, 455 of which are novel, to show that the history of the species comprises two phases, and conclude that the currently circulating lineages are the result of evolution in different genomic ecotypes.

Prevalence of macrolide and fluoroquinolone resistance-mediating mutations in Mycoplasma genitalium in five cities in Russia and Estonia.

Background And Objective: Resistance in the sexually transmitted bacterium Mycoplasma genitalium to all recommended therapeutic antimicrobials have rapidly emerged. However, to date, internationally reported resistance surveillance data for M. genitalium strains circulating in Eastern Europe are entirely lacking.

Efficacy, safety, and immunogenicity of the human papillomavirus 16/18 AS04-adjuvanted vaccine in women older than 25 years: 7-year follow-up of the phase 3, double-blind, randomised controlled VIVIANE study.

Background: Although the risk of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is greatest in young women, women older than 25 years remain at risk. We present data from the VIVIANE study of the HPV 16/18 AS04-adjuvanted vaccine in adult women after 7 years of follow-up.

Methods: In this phase 3, double-blind, randomised controlled trial, healthy women older than 25 years were enrolled (age stratified: 26-35 years, 36-45 years, and ≥46 years).

Infection of Human Retinal Pigment Epithelium with Chlamydia trachomatis.

Purpose: Little is known about the susceptibility of posterior segment tissues, particularly the human retinal pigment epithelium (hRPE), to Chlamydia trachomatis. The purpose of the study was to investigate the possibility of infecting the hRPE with Chlamydia trachomatis, and to examine the infectivity of different Chlamydia trachomatis clinical isolates for hRPE cells and the hRPE cell response to the infection.

Methods: Cultured hRPE and McCoy cells were inoculated with eight Chlamydia trachomatis (serovar E) clinical isolates at multiplicity of infection (MOI) of 2.

Human papillomavirus prevalence and type-distribution in cervical glandular neoplasias: Results from a European multinational epidemiological study.

Cervical glandular neoplasias (CGN) present a challenge for cervical cancer prevention due to their complex histopathology and difficulties in detecting preinvasive stages with current screening practices. Reports of human papillomavirus (HPV) prevalence and type-distribution in CGN vary, providing uncertain evidence to support prophylactic vaccination and HPV screening. This study [108288/108290] assessed HPV prevalence and type-distribution in women diagnosed with cervical adenocarcinoma in situ (AIS, N = 49), adenosquamous carcinoma (ASC, N = 104), and various adenocarcinoma subtypes (ADC, N = 461) from 17 European countries, using centralised pathology review and sensitive HPV testing.

Differences in human papillomavirus type distribution in high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and invasive cervical cancer in Europe.

Knowledge of differences in human papillomavirus (HPV)-type prevalence between high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (HG-CIN) and invasive cervical cancer (ICC) is crucial for understanding the natural history of HPV-infected cervical lesions and the potential impact of HPV vaccination on cervical cancer prevention. More than 6,000 women diagnosed with HG-CIN or ICC from 17 European countries were enrolled in two parallel cross-sectional studies (108288/108290). Centralised histopathology review and standardised HPV-DNA typing were applied to formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded cervical specimens dated 2001-2008.

Survey of diagnostic services for genital herpes in fourteen countries in Eastern Europe.

This paper reports survey-based data on the diagnosis and management of genital herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection in 14 countries of the Eastern European Network for Sexual and Reproductive Health (EE SRH). Only 43% of the countries could provide the number of genital HSV cases recorded at national level. Eighty-six percent of countries employed syndromic management in cases of genital ulcer disease.

Prevalence of high-risk human papillomavirus types and cervical squamous intraepithelial lesions in women over 30 years of age in St. Petersburg, Russia.

Background: Cytology-based screening has significantly decreased incidence of and mortality from cervical cancer. High sensitivity of high-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV) test for the detection of high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) makes it a useful screening tool, especially in settings where cytology is not available or not quality assured. The study aimed to determine the prevalence of hrHPV and associated cervical lesions in Russian women over 30 years of age and to assess usefulness of HPV test for cervical screening in Russia.

Guidelines for the laboratory diagnosis of mycoplasma genitalium infections in East European countries.

The present guidelines aim to provide comprehensive information regarding laboratory diagnosis of Mycoplasma genitalium infections in East European countries. These guidelines are intended primarily for laboratory professionals testing specimens from patients at sexual health care clinics, but may also be useful for community-based screening programmes. Diagnosis of M.

Comparison of microscopy, culture and in-house PCR and NASBA assays for diagnosis of Neisseria gonorrhoeae in Russia.

This study aimed to assess the laboratory diagnosis of Neisseria gonorrhoeae in St. Petersburg, Russia. In total, 334 consecutive symptomatic patients were enrolled.

Pooling samples: the key to sensitive, specific and cost-effective genetic diagnosis of Chlamydia trachomatis in low-resource countries.

The aims of this study were to compare the performance characteristics and cost-effectiveness of pooling endocervical samples for screening and diagnosis of Chlamydia trachomatis, and to investigate the prevalence of C. trachomatis infection in women in Leningrad Oblast, Russia. A total of 1500 endocervical samples were tested individually and when pooled in groups of 5 and 10 samples, respectively.

Diagnosis of Chlamydia trachomatis in Russia--in-house PCR assays may be effective but overall optimization and quality assurance are urgently needed.

In the present study, the performance of the cell culture method, two non-Russian direct immunofluorescence (DIF) assays, and three different in-house polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests used in St. Petersburg, Russia, for detection of Chlamydia trachomatis in urogenital specimens was evaluated. A total of 650 patients were examined and it was most disquieting that previous C.