Polymicrobial consortia in the pathogenesis of biofilm vaginosis visualized by FISH. Historic review outlining the basic principles of the polymicrobial infection theory.

The manuscript disputes the exclusive mono-infectious way of thinking, which presumes that for every infection only one pathogen is responsible and sufficient, when infectious vectors, close contact and reduced immunity meet. In situations involving heavily colonized anatomical sites such an approach often ends in insoluble contradictions. Upon critical reflection and evaluation of 20 years research on spatial organization of vaginal microbiota it is apparent, that in some situations, pathogens may act and operate in permanent, structurally organized consortia, whereas its individual components may be innocuous and innocent, failing to express any pathogenic effect.

Clue Cells and Pseudo Clue Cells in Different Morphotypes of Bacterial Vaginosis.

Introduction: Clue cells (epithelial cells heavily covered with adherent bacteria) are an accepted clue to the diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis. However, the exact morphologic criteria of clue cells and bacterial adherence were never elaborated.

Materials And Methods: We investigated adhesive and cohesive patterns of main microbiota groups in vaginal discharge using fluorescence hybridization (FISH).

Antimicrobial Susceptibility of Microbiota in Bacterial Vaginosis Using Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization.

Background: Testing of antibiotic resistance of intact vaginal microbiota in pure culture is not feasible.

Methods: Metronidazole, antiseptic octenisept, antimycotic ciclopirox, bacterial probiotic , yeast probiotic -phage-endolysin named phagolysin and phagolysin in combination with probiotics were tested for bacteriolytic activity. Included were vaginal swabs from 38 random women with Amsel-confirmed bacterial vaginosis (BV).

The Prevalence of High Carcinogenic Risk of HPV Genotypes among HIV-Positive and HIV-Negative MSM from Russia.

Objective: Men who have sex with men (MSM) have a high risk of lifelong anal cancer caused by high-risk human papillomavirus (HR HPV) infections. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of anal canal HR HPV infection among men who have sex with men (MSM) with and without HIV infection in Moscow (Russia). We evaluated associations of some HIV coinfections (HSV and CMV) and HPV distribution among MSM with and without HIV infection.

Engineered Phage Endolysin Eliminates Biofilm without Damaging Beneficial Bacteria in Bacterial Vaginosis Ex Vivo.

Bacterial vaginosis is characterized by an imbalance of the vaginal microbiome and a characteristic biofilm formed on the vaginal epithelium, which is initiated and dominated by bacteria, and is frequently refractory to antibiotic treatment. We investigated endolysins of the type 1,4-beta-N-acetylmuramidase encoded on prophages as an alternative treatment. When recombinantly expressed, these proteins demonstrated strong bactericidal activity against four different species.

HIV and other sexually transmitted infections among female sex workers in Moscow (Russia): prevalence and associated risk factors.

Unlabelled: To estimate the prevalence and factors associated with HIV and five other STIs among outdoor female sex workers (OSFW) and indoor FSW (IFSW).

Methods: Cross-sectional survey using respondent-driven sampling methodology. Participants answered a bio-behavioural questionnaire and were tested for (NG), (CT), (TV), syphilis (lifetime contact) and (MG).

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.

Emended description of Gardnerella vaginalis and description of Gardnerella leopoldii sp. nov., Gardnerella piotii sp. nov. and Gardnerella swidsinskii sp. nov., with delineation of 13 genomic species within the genus Gardnerella.

Whole genome sequence analysis (digital DNA-DNA hybridization and average nucleotide identity) was carried out for 81 sequenced full genomes of the genus Gardnerella, including ten determined in this study, and indicated the existence of 13 genomic species, of which five consist of only one strain and of which only five contain more than four sequenced genomes. Furthermore, a collection of ten Gardnerella strains, representing the emended species G. vaginalis and the newly described species Gardnerella leopoldii, Gardnerella piotii and Gardnerella swidsinskii, was studied.

Vulvovaginal candidiasis: histologic lesions are primarily polymicrobial and invasive and do not contain biofilms.

Background: The recent demonstration of a vaginal biofilm in bacterial vaginosis and its postulated importance in the pathogenesis of recurrent bacterial vaginosis, including relative resistance to therapy, has led to the hypothesis that biofilms are crucial for the development of vulvovaginal candidiasis. The histopathology and microbial architecture of vulvovaginal candidiasis have not been previously defined; neither has Candida, containing biofilm been reported in situ. The present study aimed at clarifying the histopathology of vulvovaginal candidiasis including the presence or absence of vaginal biofilm.

Prevalence of Ureaplasma spp. and Mycoplasma hominis in healthy women and patients with flora alterations.

The objective was to estimate the prevalence of Mycoplasma hominis, Ureaplasma parvum, and Ureaplasma urealyticum in healthy women and patients with altered vaginal microflora. Vaginal samples from 2594 unselected female patients were divided into normal, bacterial vaginosis (BV), and aerobic vaginitis (AV) groups and tested for U. parvum, U.

Reduced Mass and Diversity of the Colonic Microbiome in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis and Their Improvement with Ketogenic Diet.

Colonic microbiome is thought to be involved in auto-immune multiple sclerosis (MS). Interactions between diet and the colonic microbiome in MS are unknown. We compared the composition of the colonic microbiota quantitatively in 25 MS patients and 14 healthy controls.

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.

Evaluation and subsequent optimizations of the quantitative AmpliSens Florocenosis/Bacterial vaginosis-FRT multiplex real-time PCR assay for diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis.

Traditional microscopy-based methods for diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis (BV) are underutilized in many settings, and molecular techniques may provide opportunities for rapid, objective, and accurate BV diagnosis. This study evaluated the quantitative AmpliSens Florocenosis/Bacterial vaginosis-FRT multiplex real-time PCR (Florocenosis-BV) assay. Vaginal samples from a previous study including unselected female subjects (n = 163) and using Amsel criteria and 454 pyrosequencing for BV diagnosis were examined with the Florocenosis-BV test and additionally tested for the presence and quantity of Gardnerella vaginalis clades 3 and 4.

Evaluation of the new AmpliSens multiplex real-time PCR assay for simultaneous detection of Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Chlamydia trachomatis, Mycoplasma genitalium, and Trichomonas vaginalis.

In this study, we performed an evaluation of the new CE-marked multiplex real-time AmpliSens N.gonorrhoeae/C.trachomatis/M.

Treatment efficacy, treatment failures and selection of macrolide resistance in patients with high load of Mycoplasma genitalium during treatment of male urethritis with josamycin.

Background: Azithromycin has been widely used for Mycoplasma genitalium treatment internationally. However, the eradication efficacy has substantially declined recent decade. In Russia, josamycin (another macrolide) is the recommended first-line treatment for M.

Utility of microscopic techniques and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction for the diagnosis of vaginal microflora alterations.

Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate the diagnostic value of Nugent score, wet mount microscopy, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test developed in Russia for bacterial vaginosis (BV) diagnosis.

Materials And Methods: One hundred Caucasian women were enrolled in this study. Three vaginal samples were taken from each participant: 1 for PCR analysis, 1 for Nugent score evaluation, and 1 for wet mount microscopy.

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.

Alcohol dehydrogenase ADH2-1 and ADH2-2 allelic isoforms in the Russian population correlate with type of alcoholic disease.

The frequency ADH2-2 allele in the Moscow urban population and a correlation between the ADH2-2 allele, alcoholic dependence without cirrhosis, symptomatic alcoholic cirrhosis and status on hepatitis B and C infection have been studied. One hundred and twenty-three inhabitants of Moscow (50 healthy donors, 36 patients with alcoholic cirrhosis (subdivided into infected and uninfected by HBV and/or HCV) and 37 patients with alcoholic dependence) of a similar age/sex and drinking pattern have been analysed. The frequency of 41% for ADH2-2 allele is characteristic for an urban Moscow population.