Friend or Foe: Interbacterial Competition in the Nasal Cavity.

Like other microbes that live on or in the human body, the bacteria that inhabit the upper respiratory tract, in particular the nasal cavity, have evolved to survive in an environment that presents a number of physical and chemical challenges; these microbes are constantly bombarded with nutritional fluctuations, changes in humidity, the presence of inhaled particulate matter (odorants and allergens), and competition with other microbes. Indeed, only a specialized set of species is able to colonize this niche and successfully contend with the host's immune system and the constant threat from competitors. To this end, bacteria that live in the nasal cavity have evolved a variety of approaches to outcompete contenders for the limited nutrients and space; broadly speaking, these strategies may be considered a type of "bacterial warfare.

Microbial Dysbiosis During Simian Immunodeficiency Virus Infection is Partially Reverted with Combination Anti-retroviral Therapy.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is characterized by a massive loss of CD4 T cells in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) that is accompanied by changes in the gut microbiome and microbial translocation that contribute to inflammation and chronic immune activation. Though highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has led to better long-term outcomes in HIV infected patients, it has not been as effective at reverting pathogenesis in the GIT. Using the simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) infection model, we show that combination antiretroviral therapy (c-ART) partially reverted microbial dysbiosis observed during SIV infection.

Antimicrobial Activity of Clinically Isolated Bacterial Species Against .

Bacteria often exist in polymicrobial communities where they compete for limited resources. Intrinsic to this competition is the ability of some species to inhibit or kill their competitors. This phenomenon is pervasive throughout the human body where commensal bacteria block the colonization of incoming microorganisms.

Corynebacterium pseudodiphtheriticum Exploits Staphylococcus aureus Virulence Components in a Novel Polymicrobial Defense Strategy.

Commensal bacteria in the human nasal cavity are known to suppress opportunistic pathogen colonization by competing for limited space and nutrients. It has become increasingly apparent that some commensal bacteria also produce toxic compounds that directly inhibit or kill incoming competitors. Numerous studies suggest that microbial species-specific interactions can affect human nasal colonization by the opportunistic pathogen However, the complex and dynamic molecular interactions that mediate these effects on nasal colonization are often difficult to study and remain poorly understood.

Investigation of the microbiota of the reproductive tract in women undergoing a total hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oopherectomy.

Objective: To conduct a pilot study to investigate the possible presence of bacteria throughout the female reproductive tract and to make a preliminary assessment of whether there are differences in the composition of the microbial communities between these body sites and/or between patients.

Design: Prospective pilot study followed by 16S amplification and high-throughput sequencing.

Setting: Tertiary care military hospital.