Anti-chlamydial activity of vaginal fluids: new evidence from an model.

Introduction: We assessed the anti-chlamydial activity of fresh vaginal secretions, deciphering the microbial and metabolic components able to counteract viability.

Methods: Forty vaginal samples were collected from a group of reproductive-aged women and their anti-chlamydial activity was evaluated by inhibition experiments. Each sample underwent 16S rRNA metabarcoding sequencing to determine the bacterial composition, as well as H-NMR spectroscopy to detect and quantify the presence of vaginal metabolites.

Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae rectal infections: Interplay between rectal microbiome, HPV infection and Torquetenovirus.

Men having sex with men (MSM) represent a key population, in which sexually transmitted rectal infections (STIs) caused by Chlamydia trachomatis (CT), Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) and high-risk HPV (HR-HPV) are very common and linked to significant morbidity. Investigating the anorectal microbiome associated with rectal STIs holds potential for deeper insights into the pathogenesis of these infections and the development of innovative control strategies. In this study, we explored the interplay at the rectal site between C.

Longitudinal Changes of Ocular Surface Microbiome in Patients Undergoing Hemopoietic Stem Cell Transplant (HSCT).

Purpose: To evaluate changes in the ocular surface microbiome (OSM) between pre- and post-haemopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) in the same patient, and to assess the potential impact of these changes in ocular graft-versus-host disease (o)GVHD development.

Methods: Lower fornix conjunctival swabs of 24 patients were obtained before and after HSCT and subjected to DNA extraction for amplification and sequencing of the V3-V4 regions of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene. The obtained reads were reconstructed, filtered, and clustered into zero-radius operational taxonomic units (zOTUs) at 97% identity level before taxonomic assignment, and biodiversity indexes were calculated.

Non-pathogenic species of the oropharynx as a reservoir of antimicrobial resistance: a cross-sectional study.

Commensal species of the oropharynx represent a significant reservoir of antimicrobial resistance determinants that can be transferred to . This aspect is particularly crucial in 'men having sex with men' (MSM), a key population in which pharyngeal co-colonization by and non-pathogenic species is frequent and associated with the emergence of antimicrobial resistance. Here, we explored the antimicrobial susceptibility of a large panel of non-pathogenic species isolated from the oropharynx of two populations: a group of MSM attending a 'sexually transmitted infection' clinic in Bologna (Italy) (n=108) and a group of males representing a 'general population' (n=119).

Characterization of Gardnerella vaginalis isolates: correlations among clades, biofilm formation and cytokine stimulation.

We characterized 61 Gardnerella vaginalis (GV) strains isolated from women with bacterial vaginosis. GV clade 1 was the most commonly found (52.5%), followed by clade 4 (36.

Torquetenovirus in pregnancy: Correlation with vaginal microbiome, metabolome and pro-inflammatory cytokines.

Torquetenovirus (TTV) is a negative sense, single-stranded DNA virus present in many body fluids of apparently healthy individuals. At present, it is considered a non-pathogenic endogenous virus. TTV can be detected in the vagina of pregnant women, its abundance being modulated with the extent of immune system activation.

Gardnerella vaginalis clades in pregnancy: New insights into the interactions with the vaginal microbiome.

Gardnerella vaginalis (GV) is an anaerobic bacterial species involved in the pathogenesis of bacterial vaginosis (BV), a condition of vaginal dysbiosis associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. GV strains are categorized into four clades, characterized by a different ability to produce virulence factors, such as sialidase. We investigated the distribution of GV clades and sialidase genes in the vaginal ecosystem of a cohort of pregnant women, assessing the correlations between GV clades and the whole vaginal microbiome.

A Deep Look at the Vaginal Environment During Pregnancy and Puerperium.

A deep comprehension of the vaginal ecosystem may hold promise for unraveling the pathophysiology of pregnancy and may provide novel biomarkers to identify subjects at risk of maternal-fetal complications. In this prospective study, we assessed the characteristics of the vaginal environment in a cohort of pregnant women throughout their different gestational ages and puerperium. Both the vaginal bacterial composition and the vaginal metabolic profiles were analyzed.

First-Void Urine Microbiome in Women with Infection.

Background: (CT) is the agent of the most common bacterial sexually transmitted infection worldwide. Until now, little information is available about the microbial composition of urine samples during CT urethritis. Therefore, in this study, we characterized the microbiome and metabolome profiles of first-void urines in a cohort of women with CT urethral infection attending an STI clinic.

Meningococcal Carriage in 'Men Having Sex With Men' With Pharyngeal Gonorrhoea.

We assessed the characteristics of pharyngeal carriage in a cohort of 'men having sex with men', including patients with pharyngeal infection. In the period 2017-2019, among all the oropharyngeal samples tested for gonorrhoea from MSM attending a STI Clinic in Bologna (Italy), we randomly selected 244 -positive samples and 403 negatives (n=647). Pharyngeal specimens were tested for presence, by the detection of gene.

Distribution of , , , and Resistance Genes in the Vaginal Ecosystem of Women during Pregnancy and Puerperium.

The inhabitants of the vaginal ecosystem can harbor genetic determinants conferring antimicrobial resistance. However, detailed data about the distribution of resistance genes in the vaginal microbiome of pregnant women are still lacking. Therefore, we assessed the presence of macrolide (i.

Effect of different fatty acids on Neisseria gonorrhoeae viability.

Neisseria gonorrhoeae (GC) is the agent of one of the most common bacterial sexually transmitted infections worldwide. The possible development of 'untreatable' infections points out the need for antibiotic-sparing methods to reduce the number of gonococcal infections. In this context, fatty acids are interesting candidates as next-generation antibacterial agents.

Vaginal and Anal Microbiome during Infections.

(CT) is the agent of the most common bacterial sexually transmitted infection worldwide, with a significant impact on women's health. Despite the increasing number of studies about the vaginal microbiome in women with CT infections, information about the composition of the anal microbiome is still lacking. Here, we assessed the bacterial community profiles of vaginal and anal ecosystems associated or not with CT infection in a cohort of Caucasian young women.

Pre-Pregnancy Diet and Vaginal Environment in Caucasian Pregnant Women: An Exploratory Study.

Vaginal microbes and their metabolic products have crucial functions, affecting local immunity development and maternal-fetal health. The composition of the vaginal microbiome can vary in response to various factors, including body mass index (BMI), and diet. In this study we get new insights into the vaginal ecosystem of Caucasian women (n = 24) at the first trimester of pregnancy, assessing whether pre-pregnancy diet can affect the structure of the vaginal environment in terms of bacterial composition and vaginal metabolite concentration.

New Insights into Vaginal Environment During Pregnancy.

During pregnancy, the vaginal ecosystem undergoes marked changes, including a significant enrichment with spp. and profound alterations in metabolic profiles. A deep comprehension of the vaginal environment may shed light on the physiology of pregnancy and may provide novel biomarkers to identify subjects at risk of complications (e.

BC1 Biosurfactant Counteracts the Infectivity of Elementary Bodies.

Lactobacilli-derived biosurfactants (BS) have shown promising effects as antimicrobial molecules. Since plays a crucial role in maintaining vaginal eubiosis, BS from this species could represent novel therapeutic agents to counteract sexually transmitted pathogens, such as (CT). The aim of the present study was to assess the inhibitory effects of a BS produced by the vaginal strain BC1 on the infectivity of CT elementary bodies (EBs).

Vaginal metabolic profiles during pregnancy: Changes between first and second trimester.

During pregnancy, the vaginal microbiome plays an important role in both maternal and neonatal health outcomes. Throughout pregnancy, the vaginal microbial composition undergoes significant changes, including a decrease in overall diversity and enrichment with Lactobacillus spp. In turn, the modifications in the microbial profiles are associated with shifts in the composition of vaginal metabolites.