Dynamics of Vaginal and Rectal Microbiota Over Several Menstrual Cycles in Female Cynomolgus Macaques.

Marie-Thérèse Nugeyre,Jacques Ravel,Roger Le Grand,Nicolas Tchitchek,Claude Cannou,Romain Marlin,Elisabeth Menu,Vanessa Contreras,Cindy Adapen,Fahd Benjelloun

doi:10.3389/fcimb.2019.00188

Abstract

The composition of the microbiota in cynomolgus macaques is only partially characterized, although this animal model is often used to study pathogenesis and preventive strategies against infections. We thus performed, for the first time, a longitudinal characterization of the vaginal and rectal microbiota of five cycling female cynomolgus macaques. Samples were collected weekly for 15 weeks and the V3/V4 regions of the16S rRNA gene sequenced. Sequences were analyzed with QIIME for OTU detection and taxonomic assignment. Progesterone levels were also determined to evaluate hormonal influence on bacteria relative abundance. The rectal and vaginal bacterial composition in cynomolgus macaques is polymicrobial and clearly distinct, with larger individual variability in the vagina. Rectal microbiota profiles were consistent between animals, whereas they were highly variable and animal-specific in the vagina. In the rectum, the most abundant taxa were Ruminococcaceae, Prevotella, and Clostridiales. In the vagina, the most abundant genera were Sneathia, Porphyromonas, Prevotella, and Fusobacterium. Lactobacillus were found at relative abundances higher than 1% in only one animal and were not predominant. Comparison of the vaginal cynomolgus macaque microbiota with that of humans showed similarity to community state type IV-A usually associated with dysbiosis. In the vagina, the relative abundance of 12 bacterial genera was found to be associated with progesterone levels. Our study provides a detailed characterization of the rectal and vaginal microbiota in female cynomolgus macaques and opens new perspectives of this animal model.

Highlights

Mucosae are the main portal of entry of sexually transmitted pathogens
We explored whether the lack of stability in vaginal microbiota profiles in cynomolgus macaques is associated with the hormonal cycle
We describe here the composition and dynamics of the rectal and vaginal microbiota in female cynomolgus macaques over 15 weeks capturing at least three menstrual cycles

Summary

Introduction

Mucosae are the main portal of entry of sexually transmitted pathogens. Studies of mucosae-associated microbiota are increasing exponentially and have demonstrated their impact on the protection against sexually transmitted infections (STI). It has been shown that the microbiota can influence mucosal and systemic immune functions (Manuzak et al, 2016), as well as host physiology and in pathological states (Clemente et al, 2012; Anahtar et al, 2015). The human gut microbiota is composed primarily of four major bacterial phyla: Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteria, and Proteobacteria. It is involved in the maturation of the host immune system and many basic metabolic pathways, including sugar and protein fermentation (Landman and Quevrain, 2016). Dysbiosis of the gastrointestinal microbiota is associated with HIV-1 disease progression (Vujkovic-Cvijin et al, 2013)

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