Mycoplasma Hominis Research Articles

Unraveling the adaptive strategies of Mycoplasma hominis through proteogenomic profiling of clinical isolates.

Mycoplasma hominis (M. hominis) belongs to the class Mollicutes, characterized by a very small genome size, reduction of metabolic pathways, including transcription factors, and the absence of a cell wall. Despite this, they adapt well not only to specific niches within the host organism but can also spread throughout the body, colonizing various organs and tissues. The adaptation mechanisms of M. hominis, as well as their regulatory pathways, are poorly understood. It is known that, when adapting to adverse conditions, Mycoplasmas can undergo phenotypic switches that may persist for several generations. To investigate the adaptive properties of M. hominis related to survival in the host, we conducted a comparative phenotypic and proteogenomic analysis of eight clinical isolates of M. hominis obtained from patients with urogenital infections and the laboratory strain H-34. We have shown that clinical isolates differ in phenotypic features from the laboratory strain, form biofilms more effectively and show resistance to ofloxacin. The comparative proteogenomic analysis revealed that, unlike the laboratory strain, the clinical isolates possess several features related to stress survival: they switch carbon metabolism, activating the energetically least advantageous pathway of nucleoside utilization, which allows slowing down cellular processes and transitioning to a starvation state; they reconfigure the repertoire of membrane proteins; they have integrative conjugative elements in their genomes, which are key mediators of horizontal gene transfer. The upregulation of the methylating subunit of the restriction-modification (RM) system type I and the additional components of RM systems found in clinical isolates suggest that DNA methylation may play a role in regulating the adaptation mechanisms of M. hominis in the host organism. It has been shown that based on the proteogenomic profile, namely the genome sequence, protein content, composition of the RM systems and additional subunits HsdM, HsdS and HsdR, composition and number of transposable elements, as well as the sequence of the main variable antigen Vaa, we can divide clinical isolates into two phenotypes: typical colonies (TC), which have a high growth rate, and atypical (aTC) mini-colonies, which have a slow growth rate and exhibit properties similar to persisters. We believe that the key mechanism of adaptation of M. hominis in the host is phenotypic restructuring, leading to a slowing down cellular processes and the formation of small atypical colonies. This is due to a switch in carbon metabolism and activation the pathway of nucleoside utilization. We hypothesize that DNA methylation may play a role in regulating this switch.

Performance verification and clinical evaluation of the NAP-Fluo Cycler system for detecting five genital tract pathogens based on microfluidic technology

IntroductionSexually transmitted infections (STIs) are among the most common infectious diseases worldwide, often leading to coinfections. Timely detection of genital tract pathogens in at-risk populations is crucial for preventing STIs. We evaluated the NAP-Fluo Cycler System, an innovative microfluidic nucleic acid detection platform, for its ability to simultaneously identify Chlamydia trachomatis (CT), Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG), Ureaplasma urealyticum (UU), Mycoplasma genitalium (MG), and Mycoplasma hominis (MH) in urethral or cervical secretions. Materials and methodsThe limits of detection (LODs), repeatability, specificity, and interference resistance of the system were evaluated using standard strains, a panel of 24 pathogens, and seven interferents. We used the system to analyze 302 clinical samples and compared the results with those of five approved commercial reference kits. ResultsThe system achieved LODs of 500 IFU/mL, 500 CFU/mL, and 500 CCU/mL for CT, NG, and UU/MG/MH, respectively, demonstrating high stability (coefficient of variation <1.1 %), specificity, and resistance to interference. Among 302 clinical samples, 237 tested positive with single, dual, and triple infection rates of 35.6 %, 16.2 %, and 3.0 %, respectively. The reference kits detected 138 positive samples. The concordance rates with commercial reference kits were 100 % for UU, NG, and MH; 94.85 % for CT; and 80.00 % for MG. ConclusionsThis system offers a streamlined, rapid, and multiplex detection method that reduces testing time and complexity. Although it performs well with pure strains, it has limitations when using clinical samples of CT and MG, suggesting the need for further refinement before its widespread use in the clinic.

Correlation between the Colony Phenotype and Amino Acid Sequence of the Variable Vaa Antigen in Clinical Isolates of Mycoplasma hominis.

A new Mycoplasma hominis phenotype forming mini-colonies (MC) on agar and distinct from the phenotype forming typical colonies (TC) not only in size, but also in morphology, growth rate, and resistance to adverse factors, has been previously identified. In this study, the phenotype of colonies was determined and a comparative analysis of the amino acid sequence of the main variable antigen Vaa of the laboratory strain N-34 and seven clinical isolates of M. hominis was performed. It is demonstrated that the amino acid sequence of Vaa in clinical isolates forming TC (similar to the laboratory strain N-34) is entirely analogous to that of laboratory strain. Clinical isolates forming MC carry amino acid substitutions in the variable C-terminal region of Vaa, which can contribute to adhesion to eukaryotic cells and immune evasion. The connection between colony phenotype and amino acid sequence of Vaa is established.

Effect of Ureaplasma/Mycoplasma genital tract infection on preterm labor.

Genitourinary tract infections in pregnant women are one of the causes of abnormal pregnancy development including miscarriages, premature labor or premature rupture of membranes (PPROM). Atypical bacteria responsible for reproductive tract infections include Mycoplasma genitalium, Mycoplasma hominis, Ureaplasma urealyticum and Ureaplasma parvum. Identification of pathogens and appropriately selected therapy can improve obstetric outcomes in patients with symptoms of threatened miscarriage or threatened preterm labor. The purpose of our study is to analyze the impact of reproductive tract infections with ureaplasma and mycoplasma bacteria during pregnancy. In the presented study, we retrospectively analyzed the cases of 201 pregnant patients hospitalized in the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department of Poznan Regional Hospital in 2019-2022, who had a swab taken from external os area of the cervix for atypical bacteria - Ureaplasma and Mycoplasma. Only patients with symptoms of threatened miscarriage or threatened preterm labor were included in the study group. Microbiological tests were performed in the hospital laboratory with the Mycoplasma IST 3 test from Biomerieux. We found a higher incidence of preterm labor in patients with symptoms of threatened preterm labor and a genital tract infection with Ureaplasma/Mycoplasma bacteria, compared to patients not infected with Mycoplasma/Ureaplasma - 31.1% vs 20% (p = 0.098). This observation in the case of Ureaplasma/Mycoplasma monoinfection group applied to 6 patients. - 75% of the group. Pregnant patients who had co-infection with other types of bacteria (48 patients in total) gave birth before 37 weeks of pregnancy in 27.1% of cases. We obtained a significant difference (p = 0.007) when comparing groups with positive and negative cultures for Ureaplasma/Mycoplasma by the presence of monoinfection/coinfection and the week of pregnancy in which delivery occurred. We also noted the effect of atypical bacterial infection for PPROM - this complication preceded preterm delivery in 40% of ureaplasma-positive patients, compared to 20% of PPROM without infection. We found a similar rate of preterm labor and pregnancy loss in Ureaplasma/Mycoplasma-positive patients who received antibiotic therapy (35.7%) compared to a group of pregnant women who did not receive treatment (31.6%). Infection of the genital tract with atypical bacteria Ureaplasma and Mycoplasma has a negative impact on the course of pregnancy. Identification of the type of microorganisms in cervical canal secretions of pregnant patients with symptoms of threatened miscarriage or preterm labor seems crucial. The impact of antibiotic therapy though, requires further analysis.

Genital Infections in Couple Infertility in Dakar

Background: Couple infertility is a real public health problem affecting 8–15% of couples worldwide. The aim of this study was to investigate genital infections in infertile couples in Dakar. Methodology: This was an 8-month prospective study of infertile couples followed up in 3 health facilities in the Dakar region. Standard bacteriology was performed on genital swabs and Triplex PCR for the detection of Neisseria gonorrhoea, Chlamydia trachomatis and Mycoplasma genitalium. Data analysis was performed using SPSS IBM 25 software. Results: A total of 98 women (65.3%) and 52 men (34.7%) with an average age of 34 years and extremes ranging from 18 to 56 years were included. In men, the prevalence of genital infections was 17.3% (n=9), with a predominance of Mycoplasma hominis (5.8%), Ureaplasma urealyticum (5.8%) and Escherichia coli (3. 8%). In women, 70.3% (n=59) had an infection, and the most frequently isolated germs were G. vaginalis (19%), U. urealyticum (17%) and Candida albicans (17%). Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Mycoplasma genitalium were absent in all patients. Chlamydia trachomatis, on the other hand, was positive in 10 patients using antigenic tests, with confirmation in just one patient by PCR. Conclusion: The prevalence of genital infections in infertile couples was very high in our study. Good medical management of these infections necessarily requires good laboratory diagnosis.

Aetiological molecular identification of sexually transmitted infections that cause urethral discharge syndrome and genital ulcer disease in Brazilian men: a nationwide study

BackgroundLittle is known about the aetiology of urethral discharge syndrome (UDS) and genital ulcer disease (GUD) in Brazil due to limited access to laboratory tests and treatment based mainly on...

Low-cost conventional PCR techniques enable simultaneous detection of bacterial sexually transmitted infections with enhanced sensitivity and specificity

PurposeNeisseria gonorrhoeae (NG), Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) and Mycoplasma hominis (MH), the three most common treatable bacterial sexually transmitted infections (STIs) worldwide can lead to many complications if remain untreated. Screening of high-risk population with highly sensitive methods will lead to significant improvement in patient outcomes and will prevent downward transmission. The advantages of Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based assay are not only high sensitivity and specificity, but also detection of multiple organisms in a single reaction which reduce the result turn-around time. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the feasibility of a multiplex PCR assay method targeting 16S rRNA gene for simultaneous detection of NG, CT and MH infection along with their trend and occurrence among high-risk population in Assam, Northeast India. MethodsA cross-sectional study was undertaken, where a total of 200 randomly selected patients from high-risk population were included. After validation of singleplex PCR, Multiplex PCR (M-PCR) was performed along with the traditional culture method for NG. Results & conclusionThe overall agreement of M-PCR with singleplex PCR was very high (100%). The occurrence of STI was found to be very high (101/200; 50.5%). Furthermore, co-infection was detected in 10/200; 5%) individuals. Infection was more common among young individuals (p < 0.05) and males out-numbered females (p < 0.05). The most common organism detected was CT (42/200; 21%) followed by NG (41/200; 20.5%) and MH (20/200; 10%). The M-PCR assay workflow is simple, cost effective and can be used in routine diagnostic laboratories with basic molecular facilities.

Antimicrobial resistance of genitalmycoplasmas recovered from nonpregnant women in Greece: trends over the last 15years.

Aim: To study antimicrobial susceptibilities of genital mycoplasmas recovered from endocervical samples of reproductive-age, nonpregnant women (n =8,336). Materials & methods: For isolation and susceptibility testing, the Mycoplasma IST2 kit was used. Results: As many as 2093 samples were positive for mycoplasmas. The vast majority (>96%) of Ureaplasma urealyticum remained susceptible to tetracycline, doxycycline, josamycin and pristinamycin, whereas susceptibility rates to azithromycin and fluoroquinolones were significantly decreased. Mycoplasma hominis exhibited high susceptibility rates to doxycycline, pristinamycin and josamycin (98.1-100%), while susceptibilities to tetracycline and fluoroquinolones were considerably lower. Conclusion: Doxycycline remained highly potent for treating mycoplasmas; nevertheless, susceptibilities to other antimicrobials were significantly diminished.

Moxifloxacin treatment for Mycoplasma hominis meningitis in an extremely preterm infant

The patient, a male newborn, was admitted to the hospital 2 hours after birth due to prematurity (gestational age 27+5 weeks) and respiratory distress occurring 2 hours postnatally. After admission, the infant developed fever and elevated C-reactive protein levels. On the fourth day after birth, metagenomic next-generation sequencing of cerebrospinal fluid indicated a positive result for Mycoplasma hominis (9 898 reads). On the eighth day, a retest of cerebrospinal fluid metagenomics confirmed Mycoplasma hominis (56 806 reads). The diagnosis of purulent meningitis caused by Mycoplasma hominis was established, and the antibiotic treatment was switched to moxifloxacin [5 mg/(kg·day)] administered intravenously for a total of 4 weeks. After treatment, the patient's cerebrospinal fluid tests returned to normal, and he was discharged as cured on the 76th day after birth. This article focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of neonatal Mycoplasma hominis purulent meningitis, introducing the multidisciplinary diagnosis and treatment of the condition in extremely preterm infants.

Vaginal microbiota molecular profiling and diagnostic performance of artificial intelligence-assisted multiplex PCR testing in women with bacterial vaginosis: a single-center experience.

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a most common microbiological syndrome. The use of molecular methods, such as multiplex real-time PCR (mPCR) and next-generation sequencing, has revolutionized our understanding of microbial communities. Here, we aimed to use a novel multiplex PCR test to evaluate the microbial composition and dominant lactobacilli in non-pregnant women with BV, and combined with machine learning algorithms to determine its diagnostic significance. Residual material of 288 samples of vaginal secretions derived from the vagina from healthy women and BV patients that were sent for routine diagnostics was collected and subjected to the mPCR test. Subsequently, Decision tree (DT), random forest (RF), and support vector machine (SVM) hybrid diagnostic models were constructed and validated in a cohort of 99 women that included 74 BV patients and 25 healthy controls, and a separate cohort of 189 women comprising 75 BV patients, 30 intermediate vaginal microbiota subjects and 84 healthy controls, respectively. The rate or abundance of Lactobacillus crispatus and Lactobacillus jensenii were significantly reduced in BV-affected patients when compared with healthy women, while Lactobacillus iners, Gardnerella vaginalis, Atopobium vaginae, BVAB2, Megasphaera type 2, Prevotella bivia, and Mycoplasma hominis were significantly increased. Then the hybrid diagnostic models were constructed and validated by an independent cohort. The model constructed with support vector machine algorithm achieved excellent prediction performance (Area under curve: 0.969, sensitivity: 90.4%, specificity: 96.1%). Moreover, for subjects with a Nugent score of 4 to 6, the SVM-BV model might be more robust and sensitive than the Nugent scoring method. The application of this mPCR test can be effectively used in key vaginal microbiota evaluation in women with BV, intermediate vaginal microbiota, and healthy women. In addition, this test may be used as an alternative to the clinical examination and Nugent scoring method in diagnosing BV.

Mycoplasma hominis Meningitis in Newborns (Review)

Mycoplasma hominis Meningitis in Newborns (Review)

Transition of the genital mollicutes from the second to the third trimester of pregnancy and its association with adverse pregnancy outcomes in GDM women: a prospective, single-center cohort study from China

BackgroundThe association of genital Mollicutes infection transition with adverse pregnancy outcomes was insignificant among general pregnant women, but there remains a paucity of evidence linking this relationship in gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) women. The aim was to investigate the association between genital Mollicutes infection and transition and adverse pregnancy outcomes in GDM women, and to explore whether this association still exist when Mollicutes load varied.MethodsWe involved pregnant women who attended antenatal care in Chongqing, China. After inclusion and exclusion criteria, we conducted a single-center cohort study of 432 GDM women with pregnancy outcomes from January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2021. The main outcome was adverse pregnancy outcomes, including premature rupture of membrane (PROM), fetal distress, macrosomia and others. The exposure was Mollicutes infection, including Ureaplasma urealyticum (Uu) and Mycoplasma hominis (Mh) collected in both the second and the third trimesters, and testing with polymerase chain reaction method. The logistic regression models were used to estimate the relationship between Mollicutes infection and adverse pregnancy outcomes.ResultsAmong 432 GDM women, 241 (55.79%) were infected with genital Mollicutes in either the second or third trimester of pregnancy. At the end of the pregnancy follow-up, 158 (36.57%) participants had adverse pregnancy outcomes, in which PROM, fetal distress and macrosomia were the most commonly observed adverse outcomes. Compared with the uninfected group, the Mollicutes (+/-) group showed no statistical significant increase in PROM (OR = 1.05, 95% CI:0.51 ∼ 2.08) and fetal distress (OR = 1.21, 95% CI: 0.31 ∼ 3.91). Among the 77 participants who were both Uu positive in the second and third trimesters, 38 participants presented a declined Uu load and 39 presented an increased Uu load. The Uu increased group had a 2.95 odds ratio (95% CI: 1.10~8.44) for adverse pregnancy outcomes.ConclusionMollicutes infection and transition during trimesters were not statistically associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes in GDM women. However, among those consistent infections, women with increasing Uu loads showed increased risks of adverse pregnancy outcomes. For GDM women with certain Mollicutes infection and colonization status, quantitative screening for vaginal infection at different weeks of pregnancy was recommended to provide personalized fertility treatment.

Accurate etiological diagnosis of Mycoplasma hominis mediastinitis in immunocompetent patients using metagenomic next-generation sequencing: a case series and literature review.

As a culture-independent method, metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) is widely used in microbiological diagnosis with advantages in identifying potential pathogens, guiding antibiotic therapy, and improving clinical prognosis, especially in culture-negative cases. Mycoplasma hominis (M. hominis) mediastinitis is a rare and severe disease for which etiological diagnosis is important but challenging. The application of mNGS in the etiological diagnosis of mediastinitis has seldom been studied. By searching the electronic medical history retrieval system with "Mycoplasma hominis" and "mediastinitis", seven patients diagnosed with M. hominis mediastinitis were reviewed in Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai from 9 December 2020 to 14 February 2023. Microbiological cultures and mNGS were conducted for blood, abscess, and/or mediastinal fluid. Adjustment of the antibiotic therapy due to mNGS was assessed. A literature review was conducted in the PubMed database beginning in 1970 for M. hominis infection and mediastinitis. For the seven patients, cultures of blood, abscess, and mediastinal fluid were negative whereas mNGS identified M. hominis in serum, abscess, and/or mediastinal fluid and was used to guide specific antibiotic therapy. The stringent mapped reads number of genera (SMRNG), stringent mapped reads number of species (SMRN), and coverage rate of M. hominis detection by mNGS were significantly higher in body fluid (abscess or mediastinal fluid) than in serum. All seven patients had underlying heart diseases and underwent previous cardiac surgery. The most common symptoms were fever and sternal pain. After detection of M. hominis, antibiotics were adjusted to quinolones or doxycycline except for one patient, whose diagnosis was clarified after death. Two patients died. Literature review since 1970 identified 30 cases of extra-genital infection caused by M. hominis. Including our seven new cases, 2 (5.4%) were neonates and 35 (94.6%) were adults. Thirty (81.1%) cases were postoperative infection and 15 (40.5%) had implanted devices. Five patients (13.5%) died. mNGS might be a promising technology in the detection of fastidious pathogens such as M. hominis. Accurate etiological diagnosis by mNGS could guide antibiotic therapy and facilitate clinical management.

Epidemiological Profile of Microorganisms Associated with Female Infertility at the Mother and Child University Hospital Center of N’Djamena: Risk Factors and Antibiotic Resistance

Aims: the objective of this work was to determine the resistance phenotypes and the epidemiological profile of microorganisms associated with female infertility at the CHU-ME of N’Djamena.&#x0D; Materials and Methods: we conducted a prospective, cross-sectional and analytical study on women admitted for maternity desire at the CHU-ME of N'Djamena and consenting from June 1, 2022 to February 26, 2023. Isolation and identification microorganisms responsible for female infertility were carried out in the laboratories using standard clinical microbiology methods.&#x0D; Results: Of the 122 patients included in this series due to infertility, 88 (72.13%) tested positive for microbial infection compared to 34 (28%) negative tests (p = 0.01). The average age of infertile women was 34.24 years with extremes ranging from 19 to 45 years. The age groups most affected were 25 to 31 and 32 to 38. Primary infertility was 71.31% and secondary 28.68%. The microorganisms most associated with infertility were Chlamydia trachomatis (25.30%), Mycoplasma hominis (17.90%), Candida albicans (16.66%) and Staphylococcus aureus (16.04%) Streptococcus agalactiae (10 .49%) and Ureaplasma spp (8.14%). The risk factors most associated with infertility were advanced age (18.85%), surgical interventions (17.25%) and ovulation disorders (19.39%). The antecedents most associated with infertility were cesarean section 44 (36.07%) followed by miscarriages 29 (23.77).&#x0D; The sensitivity of bacterial and fungal agents to antibiotics and antifungals was varied. The majority of bacteria were resistant to Cyclins, Betalactams and Macrolides with proportions of 66%, 47.66% and 34% respectively. Strains of Ureaplasma spp and Mycoplasma homonis develop average resistances of 86.52% and 36.16% respectively against fluoroquinolones.&#x0D; The fungal strains were sensitive (54.33%) to the azole derivatives and resistant (70%) to the polyenes tested.&#x0D; Conclusion: The present study made it possible to determine high prevalence of microorganisms and risk factors associated with female infertility. It also highlighted high prevalence of resistance of bacteria to beta-lactams and fluoroquinolones and of Candida albicans to polyenes.

Impact of Genital Infections and Antibiotic Use on Incidence of Preterm Birth: A Retrospective Observational Study.

This study investigates the complex interplay among genital infections, antibiotic usage, and preterm birth. This study aims to identify common genital pathogens associated with preterm births, assess the impact of various antibiotic treatments on pregnancy outcomes, and understand antibiotic resistance patterns among these pathogens. This study included 71 pregnant women who experienced preterm birth and 94 women with genital infections who delivered at term. Various maternal characteristics, medical history, signs and symptoms, gestational weight, gestational age, type of birth, vaginal pH, Nugent scores, and vaginal flora were analyzed. Antibiotic resistance patterns of isolated microorganisms were also examined. The prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and genital herpes was significantly higher in the preterm group. Preterm births were associated with fever, pelvic pain, vaginal spotting, and fatigue. Vaginal pH levels and Nugent scores were significantly higher in the preterm group, indicating disturbed vaginal flora. The presence of Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamases (ESBLs) was a particularly strong risk factor, increasing by more than four times the odds of preterm birth (OR = 4.45, p = 0.001). Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci (VRE) presence was another critical factor, with a four-fold increase in the odds of preterm birth (OR = 4.01, p = 0.034). The overall presence of Multidrug-Resistant (MDR) organisms significantly increased the odds of preterm birth (OR = 3.73, p = 0.001). Specific pathogens like Chlamydia trachomatis (OR = 3.12, p = 0.020) and Mycoplasma hominis (OR = 3.64, p = 0.006) were also identified as significant risk factors. Ureaplasma urealyticum also showed a significantly higher risk of preterm birth (OR = 2.76, p = 0.009). This study highlights the importance of screening for and treating genital infections during pregnancy, especially STDs and genital herpes, as they can significantly increase the risk of preterm birth. Additionally, the presence of specific microorganisms and antibiotic resistance patterns plays an essential role in preterm birth risk. Early detection and targeted antibiotic treatment may help mitigate this risk and improve pregnancy outcomes.

Mycoplasma hominis increases the risk for Ureaplasma parvum infection in Human immunodeficiency virus infected pregnant women.

Mycoplasma hominis and Ureaplasma parvum have been recently linked to sexually transmitted diseases and other conditions. There are a limited number of studies conducted on South African pregnant women that have assessed the prevalence and risk factors for genital mycoplasmas. This study included 264 HIV infected pregnant women attending the King Edward VIII antenatal clinic in eThekwini, South Africa. DNA was extracted using the PureLink Microbiome kit and pathogens were detected using the TaqMan Real-time PCR assays. The statistical data analysis was conducted in a freely available Statistical Computing Environment, R software, version 3.6.3 using the RStudio platform. The prevalence of M. hominis and U. parvum, was 215/264 (81.4%), and 203/264 (76.9%), respectively. In the M. hominis positive group, a significantly (p = 0.004) higher proportion, 80.5% tested positive for U. parvum infection when compared to 61.2% among the M. hominis negative. Of the U. parvum positive women, a significantly (p = 0.004) higher proportion of women (85.2%) tested positive for M. hominis when compared to 68.9% among the U. parvum negative. In the unadjusted and adjusted analysis, being M. hominis positive increased the risk for U. parvum by approximately 3 times more (p = 0.014) and 4-fold (p = 0.008), respectively. This study showed a significant link between M. hominis and U. parvum infection. To date, there are a limited number of studies that have investigated M. hominisbeing a risk factor for U. parvum infection. Therefore, the data presented in the current study now fills in this gap in the literature.

Analysis of Vaginal Microbiota Variations in the Third Trimester of Pregnancy and Their Correlation with Preterm Birth: A Case-Control Study.

This study conducted a detailed analysis of the vaginal microbiota in pregnant women to explore its correlation with preterm birth (PTB) outcomes. The primary objective was to identify microbial variations associated with increased PTB risk. Secondary objectives included investigating how changes in microbial composition relate to the local immune environment and PTB. Utilizing a retrospective case-control design, the study involved pregnant women with liveborn infants between 2019 and 2023. In total, 89 women who delivered preterm and 106 term deliveries were included. Data collection focused on third-trimester vaginal cultures. Statistically significant differences were observed between the preterm and full-term groups in several areas. The median white blood cell count (10.2 × 103/mm3 vs. 7.6 × 103/mm3, p = 0.009) and neutrophil count (7.2 × 103/mm3 vs. 5.1 × 103/mm3, p < 0.001) were higher in the preterm group. Vaginal pH was also elevated in preterm births (5.6 vs. 4.4, p < 0.001), with a higher prevalence of bacterial vaginosis (29.2% vs. 12.3%, p = 0.001) as indicated by the Nugent Score. The study noted a significant association of PTB with the presence of Candida spp. (OR = 1.84, p = 0.018), Gardnerella vaginalis (OR = 2.29, p = 0.003), Mycoplasma hominis (OR = 1.97, p = 0.007), and Ureaplasma urealyticum (OR = 2.43, p = 0.001). Conversely, a reduction in Lactobacillus spp. correlated with a decreased PTB risk (OR = 0.46, p = 0.001). The study provides compelling evidence that specific vaginal microbiota components, particularly certain pathogenic bacteria and an altered Lactobacillus profile, are significantly associated with PTB risk. These findings highlight the potential of targeting microbial factors in strategies aimed at reducing PTB rates. Further research is necessary to fully understand the complex interplay between microbial dynamics, host immunity, and PTB outcomes.

Estimating the burden of undiagnosed Ureaplasma species and Mycoplasma hominis infection/colonisation in lung and renal transplant patients, and establishing antimicrobial susceptibility testing for these organisms in New Zealand

Estimating the burden of undiagnosed Ureaplasma species and Mycoplasma hominis infection/colonisation in lung and renal transplant patients, and establishing antimicrobial susceptibility testing for these organisms in New Zealand

Molecular Detection of Ureaplasma Urealyticum in Pregnant Woman Suffering from Urinary Tract Infection

Mycoplasma is a genus of bacteria that lack a cell wall, The present study was designed to identify the Ureaplasma urelyticium which causes the pregnant women suffering uti. The study included 200 samples of 150 pregnant women and 50 controls from the Bint Al-Huda teaching Hospital and Al-Haboubi teaching Hospital in the Thi-Qar provainc. The presence of the GPO gene in urine samples by using the PCR used as an indicator for mycoplasma colonization of urinary tract of pregnant, then the species was detected by DNA sequencing. in this study Regarding the GPO gene most of the cases were carry mycoplasmas and majority of the control groups expressing the positive results so that there was no significant statistical differences where (p value = 0.069). The present results recorded that the presence of about 94% homology between studied samples with Ureaplasma urelyticium sequences. Twenty-one, 12 and 6 genetic variations of 16SrRNA gene were identified in Mycoplasma hominis, Mycoplasma, ureaplasma urelyticium. Some variations were variably distributed in the majority of the studied samples. The study showed that the ureaplasma urelyticium.is an important cause of UTI in pregnant women in Iraqi population.

Multi-omics analysis identifies potential microbial and metabolite diagnostic biomarkers of bacterial vaginosis.

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a common clinical manifestation of a perturbed vaginal ecology associated with adverse sexual and reproductive health outcomes if left untreated. The existing diagnostic modalities are either cumbersome or require skilled expertise, warranting alternate tests. Application of machine-learning tools to heterogeneous and high-dimensional multi-omics datasets finds promising potential in data integration and may aid biomarker discovery. The present study aimed to evaluate the potential of the microbiome and metabolome-derived biomarkers in BV diagnosis. Interpretable machine-learning algorithms were used to evaluate the utility of an integrated-omics-derived classification model. Vaginal samples obtained from reproductive-age group women with (n = 40) and without BV (n = 40) were subjected to 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing and LC-MS-based metabolomics. The vaginal microbiome and metabolome were characterized, and machine-learning analysis was performed to build a classification model using biomarkers with the highest diagnostic accuracy. Microbiome-based diagnostic model exhibited a ROC-AUC (10-fold CV) of 0.84 ± 0.21 and accuracy of 0.79 ± 0.18, and important features were Aerococcus spp., Mycoplasma hominis, Sneathia spp., Lactobacillus spp., Prevotella spp., Gardnerella spp. and Fannyhessea vaginae. The metabolome-derived model displayed superior performance with a ROC-AUC of 0.97 ± 0.07 and an accuracy of 0.92 ± 0.08. Beta-leucine, methylimidazole acetaldehyde, dimethylethanolamine, L-arginine and beta cortol were among key predictive metabolites for BV. A predictive model combining both microbial and metabolite features exhibited a high ROC-AUC of 0.97 ± 0.07 and accuracy of 0.94 ± 0.08 with diagnostic performance only slightly superior to the metabolite-based model. Application of machine-learning tools to multi-omics datasets aid biomarker discovery with high predictive performance. Metabolome-derived classification models were observed to have superior diagnostic performance in predicting BV than microbiome-based biomarkers.