A Culture-Independent Analysis of the Microbiota of Female Interstitial Cystitis/Bladder Pain Syndrome Participants in the MAPP Research Network

Abstract

We surveyed urine microbiota of females diagnosed with interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS) and matched control participants enrolled in the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Multidisciplinary Approach to the Study of Chronic Pelvic Pain (MAPP) Research Network using the culture-independent methodology. Midstream urine specimens were analyzed with the Plex-ID molecular diagnostic platform that utilizes polymerase chain reaction–electrospray ionization–time-of-flight–mass spectrometry (PCR-ESI-TOF MS) to provide a comprehensive identification of bacterial and select fungal species. IC/BPS and control participants were evaluated for differences (presence, diversity, and abundance) in species and genus. Urine specimens obtained from 181 female IC/BPS and 182 female control participants detected a total of 92 species (41 genera). Mean (SD) species count was 2.49 (1.48) and 2.30 (1.28) among IC/BPS and control participants, respectively. Overall species composition did not significantly differ between IC/BPS and control participants at any level (p = 0.726 species level, p = 0.222 genus level). IC/BPS participants urine trended to an overabundance of Lactobacillus gasseri (p = 0.09) detected but had a lower prevalence of Corynebacterium compared with control participants (p = 0.002). The relative abundance data analysis mirrored the prevalence data differences with no significant differences in most species or genus abundance other than Lactobacillus gasseri and Corynebacterium (p = 0.08 and p = 0.001, respectively). No cause and/or effect conclusion can be drawn from this observation, but it suggests that a more comprehensive evaluation (vaginal, bowel, catheterized bladder and/or tissue-based specimens) of the lower urinary tract microbiota in IC/BPS patients is warranted.

Evaluating Extraction Methods to Study Canine Urine Microbiota

“…Despite this, several recent studies on urine have identified clear shifts in the microbial community associated with age (Adebayo et al, 2020; Curtiss et al, 2018; Gottschick et al, 2017; Komesu et al, 2018; Liu et al, 2017b; Pearce et al, 2014), sex (Lewis et al, 2013; Pederzoli et al, 2020; Pohl et al, 2020), urgency urinary incontinence in women (Brubaker et al, 2014; Karstens et al, 2016; Pearce et al, 2014; K. J. Thomas-White et al, 2016), bladder cancer (Bi et al, 2019; Bucević Popović et al, 2018; Chipollini et al, 2020; Hourigan et al, 2020; Liu et al, 2019; Mansour et al, 2020; Pederzoli et al, 2020; Wu et al, 2018), interstitial cystitis (Abernethy et al, 2017; Bresler et al, 2019; Domingue et al, 1995; Meriwether et al, 2019; Nickel et al, 2019, 2016; Siddiqui et al, 2012), neuropathic bladders (Forster et al, 2020; Fouts et al, 2012) and pneumonia (Pierre et al, 2020). However, additional work is needed to identify definitive and mechanistic links between the urine / bladder microbiome, host health, and urinary tract disease.…”

The microbiome in urological diseases

“…Reduced microbial diversity is evident in patients with IC, and the abundance of lactobacilli was significantly elevated in 90% of IC patients compared with 60% of controls. Another study showed low levels of Corynebacterium and high levels of Lactobacillus gasseri in the urine of BPS patients [ 26 ]. However, the above two studies used midstream urine samples, so the vaginal microbiome may have been contaminated.…”

“…Here, we review the role of the microbiome in the field of urology, including studies of prostate cancer, bladder cancer, chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS), interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS), urgency urinary incontinence/overactive bladder (UUI/OAB), stone disease, and urinary tract infection (UTI) ( Table 1 ) [ 6 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 ].…”

Biomarker discovery and beyond for diagnosis of bladder diseases

“…Another exploratory study comparatively surveyed the urine microbiota of female patients with interstitial cystitis (IC)/bladder pain syndrome (BPS) and controls who were enrolled in the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Multidisciplinary Approach to the Study of Chronic Pelvic Pain (MAPP) Research Network. It identified potential negative impacts of the presence of Lactobacillus gasseri and protective influence of Corynebacterium [35]. It should be noted that a different study on urinary incontinence (UI) found a lack of Lactobacillus to be associated with urgency UI and resistance to anticholinergic treatments [36].…”