Fine-scale analysis of 16S rRNA sequences reveals a high level of taxonomic diversity among vaginal Atopobium spp.

Abstract

Although vaginal microbial communities of some healthy women have high proportions of Atopobium vaginae, the genus Atopobium is more commonly associated with bacterial vaginosis, a syndrome associated with an increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes and the transmission of sexually transmitted diseases. Genetic differences within Atopobium species may explain why single species can be associated with both health and disease. We used 16S rRNA gene sequences from previously published studies to explore the taxonomic diversity of the genus Atopobium in vaginal microbial communities of healthy women. Although A. vaginae was the species most commonly found, we also observed three other Atopobium species in the vaginal microbiota, one of which, A. parvulum, was not previously known to reside in the human vagina. Furthermore, we found several potential novel species of the genus Atopobium and multiple phylogenetic clades of A. vaginae. The diversity of Atopobium found in our study, which focused only on samples from healthy women, is greater than previously recognized, suggesting that analysis of samples from women with BV would yield even more diversity. Classification of microbes only to the genus level may thus obfuscate differences that might be important to better understand health or disease.

Atopobium vaginae intrapartum bacteremia: A case report with a literature review

“…We assume that a high intra-species diversity could explain this phenomenon. This hypothesis is in agreement with the work of Mendes-Soares et al who suggests that the genetic diversity among A. vaginae strains is underestimated [10]. The addition of Atopobium species MPS in the MALDI-TOF MS database, and of A. vaginae in particular, could therefore improve the microbiological diagnosis of such microorganisms in the future.…”

Etiology of bacterial vaginosis and polymicrobial biofilm formation

“…In addition, A. vaginae is rarely detected in BV patients without G. vaginalis and this co-existence is also detected in patients with recurrent BV Bradshaw et al 2006;Trama et al 2008). However, A. vaginae is also commonly found in women with normal vaginal microbiotathis may also be explained by A. vaginae strain diversity as recently reported (Mendes-Soares et al 2015).…”

Peer Review #2 of "Characteristics of the vaginal microbiome in cross-border female sex workers in China: a case-control study (v0.2)"

“…Atopobium could be detected in healthy women, but its role was controversial. It is commonly associated with bacterial vaginosis and an increasing risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes (Mendes-Soares et al 2015). But genetic differences across Atopobium species suggests that single species could be associated with both health and disease (Mendes-Soares et al 2015).…”