Gardnerella vaginalis Subgroups Defined by cpn60 Sequencing and Sialidase Activity in Isolates from Canada, Belgium and Kenya

Abstract

Increased abundance of Gardnerella vaginalis and sialidase activity in vaginal fluid is associated with bacterial vaginosis (BV), a common but poorly understood clinical entity associated with poor reproductive health outcomes. Since most women are colonized with G. vaginalis, its status as a normal member of the vaginal microbiota or pathogen causing BV remains controversial, and numerous classification schemes have been described. Since 2005, sequencing of the chaperonin-60 universal target (cpn60 UT) has distinguished four subgroups in isolate collections, clone libraries and deep sequencing datasets. To clarify potential clinical and diagnostic significance of cpn60 subgroups, we undertook phenotypic and molecular characterization of 112 G. vaginalis isolates from three continents. A total of 36 subgroup A, 33 B, 35 C and 8 D isolates were identified through phylogenetic analysis of cpn60 sequences as corresponding to four “clades” identified in a recently published study, based on sequencing 473 genes across 17 isolates. cpn60 subgroups were compared with other previously described molecular methods for classification of Gardnerella subgroups, including amplified ribosomal DNA restriction analysis (ARDRA) and real-time PCR assays designed to quantify subgroups in vaginal samples. Although two ARDRA patterns were observed in isolates, each was observed in three cpn60 subgroups (A/B/D and B/C/D). Real-time PCR assays corroborated cpn60 subgroups overall, but 13 isolates from subgroups A, B and D were negative in all assays. A putative sialidase gene was detected in all subgroup B, C and D isolates, but only in a single subgroup A isolate. In contrast, sialidase activity was observed in all subgroup B isolates, 3 (9%) subgroup C isolates and no subgroup A or D isolates. These observations suggest distinct roles for G. vaginalis subgroups in BV pathogenesis. We conclude that cpn60 UT sequencing is a robust approach for defining G. vaginalis subgroups within the vaginal microbiome.

Genomes of Gardnerella Strains Reveal an Abundance of Prophages within the Bladder Microbiome

“…Finally, the Gardnerella strains G26-12 and G30-4 contained an annotated rRNA methyltransferase associated with Gardnerella cytotoxicity [20] and with haemolytic activity in other bacterial species [36]. Interestingly, only the Gv18-4 and Gv23-12 strains contained genes that encode sialidase, which has been experimentally proven to contribute to mucin degradation in BV [16], although presence of the gene is not predictive of actual sialidase activity [37] and thus warrants further investigation.…”

The genital tract and rectal microbiomes: their role in HIV susceptibility and prevention in women

“…To date most studies of the vaginal microbiome have employed high throughput sequencing targeting bacterial marker genes, such as the 16S rRNA or chaperonin‐60 (cpn60) genes . In addition to providing more comprehensive surveys of vaginal microbial communities, 16S rRNA gene sequencing has led to the identification of previously unrecognized BV‐associated bacteria in the order Clostridiales; BVAB1, BVAB2 and BVAB3 (now isolated and classified as Mageeibacillus indolicus ) , and cpn60 sequencing has been utilized to resolve different G. vaginalis subgroups which may have variable clinical and pathological relevance for BV .…”

Evaluation and subsequent optimizations of the quantitative AmpliSens Florocenosis/Bacterial vaginosis‐FRT multiplex real‐time PCR assay for diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis

“…However, sialidase activity was not strictly predicted by the presence of the sialidase gene. Accordingly, sialidase activity was found in all subgroup B isolates, 9% of subgroup C isolates, and none of the subgroup A and D isolates . These observations might suggest distinct roles for G. vaginalis subgroups in BV pathogenesis, and future studies are warranted to evaluate their clinical and diagnostic relevance.…”