Microbiota, Prostatitis, and Fertility: Bacterial Diversity as a Possible Health Ally

Abstract

Background. In health, microorganisms have been associated with the disease, although the current knowledge shows that the microbiota present in various anatomical sites is associated with multiple benefits. Objective. This study aimed to evaluate and compare the genitourinary microbiota of chronic prostatitis symptoms patients and fertile men. Materials and Methods. In this preliminary study, ten volunteers have included 5 volunteers with symptoms of chronic prostatitis (prostatitis group) and five fertile volunteers, asymptomatic for urogenital infections (control group) matched by age. Bacterial diversity analysis was performed using the 16S molecular marker to compare the microbiota present in urine and semen samples from chronic prostatitis symptoms and fertile volunteers. Seminal quality, nitric oxide levels, and seminal and serum concentration of proinflammatory cytokines were quantified. Results. Fertile men present a greater variety of operational taxonomical units-OTUs in semen (67.5%) and urine (17.6%) samples than chronic prostatitis symptoms men. Chronic prostatitis symptoms men presented a higher concentration of IL-12p70 in seminal plasma. No statistically significant differences were observed in conventional and functional seminal parameters. The species diversity in semen samples was similar in healthy men than prostatitis patients, inverted Simpson index median 5.3 (5.0–10.7) vs. 4.5 (2.1–7.8, p = 0.1508 ). Nevertheless, the microbiota present in the semen and urine samples of fertile men presents more OTUs. Less microbial diversity could be associated with chronic prostatitis symptoms. The presence of bacteria in the genitourinary tract is not always associated with the disease. Understanding the factors that affect the microbiota can implement lifestyle habits that prevent chronic prostatitis. Conclusion. Chronic prostatitis does not seem to affect male fertility; however, studies with a larger sample size are required. Our preliminary results strengthen the potential role; the greater bacterial diversity is a protective factor for chronic prostatitis.

Immune regulatory cytokines in seminal plasma of healthy men: A scoping review and analysis of variance

“…23,51,70 IL2 concentration in SP has been investigated in a total of 768 participants in 19 studies published between 1993 and 2021 (Table 1). 16,21,23,34,36,37,49,51,55,56,[58][59][60][66][67][68][69][70][71] Most studies used either ELISA-based technology (eight of 19 studies) or multiplex microbead-based assays (eight of 19 studies) for quantification.…”

“…53,[55][56][57][58][59][60][63][64][65][66][67][68] Several methodologies have been utilised including ELISA (36 of 64 studies), multiplex microbead-based assays (14 of 64 studies) and the Immulite 2000 automated chemiluminescence immunoassay analyser (seven of 64 studies) (Figure2D). There was a moderate level of TA B L E 3…”

Possibilities and limitations of using low biomass samples for urologic disease and microbiome research

“… Lactobacillus, Staphylococcus, Bacillus, Faecalibacterium, Listeria, Enhydrobacter, Pseudomonas, Neisseria, Phascolarctobacterium, Dolosigranulum, Haemophilus, [Ruminococcus] torques, Bamesiella, Finegoldia, Prevotellaceae NK3B31 group found in relative abundance in BPH Cross-sectional study, no α-diversity, voided urine only CP/CPPS Shoskes et al (2016) 20 25 CP/CPPS and 25 controls Urine DNA 16S rRNA gene sequencing 17 taxa over-represented in CP/CPPS including Clostridia and Bacteroidia and 5 under-represented including Bacilli , with increased overall bacterial diversity vs. control. Cross-sectional design Mändar et al (2017) 21 21 CP/CPPS and 46 controls Seminal fluid DNA 16S rRNA gene sequencing CP/CPPS group: more Proteobacteria less Lactobacilli (especially Lactobacillus iners ) Lifestyle confounding factors not considered Choi et al (2020) 22 17 CP/CPPS and 4 controls Seminal fluid Bacterial culture and DNA pyrosequencing CP/CPPS group: more Achromobacter, Stenotrophomonas, Brevibacillus Small sample, contaminants not controlled Suarez et al (2021) 2 5 men with CP/CPPS and 5 controls Urine seminal fluid Sequencing and Nitric oxide levels and proinflammatory cytokines in seminal and serum The microbiota present in the semen and urine Samples of fertile men presents more operational taxonomical units. Less microbial diversity could be associated with CP symptoms.…”

“… 18 Although there are overlapping symptoms between CP/CPPS and bacterial prostatitis or sexually transmitted infections, the presence and type of bacteria on conventional culture did not correlate with the presence or severity of CP/CPPS. 19 Several studies have evaluated the diversity of microbiome in patients with CP/CPPS patients in comparison with that of controls 2 , 11 , 17 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 and found that bacterial species are increased in the urine or seminal fluids of patients with CP/CPPS, although definitive patterns are lacking. Elevations of multiple bacterial taxa including Clostridia and Bacteroidia 20 in urine and Achromobacter, Stenotrophomonas, and Brevibacillus 22 in seminal fluids have been identified in patients of CP/CPPS, whereas levels of Lactobacilli are decreased in patients with CP/CPPS.…”

“…Disease of the genitourinary tract has been traditionally associated with chronic inflammation, with epidemiological studies connecting underlying prostatitis to changes in the tumor microenvironment and subsequent pathogenesis. 1 , 2 With urine no longer established as a sterile environment as previously believed, distinct bacterial flora in the bladder and prostate of males with disorders of the urinary tract have been identified, with microbial dysbiosis putatively implicated as a cause of inflammation and clinical manifestation. 3 Fueled by advances in assay techniques including 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) and shotgun metagenomic sequencing, microbial taxonomies stratified by abundance and diversity can be used as potential biomarkers for identifying the presence and prognosis of disease as well as response to treatment.…”