Vaginal microbiota in healthy pregnant women and prenatal screening of group B streptococci (GBS)

Bayó, M.; Berlanga, Mercedes; Agut, Montserrat

doi:10.1007/s10123-002-0064-1

Cited by 44 publications

(32 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…[18,21,28] S. aureus, Candida albicans, C. trachomatis, and Treponema pallidum topped the list of pathogens. Similar reports exist in Spain [29] and Argentina. [16] The World's AIDS day urged all to have access to sexual health services and interventions.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 78%

Prevalence and etiology of sexually transmitted infections in a gynecologic unit of a developing country

Kesah

Payne

Asakizi

2013

Ann Trop Med Public Health

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Background: Despite enormous sensitization and management options available for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the last 2 decades, these infections remain highly endemic in certain parts of Cameroon. This is a descriptive study of genital hygiene and predisposition to STIs in some women in Dschang, West Region, Cameroon. Materials and Methods: A total of 2172 consenting women seeking gynecological care at the Dschang District Hospital from 2009 to 2010 were interviewed, examined, cervical/blood specimens collected, and analyzed. Results: Inadequate healthcare systems; lack of reproductive health knowledge; vaginal washing with contaminated water or chemicals; contaminated sanitary towels or gynecologic equipment; unsterile sharps; dirty and damp lavatories; synthetic and tight underwear; multiple or concurrent sex partners; primitive traditions; myths; polygamous and inherited marriages; asymptomatic carriage of pathogens; self-medication; antibiotic abuse; traditional therapy; reinfections; poverty; poor sanitation; and illiteracy were related to genital conditions identi ied in 1466 (67%) study subjects, excluding 41 (2%) cases with human immunode iciency virus (HIV)/ acquired immunode iciency syndrome (AIDS) only. In total, 1353 (62%) patients were infectious cases, 113 (5%) had noninfectious vaginitis, 171 (8%) were positive for HIV/AIDS serology, with 6% having concurrent genital infections. Of the 1507 patients diagnosed with STIs, 62% were symptomatic and 7% asymptomatic comprising 5% convalescent and 2% healthy carriers. Bacterial vaginosis 24%, vaginal candidiasis 18%, chlamydia 15%, and active syphilis 11% predominated over trichomonas, gonorrhea, hepatitis B, herpes, and warts with rates ≤1%. Conclusion: In mitigation, hand washing, clean toilets, sexual behaviors that contribute to STIs, delay sexual debut, condom usage, rational employment of examination methods, improved medical diagnostics testing both men and women, attitude change and prevention education were emphasized on.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 78%

Prevalence and etiology of sexually transmitted infections in a gynecologic unit of a developing country

Kesah

Payne

Asakizi

2013

Ann Trop Med Public Health

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“…This study provides the first evidence of interkingdom interactions between GBS and C. albicans. Given the reported co-isolation of these two species (33)(34)(35), candidal/GBS interactions may serve as an important mechanism to promote co-colonization of the GU tract. BspA-expressing L. lactis cells were shown to interact with C. albicans, binding preferentially to hyphal filaments.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…C. albicans co-exists with GBS in the lower female GU tract, and several studies have observed recurrent co-isolation of GBS with C. albicans (33)(34)(35). To confirm the capacity for GBS to interact with C. albicans, FITC-labeled GBS NEM316 cells were incubated in suspension with hyphaforming cells of C. albicans SC5314 labeled with calcofluor white, and aggregates were visualized by fluorescence microscopy.…”

Section: Distribution Of Agi/ii Polypeptides In Gbs-mentioning

confidence: 99%

Structural and Functional Analysis of Cell Wall-anchored Polypeptide Adhesin BspA in Streptococcus agalactiae

Rego

Heal

Pidwill

et al. 2016

Journal of Biological Chemistry

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Streptococcus agalactiae (group B Streptococcus, GBS) is the predominant cause of early-onset infectious disease in neonates and is responsible for life-threatening infections in elderly and immunocompromised individuals. Clinical manifestations of GBS infection include sepsis, pneumonia, and meningitis. Here, we describe BspA, a deviant antigen I/II family polypeptide that confers adhesive properties linked to pathogenesis in GBS. Heterologous expression of BspA on the surface of the non-adherent bacterium Lactococcus lactis confers adherence to scavenger receptor gp340, human vaginal epithelium, and to the fungus Candida albicans. Complementary crystallographic and biophysical characterization of BspA reveal a novel ␤-sandwich adhesion domain and unique asparagine-dependent super-helical stalk. Collectively, these findings establish a new bacterial adhesin structure that has in effect been hijacked by a pathogenic Streptococcus species to provide competitive advantage in human mucosal infections. Streptococcus agalactiae (group B Streptococcus (GBS)4 ) is a commensal of the gastrointestinal tract and part of the normal microbiota of the female rectovaginal tract, where it is carried asymptomatically by ϳ10 -40% of women of childbearing age (1). However, as an opportunistic pathogen, GBS is the leading cause of neonatal meningitis and sepsis in the developed world. The predominant route by which GBS is transmitted to infants is from the mother, either during birth or following breach of the placental barrier in utero. Antenatal GBS screening strategies are therefore commonly used to identify colonized women, who then receive antimicrobial prophylaxis. Nevertheless, GBS remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality in infants worldwide (2).Because maternal GBS colonization is the primary risk factor for vertical transmission of neonatal infection (3), there has been considerable focus on the mechanisms underlying GBS colonization of the female genitourinary (GU) tract. A number of putative colonization determinants have been identified, including the following: ␣C protein, mediating entry of GBS into cervical epithelial cells (4); pili, shown to contribute to vaginal attachment (5); and Srr-1, which binds keratin-4 (5) and fibrinogen (6) on the surface of vaginal epithelium. In addition, GBS expresses numerous extracellular matrix-binding proteins, including C5a peptidase (ScpB) and FbsA, which may promote attachment to mucosal tissues of the GU tract (7).Antigen I/II (AgI/II) family polypeptide adhesins are found widely across the Streptococcus genus and have been best characterized for those streptococci indigenous to the oral cavity (8). In silico analyses have recently revealed the presence of genes encoding AgI/II family polypeptides in GBS, which we have designated here group B Streptococcus surface proteins (Bsp). These proteins conform to a conserved primary structure consisting of seven distinct regions (Fig. 1). The N-terminal region comprises a signal (leader) peptide, an N-terminal domain, and an ...

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“…constituting around 70% of the microbial population (1,2). They appear to protect the urogenital tract from pathogen invasion and prevent urogenital and sexually transmitted diseases (3,4).…”

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confidence: 99%

The Highly Autoaggregative and Adhesive Phenotype of the Vaginal Lactobacillus plantarum Strain CMPG5300 Is Sortase Dependent

Malik

Petrova

Claes

et al. 2013

Appl Environ Microbiol

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h Lactobacilli are important for the maintenance of a healthy ecosystem in the human vagina. Various mechanisms are postulated but so far are poorly substantiated by molecular studies, such as mutant analysis. Bacterial autoaggregation is an interesting phenomenon that can promote adhesion to host cells and displacement of pathogens. In this study, we report on the identification of a human vaginal isolate, Lactobacillus plantarum strain CMPG5300, which shows high autoaggregative and adhesive capacity. To investigate the importance of sortase-dependent proteins (SDPs) in these phenotypes, a gene deletion mutant was constructed for srtA, the gene encoding the housekeeping sortase that covalently anchors these SDPs to the cell surface. This mutant lost the capacity to autoaggregate, showed a decrease in adhesion to vaginal epithelial cells, and lost biofilm-forming capacity under the conditions tested. These results indicate that the housekeeping sortase SrtA of CMPG5300 is a key determinant of the peculiar surface properties of this vaginal Lactobacillus strain.

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Vaginal microbiota in healthy pregnant women and prenatal screening of group B streptococci (GBS)

Cited by 44 publications

References 16 publications

Prevalence and etiology of sexually transmitted infections in a gynecologic unit of a developing country

Prevalence and etiology of sexually transmitted infections in a gynecologic unit of a developing country

Structural and Functional Analysis of Cell Wall-anchored Polypeptide Adhesin BspA in Streptococcus agalactiae

The Highly Autoaggregative and Adhesive Phenotype of the Vaginal Lactobacillus plantarum Strain CMPG5300 Is Sortase Dependent

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