Mycoplasma hominis infections in solid organ transplant recipients: Clinical characteristics, treatment outcomes, and comparison of phenotypic and genotypic susceptibility profiles.

BACKGROUND: Mycoplasma hominis can cause significant infections after solid organ transplantation (SOT). Treatment should be guided by susceptibility testing, but conventional lab methods are laborious with prolonged turnaround time (TAT). This case series compares the phenotypic and genotypic susceptibility profiles of M. hominis isolates identified from SOT patients. METHODS: This is a single-center retrospective study evaluating SOT recipients with confirmed M. hominis infections. Patients' demographic, clinical, microbiological, and radiographic data were collected. Culture of M. hominis isolates was performed according to current Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines. Phenotypic susceptibility testing was performed by University of Alabama Diagnostic Mycoplasma Laboratory. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) was performed followed by bioinformatic analysis of known genetic determinants of resistance. RESULTS: Seven SOT recipients with M. hominis infections were identified. Two out of seven (28.5%) patients had resistance detected by phenotypic susceptibility testing (Case 5 to levofloxacin and Case 7 to tetracycline). Genomic analyses confirmed the presence of mutations in the parC and parE topoisomerase genes at positions conferring to fluoroquinolone resistance in the isolate from Case 5, while the tetracycline-resistant isolate from Case 7 harbored the tetM gene. The median TAT from the date of specimen collection was 24 days for phenotypic susceptibility testing and 14 days for genotypic susceptibility testing. All seven patients received antimicrobials directed toward M. hominis and recovered with complete resolution of infection. CONCLUSIONS: WGS may offer a novel and more rapid methodology for M. hominis susceptibility testing to help optimize antimicrobial usage, but more data are needed.

Urinary microbiota of women with recurrent urinary tract infection: collection and culture methods.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: Many clinicians utilize standard culture of voided urine to guide treatment for women with recurrent urinary tract infections (RUTI). However, despite antibiotic treatment, symptoms may persist and events frequently recur. The cyclic nature and ineffective treatment of RUTI suggest that underlying uropathogens pass undetected because of the preferential growth of Escherichia coli. Expanded quantitative urine culture (EQUC) detects more clinically relevant microbes. The objective of this study was to assess how urine collection and culture methods influence microbial detection in RUTI patients. METHODS: This cross-sectional study enrolled symptomatic adult women with an established RUTI diagnosis. Participants contributed both midstream voided and catheterized urine specimens for culture via both standard urine culture (SUC) and EQUC. Presence and abundance of microbiota were compared between culture and collection methods. RESULTS: Forty-three symptomatic women participants (mean age 67 years) contributed specimens. Compared to SUC, EQUC detected more unique bacterial species and consistently detected more uropathogens from catheterized and voided urine specimens. For both collection methods, the most commonly detected uropathogens by EQUC were E. coli (catheterized: n = 8, voided: n = 12) and E. faecalis (catheterized: n = 7, voided: n = 17). Compared to catheterized urine samples assessed by EQUC, SUC often missed uropathogens, and culture of voided urines by either method yielded high false-positive rates. CONCLUSIONS: In women with symptomatic RUTI, SUC and assessment of voided urines have clinically relevant limitations in uropathogen detection. These results suggest that, in this population, catheterized specimens analyzed via EQUC provide clinically relevant information for appropriate diagnosis.

Phenyl-Lactic Acid Is an Active Ingredient in Bactericidal Supernatants of Lactobacillus crispatus.

Lactobacillus crispatus is a well-established probiotic with antimicrobial activity against pathogens across several niches of the human body generally attributed to the production of bacteriostatic molecules, including hydrogen peroxide and lactic acid. Here, we show that the cell-free supernatants of clinical isolates of L. crispatus harbor robust bactericidal activity. We further identify phenyl-lactic acid as a bactericidal compound with properties and a susceptibility range nearly identical to that of the cell-free supernatant. As such, we hypothesize that phenyl-lactic acid is a key active ingredient in L. crispatus supernatant. IMPORTANCE Although Lactobacillus crispatus is an established commensal microbe frequently used in probiotics, its protective role in the bladder microbiome has not been clarified. We report here that some urinary isolates of L. crispatus exhibit bactericidal activity, primarily due to its ability to excrete phenyl-lactic acid into its environment. Both cell-free supernatants of L. crispatus isolates and phenyl-lactic acid exhibit bactericidal activity against a wide range of pathogens, including several that are resistant to multiple antibiotics.

Genomic Characterizations of Clade III Lineage of Candida auris, California, USA.

Candida auris is an emerging multidrug-resistant yeast. We describe an ongoing C. auris outbreak that began in October 2019 in Los Angeles, California, USA. We used genomic analysis to determine that isolates from 5 of 6 patients belonged to clade III; 4 isolates were closely related.

Bladder bacterial diversity differs in continent and incontinent women: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Since the discovery of the bladder microbiome (urobiome), interest has grown in learning whether urobiome characteristics have a role in clinical phenotyping and provide opportunities for novel therapeutic approaches for women with common forms of urinary incontinence. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to test the hypothesis that the bladder urobiome differs among women in the control cohort and women affected by urinary incontinence by assessing associations between urinary incontinence status and the cultured urobiome. STUDY DESIGN: With institutional review board oversight, urine specimens from 309 adult women were collected through transurethral catheterization. These women were categorized into 3 cohorts (continent control, stress urinary incontinence [SUI], and urgency urinary incontinence [UUI]) based on their responses to the validated Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory (PFDI) questionnaire. Among 309 women, 150 were in the continent control cohort, 50 were in the SUI cohort, and 109 were in the UUI cohort. Symptom severity was assessed by subscale scoring with the Urinary Distress Inventory (UDI), subscale of the Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory. Microbes were assessed by expanded quantitative urine culture protocol, which detects the most common bladder microbes (bacteria and yeast). Microbes were identified to the species level by matrix-assisted laser desorption and ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Alpha diversity indices were calculated for culture-positive samples and compared across the 3 cohorts. The correlations of UDI scores, alpha diversity indices, and species abundance were estimated. RESULTS: Participants had a mean age of 53 years (range 22-90); most were whites (65%). Women with urinary incontinence were slightly older (control, 47; SUI, 54; UUI, 61). By design, UDI symptom scores differed (control, 8.43 [10.1]; SUI, 97.95 [55.36]; UUI, 93.71 [49.12]; P<.001). Among 309 participants, 216 (70%) had expanded quantitative urine culture-detected bacteria; furthermore, the urinary incontinence cohorts had a higher detection frequency than the control cohort (control, 57%; SUI, 86%; UUI, 81%; P<.001). In addition, the most frequently detected species among the cohorts were as follows: continent control, Lactobacillus iners (12.7%), Streptococcus anginosus (12.7%), L crispatus (10.7%), and L gasseri (10%); SUI, S anginosus (26%), L iners (18%), Staphylococcus epidermidis (18%), and L jensenii (16%); and UUI, S anginosus (30.3%), L gasseri (22%), Aerococcus urinae (18.3%), and Gardnerella vaginalis (17.4%). However, only Actinotignum schaalii (formerly Actinobaculum schaalii), A urinae, A sanguinicola, and Corynebacterium lipophile group were found at significantly higher mean abundances in 1 of the urinary incontinence cohorts when compared with the control cohort (Wilcoxon rank sum test; P<.02), and no individual genus differed significantly between the 2 urinary incontinence cohorts. Both urinary incontinence cohorts had increased alpha diversity similar to continent control cohort with indices of species richness, but not evenness, strongly associated with urinary incontinence. CONCLUSION: In adult women, the composition of the culturable bladder urobiome is associated with urinary incontinence, regardless of common incontinence subtype. Detection of more unique living microbes was associated with worsening incontinence symptom severity. Culturable species richness was significantly greater in the urinary incontinence cohorts than in the continent control cohort.

Female lower urinary tract microbiota do not associate with IC/PBS symptoms: a case-controlled study.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: The current etiology of interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome (IC/PBS) is poorly understood and multifactorial. Recent studies suggest the female urinary microbiota (FUM) contribute to IC/PBS symptoms. This study was designed to determine if the FUM, analyzed using mid-stream voided urine samples, differs between IC/PBS patients and controls. METHODS: This prospective case-controlled study compared the voided FUM of women with symptoms of urinary frequency, urgency, and bladder pain for > 6 months with the voided FUM of healthy female controls without pain. Bacterial identification was performed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing and EQUC, a validated enhanced urine culture approach. Urotype was defined by a genus present at > 50% relative abundance. If no genus was present above this threshold, the urotype was classified as 'mixed.' Group comparisons were performed for urotype and diversity measures. RESULTS: A mid-stream voided specimen was collected from 21 IC/PBS patients and 20 asymptomatic controls. The two groups had similar demographics. Urotypes did not differ between cohorts as assessed by either EQUC or 16S rRNA gene sequencing. We detected no significant differences between cohorts by alpha diversity. Cohorts also were not distinct using principle component analysis or hierarchical clustering. Detection by EQUC of bacterial species considered uropathogenic was high in both cohorts, but detection of these uropathogenic species did not differ between groups (p = 0.10). CONCLUSIONS: Enhanced culture and DNA sequencing methods provide evidence that IC/PBS symptoms may not be related to differences in the FUM, at least not its bacterial components. Future larger studies are needed to confirm this preliminary finding.

Urine trouble: should we think differently about UTI?

Urinary tract infection (UTI) is clinically important, given that it is one of the most common bacterial infections in adult women. However, the current understanding of UTI remains based on a now disproven concept that the urinary bladder is sterile. Thus, current standards for UTI diagnosis have significant limitations that may reduce the opportunity to improve patient care. Using data from our work and numerous other peer-reviewed studies, we identified four major limitations to the contemporary UTI description: the language of UTI, UTI diagnostic testing, the Escherichia coli-centric view of UTI, and the colony-forming units (CFU) threshold-based diagnosis. Contemporary methods and technology, combined with continued rigorous clinical research can be used to correct these limitations.

The Clinical Urine Culture: Enhanced Techniques Improve Detection of Clinically Relevant Microorganisms.

Enhanced quantitative urine culture (EQUC) detects live microorganisms in the vast majority of urine specimens reported as "no growth" by the standard urine culture protocol. Here, we evaluated an expanded set of EQUC conditions (expanded-spectrum EQUC) to identify an optimal version that provides a more complete description of uropathogens in women experiencing urinary tract infection (UTI)-like symptoms. One hundred fifty adult urogynecology patient-participants were characterized using a self-completed validated UTI symptom assessment (UTISA) questionnaire and asked "Do you feel you have a UTI?" Women responding negatively were recruited into the no-UTI cohort, while women responding affirmatively were recruited into the UTI cohort; the latter cohort was reassessed with the UTISA questionnaire 3 to 7 days later. Baseline catheterized urine samples were plated using both standard urine culture and expanded-spectrum EQUC protocols: standard urine culture inoculated at 1 µl onto 2 agars incubated aerobically; expanded-spectrum EQUC inoculated at three different volumes of urine onto 7 combinations of agars and environments. Compared to expanded-spectrum EQUC, standard urine culture missed 67% of uropathogens overall and 50% in participants with severe urinary symptoms. Thirty-six percent of participants with missed uropathogens reported no symptom resolution after treatment by standard urine culture results. Optimal detection of uropathogens could be achieved using the following: 100 µl of urine plated onto blood (blood agar plate [BAP]), colistin-nalidixic acid (CNA), and MacConkey agars in 5% CO2 for 48 h. This streamlined EQUC protocol achieved 84% uropathogen detection relative to 33% detection by standard urine culture. The streamlined EQUC protocol improves detection of uropathogens that are likely relevant for symptomatic women, giving clinicians the opportunity to receive additional information not currently reported using standard urine culture techniques.

Incontinence medication response relates to the female urinary microbiota.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: Many adult women have resident urinary bacteria (urinary microbiome/microbiota). In adult women affected by urinary urgency incontinence (UUI), the etiologic and/or therapeutic role of the urinary microbiome/microbiota remains unknown. We hypothesized that microbiome/microbiota characteristics would relate to clinically relevant treatment response to UUI medication per os. METHODS: Adult women initiating medication treatment orally for UUI and a comparator group of unaffected women were recruited in a tertiary care health-care system. All participants provided baseline clinical data and urine samples. Women with UUI were given 5 mg solifenacin, with potential dose escalation to 10 mg for inadequate UUI symptom control at 4 weeks. Additional data and urine samples were collected from women with UUI at 4 and 12 weeks. The samples were assessed using 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene sequencing and enhanced quantitative urine culturing. The primary outcome was treatment response as measured by the validated Patient Global Symptom Control (PGSC) questionnaire. Clinically relevant UUI symptom control was defined as a 4 or 5 score on the PGSC. RESULTS: Diversity and composition of the urinary microbiome/microbiota of women with and without UUI differed at baseline. Women with UUI had more bacteria and a more diverse microbiome/microbiota. The clinical response to solifenacin in UUI participants was related to baseline microbiome/microbiota, with responders more likely to have fewer bacteria and a less diverse community at baseline. Nonresponders had a more diverse community that often included bacteria not typically found in responders. CONCLUSIONS: Knowledge of an individual's urinary microbiome/microbiota may help refine UUI treatment. Complementary tools, DNA sequencing, and expanded urine culture provide information about bacteria that appear to be related to UUI incontinence status and treatment response in this population of adult women.

Validation of the PyloPlus Urea Breath Test System in pediatric patients.

IMPORTANCE: For the diagnosis and post-treatment monitoring of H. pylori infection, non-invasive testing methodologies improve patient comfort, particularly for children. Previously, only the BreathTek UBT had FDA approval for use in pediatric patients and required an adjustment calculation based on age, height, and weight of the patient. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the performance of the PyloPlus UBT assay in a pediatric population.

Fungal Whole-Genome Sequencing for Species Identification: From Test Development to Clinical Utilization.

Using next-generation sequencing (NGS), we developed and validated a whole-genome sequencing (WGS)-based clinical test for fungal species identification on clinical isolates. The identification is mainly based on the fungal ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region as the primary marker, and additional marker and genomic analysis applied for species within the Mucorales family (using the 28S rRNA gene) and Aspergillus genus (using the beta-tubulin gene and k-mer tree-based phylogenetic clustering). The validation study involving 74 unique fungal isolates (22 yeasts, 51 molds, and 1 mushroom-forming fungus) showed high accuracy, with 100% (74/74) concordance on the genus-level identifications and 89.2% (66/74) concordance on the species level. The 8 discrepant results were due to either the limitation of conventional morphology-based methodology or taxonomic changes. After one year of implementation in our clinical laboratory, this fungal NGS test was utilized in 29 cases; the majority of them were transplant and cancer patients. We demonstrated the utility of this test by detailing five case studies, in which accurate fungal species identification led to correct diagnosis, treatment adjustment or was ruled out for hospital acquired infection. This study provides a model for validation and implementation of WGS for fungal identification in a complex health system that serves a large immunocompromised patient population.

Investigation of SARS-CoV-2 Epsilon Variant and Hospitalization Status by Genomic Surveillance in a Single Large Health System During the 2020-2021 Winter Surge in Southern California.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to assess whether the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Epsilon variant (B.1.429/427) is more virulent, leading to more hospitalization and more severe disease requiring intensive care unit (ICU) admission. METHODS: SARS-CoV-2 genomic surveillance was performed on respiratory samples from 231 unique patients, collected at a single large health system in Southern California between November 2020 and March 2021 during the winter surge. RESULTS: The frequencies of the Epsilon variant among outpatients, hospitalized patients, and ICU patients were indifferent. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that the Epsilon variant is not associated with increased hospitalization and ICU admission.

Case Report and Genomic Analysis of Cefiderocol-Resistant Escherichia coli Clinical Isolates.

OBJECTIVES: Cefiderocol is a novel siderophore cephalosporin with in vitro activity against multidrug-resistant (MDR), gram-negative bacteria and intrinsic structural stability to all classes of carbapenemases. We sought to identify gene variants that could affect the mechanism of action (MOA) of cefiderocol. METHODS: We report a case of bacteremia in a liver transplant candidate with a strain of carbapenem-resistant Escherichia coli that was found to be resistant to cefiderocol despite no prior treatment with this antimicrobial agent. Using whole-genome sequencing, we characterized the genomic content of this E coli isolate and assessed for genetic variants between related strains that were found to be cefiderocol susceptible. RESULTS: We identified several variants in genes with the potential to affect the mechanism of action of cefiderocol. CONCLUSIONS: The cefiderocol resistance in the E coli isolate identified in this study is likely due to mutations in the cirA gene, an iron transporter gene.

Performance Characteristics of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 RT-PCR Tests in a Single Health System: Analysis of >10,000 Results from Three Different Assays.

The current pandemic of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has resulted in the approval of numerous molecular diagnostic assays with various performance and technical capacities. There are limited data comparing performance among assays. We conducted a retrospective analysis of >10,000 test results among three widely used RT-PCR assays for coronavirus disease 2019 (CDC, Simplexa Direct, and TaqPath) to assess performance characteristics. We also retested remnant weakly positive specimens to assess analytical sensitivity. All assays had strong linear correlation and little bias among CT values for PCR targets. In patients with first-test negative results (n = 811), most (795, 98.0%) remained negative for all subsequent testing. Retesting of weakly positive specimens (CT > 30) showed sensitivities as follows: TaqPath (97.8%), CDC (91%), Simplexa (75.3%). Our analysis showed no performance difference among PCR targets within the same assay, suggesting a single target is sufficient for SARS-CoV-2 detection. Lower respiratory tract specimens had a higher negative predictive value (100%) than upper respiratory tract specimens (98%), highlighting the utility of testing lower respiratory tract specimens when clinically indicated. Negative predictive value did not increase on further repeated testing, providing strong evidence for discouraging unnecessary repeated testing for SARS-CoV-2.

Cultivable Bacteria in Urine of Women With Interstitial Cystitis: (Not) What We Expected.

OBJECTIVE: Multiple studies show cultivatable bacteria in urine of most women. The existence of these bacteria challenges interstitial cystitis (IC)/painful bladder syndrome (PBS) diagnosis, which presumes a sterile bladder. The aims of this study were (1) to compare the female bladder microbiomes in women with IC/PBS and unaffected controls and (2) to correlate baseline bladder microbiome composition with symptoms. METHODS: This cross-sectional study enrolled 49 IC/PBS and 40 controls. All provided catheterized urine samples and completed validated questionnaires. A subset of the IC/PBS cohort provided voided and catheterized urine samples. All samples from both cohorts were assessed by the expanded quantitative urine culture (EQUC) protocol; a subset was assessed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. RESULTS: Of the IC/PBS cohort, 49.0% (24/49) were EQUC positive; in these EQUC-positive samples, the most common urotypes were Lactobacillus (45.8%) and Streptococcus (33.3%). Of the controls, 40.0% were EQUC positive; of these EQUC-positive samples, the most common urotype was Lactobacillus (50.0%). The urotype distribution was significantly different (P < 0.05), as 16% of the IC/PBS cohort, but 0% of controls, were Streptococcus urotype (P < 0.01). Symptom-free IC/PBS participants were less likely to be EQUC positive (12.5%) than IC/PBS participants with moderate or severe symptoms (68.8% and 46.2%) and the control cohort (60%; P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Lactobacillus was the most common urotype. However, the presence of Lactobacillus did not differ between cohorts, and it did not impact IC/PBS symptom severity. Bacteria were not isolated from most participants with active IC/PBS symptoms. These findings suggest that bacteria may not be an etiology for IC/PBS.

Validation, Implementation, and Clinical Utility of Whole Genome Sequence-Based Bacterial Identification in the Clinical Microbiology Laboratory.

The application of next-generation sequencing extends from microbial identification to epidemiologic insight and antimicrobial resistance prediction. Despite this potential, the roadblock for clinical laboratories lies in implementation and validation of such complex technology and data analysis. Herein, a validation study used whole-genome sequencing (WGS) for pan-bacterial identification (ID) in a clinical laboratory, and assessed its clinical relevance. A diverse set of 125 bacterial isolates, including a subset without genus (25) and/or species (10) ID, were analyzed by de novo assembly and reference genome mapping. The 16S rRNA, rpoB, and groEL genes were used for ID. Using WGS, 100% (89 of 89) and 89% (79 of 89) of isolates were identified at the genus and species-levels, respectively. WGS also provided improved results for 71% (25/35) isolates originally reported with genus-only or descriptive IDs. Chart review identified cases in which improved genus and/or species-level ID by WGS may have had a positive impact on patient care. Reasons included the use of an ineffective antibiotic owing to unclear ID, use of antibiotics when not clinically indicated, and help with an outbreak investigation. The implementation of next-generation sequencing in a clinical microbiology setting is a challenging but necessary task. This study provides a model for the validation and implementation of bacterial ID by WGS in such a setting.

Genome Investigation of Urinary Gardnerella Strains and Their Relationship to Isolates of the Vaginal Microbiota.

Gardnerella is a frequent member of the urogenital microbiota. Given the association between Gardnerella vaginalis and bacterial vaginosis (BV), significant efforts have been focused on characterizing this species in the vaginal microbiota. However, Gardnerella also is a frequent member of the urinary microbiota. In an effort to characterize the bacterial species of the urinary microbiota, we present here 10 genomes of urinary Gardnerella isolates from women with and without lower urinary tract symptoms. These genomes complement those of 22 urinary Gardnerella strains previously isolated and sequenced by our team. We included these genomes in a comparative genome analysis of all publicly available Gardnerella genomes, which include 33 urinary isolates, 78 vaginal isolates, and 2 other isolates. While once this genus was thought to consist of a single species, recent comparative genome analyses have revealed 3 new species and an additional 9 groups within Gardnerella Based upon our analysis, we suggest a new group for the species. We also find that distinction between these Gardnerella species/groups is possible only when considering the core or whole-genome sequence, as neither the sialidase nor vaginolysin genes are sufficient for distinguishing between species/groups despite their clinical importance. In contrast to the vaginal microbiota, we found that only five Gardnerella species/groups have been detected within the lower urinary tract. Although we found no association between a particular Gardnerella species/group(s) and urinary symptoms, further sequencing of urinary Gardnerella isolates is needed for both comprehensive taxonomic characterization and etiological classification of Gardnerella in the urinary tract.IMPORTANCE Prior research into the bacterium Gardnerella vaginalis has largely focused on its association with bacterial vaginosis (BV). However, G. vaginalis is also frequently found within the urinary microbiota of women with and without lower urinary tract symptoms as well as individuals with chronic kidney disease, interstitial cystitis, and BV. This prompted our investigation into Gardnerella from the urinary microbiota and all publicly available Gardnerella genomes from the urogenital tract. Our work suggests that while some Gardnerella species can survive in both the urinary tract and vagina, others likely cannot. This study provides the foundation for future studies of Gardnerella within the urinary tract and its possible contribution to lower urinary tract symptoms.

Genomic relatedness and clinical significance of Streptococcus mitis strains isolated from the urogenital tract of sexual partners.

Research into the lower urinary tract (LUT) microbiota has primarily focused on its relationship to LUT symptoms (LUTS), taking snapshots of these communities in individuals with and without LUTS. While certain bacterial taxa have been associated with LUTS, or the lack thereof, the temporal dynamics of this community were largely unknown. Recently, we conducted a longitudinal study and found that vaginal intercourse resulted in a shift in species richness and diversity within the LUT microbiota. This is particularly relevant as frequent vaginal intercourse is a major risk factor for urinary tract infection (UTI) in premenopausal women (Aydin et al. Int Urogynecol J 2015;26:795-804). To further investigate the relationship between vaginal intercourse and LUT microbiota, here we present the results of a 3 week study in which daily urogenital specimens were collected from a female participant and her male sexual partner. Consistent with our previous findings, the LUT microbiota changed after vaginal intercourse, most notably a high abundance of Streptococcus mitis was observed post-coitus. We isolated and sequenced S. mitis from both sexual partners finding that: (i) the S. mitis isolates from the female partner's urogenital tract were genomically similar throughout the duration of the study, and (ii) they were related to one isolate from the male partner's oral cavity collected at the end of the study, suggesting transmission between the two individuals. We hypothesize that blooms in S. mitis after vaginal intercourse may play a role in coitus-related UTI. We found that a S. mitis isolate, in contrast to a Lactobacillus jensenii isolate displaced after vaginal intercourse, cannot inhibit the growth of uropathogenic Escherichia coli. Thus, this bloom in S. mitis may provide a window of opportunity for a uropathogen to colonize the LUT.

Complete Genome Sequences of Streptococcus mitis Strains Isolated from the Oral Cavity and Urogenital Tract of a Woman and Her Male Sexual Partner.

Streptococcus mitis is a member of the mitis group of the genus Streptococcus, which includes commensal species of the oral cavity and upper respiratory tract. Here, we report 39 complete genome sequences of S. mitis strains isolated from the oral cavity and urogenital tract of a woman and her male sexual partner.

Temporal Dynamics of the Adult Female Lower Urinary Tract Microbiota.

Temporal dynamics of certain human microbiotas have been described in longitudinal studies; variability often relates to modifiable factors or behaviors. Early studies of the urinary microbiota preferentially used samples obtained by transurethral catheterization to minimize vulvovaginal microbial contributions. Whereas voided specimens are preferred for longitudinal studies, the few studies that reported longitudinal data were limited to women with lower urinary tract (LUT) symptoms, due to ease of accessing a clinical population for sampling and the impracticality and risk of collecting repeated catheterized urine specimens in a nonclinical population. Here, we studied the microbiota of the LUT of nonsymptomatic, premenopausal women using midstream voided urine (MSU) specimens to investigate relationships between microbial dynamics and personal factors. Using 16S rRNA gene sequencing and a metaculturomics method called expanded quantitative urine culture (EQUC), we characterized the microbiotas of MSU and periurethral swab specimens collected daily for approximately 3 months from a small cohort of adult women. Participants were screened for eligibility, including the ability to self-collect paired urogenital specimens prior to enrollment. In this population, we found that measures of microbial dynamics related to specific participant-reported factors, particularly menstruation and vaginal intercourse. Further investigation of the trends revealed differences in the composition and diversity of LUT microbiotas within and across participants. These data, in combination with previous studies showing relationships between the LUT microbiota and LUT symptoms, suggest that personal factors relating to the genitourinary system may be an important consideration in the etiology, prevention, and/or treatment of LUT disorders.IMPORTANCE Following the discovery of the collective human urinary microbiota, important knowledge gaps remain, including the stability and variability of this microbial niche over time. Initial urinary studies preferentially utilized samples obtained by transurethral catheterization to minimize contributions from vulvovaginal microbes. However, catheterization has the potential to alter the urinary microbiota; therefore, voided specimens are preferred for longitudinal studies. In this report, we describe microbial findings obtained by daily assessment over 3 months in a small cohort of adult women. We found that, similarly to vaginal microbiotas, lower urinary tract (LUT) microbiotas are dynamic, with changes relating to several factors, particularly menstruation and vaginal intercourse. Our study results show that LUT microbiotas are both dynamic and resilient. They also offer novel opportunities to target LUT microbiotas by preventative or therapeutic means, through risk and/or protective factor modification.