Breast cancer patient-derived organoids for the investigation of patient-specific tumour evolution.

BACKGROUND: A reliable preclinical model of patient-derived organoids (PDOs) was developed in a case study of a 69-year-old woman diagnosed with breast cancer (BC) to investigate the tumour evolution before and after neoadjuvant chemotherapy and surgery. The results were achieved due to the development of PDOs from tissues collected before (O-PRE) and after (O-POST) treatment. METHODS: PDO cultures were characterized by histology, immunohistochemistry (IHC), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), confocal microscopy, flow cytometry, real-time PCR, bulk RNA-seq, single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and drug screening. RESULTS: Both PDO cultures recapitulated the histological and molecular profiles of the original tissues, and they showed typical mammary gland organization, confirming their reliability as a personalized in vitro model. Compared with O-PRE, O-POST had a greater proliferation rate with a significant increase in the Ki67 proliferation index. Moreover O-POST exhibited a more stem-like and aggressive phenotype, with increases in the CD24low/CD44low and EPCAMlow/CD49fhigh cell populations characterized by increased tumour initiation potential and multipotency and metastatic potential in invasive lobular carcinoma. Analysis of ErbB receptor expression indicated a decrease in HER-2 expression coupled with an increase in EGFR expression in O-POST. In this context, deregulation of the PI3K/Akt signalling pathway was assessed by transcriptomic analysis, confirming the altered transcriptional profile. Finally, transcriptomic single-cell analysis identified 11 cell type clusters, highlighting the selection of the luminal component and the decrease in the number of Epithelial-mesenchymal transition cell types in O-POST. CONCLUSION: Neoadjuvant treatment contributed to the enrichment of cell populations with luminal phenotypes that were more resistant to chemotherapy in O-POST. PDOs represent an excellent 3D cell model for assessing disease evolution.

Anti-chlamydial activity of vaginal fluids: new evidence from an in vitro model.

Introduction: We assessed the in vitro anti-chlamydial activity of fresh vaginal secretions, deciphering the microbial and metabolic components able to counteract Chlamydia trachomatis viability. Methods: Forty vaginal samples were collected from a group of reproductive-aged women and their anti-chlamydial activity was evaluated by inhibition experiments. Each sample underwent 16S rRNA metabarcoding sequencing to determine the bacterial composition, as well as 1H-NMR spectroscopy to detect and quantify the presence of vaginal metabolites. Results: Samples characterized by a high anti-chlamydial activity were enriched in Lactobacillus, especially Lactobacillus crispatus and Lactobacillus iners, while not-active samples exhibited a significant reduction of lactobacilli, along with higher relative abundances of Streptococcus and Olegusella. Lactobacillus gasseri showed an opposite behavior compared to L. crispatus, being more prevalent in not-active vaginal samples. Higher concentrations of several amino acids (i.e., isoleucine, leucine, and aspartate; positively correlated to the abundance of L. crispatus and L. jensenii) lactate, and 4-aminobutyrate were the most significant metabolic fingerprints of highly active samples. Acetate and formate concentrations, on the other hand, were related to the abundances of a group of anaerobic opportunistic bacteria (including Prevotella, Dialister, Olegusella, Peptostreptococcus, Peptoniphilus, Finegoldia and Anaerococcus). Finally, glucose, correlated to Streptococcus, Lachnospira and Alloscardovia genera, emerged as a key molecule of the vaginal environment: indeed, the anti-chlamydial effect of vaginal fluids decreased as glucose concentrations increased. Discussion: These findings could pave the way for novel strategies in the prevention and treatment of chlamydial urogenital infections, such as lactobacilli probiotic formulations or lactobacilli-derived postbiotics.

Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae rectal infections: Interplay between rectal microbiome, HPV infection and Torquetenovirus.

Men having sex with men (MSM) represent a key population, in which sexually transmitted rectal infections (STIs) caused by Chlamydia trachomatis (CT), Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) and high-risk HPV (HR-HPV) are very common and linked to significant morbidity. Investigating the anorectal microbiome associated with rectal STIs holds potential for deeper insights into the pathogenesis of these infections and the development of innovative control strategies. In this study, we explored the interplay at the rectal site between C. trachomatis, N. gonorrhoeae, HR-HPV infection, and the anorectal microbiome in a cohort of 92 MSM (47 infected by CT and/or NG vs 45 controls). Moreover, we assessed the presence of Torquetenovirus (TTV), a non-pathogenic endogenous virus, considered as a possible predictor of immune system activation. We found a high prevalence of HR-HPV rectal infections (61%), especially in subjects with a concurrent CT/NG rectal infection (70.2%) and in people living with HIV (84%). In addition, we observed that TTV was more prevalent in subjects with CT/NG rectal infections than in non-infected ones (70.2% vs 46.7%, respectively). The anorectal microbiome of patients infected by CT and/or NG exhibited a reduction in Escherichia, while the presence of TTV was significantly associated with higher levels of Bacteroides. We observed a positive correlation of HR-HPV types with Escherichia and Corynebacterium, and a negative correlation with the Firmicutes phylum, and with Prevotella, Oscillospira, Sutterella. Our findings shed light on some of the dynamics occurring within the rectal environment involving chlamydial/gonococcal infections, HPV, TTV, and the anorectal microbiome. These data could open new perspectives for the control and prevention of STIs in MSM.

Polypharmacy, drug-drug interactions, anticholinergic burden and cognitive outcomes: a snapshot from a community-dwelling sample of older men and women in northern Italy.

Polypharmacy (PP) use is very common in older people and may lead to drug-drug interactions (DDIs) and anticholinergic burden (ACB) that may affect cognitive function. We aimed to determine the occurrence of PP, potential DDIs and ACB and their role in cognitive outcomes in an older population. Cross-sectional data from 636 community-dwelling adults (73.2 ± 6.0 SD, 58.6% women) participating in the NutBrain study (2019-2023) were analyzed. Participants were asked about their medication use, and data on potential DDIs and ACB were extracted. The associations of PP (≥ 5 drugs/day), potential DDIs, and ACB with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and specific cognitive domains were assessed using logistic regression adjusted for confounders. Sex-stratified analysis was performed. Overall, 27.2% of the participants were exposed to PP, 42.3% to potential DDIs and 19% to cumulative ACB. Women were less exposed to PP and more exposed to ACB than men. In multivariate analysis, the odds of having MCI (24%) were three times higher in those with severe ACB (≥ 3) (OR 3.34, 95%CI 1.35-8.25). ACB was positively associated with poor executive function (OR 4.45, 95%CI 1.72-11.49) and specifically with the Frontal Assessment Battery and neuropsychological tests of phonological and semantic fluency. In sex-stratified analysis, ACB was statistically significantly associated with MCI and executive function in women and with memory in men. PP, potential DDIs and anticholinergics use are very common in community-dwelling older people. ACB exposure is associated with MCI, particularly with poor executive function. Clinicians are encouraged to be vigilant when prescribing anticholinergics.Trial registration: Trial registration number NCT04461951, date of registration July 7, 2020 (retrospectively registered, ClinicalTrials.gov).

Bovine Colostrum Supplementation in Rabbit Diet Modulates Gene Expression of Cytokines, Gut-Vascular Barrier, and Red-Ox-Related Molecules in the Gut Wall.

Rabbits, pivotal in the EU as livestock, pets, and experimental animals, face bacterial infection challenges, prompting a quest for alternatives to curb antibiotic resistance. Bovine colostrum (BC), rich in immunoregulatory compounds, antimicrobial peptides, and growth factors, is explored for disease treatment and prevention. This study assesses BC diet supplementation effects on rabbit intestines, examining gene expression. Thirty female New Zealand White rabbits at weaning (35 days) were divided into three experimental groups: control (commercial feed), 2.5% BC, and 5% BC. The diets were administered until slaughtering (81 days). BC-upregulated genes in the jejunum included IL-8, TGF-ß, and CTNN-ß1 at 5% BC, while PLVAP at 2.5% BC. Antioxidant-related genes (SOD1, GSR) were downregulated in the cecum and colon with 2.5% BC. BC 5% promoted IL-8 in the jejunum, fostering inflammation and immune cell migration. It also induced genes regulating inflammatory responses (TGF-ß) and gastrointestinal permeability (CTNN-ß1). BC 5% enhanced antioxidant activity in the cecum and colon, but no significant impact on anti-myxo antibody production was observed. These results suggest that BC has significant effects on the rabbit gastrointestinal tract's inflammatory and antioxidant response, but further research is required to fully understand its histological and physiological impact.

Adherence to Mediterranean diet is inversely associated with depressive symptoms in older women: findings from the NutBrain Study.

Data on the association of the Mediterranean diet (MD) with depressive symptoms in older people at high risk of depression are scarce. This study aimed to investigate the cross-sectional association of the adherence to the MD and its components with depressive symptoms in an Italian cohort of older men and women. A total of 325 men and 473 women aged 65­97 years (2019­2023) answered a 102-item semi-quantitative FFQ, which was used to calculate the Mediterranean diet score (MDS). Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Centre for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale; subjects with a score of 16 or more were considered to have depression. Multivariable logistic regression was used for statistical analysis. The occurrence of depressive symptoms was 19·8 % (8·0 % men, 27·9 % women). High adherence to MDS (highest tertile) significantly reduced the odds of having depressive symptoms by 54·6 % (OR 0·454, 95 % CI 0·266, 0·776). In sex-stratified analysis, the reduction was evident in women (OR 0·385, 95 % CI 0·206, 0·719) but not in men (OR 0·828, 95 % CI 0·254, 2·705). Looking at the association of MDS components with depressive symptoms, we found an inverse significant association with fish consumption and the MUFA:SFA ratio above the median only in women (OR 0·444, 95 % CI 0·283, 0·697 and OR 0·579, 95 % CI 0·345, 0·971, respectively). High adherence to the MDS, and a high fish intake and MUFA:SFA ratio were associated with lower depressive symptoms in women only. Future longitudinal studies are needed to confirm these findings and to explore the underlying biological mechanisms.

Investigating the individual and joint effects of socioeconomic status and lifestyle factors on mild cognitive impairment in older Italians living independently in the community: results from the NutBrain study.

OBJECTIVES: Despite extensive research, a clear understanding of the role of the interaction between lifestyle and socioeconomic status (SES) on cognitive health is still lacking. We investigated the joint association of socioeconomic factors in early to midlife and lifestyle in later life and Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). DESIGN: Observational cross-sectional study. SETTING: NutBrain study in northern Italy. PARTICIPANTS: 773 community-dwelling adults aged 65 years and older (73.2 ± 6.0 SD, 58.6% females) participating in the NutBrain study (2019-2023). MEASUREMENTS: Three SES indicators (home ownership, educational level, occupation) and five lifestyle factors (adherence to Mediterranean diet, physical activity, smoking habits, social network, leisure activities) were selected. Each factor was scored and summed to calculate SES and healthy lifestyle scores; their joint effect was also examined. The association with MCI was assessed by logistic regression controlling for potential confounders. Sex-stratified analysis was performed. RESULTS: In total, 24% of the subjects had MCI. The multivariable logistic model showed that a high SES and a high lifestyle score were associated with 81.8% (OR0.182; 95%CI 0.095-0.351), and 44.1% (OR0.559; 95%CI 0.323-0.968) lower odds of having MCI, respectively. When examining the joint effect of SES and lifestyle factors, the cognitive benefits of a healthy lifestyle were most pronounced in participants with low SES. A healthier lifestyle score was found to be significantly associated with lower odds of MCI, only in females. CONCLUSIONS: According to our findings, SES was positively associated with preserved cognitive function, highlighting the importance of active lifestyles in reducing socioeconomic health inequalities, particularly among those with a relatively low SES. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Trial registration number NCT04461951, date of registration July 7, 2020 (retrospectively registered, ClinicalTrials.gov).

Insights on the molecular mechanisms of cytotoxicity induced by AS1411 linked to folate-functionalized DNA nanocages in cancer cells.

Self-assembled multivalent DNA nanocages are an emerging class of molecules useful for biomedicine applications. Here, we investigated the molecular mechanisms of cytotoxicity induced by AS1411 free aptamer, AS1411-linked nanocages (Apt-NCs) and nanocages harboring both folate and AS1411 functionalization (Fol-Apt-NCs) in HeLa and MDA-MB-231 cancer cell lines. The three treatments showed different cytotoxic efficacy and Fol-Apt-NCs resulted the most effective in inhibiting cell proliferation and inducing apoptotic pathways and ROS activation in both HeLa and MDA-MB-231 cells. RNA-seq analysis allowed to identify biological functions and genes altered by the various treatments, depending on the AS1411 route of intracellular entry, highlighting the different behavior of the two cancer cell lines. Notably, Fol-Apt-NCs altered the expression of a subset of genes associated to cancer chemoresistance in MDA-MB-231, but not in HeLa cells, and this may explain the increased chemosensitivity to drugs delivered through DNA nanocages of the triple-negative breast cancer cells.

Diversity and Co-Occurrence Pattern Analysis of Cecal and Jejunal Microbiota in Two Rabbit Breeds.

This study aimed to evaluate the productive performance and microbiota variation in the jejunum and cecum of two rabbit breeds with different growth rates. This study was carried out on Native Middle-Egypt Breed (NMER) and Giant Flanders (GF) rabbits from 5 weeks to 12 weeks of age. Twenty NMER (NM) and GF male rabbits were slaughtered, and the jejunum and cecum tracts were collected to assay gut microbiota composition via 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene sequencing and histology examination. At 12 weeks of age, daily weight gain, villus height in the jejunum, total protein, and albumin were higher in GF rabbits than in NMER rabbits. Also, the jejunal villi of GF were well arranged in their dense borders. The microbiota between the jejunum and cecum was significantly different in terms of Beta-diversity. A significant correlation between Enterococcus (jejunum NM samples) and Lactobacillus (cecum GF samples) with body weight and weight gain was found (p < 0.05). Moreover, Escherichia-Shigella in the cecum of NM was significantly correlated with weight gain (p < 0.05). The most abundant genera identified in the jejunal and cecal contents of GF were generally beneficial microbiota. They may also play a role in reducing the pathogenic effects of Escherichia coli in these rabbits.

Bovine Colostrum Supplementation Modulates the Intestinal Microbial Community in Rabbits.

BC is a nutraceutical that can modulate intestinal microbiota. This study investigates the effects of BC diet supplementation on luminal and mucosa-associated microbiota in the jejunum, caecum, and colon of rabbits. Twenty-one New Zealand White female rabbits were divided into three experimental groups (n = 7) receiving a commercial feed (CTRL group) and the same diet supplemented with 2.5% and 5% BC (2.5% BC and 5% BC groups, respectively), from 35 (weaning) to 90 days of age (slaughtering). At slaughter, the digestive tract was removed from each animal, then both content and mucosa-associated microbiota of jejunum, caecum, and colon were collected and analysed by Next Generation 16SrRNA Gene Sequencing. Significant differences were found in the microbial composition of the three groups (i.e., beta-diversity: p < 0.01), especially in the caecum and colon of the 2.5% BC group. The relative abundance analysis showed that the families most affected by the BC administration were Clostridia UCG-014, Barnesiellaceae, and Eggerthellaceae. A trend was also found for Lachnospiraceae, Akkermansiaceae, and Bacteroidaceae. A functional prediction has revealed several altered pathways in BC groups, with particular reference to amino acids and lactose metabolism. Firmicutes:Bacteroidetes ratio decreased in caecum luminal samples of the 2.5% BC group. These findings suggest that BC supplementation could positively affect the intestinal microbiota. However, further research is needed to establish the optimal administration dose.

Effect of ospemifene on vaginal microbiome in postmenopausal women with vulvovaginal atrophy.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed (i) to compare the vaginal microbiome profiles of women suffering from vulvovaginal atrophy with that of healthy postmenopausal women and to (ii) assess the effect of ospemifene and systemic hormone treatment on the composition of the vaginal microbiome. METHODS: Sixty-seven postmenopausal women attending the Gynecology Clinic of Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria of Bologna (Italy) were enrolled. Of them, 39 received a diagnosis of atrophy and 28 were considered healthy controls. In the group of atrophic women, 20 were prescribed ospemifene and 19 received hormone treatment. The vaginal health index was calculated, and a vaginal swab was collected for the assessment of vaginal maturation index and the analysis of vaginal microbiome through 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Clinical/microbiological analyses were repeated after 3 months of treatment. RESULTS: The vaginal microbiome of atrophic women was characterized by a significant reduction of Lactobacillus ( P = 0.002) and an increase of Streptococcus ( P = 0.008) and Sneathia ( P = 0.02). A positive correlation between vaginal health index/vaginal maturation index and Lactobacillus abundance was found ( P = 0.002 and P = 0.035, respectively). Both therapeutic approaches effectively improved vaginal indices. Systemic hormone treatment induced changes in minority bacterial groups of the vaginal microbiome, whereas ospemifene was able to eliminate specific bacterial taxa, such as Staphylococcus ( P = 0.04) and Clostridium ( P = 0.01). Both treatments induced a trend in the increase of bifidobacteria. CONCLUSIONS: The vaginal microbiome of atrophic women differs significantly from that of healthy postmenopausal women. Ospemifene may lead to a condition of vaginal health, likely characterized by the reduction of "potentially harmful" bacteria.

Gut microbiota dysbiosis in Parkinson disease: A systematic review and pooled analysis.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The role of the gut microbiome in the pathogenesis of Parkinson disease (PD) is under intense investigation, and the results presented are still very heterogeneous. These discrepancies arise not only from the highly heterogeneous pathology of PD, but also from widely varying methodologies at all stages of the workflow, from sampling to final statistical analysis. The aim of the present work is to harmonize the workflow across studies to reduce the methodological heterogeneity and to perform a pooled analysis to account for other sources of heterogeneity. METHODS: We performed a systematic review to identify studies comparing the gut microbiota of PD patients to healthy controls. A workflow was designed to harmonize processing across all studies from bioinformatics processing to final statistical analysis using a Bayesian random-effects meta-analysis based on individual patient-level data. RESULTS: The results show that harmonizing workflows minimizes differences between statistical methods and reveals only a small set of taxa being associated with the pathogenesis of PD. Increased shares of the genera Akkermansia and Bifidobacterium and decreased shares of the genera Roseburia and Faecalibacterium were most characteristic for PD-associated microbiota. CONCLUSIONS: Our study summarizes evidence that reduced levels of butyrate-producing taxa in combination with possible degradation of the mucus layer by Akkermansia may promote intestinal inflammation and reduced permeability of the gut mucosal layer. This may allow potentially pathogenic metabolites to transit and enter the enteric nervous system.

Longitudinal Changes of Ocular Surface Microbiome in Patients Undergoing Hemopoietic Stem Cell Transplant (HSCT).

PURPOSE: To evaluate changes in the ocular surface microbiome (OSM) between pre- and post-haemopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) in the same patient, and to assess the potential impact of these changes in ocular graft-versus-host disease (o)GVHD development. METHODS: Lower fornix conjunctival swabs of 24 patients were obtained before and after HSCT and subjected to DNA extraction for amplification and sequencing of the V3-V4 regions of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene. The obtained reads were reconstructed, filtered, and clustered into zero-radius operational taxonomic units (zOTUs) at 97% identity level before taxonomic assignment, and biodiversity indexes were calculated. Transplant characteristics were recorded, and dry eye was diagnosed and staged 1-4 according to the Dry Eye WorkShop (DEWS) score. RESULTS: No significant difference in OSM alpha diversity between pre- and post-transplant was found. A significant difference in beta diversity was observed between patients with a DEWS score of 1 versus 3 (p = 0.035). Increased corneal damage between pre- and post-HSCT was significantly associated with a decrease in alpha diversity. The changes in OSM were not associated with oGVHD, nor with any transplant parameter. CONCLUSIONS: This preliminary study is the first study to analyse changes in the OSM before and after HSCT longitudinally. No trend in OSM biodiversity, microbial profile, or overall composition changes before and after HSCT was significant or associated with oGVHD onset. The great variability in the observed OSM profiles seems to suggest the absence of a patient-specific OSM "signature".

Torquetenovirus in pregnancy: Correlation with vaginal microbiome, metabolome and pro-inflammatory cytokines.

Torquetenovirus (TTV) is a negative sense, single-stranded DNA virus present in many body fluids of apparently healthy individuals. At present, it is considered a non-pathogenic endogenous virus. TTV can be detected in the vagina of pregnant women, its abundance being modulated with the extent of immune system activation. Until now, there is only scarce information regarding the association between TTV and the composition of the vaginal environment. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the presence of TTV in the vaginal ecosystem of a cohort of white women with a normal pregnancy (n = 60) at different gestational stages (first, second and third trimester) and in 9 subjects suffering a first trimester miscarriage. For each woman, we determined (i) the presence and titer of TTV, (ii) the vaginal bacterial composition by means of Nugent score and 16S rRNA gene sequencing, (iii) the vaginal metabolic profiles through 1H-NMR spectroscopy, and (iv) the vaginal concentration of two pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6 and IL-8). More than one third of women were found negative for TTV at all gestational stages. Although not statistically significant, the positivity for TTV dropped from 53.3% in the first to 36.6% in the third trimester. TTV loads varied greatly among vaginal samples, ranging between 2 × 101 and 2 × 105 copies/reaction. No difference in TTV prevalence and loads was observed between women with normal pregnancies and miscarriages. The presence of TTV was more common in women with a higher vaginal leucocyte count (p = 0.02). The levels of IL-6 (p = 0.02), IL-8 (p = 0.03), propionate (p = 0.001) and cadaverine (p = 0.006) were significantly higher in TTV-positive samples. TTV titer was positively correlated with the concentrations of 4-hydroxyphenyllactate (p < 0.0001), isoleucine (p = 0.01) and phenylalanine (p = 0.04). TTV-positive samples were characterized by a higher relative abundance of Sneathia (p = 0.04) and Shuttleworthia (p = 0.0009). In addition, a trend toward a decrease of Lactobacillus crispatus and Lactobacillus jensenii, and an increase of Lactobacillus iners was observed for TTV-positive samples. In conclusion, we found that TTV is quite common in women with normal pregnancy outcomes, representing a possible predictor of local immune status.

Conjoined Genes as Common Events in Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most frequent childhood cancer. For the last three decades, conventional cytogenetic and molecular approaches allowed the identification of genetic abnormalities having prognostic and therapeutic relevance. Although the current cure rate in pediatric B cell acute leukemia is approximately 90%, it remains one of the leading causes of mortality in childhood. Furthermore, in the contemporary protocols, chemotherapy intensity was raised to the maximal levels of tolerability, and further improvements in the outcome will depend on the characterization and reclassification of the disease, as well as on the development of new targeted drugs. The recent technological advances in genome-wide profiling techniques have allowed the exploration of the molecular heterogeneity of this disease, even though some potentially interesting biomarkers such as conjoined genes have not been deeply investigated yet. In the present study, we performed the transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq) of 10 pediatric B cell precursor (BCP)-ALL cases with different risk (four standard- and six high-risk patients) enrolled in the Italian AIEOP-BFM ALL2000 protocol, in order to characterize the full spectrum of transcriptional events and to identify novel potential genetic mechanisms sustaining their different early response to therapy. Total RNA was extracted from primary leukemic blasts and RNA-seq was performed by Illumina technology. Bioinformatics analysis focused on fusion transcripts, originated from either inter- or intra-chromosomal structural rearrangements. Starting from a raw list of 9001 candidate events, by employing a custom-made bioinformatics pipeline, we obtained a short list of 245 candidate fusions. Among them, 10 events were compatible with chromosomal translocations. Strikingly, 235/245 events were intra-chromosomal fusions, 229 of which involved two contiguous or overlapping genes, resulting in the so-called conjoined genes (CGs). To explore the specificity of these events in leukemia, we performed an extensive bioinformatics meta-analysis and evaluated the presence of the fusions identified in our 10 BCP-ALL cohort in several other publicly available RNA-seq datasets, including leukemic, solid tumor and normal sample collections. Overall, 14/229 (6.1%) CGs were found to be exclusively expressed in leukemic cases, suggesting an association between CGs and leukemia. Moreover, CGs were found to be common events both in standard- and high-risk BCP-ALL patients and it might be suggestive of a novel potential transcriptional regulation mechanism active in leukemic cells.

A Deep Look at the Vaginal Environment During Pregnancy and Puerperium.

A deep comprehension of the vaginal ecosystem may hold promise for unraveling the pathophysiology of pregnancy and may provide novel biomarkers to identify subjects at risk of maternal-fetal complications. In this prospective study, we assessed the characteristics of the vaginal environment in a cohort of pregnant women throughout their different gestational ages and puerperium. Both the vaginal bacterial composition and the vaginal metabolic profiles were analyzed. A total of 63 Caucasian women with a successful pregnancy and 9 subjects who had a first trimester miscarriage were enrolled. For the study, obstetric examinations were scheduled along the three trimester phases (9-13, 20-24, 32-34 gestation weeks) and puerperium (40-55 days after delivery). Two vaginal swabs were collected at each time point, to assess the vaginal microbiome profiling (by Nugent score and 16S rRNA gene sequencing) and the vaginal metabolic composition (1H-NMR spectroscopy). During pregnancy, the vaginal microbiome underwent marked changes, with a significant decrease in overall diversity, and increased stability. Over time, we found a significant increase of Lactobacillus and a decrease of several genera related to bacterial vaginosis (BV), such as Prevotella, Atopobium and Sneathia. It is worth noting that the levels of Bifidobacterium spp. tended to decrease at the end of pregnancy. At the puerperium, a significantly lower content of Lactobacillus and higher levels of Gardnerella, Prevotella, Atopobium, and Streptococcus were observed. Women receiving an intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis for Group B Streptococcus (GBS) were characterized by a vaginal abundance of Prevotella compared to untreated women. Analysis of bacterial relative abundances highlighted an increased abundance of Fusobacterium in women suffering a first trimester abortion, at all taxonomic levels. Lactobacillus abundance was strongly correlated with higher levels of lactate, sarcosine, and many amino acids (i.e., isoleucine, leucine, phenylalanine, valine, threonine, tryptophan). Conversely, BV-associated genera, such as Gardnerella, Atopobium, and Sneathia, were related to amines (e.g., putrescine, methylamine), formate, acetate, alcohols, and short-chain fatty-acids (i.e., butyrate, propionate).

Gardnerella vaginalis clades in pregnancy: New insights into the interactions with the vaginal microbiome.

Gardnerella vaginalis (GV) is an anaerobic bacterial species involved in the pathogenesis of bacterial vaginosis (BV), a condition of vaginal dysbiosis associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. GV strains are categorized into four clades, characterized by a different ability to produce virulence factors, such as sialidase. We investigated the distribution of GV clades and sialidase genes in the vaginal ecosystem of a cohort of pregnant women, assessing the correlations between GV clades and the whole vaginal microbiome. A total of 61 Caucasian pregnant women were enrolled. Their vaginal swabs, collected both at the first and third trimester of pregnancy, were used for (i) evaluation of the vaginal status by Nugent score, (ii) vaginal microbiome profiling by 16S rRNA sequencing, (iii) detection and quantification of GV clades and sialidase A gene by qPCR assays. DNA of at least one GV clade was detected in most vaginal swabs, with clade 4 being the most common one. GV clade 2, together with the presence of multiple clades (>2 simultaneously), were significantly associated with a BV condition. Significantly higher GV loads and sialidase gene levels were found in BV cases, compared to the healthy status. Clade 2 was related to the major shifts in the vaginal microbial composition, with a decrease in Lactobacillus and an increase in several BV-related taxa. As the number of GV clades detected simultaneously increased, a group of BV-associated bacteria tended to increase as well, while Bifidobacterium tended to decrease. A negative correlation between sialidase gene levels and Lactobacillus, and a positive correlation with Gardnerella, Atopobium, Prevotella, Megasphaera, and Sneathia were observed. Our results added knowledge about the interactions of GV clades with the inhabitants of the vaginal microbiome, possibly helping to predict the severity of BV and opening new perspectives for the prevention of pregnancy-related complications.

First-Void Urine Microbiome in Women with Chlamydia trachomatis Infection.

BACKGROUND: Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) is the agent of the most common bacterial sexually transmitted infection worldwide. Until now, little information is available about the microbial composition of urine samples during CT urethritis. Therefore, in this study, we characterized the microbiome and metabolome profiles of first-void urines in a cohort of women with CT urethral infection attending an STI clinic. METHODS: Based on CT positivity by nucleic acid amplification techniques on urine samples, the enrolled women were divided into two groups, i.e., "CT-negative" (n = 21) and "CT-positive" (n = 11). Urine samples were employed for (i) the microbiome profile analysis by means of 16s rRNA gene sequencing and (ii) the metabolome analysis by 1H-NMR. RESULTS: Irrespective of CT infection, the microbiome of first-void urines was mainly dominated by Lactobacillus, L. iners and L. crispatus being the most represented species. CT-positive samples were characterized by reduced microbial biodiversity compared to the controls. Moreover, a significant reduction of the Mycoplasmataceae family-in particular, of the Ureaplasma parvum species-was observed during CT infection. The Chlamydia genus was positively correlated with urine hippurate and lactulose. CONCLUSIONS: These data can help elucidate the pathogenesis of chlamydial urogenital infections, as well as to set up innovative diagnostic and therapeutic approaches.

Is Gut Microbiota a Key Player in Epilepsy Onset? A Longitudinal Study in Drug-Naive Children.

Microbiota alterations have been recently investigated in individuals with epilepsy and in other neurological diseases as environmental factors that play a role, by acting through the gut-brain axis, in the pathological process. Most studies focus on the contribution of bacterial communities in refractory epilepsy and suggest a beneficial role of ketogenic diet in modulating the gut microbiota and seizure occurrence. However, they do not evaluate whether epilepsy itself alters the gut microbiota in these patients or if the gut microbial communities could contribute as a seizure trigger. In this pilot study, we performed 16S rRNA sequencing and investigated the gut microbial communities of eight children at their seizure onset and after anti-seizure was started (one year follow-up) and we compared microbial data with seven healthy children, age- and sex-matched. In drug-naive subjects, we observed a microbial signature that shared several features with those reported in refractory epilepsy, such as an increased abundance in Akkermansia spp. and Proteobacteria and a decreased relative abundance in Faecalibacterium spp.We suggest that a bacterial-mediated proinflammatory milieu could contribute to seizure occurrence in children with new onset of epilepsy, as already reported for individuals with drug-resistant epilepsy, and that it could vary during treatment in those who are drug-responsive.