Klebsiella pneumoniae and Streptococcus agalactiae: Passengers in the sperm travel. / Klebsiella pneumoniae y Streptococcus agalactiae: Pasajeros en el viaje del espermatozoide.

During their journey through the female reproductive tract to reach the oocyte in the ampulla of the fallopian tube, spermatozoa interact with substances and microorganisms that affect sperm quality, thus altering their fertilizing capacity. OBJECTIVES: To determine in vitro the effect of Streptococcus agalactiae, Klebsiella pneumoniae and their soluble factors on sperm parameters, and to evaluate the ability of human sperm to interact with and transport these bacteria. METHODS: The effects of S. agalactiae, K. pneumoniae and their soluble factors on the viability, sperm motility and functional sperm parameters were quantified. In addition, motile spermatozoa were incubated with decreasing concentrations of bacteria for one hour, washed and post-infection treatments were performed with trypsin and transport capacity was assessed by quantitative cultures. RESULTS: Incubation of spermatozoa with K. pneumoniae decreased progressive motility. The soluble factors of K. pneumoniae increased the number of necrotic spermatozoa and the soluble factors of S. agalactiae increased lipid peroxidation of the sperm membrane (p<0.05). A strong interaction between sperm and bacteria was observed in the transport assays even in washed trypsin-treated samples. CONCLUSION: Human spermatozoa act as vectors for infections, generating strong interactions with K. pneumoniae and S. agalactiae favoring their diffusion through the female reproductive tract. This interaction affects male fertility by altering progressive motility, increasing the number of necrotic cells and inducing apoptosis.

Los espermatozoides durante su recorrido por el tracto reproductivo femenino en busca del oocito interactúan con sustancias y microorganismos que afectan la calidad seminal alterando su capacidad fecundante.OBJETIVOS: Determinar el efecto in vitro de Streptococcus agalactiae, Klebsiella pneumoniae y sus factores evaluar la capacidad de los espermatozoides humanos para interactuar y transportar estas bacterias.MÉTODOS: Se cuantificó el efecto de la incubación de S. agalactiae, K. pneumoniae y sus factores solubles sobre la viabilidad, la movilidad y los parámetros espermáticos funcionales. Adicionalmente, espermatozoides móviles fueron incubados con concentraciones decrecientes de bacterias durante una hora, se realizaron lavados y tratamientos post infección con tripsina y se evaluó la capacidad de transporte mediante cultivos cuantitativos.RESULTADOS: La incubación de los espermatozoides con K. pneumoniae ATCC 1705 disminuyó la movilidad espermática tipo I. Los factores solubles de K. pneumoniae ATCC 700603 aumentaron el número de espermatozoides necróticos mientras que los factores solubles de S. agalactiae aumentaron la lipoperoxidación de la membrana espermática (p<0,05). En los ensayos de transporte se observó una interacción fuerte entre los espermatozoides y las bacterias, incluso en las muestras tratadas con tripsina y lavados.CONCLUSIÓN: Los espermatozoides humanos sirven como vectores de infecciones, generan interacciones fuertes con K. pneumoniae y S. agalactiae, favoreciendo su difusión por el tracto reproductivo femenino. Esta interacción afecta la fertilidad masculina alterando la movilidad progresiva, aumentando el número de células necróticas y la apoptosis espermática.

Klebsiella pneumoniae and streptococcus agalactiae: passengers in the sperm travel / Klebsiella pneumoniae y Streptococcus agalactiae: Pasajeros en el viaje del espermatozoide

During their journey through the female reproductive tract to reach the oocyte in the ampulla of the fallopian tube, spermatozoa interact with substances and microorganisms that affect sperm quality, thus altering their fertilizing capacity. Objectives: To determine in vitro the effect of Streptococcus agalactiae, Klebsiella pneumoniae and their soluble factors on sperm parameters, and to evaluate the ability of human sperm to interact with and transport these bacteria. Methods: The effects of S. agalactiae, K. pneumoniae and their soluble factors on the viability, sperm motility and functional sperm parameters were quantified. In addition, motile spermatozoa were incubated with decreasing concentrations of bacteria for one hour, washed and post-infection treatments were performed with trypsin and transport capacity was assessed by quantitative cultures. Results: Incubation of spermatozoa with K. pneumoniae decreased progressive motility. The soluble factors of K. pneumoniae increased the number of necrotic spermatozoa and the soluble factors of S. agalactiae increased lipid peroxidation of the sperm membrane (p < 0.05). A strong interaction between sperm and bacteria was observed in the transport assays even in washed trypsin-treated samples. Conclusion: Human spermatozoa act as vectors for infections, generating strong interactions with K. pneumoniae and S. agalactiae favoring their diffusion through the female reproductive tract. This interaction affects male fertility by altering progressive motility, increasing the number of necrotic cells and inducing apoptosis

Los espermatozoides durante su recorrido por el tracto reproductivo femenino en busca del oocito interactúan con sustancias y microorganismos que afectan la calidad seminal alterando su capacidad fecundante. Objetivos: Determinar el efecto in vitro de Streptococcus agalactiae, Klebsiella pneumoniae y sus factores evaluar la capacidad de los espermatozoides humanos para interactuar y transportar estas bacterias. Métodos: Se cuantificó el efecto de la incubación de S. agalactiae, K. pneumoniae y sus factores solubles sobre la viabilidad, la movilidad y los parámetros espermáticos funcionales. Adicionalmente, espermatozoides móviles fueron incubados con concentraciones decrecientes de bacterias durante una hora, se realizaron lavados y tratamientos post infección con tripsina y se evaluó la capacidad de transporte mediante cultivos cuantitativos. Resultados: La incubación de los espermatozoides con K. pneumoniae ATCC 1705 disminuyó la movilidad espermática tipo I. Los factores solubles de K. pneumoniae ATCC 700603 aumentaron el número de espermatozoides necróticos mientras que los factores solubles de S. agalactiae aumentaron la lipoperoxidación de la membrana espermática (p < 0,05). En los ensayos de transporte se observó una interacción fuerte entre los espermatozoides y las bacterias, incluso en las muestras tratadas con tripsina y lavados. Conclusión: Los espermatozoides humanos sirven como vectores de infecciones, generan interacciones fuertes con K. pneumoniae y S. agalactiae, favoreciendo su difusión por el tracto reproductivo femenino. Esta interacción afecta la fertilidad masculina alterando la movilidad progresiva, aumentando el número de células necróticas y la apoptosis espermática

Yeast and Fertility: Effects of In Vitro Activity of Candida spp. on Sperm Quality.

BACKGROUND: Candida spp. causes semen candidiasis, the most important sexually transmitted fungal infection; this microorganism affects male fertility potential and could alter oocyte fertilization. The in vitro effects of the yeasts Candida albicans and Candida glabrata and their soluble factors of fungal metabolism on semen quality were studied. METHODS: Candida strains (2, 0.5 and 0.05 McF) and their soluble factors were incubated for 3 hr with selected spermatozoa. Conventional (Viability and motility) and functional parameters (Mitochondrial membrane potential, membrane integrity, detection of reactive oxygen species and DNA fragmentation) were quantified in 35 semen samples. In addition, human spermatozoa were incubated under capacitating conditions with Candida spp. and soluble factors. Finally, spermatozoa were incubated with mannose before incubation with either yeast to block sperm and yeast interaction. Data was analyzed using Friedman test, and p<0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: The conventional sperm parameters were statistically affected by the two yeast strains after 3 hr and their effect was maintained until the 24 hr incubation. However, the functional parameters were altered, this change was not statistically significant. Pretreatment of spermatozoa with mannose decreased the effect of Candida spp. CONCLUSION: The presence of C. albicans or C. glabrata affects seminal parameters. The effect is related to incubation time and yeast concentration, it can be supposed that the yeast sperm interaction is mediated through the mannose sperm receptor.

Efecto de los factores solubles de Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus capitis y Staphylococcus epidermidis sobre la funcionalidad espermática / Effect of soluble factors of Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus capitis and Staphylococcus epidermidis on sperm functionality

ANTECEDENTES: La interacción entre los espermatozoides con algunas especies bacterianas o sus factores solubles influyen en el deterioro de la calidad seminal, alterando la función reproductiva del hombre. OBJETIVO: El objetivo de este trabajo fue determinar el efecto de los factores solubles de Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus capitis y Staphylococcus epidermidis sobre la calidad seminal. MÉTODO: Los factores solubles producto del metabolismo bacteriano de las cepas de S. aureus y S. Capitis sensible a oxacilina y S. aureus y S. Epidermidis resistente a oxacilina se incubaron con las muestras de semen de 20 voluntarios y se cuantificaron los parámetros seminales convencionales y funcionales por microscopía y citometría de flujo, respectivamente. RESULTADOS: Se observó una disminución en la movilidad espermática con los factores solubles de S. aureus, esta disminución fue mayor con la cepa sensible y el efecto negativo sobre la movilidad fue inmediato. Al incubar los espermatozoides con los factores solubles de S. aureus sensible a oxacilina, se afectaron todos los parámetros funcionales excepto la integridad de la cromatina y se observó menor liberación de especies reactivas de oxígeno; con los factores solubles de la cepa de S. aureus resistente a oxacilina se observó una disminución en la lipoperoxidación de membrana y en la expresión de anexina V. CONCLUSIÓN: Este estudio da cuenta del efecto negativo de los factores solubles de la bacteria S. aureus tanto sensible como resistente a oxacilina sobre los parámetros espermáticos convencionales y funcionales, y por ende en su función reproductiva.

BACKGROUND: The interaction between sperm with some bacteria species and their soluble factors are the deterioration of semen quality by altering the reproductive function of man. AIM: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of soluble factors Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis and Staphylococcus capitis on semen quality. METHODS: The soluble factors product of bacterial metabolism of the strains of S. aureus and S. capitis methicillin sensitive and S. aureus and S. epidermidis resistant to oxacillin, were incubated with semen samples from 20 volunteers. Subsequently, conventional seminal parameters were measured and functional quantified by microscopy and flow cytometry, respectively. RESULTS: A decrease was observed in sperm motility with soluble factors of S. aureus, this decrease was higher with the sensitive strain that with oxacillin resistant strain and the negative effect on motility was immediate. By incubating the sperm with soluble factor from oxacillin-sensitive S. aureus, all functional parameters were affected except the chromatin integrity and reduced release of reactive oxygen species, mean fluorescence intensity in oxacillin resistant S. aureus strain was decrease in membrane lipid peroxidation and annexin V expression. CONCLUSIONS: This study reports the negative effect of soluble factors of bacteria either S. aureus sensitive and resistant to oxacillin, over conventional and functional sperm parameters, and therefore in their reproductive function.