Transkingdom Analysis of the Female Reproductive Tract Reveals Bacteriophages form Communities

Viruses

Michael Sohn¹  David H. Adler²  Ferralita S. Madere³  Cynthia L. Monaco³  Breóna Barr⁴  Linda-Gail Bekker⁵  Angelina K. Winbush⁶  Tracy Meiring⁷  Anna-Lise Williamson⁷  Alex Grier⁸  Cal Palumbo⁸  James Java⁸ 

[1] Department of Biostatistics and Computational Biology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA;Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA;Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA;Department of Rural Family Medicine, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 25425, USA;Desmond Tutu HIV Centre, Institute of Infectious Diseases & Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Anzio Road, Observatory, Cape Town 7925, South Africa;Division of Internal Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry, Rochester, NY 14642, USA;Institute of Infectious Diseases & Molecular Medicine and Division of Medical Virology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Anzio Road, Observatory, Cape Town 7925, South Africa;UR Genomics Research Center, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA;

关键词: virome;    microbiome;    bacterial vaginosis;    bacteriophage;    transkingdom associations;    female reproductive tract;   

DOI  :  10.3390/v14020430

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

The female reproductive tract (FRT) microbiome plays a vital role in maintaining vaginal health. Viruses are key regulators of other microbial ecosystems, but little is known about how the FRT viruses (virome), particularly bacteriophages that comprise the phageome, impact FRT health and dysbiosis. We hypothesize that bacterial vaginosis (BV) is associated with altered FRT phageome diversity, transkingdom interplay, and bacteriophage discriminate taxa. Here, we conducted a retrospective, longitudinal analysis of vaginal swabs collected from 54 BV-positive and 46 BV-negative South African women. Bacteriome analysis revealed samples clustered into five distinct bacterial community groups (CGs), and further, bacterial alpha diversity was significantly associated with BV. Virome analysis on a subset of baseline samples showed FRT bacteriophages clustering into novel viral state types (VSTs), a viral community clustering system based on virome composition and abundance. Distinct BV bacteriophage signatures included increased alpha diversity along with discriminant Bacillus, Burkholderia, and Escherichia bacteriophages. Bacteriophage-bacteria transkingdom associations were also identified between Bacillus and Burkholderia viruses and BV-associated bacteria, providing key insights for future studies elucidating the transkingdom interactions driving BV-associated microbiome perturbations. In this cohort, bacteriophage-bacterial associations suggest complex interactions, which may play a role in the establishment and maintenance of BV.

【 授权许可】

Unknown