Temporal Dynamics of the Adult Female Lower Urinary Tract Microbiota
ABSTRACT 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 mi...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
American Society for Microbiology
2020-04-01
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| Series: | mBio |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/mBio.00475-20 |
| _version_ | 1818346765076660224 |
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| author | Travis K. Price Birte Wolff Thomas Halverson Roberto Limeira Linda Brubaker Qunfeng Dong Elizabeth R. Mueller Alan J. Wolfe |
| author_facet | Travis K. Price Birte Wolff Thomas Halverson Roberto Limeira Linda Brubaker Qunfeng Dong Elizabeth R. Mueller Alan J. Wolfe |
| author_sort | Travis K. Price |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ABSTRACT 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. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-13T17:23:28Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4a7758faca0b45ce8312ccbfa59ed843 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2150-7511 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-13T17:23:28Z |
| publishDate | 2020-04-01 |
| publisher | American Society for Microbiology |
| record_format | Article |
| series | mBio |
| spelling | doaj.art-4a7758faca0b45ce8312ccbfa59ed8432022-12-21T23:37:14ZengAmerican Society for MicrobiologymBio2150-75112020-04-0111210.1128/mBio.00475-20Temporal Dynamics of the Adult Female Lower Urinary Tract MicrobiotaTravis K. Price0Birte Wolff1Thomas Halverson2Roberto Limeira3Linda Brubaker4Qunfeng Dong5Elizabeth R. Mueller6Alan J. Wolfe7Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, Illinois, USADepartment of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, Illinois, USADepartment of Microbiology and Immunology, Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, Illinois, USADepartment of Microbiology and Immunology, Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, Illinois, USADepartment of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Division of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USADepartment of Medicine, Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, Illinois, USADepartment of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, Illinois, USADepartment of Microbiology and Immunology, Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, Illinois, USAABSTRACT 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.https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/mBio.00475-20lower urinary tractmenstruationmetaculturomicsmicrobiomesexurinary microbiota |
| spellingShingle | Travis K. Price Birte Wolff Thomas Halverson Roberto Limeira Linda Brubaker Qunfeng Dong Elizabeth R. Mueller Alan J. Wolfe Temporal Dynamics of the Adult Female Lower Urinary Tract Microbiota mBio lower urinary tract menstruation metaculturomics microbiome sex urinary microbiota |
| title | Temporal Dynamics of the Adult Female Lower Urinary Tract Microbiota |
| title_full | Temporal Dynamics of the Adult Female Lower Urinary Tract Microbiota |
| title_fullStr | Temporal Dynamics of the Adult Female Lower Urinary Tract Microbiota |
| title_full_unstemmed | Temporal Dynamics of the Adult Female Lower Urinary Tract Microbiota |
| title_short | Temporal Dynamics of the Adult Female Lower Urinary Tract Microbiota |
| title_sort | temporal dynamics of the adult female lower urinary tract microbiota |
| topic | lower urinary tract menstruation metaculturomics microbiome sex urinary microbiota |
| url | https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/mBio.00475-20 |
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