Impact of semen microbiota on the composition of seminal plasma
ABSTRACTSeveral studies have found associations between specific bacterial genera and semen parameters. Bacteria are known to influence the composition of their niche and, consequently, could affect the composition of the seminal plasma. This study integrated microbiota profiling and metabolomics to...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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American Society for Microbiology
2024-03-01
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| Series: | Microbiology Spectrum |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/spectrum.02911-23 |
| _version_ | 1797276771062644736 |
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| author | D. Baud A. Zuber A. Peric N. Pluchino N. Vulliemoz M. Stojanov |
| author_facet | D. Baud A. Zuber A. Peric N. Pluchino N. Vulliemoz M. Stojanov |
| author_sort | D. Baud |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ABSTRACTSeveral studies have found associations between specific bacterial genera and semen parameters. Bacteria are known to influence the composition of their niche and, consequently, could affect the composition of the seminal plasma. This study integrated microbiota profiling and metabolomics to explore the influence of seminal bacteria on semen metabolite composition in infertile couples, revealing associations between specific bacterial genera and metabolite profiles. Amino acids and acylcarnitines were the predominant metabolite groups identified in seminal plasma. Different microbiota profiles did not result in globally diverse metabolite compositions in seminal plasma. Nevertheless, levels of specific metabolites increased in the presence of a dysbiotic microbiota. Urocanate was significantly increased in abnormal semen samples (adjusted P-value < 0.001) and enriched in samples dominated by Prevotella spp. (P-value < 0.05), which was previously linked to a negative impact on semen. Therefore, varying microbiota profiles can influence the abundance of certain metabolites, potentially having an immunomodulatory effect, as seen with urocanate.IMPORTANCEMale infertility is often considered idiopathic since the specific cause of infertility often remains unidentified. Recently, variations in the seminal microbiota composition have been associated with normal and abnormal semen parameters and may, therefore, influence male infertility. Bacteria are known to alter the metabolite composition of their ecological niches, and thus, seminal bacteria might affect the composition of the seminal fluid, crucial in the fertilization process. Our research indicates that distinct seminal microbiota profiles are not associated with widespread changes in the metabolite composition of the seminal fluid. Instead, the presence of particular metabolites with immunomodulatory functions, such as urocanate, could shed light on the interplay between seminal microbiota and variations in semen parameters. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T15:33:02Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-cd156060c6694bb1b7b111e507281bbe |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2165-0497 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T15:33:02Z |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
| publisher | American Society for Microbiology |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Microbiology Spectrum |
| spelling | doaj.art-cd156060c6694bb1b7b111e507281bbe2024-03-05T14:04:37ZengAmerican Society for MicrobiologyMicrobiology Spectrum2165-04972024-03-0112310.1128/spectrum.02911-23Impact of semen microbiota on the composition of seminal plasmaD. Baud0A. Zuber1A. Peric2N. Pluchino3N. Vulliemoz4M. Stojanov5Materno-Fetal and Obstetrics Research Unit, Mother-Woman-Child Department, University Hospital of Lausanne, Lausanne, SwitzerlandMaterno-Fetal and Obstetrics Research Unit, Mother-Woman-Child Department, University Hospital of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland360° Fertility Center Zurich, Zollikon, SwitzerlandFertility Medicine and Gynaecological Endocrinology Unit, Department Woman-Mother-Child, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, SwitzerlandCPMA Lausanne, Lausanne, SwitzerlandMaterno-Fetal and Obstetrics Research Unit, Mother-Woman-Child Department, University Hospital of Lausanne, Lausanne, SwitzerlandABSTRACTSeveral studies have found associations between specific bacterial genera and semen parameters. Bacteria are known to influence the composition of their niche and, consequently, could affect the composition of the seminal plasma. This study integrated microbiota profiling and metabolomics to explore the influence of seminal bacteria on semen metabolite composition in infertile couples, revealing associations between specific bacterial genera and metabolite profiles. Amino acids and acylcarnitines were the predominant metabolite groups identified in seminal plasma. Different microbiota profiles did not result in globally diverse metabolite compositions in seminal plasma. Nevertheless, levels of specific metabolites increased in the presence of a dysbiotic microbiota. Urocanate was significantly increased in abnormal semen samples (adjusted P-value < 0.001) and enriched in samples dominated by Prevotella spp. (P-value < 0.05), which was previously linked to a negative impact on semen. Therefore, varying microbiota profiles can influence the abundance of certain metabolites, potentially having an immunomodulatory effect, as seen with urocanate.IMPORTANCEMale infertility is often considered idiopathic since the specific cause of infertility often remains unidentified. Recently, variations in the seminal microbiota composition have been associated with normal and abnormal semen parameters and may, therefore, influence male infertility. Bacteria are known to alter the metabolite composition of their ecological niches, and thus, seminal bacteria might affect the composition of the seminal fluid, crucial in the fertilization process. Our research indicates that distinct seminal microbiota profiles are not associated with widespread changes in the metabolite composition of the seminal fluid. Instead, the presence of particular metabolites with immunomodulatory functions, such as urocanate, could shed light on the interplay between seminal microbiota and variations in semen parameters.https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/spectrum.02911-23seminal microbiotaseminal fluidinfertility |
| spellingShingle | D. Baud A. Zuber A. Peric N. Pluchino N. Vulliemoz M. Stojanov Impact of semen microbiota on the composition of seminal plasma Microbiology Spectrum seminal microbiota seminal fluid infertility |
| title | Impact of semen microbiota on the composition of seminal plasma |
| title_full | Impact of semen microbiota on the composition of seminal plasma |
| title_fullStr | Impact of semen microbiota on the composition of seminal plasma |
| title_full_unstemmed | Impact of semen microbiota on the composition of seminal plasma |
| title_short | Impact of semen microbiota on the composition of seminal plasma |
| title_sort | impact of semen microbiota on the composition of seminal plasma |
| topic | seminal microbiota seminal fluid infertility |
| url | https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/spectrum.02911-23 |
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