Publications

switches in genomic gc content drive shifts of optimal codons under sustained selection on synonymous sites.	the major codon preference model suggests that codons read by trnas in high concentrations are preferentially utilized in highly expressed genes. however, the identity of the optimal codons differs between species although the forces driving such changes are poorly understood. we suggest that these questions can be tackled by placing codon usage studies in a phylogenetic framework and that bacterial genomes with extreme nucleotide composition biases provide informative model systems. switches in ...	2016	27540085
[vaginal infections in pregnant women at the regional hospital of sokode (togo) in 2010 and 2011].	the aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of the major microorganisms causing vaginal infections in pregnant women consulting at the regional hospital of sokodé and to assess their sensitivity to antibiotics.	2016	23692693
vaginal dysbiosis from an evolutionary perspective.	evolutionary approaches are powerful tools for understanding human disorders. the composition of vaginal microbiome is important for reproductive success and has not yet been characterized in the contexts of social structure and vaginal pathology in non-human primates (nhps). we investigated vaginal size, vulvovaginal pathology and the presence of the main human subtypes of lactobacillus spp./ bv-related species in the vaginal microflora of baboons (papio spp.). we performed morphometric measure ...	2016	27226349
microbiome composition and function drives wound-healing impairment in the female genital tract.	the mechanism(s) by which bacterial communities impact susceptibility to infectious diseases, such as hiv, and maintain female genital tract (fgt) health are poorly understood. evaluation of fgt bacteria has predominantly been limited to studies of species abundance, but not bacterial function. we therefore sought to examine the relationship of bacterial community composition and function with mucosal epithelial barrier health in the context of bacterial vaginosis (bv) using metaproteomic, metag ...	2016	27656899
preclinical evaluation of tolerability of a selective, bacteriostatic, locally active vaginal formulation.	polybactum (effik international, brussels, belgium) is a vaginal mucoadhesive product (medical device) designed to form a film that acts as a mechanical barrier with the aim of inhibiting colonization by specific pathogens. it contains polycarbophil, a bioadhesive agent, and lauryl glucoside (lg), a nonionic surfactant that reinforces the barrier effect through its tensioactive properties.	2016	27766122
molecular assessment of bacterial vaginosis by lactobacillus abundance and species diversity.	to date, women are most often diagnosed with bacterial vaginosis (bv) using microscopy based nugent scoring or amsel criteria. however, the accuracy is less than optimal. the aim of the present study was to confirm the identity of known bv-associated composition profiles and evaluate indicators for bv using three molecular methods.	2016	27107961
a molecular portrait of maternal sepsis from byzantine troy.	pregnancy complications are poorly represented in the archeological record, despite their importance in contemporary and ancient societies. while excavating a byzantine cemetery in troy, we discovered calcified abscesses among a woman's remains. scanning electron microscopy of the tissue revealed 'ghost cells', resulting from dystrophic calcification, which preserved ancient maternal, fetal and bacterial dna of a severe infection, likely chorioamnionitis. gardnerella vaginalis and staphylococcus ...	2017	28072390
bacterial vaginosis in association with spontaneous abortion and recurrent pregnancy losses.	bacterial vaginosis (bv) is related to the increased risk of miscarriage, preterm labor, and postpartum endometritis.	2017	27756985
anti-inflammatory elafin in human fetal membranes.	elafin is a low molecular weight protein with antileukoproteinase, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and immunomodulating properties. the profile of elafin in fetal membranes is not well characterized. this study determined the changes in elafin expression and concentration in human fetal membrane from patients with preterm prelabor rupture of membranes (pprom) and in vitro in response to intra-amniotic polymicrobial pathogens.	2017	27580179
lactobacillus iners: friend or foe?	the vaginal microbial community is typically characterized by abundant lactobacilli. lactobacillus iners, a fairly recently detected species, is frequently present in the vaginal niche. however, the role of this species in vaginal health is unclear, since it can be detected in normal conditions as well as during vaginal dysbiosis, such as bacterial vaginosis, a condition characterized by an abnormal increase in bacterial diversity and lack of typical lactobacilli. compared to other lactobacillus ...	2017	27914761
human three-dimensional endometrial epithelial cell model to study host interactions with vaginal bacteria and neisseria gonorrhoeae.	colonization of the endometrium by pathogenic bacteria ascending from the lower female reproductive tract (frt) is associated with many gynecologic and obstetric health complications. to study these host-microbe interactions in vitro, we developed a human three-dimensional (3-d) endometrial epithelial cell (eec) model using the hec-1a cell line and the rotating wall vessel (rwv) bioreactor technology. our model, composed of 3-d eec aggregates, recapitulates several functional/structural characte ...	2017	28052997
[nonviral sexually transmitted infections-epidemiology, clinical manifestations, diagnostic workup, therapy : part 3: treponemes, gardnerella and trichomonads].	in germany, the reported syphilis prevalence has increased continuously since 2010, with a total of 6834 syphilis cases being reported in 2015. the largest increase of reported syphilis occurred in men who have sex with men (msm). the antibiotic agent of choice for treatment of syphilis is still penicillin. there are no penicillin-resistant treponema pallidum strains. alternatives are ceftriaxone and doxycycline. in germany, azithromycin is not approved for treatment of syphilis; however, therap ...	2017	28058468
gardnerella vaginalis population dynamics in bacterial vaginosis.	bacterial vaginosis (bv) is the leading cause of vaginal discharge and is associated with the facultative gram-variable bacterium gardnerella vaginalis, whose population structure consists of four clades. our goal was to determine if these clades differ with regard to abundance during bv. we performed a short-term longitudinal study of bv. patients were evaluated according to the amsel criteria and nugent scoring at initial diagnosis, immediately after treatment and at a 40- to 45-day follow-up ...	2017	28197729
bacterial biofilms in the vagina.	a bacterial biofilm is a structured community of bacteria in a self-produced extracellular matrix, adherent to an inert surface or biological tissue. the involvement of biofilm in a bacterial infection implies that the infection is difficult to treat and that the patient will probably experience relapses of the condition. in bacterial vaginosis (bv), the lactobacilli concentration decreases, while the bacterial load of other (facultative) anaerobic bacteria increases. a hallmark of bv is the pre ...	2017	28232119
the influence of sexual activity on the vaginal microbiota and gardnerella vaginalis clade diversity in young women.	to examine the influence of sexual activity on the composition and consistency of the vaginal microbiota over time, and distribution of gardnerella vaginalis clades in young women.	2017	28234976
the presence of the putative gardnerella vaginalis sialidase a gene in vaginal specimens is associated with bacterial vaginosis biofilm.	bacterial vaginosis (bv) is a difficult-to-treat recurrent condition in which health-associated lactobacilli are outnumbered by other anaerobic bacteria, such as gardnerella vaginalis. certain genotypes of g. vaginalis can produce sialidase, while others cannot. sialidase is known to facilitate the destruction of the protective mucus layer on the vaginal epithelium by hydrolysis of sialic acid on the glycans of mucous membranes. this process possibly facilitates adhesion of bacterial cells on th ...	2017	28241058
thymbra capitata essential oil as potential therapeutic agent against gardnerella vaginalis biofilm-related infections.	to evaluate the antibacterial activity of thymbra capitata essential oil and its main compound, carvacrol, against gardnerella vaginalis grown planktonically and as biofilms, and its effect of vaginal lactobacilli.	2017	28339292
gardnerella vaginalis diversity and ecology in relation to vaginal symptoms.	gardnerella vaginalis was first described in 1953, and subsequently identified as the causative agent of a cluster of vaginal symptoms currently known as vaginosis. research has so far failed to confirm whether and by which mechanism g. vaginalis initiates vaginosis, with, consequently, poor diagnostics and treatment outcomes. recent molecular analyses of protein-coding genes demonstrate that the taxon g. vaginalis consists of at least four distinct species. this development may represent a crit ...	2017	28341009
etiology of bacterial vaginosis and polymicrobial biofilm formation.	microorganisms in nature rarely exist in a planktonic form, but in the form of biofilms. biofilms have been identified as the cause of many chronic and persistent infections and have been implicated in the etiology of bacterial vaginosis (bv). bacterial vaginosis is the most common form of vaginal infection in women of reproductive age. similar to other biofilm infections, bv biofilms protect the bv-related bacteria against antibiotics and cause recurrent bv. in this review, an overview of bv-re ...	2017	28358585
[bacteremia by gardnerella vaginalis in a case of complicated urolithiasis].		2017	26364858
higher prevalence of colonization with gardnerella vaginalis and gram-negative anaerobes in patients with recurrent miscarriage and elevated peripheral natural killer cells.	the role of vaginal infections in recurrent miscarriage (rm) is discussed controversially and screening is not recommended in international guidelines. peripheral and uterine nk cells (pnk, unk) play an important role in the establishment of a healthy pregnancy and are targets of immune diagnostics in rm patients. the aim of this study was to analyze the composition of the vaginal microbiota in rm patients and to correlate the findings to clinical characteristics as well as nk cell parameters. i ...	2017	28388469
determination of antibacterial and technological properties of vaginal lactobacilli for their potential application in dairy products.	functional foods could differently affect human health in relation to the gender. recent studies have highlighted the anti-candida and anti-chlamydia activities of some lactobacillus strains isolated from the vagina of healthy women. considering these important beneficial activities on women's health, the preparation of functional food containing active vaginal lactobacilli can represent a great scientific challenge for the female gender. in this context, the aim of this work was to study some f ...	2017	28223974
transient microbiota exposures activate dormant escherichia coli infection in the bladder and drive severe outcomes of recurrent disease.	pathogens often inhabit the body asymptomatically, emerging to cause disease in response to unknown triggers. in the bladder, latent intracellular escherichia coli reservoirs are regarded as likely origins of recurrent urinary tract infection (ruti), a problem affecting millions of women worldwide. however, clinically plausible triggers that activate these reservoirs are unknown. clinical studies suggest that the composition of a woman's vaginal microbiota influences her susceptibility to ruti, ...	2017	28358889
subtilosin prevents biofilm formation by inhibiting bacterial quorum sensing.	subtilosin, the cyclic lantibiotic protein produced by bacillus subtilis katmira1933, targets the surface receptor and electrostatically binds to the bacterial cell membrane. in this study, subtilosin was purified using ammonium sulfate ((nh4)2so4) precipitation and purified via column chromatography. subtilosin's antibacterial minimum and sub-minimum inhibitory concentrations (mic and sub-mic) and anti-biofilm activity (biofilm prevention) were established. subtilosin was evaluated as a quorum ...	2017	27914001
survival of vaginal microorganisms in three commercially available transport systems.	transport systems are used to collect and maintain the viability of microorganisms. two amies media based transport systems, bd cultureswab™ maxv(+) amies medium without charcoal (maxv(+)) and fisherfinest(®) with amies gel transport medium without charcoal (fisherfinest(®)) were compared to a cary-blair media based transport system, starswab(®) anaerobic transport system (starswab(®)), for their capacity to maintain the viability of 17 clinical microorganisms commonly isolated from the vagina ( ...	2017	28242337
assessment of atopobium vaginae and gardnerella vaginalis concentrations in a cohort of pregnant south african women.	the purpose of this cross-sectional study was to assess atopobium vaginae and gardnerella vaginalis concentrations in pregnant women of different age groups, gestational age groups, vaginal flora categories and hiv status, and also to determine which dna concentrations best discriminated between bacterial vaginosis (bv)-positive and non-bv categories.	2017	28143901