Contraceptive Sperm Agglutinating Proteins Identified in Staphylococcus warneri, Natural Microflora of an Infertile Woman

Pant, Neeraj Chandra; Singh, Ravinder; Chauhan, Aditi; Gupta, Vijaya; Mavuduru, Ravimohan; Prabha, Vijay; Sharma, Prince

doi:10.1007/s12088-018-0766-5

Cited by 3 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 23 publications

(32 reference statements)

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“…Finally, the microbiome of the female reproductive tract may impact the fertilising performance of an insemination directly. For example, a strain of Staphylococcus warneri, isolated from the cervix of an infertile woman, caused sperm agglutination and death in vitro [61].…”

Section: Postcopulatory Sexual Selection: Sperm Competition and Cryptmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Reproductive Microbiome: An Emerging Driver of Sexual Selection, Sexual Conflict, Mating Systems, and Reproductive Isolation

Rowe

Veerus

Trosvik

et al. 2020

Trends in Ecology & Evolution

111

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All multicellular organisms host microbial communities in and on their bodies, and these microbiomes can have major influences on host biology. Most research has focussed on the oral, skin, and gut microbiomes, whereas relatively little is known about the reproductive microbiome. Here, we review empirical evidence to show that reproductive microbiomes can have significant effects on the reproductive function and performance of males and females. We then discuss the likely repercussions of these effects for evolutionary processes related to sexual selection and sexual conflict, as well as mating systems and reproductive isolation. We argue that knowledge of the reproductive microbiome is fundamental to our understanding of the evolutionary ecology of reproductive strategies and sexual dynamics of host organisms. The Microbiome Revolution and the Reproductive MicrobiomeAnimals and plants live and evolve in a world dominated by microbes, and host a diversity of microbial communities in and on their bodies. A recent explosion in research on host-associated microbial communities (i.e., microbiota and/or microbiomes, see Glossary) is revolutionising biology. While earlier research typically considered microorganisms from a pathological perspective, it is now widely accepted that the relationship between host and microbes spans a continuum, from detrimental to beneficial. Through their influence on host health, physiology, development, and behaviour [1,2], microbiomes can be seen as an integral part of the host phenotype, and potentially also the host genome (e.g., the hologenome concept [3], but see [4]). While considerable attention has been paid to the role of oral, skin, and gut microbiomes in host ecology, evolution, and fitness, less is known about the reproductive microbiome (Box 1). This is surprising given longstanding knowledge of microbes in male and female reproductive systems (e.g., [5]), most notably in the context of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) [6], and more recent DNA-sequencing studies demonstrating the presence of dynamic microbial communities in reproductive tissues [7], especially the vagina [8,9]. Thus, the reproductive microbiome represents an outstanding challenge in the study of host-associated microbial communities.

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Section: Postcopulatory Sexual Selection: Sperm Competition and Cryptmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Reproductive Microbiome: An Emerging Driver of Sexual Selection, Sexual Conflict, Mating Systems, and Reproductive Isolation

Rowe

Veerus

Trosvik

et al. 2020

Trends in Ecology & Evolution

111

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“…ORF finder showed the presence of one ORF encoding ribonucleotide-diphosphate reductase-α sub unit. STRING analysis showed the proteins interacting with ribonucleotide-diphosphate reductase-α [24].…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…S. warneri isolated from the cervix of a woman with inexplicable infertility, showed sperm agglutinating activity and was identified by Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) Microflex LT mass spectrometer [24]. It was maintained in Brain Heart Infusion broth.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Sperm agglutinating activity was carried out as described earlier by Pant et al [24]. Breifly, S. warneri was grown in Luria Broth (LB) at 37 °C/180 rpm for 72 h, following which it was centrifuged at 10,000 xg for 10 min at 4 °C.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The digest was run on a preparative gel and the agarose gel containing fragments (2–6 kb) was excised by sterile blade to extract DNA using the commercial QIAquick Gel Extraction kit (QIAGEN). Ligation was carried out with the linear pSMART vector (Lucigen) and transformed in electrocompetent E. coli DH10β cells (Lucigen) [24].…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Contraceptive efficacy of sperm agglutinating factor from Staphylococcus warneri, isolated from the cervix of a woman with inexplicable infertility

Pant

Singh

Gupta

et al. 2019

Reprod Biol Endocrinol

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BackgroundVoluntary control of fertility is of paramount importance to the modern society. But since the contraceptive methods available for women have their limitations such as urinary tract infections, allergies, cervical erosion and discomfort, a desperate need exists to develop safe methods. Vaginal contraceptives may be the answer to this problem, as these are the oldest ways of fertility regulation, practiced over the centuries. With minimal systemic involvement, these are also the safest. Natural substances blocking or impairing the sperm motility offer as valuable non-cytotoxic vaginal contraceptives. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) isolated from plants, animals and microorganisms are known to possess sperm immobilizing and spermicidal properties. Following this, in the quest for alternative means, we have cloned, over expressed and purified the recombinant sperm agglutinating factor (SAF) from Staphylococcus warneri, isolated from the cervix of a woman with unexplained infertility.MethodsGenomic library of Staphylococcus warneri was generated in Escherichia coli using pSMART vector and screened for sperm agglutinating factor (SAF). The insert in sperm agglutinating transformant was sequenced and was found to express ribonucleotide-diphosphate reductase-α sub unit. The ORF was sub-cloned in pET28a vector, expressed and purified. The effect of rSAF on motility, viability, morphology, Mg++-dependent ATPase activity and acrosome status of human sperms was analyzed in vitro and contraceptive efficacy was evaluated in vivo in female BALB/c mice.ResultsThe 80 kDa rSAF showed complete sperm agglutination, inhibited its Mg2+-ATPase activity, caused premature sperm acrosomal loss in vitro and mimicked the pattern in vivo showing 100% contraception in BALB/c mice resulting in prevention of pregnancy. The FITC labeled SAF was found to bind the entire surface of spermatozoa. Vaginal application and oral administration of rSAF to mice for 14 successive days did not demonstrate any significant change in vaginal cell morphology, organ weight and tissue histology of reproductive and non-reproductive organs and had no negative impact in the dermal and penile irritation tests.ConclusionThe Sperm Agglutinating Factor from Staphylococcus warneri, natural microflora of human cervix, showed extensive potential to be employed as a safe vaginal contraceptive.

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Microbiota and its therapeutic implications in reproductive health and diseases

Singh

Srivastava

2023

Microbiome Therapeutics

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Contraceptive Sperm Agglutinating Proteins Identified in Staphylococcus warneri, Natural Microflora of an Infertile Woman

Cited by 3 publications

References 23 publications

The Reproductive Microbiome: An Emerging Driver of Sexual Selection, Sexual Conflict, Mating Systems, and Reproductive Isolation

The Reproductive Microbiome: An Emerging Driver of Sexual Selection, Sexual Conflict, Mating Systems, and Reproductive Isolation

Contraceptive efficacy of sperm agglutinating factor from Staphylococcus warneri, isolated from the cervix of a woman with inexplicable infertility

Microbiota and its therapeutic implications in reproductive health and diseases

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