<i>Trichomonas vaginalis</i>and<i>Mycoplasma hominis</i>: new tales of two old friends

Dessì, Daniele; Margarita, Valentina; Cocco, Anna Rita; Marongiu, Alessandra; Fiori, Pier Luigi; Rappelli, Paola

doi:10.1017/s0031182018002135

Cited by 40 publications

(41 citation statements)

References 70 publications

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“…In the vagina, the interplay of commensals, pathogens, and pathobionts with the host is not well understood. A unique case of microbial synergism between T. vaginalis and its bacterial endosymbiont Mycoplasma hominis was described previously (26). In sensu stricto, microbial synergism has been redefined as a phenotype induced by the combination of T. vaginalis and M. hominis that is greater than that represented by the sum of the effects of the individual microorganisms (27).…”

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confidence: 99%

Cooperative Interactions between Trichomonas vaginalis and Associated Bacteria Enhance Paracellular Permeability of the Cervicovaginal Epithelium by Dysregulating Tight Junctions

et al. 2019

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The human protozoan Trichomonas vaginalis is the causative agent of trichomoniasis, a prevalent sexually transmitted infection, which is accompanied by a species-diversified vaginal microbiota named community state type IV (CST-IV). Coincidently, CST-IV includes species associated with bacterial vaginosis (e.g. Gardnerella vaginalis, Atopobium vaginae, and Prevotella bivia). Both diseases are linked to the transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and preterm birth, which complications are likely to result from the disruption of the cervicovaginal epithelial barrier. Here, we show that paracellular permeability of fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-dextran through a monolayer of human ectocervical cells (hECs) is increased as a consequence of the activity of T. vaginalis and the aforementioned species of CST-IV bacteria cooperatively. T. vaginalis enhances paracellular permeability of hECs two times more than the individual bacterial species, by up to ∼10% versus ∼5%, respectively. However, any two or all three bacterial species are capable of synergizing this effect. T. vaginalis and the bacteria together increase the paracellular permeability of hECs by ∼50%, which is 5 to 10 times more than the results seen with the protozoan or bacteria alone. This effect is accompanied by enhancement of phosphatase activity, while phosphatase inhibition results in preservation of the integrity of the ectocervical cell monolayer. In addition, these microorganisms induce changes in the expression of tight junction proteins, particularly occludin, and of proinflammatory cytokines interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α). Together, our findings establish that cooperative interactions between CST-IV bacteria and T. vaginalis enhance the paracellular permeability of the cervicovaginal epithelium by disturbing the integrity of the tight junction complex. Our study results highlight the importance of understanding the contribution of the vaginal microbiota to trichomoniasis.

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Cooperative Interactions between Trichomonas vaginalis and Associated Bacteria Enhance Paracellular Permeability of the Cervicovaginal Epithelium by Dysregulating Tight Junctions

et al. 2019

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“…v a g i n a l i s a nd immunopathogenesis. It upregulates the pro-inflammatory response of human monocytes to T. vaginalis (Fichorova et al 2017;Dessi et al 2019). Moreover, Xiao et al (2006) reported a positive association between M. hominis and T. vaginalis resistance to metronidazole; however, most data do not confirm such an association.…”

Section: Trichomonas Vaginalis and Bacteriamentioning

confidence: 98%

Parasite–bacteria interrelationship

Ashour

Othman

2020

Parasitol Res

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Parasites and bacteria have co-evolved with humankind, and they interact all the time in a myriad of ways. For example, some bacterial infections result from parasite-dwelling bacteria as in the case of Salmonella infection during schistosomiasis. Other bacteria synergize with parasites in the evolution of human disease as in the case of the interplay between Wolbachia endosymbiont bacteria and filarial nematodes as well as the interaction between Gram-negative bacteria and Schistosoma haematobium in the pathogenesis of urinary bladder cancer. Moreover, secondary bacterial infections may complicate several parasitic diseases such as visceral leishmaniasis and malaria, due to immunosuppression of the host during parasitic infections. Also, bacteria may colonize the parasitic lesions; for example, hydatid cysts and skin lesions of ectoparasites. Remarkably, some parasitic helminths and arthropods exhibit antibacterial activity usually by the release of specific antimicrobial products. Lastly, some parasitebacteria interactions are induced as when using probiotic bacteria to modulate the outcome of a variety of parasitic infections. In sum, parasite-bacteria interactions involve intricate processes that never cease to intrigue the researchers. However, understanding and exploiting these interactions could have prophylactic and curative potential for infections by both types of pathogens.

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“…In contrast, the likely role of T. vaginalis in adverse pregnancy outcomes is given by the host immune response induced by local inflammation caused by infection, since the protist is a non-invasive pathogen unable to invade fetal membranes during pregnancy. The production of proinflammatory cytokines following trichomonad infection can indirectly lead to severe pregnancy complications (Fichorova, 2009;Mielczarek and Blaszkowska, 2016;Dessì et al, 2019). In a recent article, a gene (goiC) associated with amniotic infections and preterm delivery has been identified in M. hominis isolated in a group of women with preterm labor (Allen-Daniels et al, 2015).…”

Section: T Vaginalis/m Hominis Symbiosis and Female Reproductive Hementioning

confidence: 99%

Paradigms of Protist/Bacteria Symbioses Affecting Human Health: Acanthamoeba species and Trichomonas vaginalis

et al. 2021

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Ever since the publication of the seminal paper by Lynn Margulis in 1967 proposing the theory of the endosymbiotic origin of organelles, the study of the symbiotic relationships between unicellular eukaryotes and prokaryotes has received ever-growing attention by microbiologists and evolutionists alike. While the evolutionary significance of the endosymbiotic associations within protists has emerged and is intensively studied, the impact of these relationships on human health has been seldom taken into account. Microbial endosymbioses involving human eukaryotic pathogens are not common, and the sexually transmitted obligate parasite Trichomonas vaginalis and the free-living opportunistic pathogen Acanthamoeba represent two unique cases in this regard, to date. The reasons of this peculiarity for T. vaginalis and Acanthamoeba may be due to their lifestyles, characterized by bacteria-rich environments. However, this characteristic does not fully explain the reason why no bacterial endosymbiont has yet been detected in unicellular eukaryotic human pathogens other than in T. vaginalis and Acanthamoeba, albeit sparse and poorly investigated examples of morphological identification of bacteria-like microorganisms associated with Giardia and Entamoeba were reported in the past. In this review article we will present the body of experimental evidences revealing the profound effects of these examples of protist/bacteria symbiosis on the pathogenesis of the microbial species involved, and ultimately their impact on human health.

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Trichomonas vaginalisandMycoplasma hominis: new tales of two old friends

Cited by 40 publications

References 70 publications

Cooperative Interactions between Trichomonas vaginalis and Associated Bacteria Enhance Paracellular Permeability of the Cervicovaginal Epithelium by Dysregulating Tight Junctions

Cooperative Interactions between Trichomonas vaginalis and Associated Bacteria Enhance Paracellular Permeability of the Cervicovaginal Epithelium by Dysregulating Tight Junctions

Parasite–bacteria interrelationship

Paradigms of Protist/Bacteria Symbioses Affecting Human Health: Acanthamoeba species and Trichomonas vaginalis

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