Contribution of the seminal microbiome to paternal programming

Biology of Reproduction, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 111(2), P. 242 - 268

Published: May 2, 2024

Abstract The field of Developmental Origins Health and Disease has primarily focused on maternal programming offspring health. However, emerging evidence suggests that paternal factors, including the seminal microbiome, could potentially play important roles in shaping developmental trajectory long-term health outcomes. Historically, microbes present semen were regarded as inherently pathogenic agents. this dogma recently been challenged by discovery a diverse commensal microbial community within healthy males. In addition, recent studies suggest transmission semen-associated into female reproductive tract during mating potentials to not only influence fertility embryo development but also contribute offspring. review, we summarize current knowledge microbiota both humans animals followed discussing their potential involvement We propose discuss mechanisms through which influences are transmitted via microbiome. Overall, review provides insights microbiome-based programing, will expand our understanding currently epigenetic modifications, oxidative stresses, cytokines.

Language: Английский

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Antibiotics in semen extenders – a multiplicity of paradoxes

Reproduction Fertility and Development, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 36(5)

Published: March 6, 2024

Addition of antibiotics to semen extenders was taken for granted many years, from the time that commercial artificial insemination in livestock first began decades ago. However, there is now a growing realisation this non-therapeutic utilisation antibacterial agents contrary current recommendations prudent use medical and veterinary professionals are advised follow. Furthermore, not benign, having negative effects on sperm samples, inseminated female, personnel potentially environment. The purpose review three-fold: highlight fact used extenders, with result considerable amounts globally animal breeding, recent studies aspects using purpose, look at possible alternatives. Recent changes legislation regarding occurred some, but all, countries, leaving question marks producers as whether should be added or not.

Language: Английский

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Whole-body microbiota of newborn calves and their response to prenatal vitamin and mineral supplementation

Frontiers in Microbiology, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 14

Published: June 26, 2023

Early life microbial colonization and factors affecting patterns are gaining interest due to recent developments suggesting that early microbiome may play a role in Developmental Origins of Health Disease. In cattle, limited information exists on the anatomical sites involved bovine health beyond gastrointestinal tract. Here, we investigated 1) initial seven different locations newborn calves 2) whether these communities 3) serum cytokine profiles influenced by prenatal vitamin mineral (VTM) supplementation. Samples were collected from hoof, liver, lung, nasal cavity, eye, rumen (tissue fluid), vagina beef born dams either received or did not receive VTM supplementation throughout gestation (n = 7/group). Calves separated immediately after birth fed commercial colostrum milk replacer until euthanasia at 30 h post-initial feeding. The microbiota all samples was assessed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing qPCR. Calf subjected multiplex quantification 15 cytokines chemokines. Our results indicated colonized site-specific microbiota, whose community structure differed ruminal-associated (0.64 ≥ R2 0.12, p ≤ 0.003). ruminal fluid only one treatment (p < 0.01). However, differences 0.05) detected richness (vagina); diversity (ruminal tissue, fluid, eye); composition phylum genus level vagina); total bacterial abundance (eye vagina). From evaluated, concentration chemokine IP-10 greater 0.02) compared control calves. Overall, our suggest upon birth, whole-body relatively rich, diverse, communities. Noticeable observed ruminal, vaginal, ocular response These findings can derive future hypotheses regarding body sites, maternal micronutrient consumption as factor influence colonization.

Language: Английский

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Paternal effects on fetal programming

Animal Reproduction, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 20(2)

Published: Jan. 1, 2023

Paternal programming is the concept that environmental signals from sire's experiences leading up to mating can alter semen and ultimately affect phenotype of resulting offspring. Potential mechanisms carrying paternal effects offspring be associated with epigenetic signatures (DNA methylation, histone modification non-coding RNAs), oxidative stress, cytokines, seminal microbiome. Several opportunities exist for sperm/semen influenced during development; these are within testicle, epididymis, or accessory sex glands. Epigenetic sperm impacted pre-natal pre-pubertal periods, sexual maturity advancing sire age. Sperm susceptible alterations as dictated by their developmental stage at time perturbation, plasma likely have both dependent independent on Research using rodent models has revealed many factors including over/under nutrition, dietary fat, protein, ingredient composition (e.g., macro- micronutrients), exercise, exposure drugs, alcohol, endocrine disruptors all elicit responses evident in phenotype. livestock species also age, fertility level, plane heat stress induce epigenetic, cytokine, microbiome profiles and/or plasma. In addition, recent findings pigs, sheep, cattle indicated blastocysts post-fertilization some continuing into post-natal life Our research group focused understanding common management scenarios nutrition growth rates bulls rams subsequent outcomes. Understanding implication imperative short-term feeding decisions potential impact productivity profitability our herds generations come.

Language: Английский

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Sequencing and culture-based characterization of the vaginal and uterine microbiota in beef cattle that became pregnant or remained open following artificial insemination

Microbiology Spectrum, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 11(6)

Published: Nov. 3, 2023

Emerging evidence suggests that microbiome-targeted approaches may provide a novel opportunity to reduce the incidence of reproductive failures in cattle. To develop such microbiome-based strategies, one first logical steps is identify microbiome features related fertility and isolate fertility-associated microbial species for developing future bacterial consortium could be administered before breeding enhance pregnancy outcomes. Here, we characterized vaginal uterine microbiota beef cattle became pregnant or remained open via artificial insemination identified associated with fertility. We compared similarities between heifers cows. Using culturing, provided new insights into culturable fraction their antimicrobial resistance. Overall, our findings will serve as an important basis research aimed at harnessing improved

Language: Английский

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Characterizing the prevalence of Fusobacterium necrophorum subsp. necrophorum, Fusobacterium necrophorum subsp. funduliforme, and Fusobacterium varium in bovine and ovine semen, bovine gut, and vagino-uterine and fetal microbiota using targeted culturing and qPCR

Microbiology Spectrum, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: March 24, 2025

ABSTRACT Fusobacterium necrophorum is an important pathogen associated with several infectious diseases in cattle. However, recent sequencing-based studies reported that F. may be positively pregnancy beef cows and highly abundant bull seminal microbiota potential involvement reproductive health fertility. Here, we performed a comprehensive screening to (i) determine the prevalence of (subspecies [FNN] funduliforme [FNF]) varium (FV) cattle sheep as well bovine digestive tract ecosystems, (ii) explore whether these spp. colonize calf prenatally. For this, screened 11 different sample types including ram semen, vaginal uterine swabs, fecal samples, samples from 180- 260-day-old fetuses their respective dams using both quantitative PCR (qPCR; 514 samples) targeted culturing (499 samples). By qPCR, all were detected across varying rates viability. FNF was prevalent semen (66.7%) maternal ruminal fluids (87.1%), its viability confirmed through culturing. All identified swab (3.1%–9.4%), caruncles, fetal fluids, rumen, meconium (2.7%–26.3%) by qPCR but not isolated culture method. Overall, our results, for first time, suggest commensal member healthy male microbiota, FNF, FNN, FV are present vagino-uterine intestine IMPORTANCE Recent Fusobacterium, , known primary etiological agent cattle, non-pathogenic members pro-fertility effects. further information regarding absolute abundance, viability, higher taxonomic resolution species subspecies which cannot achievable amplicon sequencing approach needed confirm status over 500 qPCR. results provide novel insights into female tracts presence fetuses, will serve basis research understanding role

Language: Английский

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The Bovine Ocular Microbiome: A Multi-Approach Study of Composition and Antimicrobial Activity

Research Square (Research Square), Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: March 26, 2025

Background Despite widespread use of antimicrobials and vaccines, the incidence infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis (IBK), or pinkeye, continues to increase in North American beef cow-calf operations. Recent research suggests that there is potential for commensal ocular microbiome help mitigate IBK. Therefore, this study characterized cattle with without IBK using culturing shotgun metagenomic sequencing assessed ability bacteria inhibit Moraxella spp. in vitro. Ocular swabs (n = 143) were collected from IBK-affected 102) healthy 41) before antimicrobial treatment Dakota herds. Bacteria cultured aerobically anaerobically on five different media isolates identified. A subset (37 IBK; 12 healthy) underwent sequencing. The genomes 31 isolates, including Moraxella bovoculi, bovis, bacteria, also sequenced. Fifty-two screened inhibition an agar slab method, further tested presence culturable qPCR. Results 351 bacterial taxonomically identified represented 61 genera three phyla. majority belonged Bacillus (25.9%), Streptococcus (11.1%), Staphylococcus (10.1%), (9.4%) genera. Shotgun analysis revealed significant differences composition between (R² 0.042; P 0.034). Dominant species included Cutibacterium acnes, Mannheimia pernigra, Mesomycoplasma bovoculi. Eight species, Bifidobacterium globosum Bacillus licheniformis, more abundant cattle, while Arthrobacter luteus was enriched cases. Thirty-seven high-quality metagenome-assembled recovered, 27% classified as exhibited strain-specific resistance virulence gene diversity. Seventeen inhibited Moraxella, Weizmannia coagulans, Lentilactobacillus buchneri, Paenibacillus polymyxa showing strong activity. Selected maintained inhibitory effects co-culture microbiome. Conclusion surface inhabited by a diverse includes several strains have be used therapeutics pathogens.

Language: Английский

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Innovative Approaches to Avoid Antibiotic Use in Equine Semen Cryopreservation: Advancing Sustainable Reproductive Technologies

Animals, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 15(10), P. 1368 - 1368

Published: May 9, 2025

This study evaluated the impact of different processing techniques on microbial load and sperm quality in frozen–thawed equine semen to identify alternatives reduce preventive use antibiotics. Semen was obtained processed under rigorous hygiene measures from ten stallions, using four protocols: Simple Centrifugation with antibiotics (S+) (S−), Filtration (F−) Single-Layer Colloidal (C−) an antibiotic-free extender. Microbial culture media, viability motility were assessed. results consistent across protocols, except Columbia 5% Sheep Blood Agar where S− exhibited higher than S+ (p < 0.05). However, F− C− showed similar loads S+. No significant differences observed progressive motility, average path velocity, straight-line velocity or wobble parameters between protocols. Total significantly compared other treatments Thus, regardless antibiotics, proposed methods achieved traditional antibiotic-inclusive protocol terms most relevant parameters. These findings suggest that C−, combined optimized measures, offers effective alternative prophylactic extenders.

Language: Английский

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Strategies for Bacterial Eradication from Human and Animal Semen Samples: Current Options and Future Alternatives

Sensors, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 23(15), P. 6978 - 6978

Published: Aug. 6, 2023

The primary role of semen processing and preservation is to maintain a high proportion structurally functionally competent mature spermatozoa, that may be used for the purposes artificial reproduction when needed, whilst minimizing any potential causes sperm deterioration during ex vivo handling. Out multitude variables determining success preservation, bacterial contamination has been acknowledged with an increased interest because its often unpredictable complex effects on quality. Whilst antibiotics are usually most straight-forward option prevent semen, antimicrobial resistance become serious threat requiring widespread attention. As such, besides discussing consequences bacteriospermia vitality risks antibiotic overuse in andrology, this paper summarizes currently available evidence alternative strategies prior to, during, following processing, selection, preservation. Alternative antibacterial supplements reviewed, emphasis given modern methods selection combined by physical removal bacteria or use assisted reproductive technologies.

Language: Английский

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Fusobacterium necrophorum and Fusobacterium varium are commensal members of the bovine reproductive microbiota and may colonize calf prenatally

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Oct. 16, 2024

ABSTRACT Fusobacterium necrophorum is an important pathogen associated with several infectious diseases in cattle. However, recent sequencing-based studies have indicated that F. positively pregnancy beef cows and the most abundant genus bull seminal microbiota, suggesting potential role of reproductive health fertility. Here, we performed a comprehensive screening to 1) determine whether (subspecies [FNN] funduliforme [FNF]), varium (FV) are part commensal members microbiota cattle; 2) explore these spp. colonized calf prenatally. For this, screened 11 different sample types including bovine ram semen, vaginal uterine swabs, fecal samples, as well samples from 180- 260-days old fetuses their respective dams using both quantitative PCR (514 samples) targeted culturing (499 samples). By qPCR, all were detected across types, FNF being highly prevalent semen (66.7%) maternal ruminal fluids (87.1%), which was confirmed by culturing. All identified (3.1%-9.4%) placental caruncles, fetal fluids, meconium (2.7% - 26.3%) qPCR not isolated culture method. Overall, our results suggest member healthy male FNF, FNN FV present vagino-uterine intestine

Language: Английский

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