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[Identification and analysis of a putative pathogenicity island Uu146-Uu170 in Ureaplasma urealyticum collected from
Jun Huang1, Jun Zhang, Jian-Ping Pan
1Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310016, China.
Objective:
To identify and analyze a putative pathogenicity island (PAI) Uu146-Uu170 of Ureaplasma urealyticum (Uu) and explore the relationship between PAI and infertility.
Methods:
Fifty-one Uu isolates were collected from healthy females, 57 isolates from sterile females with fallopian tube disease, 42 isolates from healthy males and 38 isolates from sterile males. Biovar-typing was performed based on the gene of multiple-banded antigen (MBA). The distribution of PAI was analyzed by PCR. The association of clinical phenotype with biovar type and PAI distribution was calculated by Fisher's exact test.
Results:
In female healthy group and female disease group, biovar type 1 account for 68.6% (35/51) and 73.7% (42/57), whereas the positive rate of PAI were 15.7% (8/51) and 12.3% (7/57) in the two groups, both difference were not statistically significant. In male healthy group and male disease group, biovar type 1 account for 71.4% (30/42) and 65.8% (25/38), whereas the positive rate of PAI were 21.4% (9/42) and 18.4% (7/38) in the two groups, both difference were not statistically significant. The positive rate of PAI in biovar type 2 was significantly higher than that in biovar type 1 in the fallopian tube disease and male infertility groups (5/15 vs 2/42, 5/13 vs 2/25, both P < 0.05) whereas no significant difference was found between two biovar types in normal groups (both P > 0.05).
Conclusions:
There is insufficient evidence that Uu with presence of PAI is more pathogenic to cause infertility. The Uu strain of biovar type 2 with PAI Uu146-Uu170 may be associated with infertility.
Insights
The pathogenicity island (PAI) Uu146-Uu170 in Ureaplasma urealyticum (Uu) does not appear to directly cause infertility. However, Uu biovar type 2 strains carrying this PAI may be linked to infertility.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Genetics
- Reproductive Health
Context:
- Ureaplasma urealyticum (Uu) is a common bacterium found in the urogenital tract.
- Pathogenicity islands (PAIs) are mobile genetic elements that can confer virulence to bacteria.
- The role of specific Uu strains and their genetic elements in infertility is not fully understood.
Purpose:
- To identify and characterize a specific PAI (Uu146-Uu170) in Ureaplasma urealyticum.
- To investigate the association between the presence of this PAI and infertility in both males and females.
- To explore potential links between Uu biovar types, PAI distribution, and clinical outcomes.
Summary:
- This study analyzed Uu isolates from healthy and infertile individuals, examining the distribution of the Uu146-Uu170 PAI and its correlation with biovar types.
- No significant association was found between the presence of the PAI and infertility in general.
- However, a higher prevalence of the PAI was observed in Uu biovar type 2 strains from patients with fallopian tube disease and male infertility, suggesting a potential specific association.
Impact:
- The findings suggest that the mere presence of the Uu146-Uu170 PAI in Ureaplasma urealyticum may not be a direct cause of infertility.
- Ureaplasma urealyticum strains belonging to biovar type 2 and possessing the Uu146-Uu170 PAI might play a role in the development of infertility.
- This research contributes to understanding the complex interplay between Ureaplasma urealyticum, its genetic elements, and reproductive health outcomes.
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