Waddlia chondrophila, a Chlamydia-related bacterium, has a negative impact on human spermatozoa.

Details

Serval ID
serval:BIB_2050329E571A
Type
Article: article from journal or magazin.
Collection
Publications
Institution
Title
Waddlia chondrophila, a Chlamydia-related bacterium, has a negative impact on human spermatozoa.
Journal
Human reproduction
Author(s)
Baud D., Vulliemoz N., Ammerdorffer A., Gyger J., Greub G., Castella V., Stojanov M.
ISSN
1460-2350 (Electronic)
ISSN-L
0268-1161
Publication state
Published
Issued date
01/01/2018
Peer-reviewed
Oui
Volume
33
Number
1
Pages
3-10
Language
english
Notes
Publication types: Journal Article ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Publication Status: ppublish
Abstract
What is the impact of Waddlia chondrophila, an emerging Chlamydia-related bacterium associated with miscarriage, on human spermatozoa?
W. chondrophila had a negative impact on human spermatozoa (decrease in viability and mitochondrial membrane potential) and was not entirely removed from infected samples by density gradient centrifugation.
Bacterial infection or colonization might have a deleterious effect on male fertility. Waddlia chondrophila was previously associated with miscarriage, but its impact on male reproductive function has never been studied.
An in vitro model of human spermatozoa infection was used to assess the effects of W. chondrophila infection. Controls included Chlamydia trachomatis serovar D and latex beads with similar size to bacteria.
Purified motile spermatozoa were infected with W. chondrophila (multiplicity of infection of 1). Immunohistochemistry combined with confocal microscopy was used to evaluate how bacteria interact with spermatozoa. The impact on physiology was assessed by monitoring cell viability, mitochondrial membrane potential and DNA fragmentation.
Using super-resolution confocal microscopy, bacteria were localized on spermatozoa surface, as well as inside the cytoplasm. Compared to controls, W. chondrophila caused a 20% increase in mortality over 72 h of incubation (P < 0.05). Moreover, higher bacterial loads significantly reduced mitochondrial membrane potential. Bacteria present on spermatozoa surface were able to further infect a cell-monolayer, indicating that sperm might vector bacteria during sexual intercourse.
The main limitation of the study is the use of an in vitro model of infection, which might be too simplistic compared to an actual infection. An animal model of infection should be developed to better evaluate the in vivo impact of W. chondrophila.
Intracellular bacteria, including C. trachomatis, Mycoplasma spp. and Ureaplasma spp., are associated with male infertility. Waddlia chondrophila might represent yet another member of this group, highlighting the need for more rigorous microbiological analysis during investigations for male infertility.
This work has been funded by the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Lausanne University Hospital, Switzerland, and by the Swiss National Science Foundation (Grant nos. 310030-156169/1, 320030-169853/1 and 320030-169853/2 attributed to D.B.). D.B. is also supported by the 'Fondation Leenaards' through the 'Bourse pour la relève académique', by the 'Fondation Divesa' and by the 'Loterie Romande'. No conflicts of interest to declare.
Keywords
Chlamydia trachomatis/pathogenicity, Chlamydiales/pathogenicity, Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections/complications, Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections/microbiology, Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections/physiopathology, Host-Pathogen Interactions/physiology, Humans, In Vitro Techniques, Infertility, Male/etiology, Infertility, Male/microbiology, Infertility, Male/physiopathology, Male, Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial, Microscopy, Confocal, Models, Biological, Spermatozoa/microbiology, Spermatozoa/physiology, Chlamydia-related, Waddlia chondrophila, infection, male infertility, spermatozoa
Pubmed
Web of science
Create date
23/11/2017 21:24
Last modification date
20/08/2019 12:56
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