Human Male Genital Tract Microbiota. 2023

Arnaud Zuber, and Adriana Peric, and Nicola Pluchino, and David Baud, and Milos Stojanov
Materno-fetal and Obstetrics Research Unit, Department Woman-Mother-Child, Lausanne University Hospital, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland.

The human body is vastly colonised by microorganisms, whose impact on health is increasingly recognised. The human genital tract hosts a diverse microbiota, and an increasing number of studies on the male genital tract microbiota suggest that bacteria have a role in male infertility and pathological conditions, such as prostate cancer. Nevertheless, this research field remains understudied. The study of bacterial colonisation of the male genital tract is highly impacted by the invasive nature of sampling and the low abundance of the microbiota. Therefore, most studies relied on the analysis of semen microbiota to describe the colonisation of the male genital tract (MGT), which was thought to be sterile. The aim of this narrative review is to present the results of studies that used next-generation sequencing (NGS) to profile the bacterial colonisation patterns of different male genital tract anatomical compartments and critically highlight their findings and their weaknesses. Moreover, we identified potential research axes that may be crucial for our understanding of the male genital tract microbiota and its impact on male infertility and pathophysiology.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007248 Infertility, Male The inability of the male to effect FERTILIZATION of an OVUM after a specified period of unprotected intercourse. Male sterility is permanent infertility. Sterility, Male,Sub-Fertility, Male,Subfertility, Male,Male Infertility,Male Sterility,Male Sub-Fertility,Male Subfertility,Sub Fertility, Male
D008297 Male Males
D005837 Genitalia, Male The male reproductive organs. They are divided into the external organs (PENIS; SCROTUM; and URETHRA) and the internal organs (TESTIS; EPIDIDYMIS; VAS DEFERENS; SEMINAL VESICLES; EJACULATORY DUCTS; PROSTATE; and BULBOURETHRAL GLANDS). Accessory Sex Organs, Male,Genital Organs, Male,Sex Organs, Accessory, Male,Genitals, Male,Reproductive System, Male,Genital, Male,Male Genital,Male Genital Organs,Male Genitalia,Male Genitals,Male Reproductive System,Male Reproductive Systems,Reproductive Systems, Male
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D001419 Bacteria One of the three domains of life (the others being Eukarya and ARCHAEA), also called Eubacteria. They are unicellular prokaryotic microorganisms which generally possess rigid cell walls, multiply by cell division, and exhibit three principal forms: round or coccal, rodlike or bacillary, and spiral or spirochetal. Bacteria can be classified by their response to OXYGEN: aerobic, anaerobic, or facultatively anaerobic; by the mode by which they obtain their energy: chemotrophy (via chemical reaction) or PHOTOTROPHY (via light reaction); for chemotrophs by their source of chemical energy: CHEMOLITHOTROPHY (from inorganic compounds) or chemoorganotrophy (from organic compounds); and by their source for CARBON; NITROGEN; etc.; HETEROTROPHY (from organic sources) or AUTOTROPHY (from CARBON DIOXIDE). They can also be classified by whether or not they stain (based on the structure of their CELL WALLS) with CRYSTAL VIOLET dye: gram-negative or gram-positive. Eubacteria
D012661 Semen The thick, yellowish-white, viscid fluid secretion of male reproductive organs discharged upon ejaculation. In addition to reproductive organ secretions, it contains SPERMATOZOA and their nutrient plasma. Seminal Plasma,Plasma, Seminal
D064307 Microbiota The full collection of microbes (bacteria, fungi, virus, etc.) that naturally exist within a particular biological niche such as an organism, soil, a body of water, etc. Human Microbiome,Microbiome,Microbiome, Human,Microbial Community,Microbial Community Composition,Microbial Community Structure,Community Composition, Microbial,Community Structure, Microbial,Community, Microbial,Composition, Microbial Community,Human Microbiomes,Microbial Communities,Microbial Community Compositions,Microbial Community Structures,Microbiomes,Microbiotas

Related Publications

Arnaud Zuber, and Adriana Peric, and Nicola Pluchino, and David Baud, and Milos Stojanov
January 1958, The Medical annual,
Arnaud Zuber, and Adriana Peric, and Nicola Pluchino, and David Baud, and Milos Stojanov
December 1984, Life sciences,
Arnaud Zuber, and Adriana Peric, and Nicola Pluchino, and David Baud, and Milos Stojanov
November 1951, International record of medicine and general practice clinics,
Arnaud Zuber, and Adriana Peric, and Nicola Pluchino, and David Baud, and Milos Stojanov
August 1983, The Journal of urology,
Arnaud Zuber, and Adriana Peric, and Nicola Pluchino, and David Baud, and Milos Stojanov
December 1980, Bulletin de l'Association des anatomistes,
Arnaud Zuber, and Adriana Peric, and Nicola Pluchino, and David Baud, and Milos Stojanov
January 1997, Archives of andrology,
Arnaud Zuber, and Adriana Peric, and Nicola Pluchino, and David Baud, and Milos Stojanov
January 1980, Folia morphologica,
Arnaud Zuber, and Adriana Peric, and Nicola Pluchino, and David Baud, and Milos Stojanov
October 1982, Journal of anatomy,
Arnaud Zuber, and Adriana Peric, and Nicola Pluchino, and David Baud, and Milos Stojanov
September 2001, Progres en urologie : journal de l'Association francaise d'urologie et de la Societe francaise d'urologie,
Arnaud Zuber, and Adriana Peric, and Nicola Pluchino, and David Baud, and Milos Stojanov
March 2013, Pharmacological research,
Copied contents to your clipboard!