The role of Neisseria gonorrhoeae in the formation of microbial associations

Godovalov A.P., Oborin D.A.

E.A. Vagner Perm State Medical University, Perm, Russia

Currently, we are seeing a shift in the potential conflict between Neisseria gonorrhoeae and the commensal microbiota of the genital tract towards the formation of synergistic relationships with this unconditional pathogen.

Aim. Evaluation of symbiotic relationships between N. gonorrhoeae and commensal microorganisms of the genital tract.

Methods. To conduct the research, 12 samples of genital discharge were taken randomly. Metagenomic study of 16S ribosomal RNA of the samples was carried out on the IlluminaMiSeq platform using the MiSeqReagentKits v3 kit according to the manufacturer's recommendations. Additionally, N. gonorrhoeae DNA was detected in all samples using PCR. Jaccard's similarity coefficient was used to quantitatively express the interaction between members of the microbiocenosis.

Results. In the ejaculate of men, microorganisms of the genera Psychrobacter, Enterococcus, Lactobacillus and Corynebacterium were present in 100% of cases together with N. gonorrhoeae. In women, Lactobacillus and Corynebacterium were detected in 100% of cases together with N. gonorrhoeae. For the male genitalia, E. faecalis, bacteria of the genera Lactobacillus and Neisseria can be recognized as the key microogranisms. For the female genital tract, in addition to E. faecalis, bacteria of the genera Lactobacillus and Neisseria, gardnerella are most prevalent.

Conclusion. In general, when N. gonorrhoeae is introduced into the microsymbiocenosis of the genital tract, ambiguous relationships with opportunistic bacteria are formed. Obviously, the nature of the relationships that develop in this case can affect the characteristics of clinical manifestations, which should be taken into account in the laboratory diagnosis of inflammatory diseases.