Journal: Human Reproduction Open
Article Title: Comprehensive 16S rRNA gene sequencing and meta-transcriptomic analyses of the female reproductive tract microbiota: two molecular profiles with different messages
doi: 10.1093/hropen/hoag001
Figure Lengend Snippet: Study design . Workflow for characterizing the microbiome (16S rRNA sequencing; DNA-based) and microbiota (meta-transcriptomics; RNA-based) in vaginal swabs, endometrial brushes, and endometrial biopsies. Taxonomy was assigned via the Kraken2/Bracken methodology, and in silico decontamination was performed via the Decontam R package. Characterization included abundance, diversity, and correlation between techniques. The study cohort consisted of 44 reproductive-aged women. In the validation cohort (N = 5), a dual approach (DNA- and RNA-based) was applied to all three sample types. Additional validation analyses for endometrial biopsies were performed via real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) and microbial culture.
Article Snippet: To ensure minimal contamination with bacteria from the lower reproductive tract, an endometrial brush was used with a Tao Brush IUMC (Cook Medical, Madrid, Spain), which was carefully closed within the uterine cavity after sample collection.
Techniques: Sequencing, In Silico, Biomarker Discovery, Real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction