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Exploring the Molecular Mechanisms of the Microbiome in Reproductive Health and Reproductive Immunity

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Immunology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 June 2025 | Viewed by 7326

Special Issue Editor

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The research into the effects of the human microbiome on the body’s physiological functions is entering a new phase. More specifically, human reproduction research is expanding and providing important data on the interactions between the microbiome and not only the female but also the male reproductive system. The reproductive microbiome has a major impact on male and female reproductive function and health. The effects of the microbiome on the physiological parameters of human reproduction are essential to fertilization and a successful outcome in a pregnancy, for example, through the maintenance and imbalance of the flora in the female reproductive tract. Vaginal bacteria can also affect pregnancy outcomes by affecting cell signaling or immune activation. Less attention has been paid to the male reproductive microbiome. However, male reproductive microorganisms, such as semen microorganisms, have an impact on host fertility and health. Microorganisms may not only play a role in sperm dysfunction but also affect female reproductive health through sexual transmission. The pathogenesis and immune mechanisms of HIV and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are also included in our focus.

This Special Issue of IJMS offers the opportunity for scientists to publish their research on the microbiome and immune system and other biomolecular data related to human reproduction.

Since IJMS is a journal of molecular science, pure clinical or model studies will not be considered suitable for our journal. On the contrary, pre-clinical or pure model submissions with biomolecular experiments or data are more than welcome.

Dr. Panagiotis Christopoulos
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • microbiome
  • infertility
  • reproduction
  • male
  • female
  • pregnancy
  • immunology
  • immune tolerance

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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14 pages, 2834 KiB  
Article
Complement Factor B Deficiency Is Dispensable for Female Fertility but Affects Microbiome Diversity and Complement Activity
by Manato Sunamoto, Kazunori Morohoshi, Ban Sato, Ryo Mihashi, Masafumi Inui, Mitsutoshi Yamada, Kenji Miyado and Natsuko Kawano
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(3), 1393; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26031393 - 6 Feb 2025
Viewed by 881
Abstract
Complement factor B (CFB) is a crucial component for the activation of the alternative pathway due to the formation of the C3 convertase with C3b, which further produces C3b to enhance the overall complement activity. Although Cfb is expressed not only in the [...] Read more.
Complement factor B (CFB) is a crucial component for the activation of the alternative pathway due to the formation of the C3 convertase with C3b, which further produces C3b to enhance the overall complement activity. Although Cfb is expressed not only in the immune tissues, but also in the reproductive tract, the physiological role of the alternative complement pathway in reproduction remains unclear. In this study, we addressed this issue by producing Cfb-knockout (KO) mice and analyzing their phenotypes. Sperm function, number of ovulated oocytes, and litter size were normal in KO mice. In contrast, the diversity of microbiomes in the gut and vaginal tract significantly increased in KO mice. Some serine protease activity in the serum from KO mice was lower than that of wild-type mice. Since the serum from KO mice showed significantly lower activity of the alternative complement pathway, CFB was found to be essential for this pathway. Our results indicate that although the alternative pathway is dispensable for normal fertility and development, it maintains the gut and vaginal microbiomes by suppressing their diversity and activating the alternative complement pathway. Full article
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Review

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13 pages, 301 KiB  
Review
Sperm DNA Fragmentation: Unraveling Its Imperative Impact on Male Infertility Based on Recent Evidence
by Sofoklis Stavros, Anastasios Potiris, Ermioni Molopodi, Despoina Mavrogianni, Athanasios Zikopoulos, Konstantinos Louis, Theodoros Karampitsakos, Eleni Nazou, Dimdos Sioutis, Chrysi Christodoulaki, Charikleia Skentou, Angeliki Gerede, Athanasios Zachariou, Panagiotis Christopoulos, Periklis Panagopoulos, Ekaterini Domali and Peter Drakakis
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(18), 10167; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms251810167 - 22 Sep 2024
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 5682
Abstract
Male factors may be present in up to 50–70% of infertile couples and the prevalence of male infertility accounts for 20–30% of infertility cases. Understanding the mechanisms and causes behind male infertility remains a challenge, but new diagnostic tools such as DNA fragmentation [...] Read more.
Male factors may be present in up to 50–70% of infertile couples and the prevalence of male infertility accounts for 20–30% of infertility cases. Understanding the mechanisms and causes behind male infertility remains a challenge, but new diagnostic tools such as DNA fragmentation might aid in cases where the routine semen analysis is insufficient. DNA fragmentation, which refers to damages or breaks of the genetic material of the spermatozoa, is considered one of the main causes of male infertility due to impaired functional capability of sperm. The aim of the present narrative review is to investigate and enlighten the potential correlation between DNA fragmentation and male infertility parameters such as the seminal profile and the reproductive outcomes. Comprehensive research in PubMed/Medline and Scopus databases was conducted and 28 studies were included in the present review. Fourteen studies provided data regarding the impact of DNA fragmentation and seminal parameters and showed a correlation of significantly lower sperm count, lower concentration, motility, and abnormal morphology with an increased DNA fragmentation index (DFI). Similarly, 15 studies provided data regarding the impact of DFI on reproductive outcomes. Two studies showed higher aneuploidy rates with higher DFI values, and seven studies showed significantly lower pregnancy rates and live birth rates with higher DFI values. Ultimately, the studies included in this review highlight, collectively, the importance of measuring sperm DFI in the assessment of male infertility. Further studies are needed to explore the effectiveness of interventions aiming to reduce DFI levels. Full article
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