Bacterial microbiome and host inflammatory gene expression in foreskin tissue

• DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e22145
• Publication Date: 2023-11-14T21:38:35Z
• Authors: Brandon S. Maust; Stefan Petkov; Carolina Herrera; Colin Feng; Bryan P. Brown; Limakatso Lebina; Daniel Opoka; Andrew Ssemata; Natasha Pillay; Jennifer Serwanga; Portia Seatlholo; Patricia Namubiru; Geoffrey Odoch; Susan Mugaba; Thabiso Seiphetlo; Clive M. Gray; Pontiano Kaleebu; Emily L. Webb; Neil Martinson; Francesca Chiodi; Julie Fox; Heather B. Jaspan
• Keywords: Foreskin; Host response

The penile epithelial microbiome remains underexplored. We sequenced human RNA and a segment of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene from foreskin tissue 144 adolescents South Africa Uganda collected during circumcision after receipt 1–2 doses placebo, emtricitabine + tenofovir disoproxil fumarate, or alafenamide to investigate its potential changes with antiretroviral use. identified large number anaerobic species, including Corynebacterium acnes, which was detected more frequently in participants than Uganda. Bacterial populations did not differ by treatment received, no differentially abundant taxa were between placebo versus active drug recipients. relative abundance specific negatively correlated expression genes downstream innate immune response bacteria regulation inflammation. Our results show difference short-course use but that largely inversely inflammatory expression, consistent commensal colonization.