Sexual behavior shapes male genitourinary microbiome composition

• DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2023.100981
• Publication Date: 2023-03-21T17:11:30Z
• Authors: Evelyn Toh; Yue Xing; Xiang Gao; Stephen J. Jordan; Teresa A. Batteiger; Byron E. Batteiger; Barbara Van Der Pol; Christina A. Muzny; Netsanet Gebregzi...; James A. Williams; Lora J. Fortenberry; J. Dennis Fortenb...; Qunfeng Dong; David E. Nelson
• Keywords: Male; Sexually transmitted infection; Urethra; Urethritis; Sexual Behavior; Microbiota; Humans; Idiopathic; Microbiome; Development; Urobiome; Article

The origin, composition, and significance of the distal male urethral microbiome are unclear, but vaginal dysbiosis is linked to new sex partners several urogynecological syndromes. We characterized 110 specimens from men without symptoms, infections, or inflammation using shotgun metagenomics. Most contain characteristic lactic acid bacteria Corynebacterium spp. In contrast, associated with were present only in who reported intercourse. Sexual behavior, not other evaluated behavioral, demographic, clinical variables, strongly inter-specimen variance composition. Thus, urethra supports a simple core that established independent sexual exposures can be re-shaped by sex. Overall, results suggest urogenital microbiology behavior inexorably intertwined, show harbors female pathobionts.