title: Discovery of a Novel Seminal Fluid Microbiome and Influence of Estrogen Receptor Alpha Genetic Status.
abstract: Bacteria harbored in the male reproductive system may influence reproductive function and health of the male and result in developmental origins of adult health and disease (DOHaD) effects in his offspring. Such effects could be due to the seminal fluid, which is slightly basic and enriched with carbohydrates; thereby, creating an ideal habitat for microbes or a potential seminal fluid microbiome (SFM). Using wild-type (WT) and estrogen receptor-alpha (ESR1) knockout (KO) male mice, we describe a unique SFM whose inhabitants differ from gut microbes. The bacterial composition of the SFM is influenced according to whether mice have functional Esr1 genes. Propionibacterium acnes, causative agent of chronic prostatitis possibly culminating in prostate cancer, is reduced in SFM of ESR1 KO compared to WT mice (P ≤ 0.0007). In certain genetic backgrounds, WT mice show a greater incidence of prostate cancer than ESR1 KO, which may be due to increased abundance of P. acnes. Additionally, select gut microbiome residents in ESR1 KO males, such as Lachnospiraceae and Christensenellaceae, might contribute to previously identified phenotypes, especially obesity, in these mutant mice. Understanding how genetics and environmental factors influence the SFM may provide the next frontier in male reproductive disorders and possibly paternal-based DOHaD diseases.
authors.affiliation: Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211 USA.|Biomedical Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211 USA.
authors.forename: Angela B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Javurek
authors.affiliation: Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211 USA.|Informatics Research Core Facility, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211 USA.
authors.forename: William G
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Spollen
authors.affiliation: Biochemistry, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211 USA.|MU Center for Botanical Interaction Studies, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211 USA.
authors.forename: Amber M Mann
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.affiliation: Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211 USA.|Biomedical Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211 USA.|Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211 USA.
authors.forename: Sarah A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.affiliation: Biochemistry, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211 USA.|MU Center for Botanical Interaction Studies, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211 USA.|Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211 USA.|Child Health, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211 USA.|Genetics Area Program, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211 USA.
authors.forename: Dennis B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Lubahn
authors.affiliation: DNA Core Facility, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211 USA.
authors.forename: Nathan J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Bivens
authors.affiliation: DNA Core Facility, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211 USA.
authors.forename: Karen H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Bromert
authors.affiliation: Agriculture Experimental Station-Statistics, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211 USA.
authors.forename: Mark R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Ellersieck
authors.affiliation: Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211 USA.|Informatics Research Core Facility, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211 USA.|Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211 USA.
authors.forename: Scott A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Givan
authors.affiliation: Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211 USA.|Biomedical Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211 USA.|Genetics Area Program, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211 USA.|Thompson Center for Autism and Neurobehavioral Disorders, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211 USA.
authors.forename: Cheryl S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Rosenfeld
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001419:Bacteria / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000235:genetics; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D000068536:Bacillota / Q000502:physiology; D005838:Genotype; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions; D008297:Male; D053858:Metabolic Networks and Pathways / Q000235:genetics; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D064307:Microbiota / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D009765:Obesity / Q000235:genetics / Q000382:microbiology; D011425:Propionibacterium acnes / Q000502:physiology; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000382:microbiology; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics; D012661:Semen / Q000382:microbiology*; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S