Biomolecular Characterization of <i>Trichomonas vaginalis</i> from Spain: Evaluating Genetic Correlation with Drug Resistance and Endobionts
<i>Trichomonas vaginalis</i> causes one of the most prevalent sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Despite extensive biomolecular research on this protozoan, no efficient molecular tool currently exists for the intraspecific classification of <i>T. vaginalis</i> isolates....
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2025-05-01
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| author | Alexandra Ibáñez-Escribano Juan José Nogal-Ruiz José Antonio Escario Francisco Ponce-Gordo |
| author_facet | Alexandra Ibáñez-Escribano Juan José Nogal-Ruiz José Antonio Escario Francisco Ponce-Gordo |
| author_sort | Alexandra Ibáñez-Escribano |
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| description | <i>Trichomonas vaginalis</i> causes one of the most prevalent sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Despite extensive biomolecular research on this protozoan, no efficient molecular tool currently exists for the intraspecific classification of <i>T. vaginalis</i> isolates. In recent years, an incipient tendency has been observed to classify this parasite into two genotypes that correlate in a high percentage with phenotypic characteristics (such as metronidazole resistance and viral endobionts). However, this grouping method has not yet been consolidated by the scientific community. In this sense, <i>Mycoplasma hominis</i> has also been identified as an endobiont of <i>T. vaginalis</i>, but no previous studies on its presence and possible correlation with the two <i>T. vaginalis</i> populations detected have been executed. In the present study, several new <i>T. vaginalis</i> isolates of Spanish origin have been characterized using two molecular markers (microsatellites and single-copy genes), the presence of <i>T. vaginalis</i> virus (TVV) and <i>Mycoplasma</i>, and the resistance to reference drugs. On the basis of our molecular results, the isolates were classified into two groups, as proposed by other researchers. In relation to the biological determinations, the two isolates harboring <i>Mycoplasma</i> were sensible to the reference drugs and were included in the same genotypic group. Although the presence of TVV was more notable in one group than in the other, both groups had TTV+ and TVV− isolates. These findings indicate that genetic grouping does not strongly correlate with susceptibility to reference drugs or endobiont presence, suggesting the need for further research into alternative classification models. |
| format | Article |
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| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Biology |
| spelling | doaj-art-8ea7de354a0c4ff8be3caea1b516efe62025-08-20T02:24:26ZengMDPI AGBiology2079-77372025-05-0114661810.3390/biology14060618Biomolecular Characterization of <i>Trichomonas vaginalis</i> from Spain: Evaluating Genetic Correlation with Drug Resistance and EndobiontsAlexandra Ibáñez-Escribano0Juan José Nogal-Ruiz1José Antonio Escario2Francisco Ponce-Gordo3Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, SpainDepartment of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, SpainDepartment of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, SpainDepartment of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain<i>Trichomonas vaginalis</i> causes one of the most prevalent sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Despite extensive biomolecular research on this protozoan, no efficient molecular tool currently exists for the intraspecific classification of <i>T. vaginalis</i> isolates. In recent years, an incipient tendency has been observed to classify this parasite into two genotypes that correlate in a high percentage with phenotypic characteristics (such as metronidazole resistance and viral endobionts). However, this grouping method has not yet been consolidated by the scientific community. In this sense, <i>Mycoplasma hominis</i> has also been identified as an endobiont of <i>T. vaginalis</i>, but no previous studies on its presence and possible correlation with the two <i>T. vaginalis</i> populations detected have been executed. In the present study, several new <i>T. vaginalis</i> isolates of Spanish origin have been characterized using two molecular markers (microsatellites and single-copy genes), the presence of <i>T. vaginalis</i> virus (TVV) and <i>Mycoplasma</i>, and the resistance to reference drugs. On the basis of our molecular results, the isolates were classified into two groups, as proposed by other researchers. In relation to the biological determinations, the two isolates harboring <i>Mycoplasma</i> were sensible to the reference drugs and were included in the same genotypic group. Although the presence of TVV was more notable in one group than in the other, both groups had TTV+ and TVV− isolates. These findings indicate that genetic grouping does not strongly correlate with susceptibility to reference drugs or endobiont presence, suggesting the need for further research into alternative classification models.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/14/6/618<i>Trichomonas vaginalis</i>genotypesTVV<i>Mycoplasma</i>resistancemicrosatellites |
| spellingShingle | Alexandra Ibáñez-Escribano Juan José Nogal-Ruiz José Antonio Escario Francisco Ponce-Gordo Biomolecular Characterization of <i>Trichomonas vaginalis</i> from Spain: Evaluating Genetic Correlation with Drug Resistance and Endobionts Biology <i>Trichomonas vaginalis</i> genotypes TVV <i>Mycoplasma</i> resistance microsatellites |
| title | Biomolecular Characterization of <i>Trichomonas vaginalis</i> from Spain: Evaluating Genetic Correlation with Drug Resistance and Endobionts |
| title_full | Biomolecular Characterization of <i>Trichomonas vaginalis</i> from Spain: Evaluating Genetic Correlation with Drug Resistance and Endobionts |
| title_fullStr | Biomolecular Characterization of <i>Trichomonas vaginalis</i> from Spain: Evaluating Genetic Correlation with Drug Resistance and Endobionts |
| title_full_unstemmed | Biomolecular Characterization of <i>Trichomonas vaginalis</i> from Spain: Evaluating Genetic Correlation with Drug Resistance and Endobionts |
| title_short | Biomolecular Characterization of <i>Trichomonas vaginalis</i> from Spain: Evaluating Genetic Correlation with Drug Resistance and Endobionts |
| title_sort | biomolecular characterization of i trichomonas vaginalis i from spain evaluating genetic correlation with drug resistance and endobionts |
| topic | <i>Trichomonas vaginalis</i> genotypes TVV <i>Mycoplasma</i> resistance microsatellites |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/14/6/618 |
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