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Human Reproduction, Vol. 18, No. 10, 2103-2109, October 2003
© 2003 European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology

Mycoplasma genitalium attaches to human spermatozoa

Helle Friis Svenstrup1,4, Jens Fedder3, Joanna Abraham-Peskir2, Svend Birkelund1 and Gunna Christiansen1

1 Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, The Bartholin Building, 2 Institute for Storage Ring Facilities Aarhus University, DK-8000 Aarhus C and 3 The Fertility Clinic, Braedstrup Hospital, DK-8740 Braedstrup, Denmark

4 To whom correspondence should be addressed. e-mail: hellef{at}biobase.dk

BACKGROUND: Mycoplasma genitalium causes urogenital diseases in men and women and is presumed to be sexually transmitted. We wanted to investigate whether spermatozoa could serve as vectors for M.genitalium in order to cause upper genital diseases in women. METHODS: By use of Nomarski light microscopy and transmission X-ray microscopy, the attachment of M.genitalium to spermatozoa was studied. Semen was incubated in vitro with M.genitalium. Purified, motile spermatozoa were examined for attachment of M.genitalium by immunofluorescence microscopy. RESULTS: Mycoplasma genitalium was shown to adhere to the head, midpiece and tail of the spermatozoa. The spermatozoa became immotile when many M.genitalium were attached. However, the motile spermatozoa were demonstrated to carry M.genitalium and in this case the mycoplasmas were seen to attach mostly to the midpiece or neck region. Occasionally, M.genitalium was seen at the head but not at the tail. By X-ray microscopy, it was possible to observe the diffentiated structure of M.genitalium, and the attachment seemed to be mediated by the tip. CONCLUSIONS: Mycoplasma genitalium can bind to human spermatozoa and thus could be carried by motile sperm. This ability may be important in the process of causing female genital diseases and infertility.

Key words: adhesion/inhibition/Mycoplasma genitalium/spermatozoa/X-ray microscopy


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