The microbiome of seminal fluid – DOI: 10.37072/JCS.2022.01.04

Manole COJOCARU
Department of Physiology and Immunology, “Titu Maiorescu” University, Faculty of Medicine, Bucharest, Romania

Abstract
The microbiome of semen is a field of increasing scientific interest. Compared to other body sites, the seminal microbiota has been minimally investigated.
Recent studies indicate that presence of bacteria in semen is relatively frequent, including in fertile individuals with normal sperm parameters. Semen has a unique microbiome.
The seminal microbiome encompasses a metabolically and phylogenetically diver- se group of microorganisms. The host immune system may play a crucial role in the dynamics of the semen microbiota. The reproductive microbiome may have an impor- tant role in sexual conflict.
A dysbiotic microbiota composition may have an influence on sperm quality. The simple presence of bacteria in semen samples may compromise sperm quality.
The bacteria reportedly in seminal fluids include Peptoniphilis, Anaerococcus, Fi- negoldia, Peptostreptococcus spp., Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, Corynebacteium, Enterococcus, Lactobacillus, Gardnerella, Prevotella, and Escherichia coli.
This review discusses the microbiome of seminal fuid, the link between semen mi- crobiome dysbiosis and male infertility.
Keywords:
microbiota, semen, microbiome, bacterial communities, male infertility, reproduction