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Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology
Published in: Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology 1/2019

Open Access 01-12-2019 | Infertility | Research

Contraceptive efficacy of sperm agglutinating factor from Staphylococcus warneri, isolated from the cervix of a woman with inexplicable infertility

Authors: Neeraj Chandra Pant, Ravinder Singh, Vijaya Gupta, Aditi Chauhan, Ravimohan Mavuduru, Vijay Prabha, Prince Sharma

Published in: Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology | Issue 1/2019

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Abstract

Background

Voluntary control of fertility is of paramount importance to the modern society. But since the contraceptive methods available for women have their limitations such as urinary tract infections, allergies, cervical erosion and discomfort, a desperate need exists to develop safe methods. Vaginal contraceptives may be the answer to this problem, as these are the oldest ways of fertility regulation, practiced over the centuries. With minimal systemic involvement, these are also the safest. Natural substances blocking or impairing the sperm motility offer as valuable non-cytotoxic vaginal contraceptives. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) isolated from plants, animals and microorganisms are known to possess sperm immobilizing and spermicidal properties. Following this, in the quest for alternative means, we have cloned, over expressed and purified the recombinant sperm agglutinating factor (SAF) from Staphylococcus warneri, isolated from the cervix of a woman with unexplained infertility.

Methods

Genomic library of Staphylococcus warneri was generated in Escherichia coli using pSMART vector and screened for sperm agglutinating factor (SAF). The insert in sperm agglutinating transformant was sequenced and was found to express ribonucleotide-diphosphate reductase-α sub unit. The ORF was sub-cloned in pET28a vector, expressed and purified. The effect of rSAF on motility, viability, morphology, Mg++-dependent ATPase activity and acrosome status of human sperms was analyzed in vitro and contraceptive efficacy was evaluated in vivo in female BALB/c mice.

Results

The 80 kDa rSAF showed complete sperm agglutination, inhibited its Mg2+-ATPase activity, caused premature sperm acrosomal loss in vitro and mimicked the pattern in vivo showing 100% contraception in BALB/c mice resulting in prevention of pregnancy. The FITC labeled SAF was found to bind the entire surface of spermatozoa. Vaginal application and oral administration of rSAF to mice for 14 successive days did not demonstrate any significant change in vaginal cell morphology, organ weight and tissue histology of reproductive and non-reproductive organs and had no negative impact in the dermal and penile irritation tests.

Conclusion

The Sperm Agglutinating Factor from Staphylococcus warneri, natural microflora of human cervix, showed extensive potential to be employed as a safe vaginal contraceptive.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
Contraceptive efficacy of sperm agglutinating factor from Staphylococcus warneri, isolated from the cervix of a woman with inexplicable infertility
Authors
Neeraj Chandra Pant
Ravinder Singh
Vijaya Gupta
Aditi Chauhan
Ravimohan Mavuduru
Vijay Prabha
Prince Sharma
Publication date
01-12-2019
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology / Issue 1/2019
Electronic ISSN: 1477-7827
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12958-019-0531-6

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