Aerococcus

Aerococcus is a genus of Gram-positive, alpha-hemolytic, catalase-negative cocci. The primary species of clinical relevance are A. urinae (a cause of urinary tract infections, particularly in elderly men) and A. christensenii (a vaginal commensal). In the WikiBiome vault, Aerococcus appears across 15 sources spanning both male and female reproductive tract microbiome studies.

Reproductive Tract Ecology

Seminal Fluid

Aerococcus is a member of the core seminal fluid microbiome, identified in multiple studies of male reproductive tract bacteria [1] [2] [3]. Environmental metal exposure may affect Aerococcus abundance in semen [3].

Prostate

Present in prostate microbiome studies, with abundance patterns associated with testosterone levels [4].

Vaginal Microbiome

  • Present in vaginal microbiomes as a minor community member; abundance shifts in cervical cancer/HPV contexts [5] [6].
  • Part of the endometriosis-associated vaginal microbiome signature [7] [8] [9] [10] [11].
  • Mucosal lactoferrin levels influence Aerococcus colonization dynamics [12].

Male Infertility

Aerococcus is discussed in the context of male infertility and reproductive microbiome composition [13].

Ovarian Cancer

Part of the reproductive tract microbiome signature in ovarian cancer studies [14].

Cross-References

References (15)

  1. Nerea Molina Morales (2023). Molina Morales 2023 — The Microbiome of the Male Reproductive Tract: Uncovering Its Composition and Origins. Doctoral Thesis, Universidad de Granada. doi: https://hdl.handle.net/10481/85100 (malformed — flagged for audit)
  2. Angela B. Javurek, William G. Spollen, Amber M. Mann Ali et al. (2016). Javurek 2016 — Discovery of a Novel Seminal Fluid Microbiome and Influence of Estrogen Receptor Alpha Genetic Status. Scientific Reports. doi:10.1038/srep23027
  3. Filipe T. Lira Neto, Marina C. Viana, Federica Cariati et al. (2024). Neto 2024 — Effect of Environmental Factors on Seminal Microbiome and Impact on Sperm Quality. Frontiers in Endocrinology. doi:10.3389/fendo.2024.1348186
  4. Shaun Trecarten, Michael A. Liss, Jill Hamilton-Reeves et al. (2025). Trecarten 2025 — Obesity, Dietary Interventions and Microbiome Alterations in Prostate Cancer. Frontiers in Immunology. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2024.1448116
  5. Qian Yang, Yaping Wang, Xinyi Wei et al. (2020). Yang 2020 — Vaginal Microbiome Alterations in HPV16 Infection by Shotgun Metagenomics. Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology. doi:10.3389/fcimb.2020.00286
  6. Rashwan HH, Ali MH, Mostafa MM et al. (2025). Rashwan et al. 2025 — Insights into the Tripartite Relationship between Cervical Cancer, HPV, and the Vaginal Microbiome: A Mega-Analysis. Human Genomics. doi:10.1186/s40246-025-00795-w
  7. Hooi-Leng Ser, Siu-Jung Au Yong, Mohamad Nasir Shafiee et al. (2023). Ser 2023 — Current Updates on the Role of Microbiome in Endometriosis: A Narrative Review. Microorganisms. doi:10.3390/microorganisms11020360
  8. Liping Shen, Wei Zhang, Yi Yuan et al. (2022). Shen 2022 — Vaginal Microecological Characteristics of Women in Different Physiological and Pathological Periods. Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology. doi:10.3389/fcimb.2022.959793
  9. Camila Hernandes, Paola Silveira, Aline Fernanda Rodrigues Sereia et al. (2020). Hernandes 2020 — Microbiome Profile of Deep Endometriosis Patients: Comparison of Vaginal Fluid, Endometrium and Lesion. Diagnostics. doi:10.3390/diagnostics10030163
  10. John MacSharry, Zsuzsanna Kovacs, Yongjing Xie et al. (2024). MacSharry 2024 — Endometriosis Specific Vaginal Microbiota Links to Urine and Serum N-Glycome. Scientific Reports. doi:10.1038/s41598-024-76125-2
  11. . perrotta 2020 vaginal microbiome predict rasrm endometriosis
  12. S. A. Roberts, L. Brabin, S. Diallo et al. (2019). Roberts 2019 — Mucosal Lactoferrin Response to Genital Tract Infections Is Associated with Iron and Nutritional Biomarkers. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition. doi:10.1038/s41430-019-0444-7
  13. Magill RG, MacDonald SM (2023). Magill 2023 — Male Infertility and the Human Microbiome. Frontiers in Reproductive Health. doi:10.3389/frph.2023.1166201
  14. Asangba AE, Chen J, Goergen KM et al. (2023). Asangba 2023 — Diagnostic and prognostic potential of the microbiome in ovarian cancer treatment response. Scientific Reports. doi:10.1038/s41598-023-27555-x
  15. Perrotta AR, Borrelli GM, Martins CO et al. (2020). The Vaginal Microbiome as a Tool to Predict rASRM Stage of Disease in Endometriosis: a Pilot Study. Reproductive Sciences. doi:10.1007/s43032-019-00113-5

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