Comprehensive microbiome and metabolome analysis revealed the changes of semen microbial characteristics and metabolic phenotypes in patients with idiopathic oligoasthenozoospermia.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The etiology and pathogenesis of idiopathic oligoasthenospermia (IOA) remain unclear, and current treatment options yield suboptimal outcomes. Consequently, there is an urgent need to identify novel biomarkers and develop diagnostic tools to improve patient identification and clinical management. Multi-omics technologies offer a promising pathway toward achieving this goal in the future.

Methods

This study included 40 untreated patients with idiopathic oligoasthenospermia (IOA) and 30 healthy fertile males (HP) as controls. Semen samples were analyzed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing (microbiome) and non-targeted metabolomics (GC-MS/LC-MS coupled). A microbe-metabolite association network was integrated at the genus level based on Spearman correlation algorithms.

SUBMITTER: Lu S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12847254 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature