Urethral Microbiome of Adolescent Males

Urethral microbiome of adolescent males is designed to characterize the microbial communities resident in the urethra of young men, to identify differences in these communities as a function of race/ethnicity, circumcision status, sexual exposures, and uro-genital symptoms. We collect detailed sexual behavior and symptoms data using cellular telephones with Internet access. Specimens are routinely collected at monthly intervals, and intermittently following reported symptoms, specific sexual exposures, or identification of a sexually transmitted infection. We also collect periodic samples from the penile coronal sulcus to better characterize its relationship to the urethral micriobial communities.

Participants are ages 14 - 17 at enrollment, and prior history of sexual exposure is not required for participation. Parental permission is obtained for each participant. The planned duration of followup is up to 4 years allowing for prospective observation of both physical and behavioral maturation from middle adolescence into young adulthood.

The overall objectives of the project are to better characterize the healthy male urethral microbiome, and to use this information to better understand acquisition of urethritis and sexually transmitted infections, as well as chronic genital pain and prostatitis syndromes that become common among young adults.

• Study Design:
  • Metagenomics
• Study Type:
  • Longitudinal
  • Observational
  • Cohort
• Total number of consented subjects: 55
• Subject Sample Telemetry Report (SSTR)

• BioProject
• Sequence Read Archive
• MeSH

1. Age 14 - 17 years;
2. Biologic males;
3. Primary language English or Spanish

1. Genito-urinary symptoms at enrollment;
2. Prior surgery, instrumentation or medical treatment for chronic urethral, bladder or renal conditions.

The project was initially funded as a Human Microbiome Demonstration Project. Participant enrollment began 01/2010 with an initial cohort of 18 participants.

• Primary Phenotype: Urethritis
• Genitalia, Male
• Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Bacterial
• Circumcision, Male
• Dysuria
• Prostatitis

• Principal Investigator
  • J. Dennis Fortenberry. Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
• Co-Investigators
  • David Nelson. Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
  • Qunfeng Dong. University of North Texas, Denton, TX, USA.
  • Barbara Van Der Pol. Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
  • Barry P. Katz. Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
  • George Weinstock. Washington University, St. Louis, MO, USA.
• Institute
  • National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, Bethesda, MD, USA.
• Funding Source
  • UH2KD083980-1. National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.