Tracking the origin of bacterial DNA in blood: Indication of localized and sporadic transfer from other body sites

Recent studies propose the existence of a blood microbiome, but its composition, origin, and dynamics remain largely unresolved. In this pilot study, we analyzed the bacterial DNA present in the blood of 10 volunteers by comparing the taxonomic profiles of 16S rRNA gene sequences from skin, vaginal,...

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Main Authors: Maija Rozenberga, Rihards Saksis, Ilze Elbere, Liga Birzniece, Monta Briviba, Ilze Konrade, Janis Klovins
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2025-12-01
Series:Gut Microbes Reports
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Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/29933935.2025.2482771
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author Maija Rozenberga
Rihards Saksis
Ilze Elbere
Liga Birzniece
Monta Briviba
Ilze Konrade
Janis Klovins
author_facet Maija Rozenberga
Rihards Saksis
Ilze Elbere
Liga Birzniece
Monta Briviba
Ilze Konrade
Janis Klovins
author_sort Maija Rozenberga
collection DOAJ
description Recent studies propose the existence of a blood microbiome, but its composition, origin, and dynamics remain largely unresolved. In this pilot study, we analyzed the bacterial DNA present in the blood of 10 volunteers by comparing the taxonomic profiles of 16S rRNA gene sequences from skin, vaginal, oral, and fecal samples. After applying stringent decontamination protocols, we detected bacterial DNA in all blood samples, predominantly from the Pseudomonas genus. A key finding was the identification of 32 unique Amplicon Sequence Variants (ASVs) that were identical between blood and a single body site within individual participants, with no overlap between multiple body sites or across different participants. This participant-specific overlap suggests a true biological origin of bacterial DNA in blood, likely stemming from localized bacterial migration, such as from the skin. Additionally, 27.4% of the ASVs in blood were found in other body sites, with the highest overlap observed in skin samples. Furthermore, 25.3% of blood ASVs persisted after three months, suggesting a consistent pattern in the bacterial DNA composition detected in blood over time. These findings deepen our understanding of the blood microbiome and provide a basis for future research linking blood microbiota to health and disease phenotypes.
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spelling doaj-art-8e66cb481e0f4e53bc8173f9b8ab2b5f2025-08-20T02:12:41ZengTaylor & Francis GroupGut Microbes Reports2993-39352025-12-012110.1080/29933935.2025.2482771Tracking the origin of bacterial DNA in blood: Indication of localized and sporadic transfer from other body sitesMaija Rozenberga0Rihards Saksis1Ilze Elbere2Liga Birzniece3Monta Briviba4Ilze Konrade5Janis Klovins6Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, Translational Omics group, Riga, LatviaLatvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, Translational Omics group, Riga, LatviaLatvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, Translational Omics group, Riga, LatviaLatvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, Translational Omics group, Riga, LatviaLatvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, Translational Omics group, Riga, LatviaLatvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, Translational Omics group, Riga, LatviaLatvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, Translational Omics group, Riga, LatviaRecent studies propose the existence of a blood microbiome, but its composition, origin, and dynamics remain largely unresolved. In this pilot study, we analyzed the bacterial DNA present in the blood of 10 volunteers by comparing the taxonomic profiles of 16S rRNA gene sequences from skin, vaginal, oral, and fecal samples. After applying stringent decontamination protocols, we detected bacterial DNA in all blood samples, predominantly from the Pseudomonas genus. A key finding was the identification of 32 unique Amplicon Sequence Variants (ASVs) that were identical between blood and a single body site within individual participants, with no overlap between multiple body sites or across different participants. This participant-specific overlap suggests a true biological origin of bacterial DNA in blood, likely stemming from localized bacterial migration, such as from the skin. Additionally, 27.4% of the ASVs in blood were found in other body sites, with the highest overlap observed in skin samples. Furthermore, 25.3% of blood ASVs persisted after three months, suggesting a consistent pattern in the bacterial DNA composition detected in blood over time. These findings deepen our understanding of the blood microbiome and provide a basis for future research linking blood microbiota to health and disease phenotypes.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/29933935.2025.2482771Blood microbiomecirculating microbiomecirculating microbial DNAmicrobiome stabilitymicrobiome origin
spellingShingle Maija Rozenberga
Rihards Saksis
Ilze Elbere
Liga Birzniece
Monta Briviba
Ilze Konrade
Janis Klovins
Tracking the origin of bacterial DNA in blood: Indication of localized and sporadic transfer from other body sites
Gut Microbes Reports
Blood microbiome
circulating microbiome
circulating microbial DNA
microbiome stability
microbiome origin
title Tracking the origin of bacterial DNA in blood: Indication of localized and sporadic transfer from other body sites
title_full Tracking the origin of bacterial DNA in blood: Indication of localized and sporadic transfer from other body sites
title_fullStr Tracking the origin of bacterial DNA in blood: Indication of localized and sporadic transfer from other body sites
title_full_unstemmed Tracking the origin of bacterial DNA in blood: Indication of localized and sporadic transfer from other body sites
title_short Tracking the origin of bacterial DNA in blood: Indication of localized and sporadic transfer from other body sites
title_sort tracking the origin of bacterial dna in blood indication of localized and sporadic transfer from other body sites
topic Blood microbiome
circulating microbiome
circulating microbial DNA
microbiome stability
microbiome origin
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/29933935.2025.2482771
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