1
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Elovitz M, Anton L, Cristancho A, Ferguson B, Joseph A, Ravel J. Vaginal microbes alter epithelial transcriptome and induce epigenomic modifications providing insight into mechanisms for susceptibility to adverse reproductive outcomes. RESEARCH SQUARE 2024:rs.3.rs-4385224. [PMID: 38854063 PMCID: PMC11160883 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-4385224/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2024]
Abstract
The cervicovaginal microbiome is highly associated with women's health, with microbial communities dominated by Lactobacillus species considered optimal. Conversely, a lack of lactobacilli and a high abundance of strict and facultative anaerobes, including Gardnerella vaginalis, have been associated with adverse reproductive outcomes. However, how host-microbial interactions alter specific molecular pathways and impact cervical and vaginal epithelial function remains unclear. Using RNA-sequencing, we characterized the in vitro cervicovaginal epithelial transcriptional response to different vaginal bacteria and their culture supernatants. We showed that G. vaginalis upregulates genes associated with an activated innate immune response. Unexpectedly, G. vaginalis specifically induced inflammasome pathways through activation of NLRP3-mediated increases in caspase-1, IL-1β and cell death, while live L. crispatus had minimal transcriptomic changes on epithelial cells. L. crispatus culture supernatants resulted in a shift in the epigenomic landscape of cervical epithelial cells that was confirmed by ATAC-sequencing showing reduced chromatin accessibility. This study reveals new insights into host-microbe interactions in the lower reproductive tract and suggests potential therapeutic strategies leveraging the vaginal microbiome to improve reproductive health.
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2
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Li C, Jin S, Lv O, Wang G, Zhang Y, Li S, Zhang W, Long F, Shen Z, Bai S, Zhaxi D, Kong F, Yan Q, Xiao Z. Comparative analysis of the vaginal bacteriome and virome in healthy women living in high-altitude and sea-level areas. Eur J Med Res 2024; 29:157. [PMID: 38454476 PMCID: PMC10918948 DOI: 10.1186/s40001-023-01391-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2022] [Accepted: 06/01/2022] [Indexed: 03/09/2024] Open
Abstract
The vaginal microbiota plays an important role in the health of the female reproductive tract and is closely associated with various pregnancy outcomes and sexually transmitted diseases. Plenty of internal and external factors have strong influence on the changes in a woman's vaginal microbiome. However, the effect of a high-altitude on female vaginal microbiota has not been described. In this study, we characterized the vaginal bacteriome and virome of 13 and 34 healthy women living in high-altitude and sea-level areas, using whole-metagenome shotgun sequencing of their vaginal mucus samples. The results revealed that the vaginal bacteriomes of high-altitude individuals are featured by a significant increase of species diversity, depletion of Lactobacillus crispatus, and more abundant of some anaerobic bacteria, such as Chlamydia trachomatis, Mageeibacillus indolicus, Dialister micraerophilus, and Sneathia amnii). In addition, the vagina samples of sea-level subjects harbor more Lactobacillus strains, whereas the anaerobic bacteroidetes strains mostly appeared in high-altitude subjects. Identified and assembled 191 virus operational taxonomic units (vOTUs), there were significant differences in the abundance of 107 vOTUs between the two groups. Together, the results of this study raised the understanding of bacteriome and virome in the vagina of women at different elevations, and demonstrated that the vaginal microbiome is related to the high-altitude geographic adaptation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chaoran Li
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, First Affiliated Hospital, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116011, China
| | - Song Jin
- Operating Room, First Affiliated Hospital, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116011, China
| | - Oingbo Lv
- Puensum Genetech Institute, Wuhan, 430076, China
| | - Guangyang Wang
- Department of Microbiology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116044, China
| | - Yue Zhang
- Puensum Genetech Institute, Wuhan, 430076, China
| | - Shenghui Li
- Puensum Genetech Institute, Wuhan, 430076, China
| | - Wei Zhang
- Department of Microbiology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116044, China
| | - Fang Long
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, People's Hospital of Naqu, Naqu, Tibet, 852000, China
| | - Zhuowei Shen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, First Affiliated Hospital, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116011, China
| | - Siqi Bai
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, First Affiliated Hospital, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116011, China
| | - Duoii Zhaxi
- Institute of High Altitude Medicine, People's Hospital of Naqu, Naqu, Tibet, 852000, China
| | - Fandou Kong
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, First Affiliated Hospital, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116011, China.
| | - Qiulong Yan
- Department of Microbiology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116044, China.
| | - Zhen Xiao
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, First Affiliated Hospital, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116011, China.
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, People's Hospital of Naqu, Naqu, Tibet, 852000, China.
- Institute of High Altitude Medicine, People's Hospital of Naqu, Naqu, Tibet, 852000, China.
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3
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Song Y, Mehl F, Zeichner SL. Vaccine Strategies to Elicit Mucosal Immunity. Vaccines (Basel) 2024; 12:191. [PMID: 38400174 PMCID: PMC10892965 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines12020191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2023] [Revised: 01/29/2024] [Accepted: 02/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Vaccines are essential tools to prevent infection and control transmission of infectious diseases that threaten public health. Most infectious agents enter their hosts across mucosal surfaces, which make up key first lines of host defense against pathogens. Mucosal immune responses play critical roles in host immune defense to provide durable and better recall responses. Substantial attention has been focused on developing effective mucosal vaccines to elicit robust localized and systemic immune responses by administration via mucosal routes. Mucosal vaccines that elicit effective immune responses yield protection superior to parenterally delivered vaccines. Beyond their valuable immunogenicity, mucosal vaccines can be less expensive and easier to administer without a need for injection materials and more highly trained personnel. However, developing effective mucosal vaccines faces many challenges, and much effort has been directed at their development. In this article, we review the history of mucosal vaccine development and present an overview of mucosal compartment biology and the roles that mucosal immunity plays in defending against infection, knowledge that has helped inform mucosal vaccine development. We explore new progress in mucosal vaccine design and optimization and novel approaches created to improve the efficacy and safety of mucosal vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yufeng Song
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA; (Y.S.)
| | - Frances Mehl
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA; (Y.S.)
| | - Steven L. Zeichner
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA; (Y.S.)
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cancer Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA
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4
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Elovitz M, Anton L, Cristancho A, Ferguson B, Joseph A, Ravel J. Vaginal microbes alter epithelial transcriptomic and epigenomic modifications providing insight into the molecular mechanisms for susceptibility to adverse reproductive outcomes. RESEARCH SQUARE 2023:rs.3.rs-3580132. [PMID: 38014044 PMCID: PMC10680926 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3580132/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
The cervicovaginal microbiome is highly associated with women's health with microbial communities dominated by Lactobacillus spp. being considered optimal. Conversely, a lack of lactobacilli and a high abundance of strict and facultative anaerobes including Gardnerella vaginalis , have been associated with adverse reproductive outcomes. However, the molecular pathways modulated by microbe interactions with the cervicovaginal epithelia remain unclear. Using RNA-sequencing, we characterize the in vitro cervicovaginal epithelial transcriptional response to different vaginal bacteria and their culture supernatants. We showed that G. vaginalis upregulated genes were associated with an activated innate immune response including anti-microbial peptides and inflammasome pathways, represented by NLRP3-mediated increases in caspase-1, IL-1β and cell death. Cervicovaginal epithelial cells exposed to L. crispatus showed limited transcriptomic changes, while exposure to L. crispatus culture supernatants resulted in a shift in the epigenomic landscape of cervical epithelial cells. ATAC-sequencing confirmed epigenetic changes with reduced chromatin accessibility. This study reveals new insight into host-microbe interactions in the lower reproductive tract and suggest potential therapeutic strategies leveraging the vaginal microbiome to improve reproductive health.
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5
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Da Costa AC, Bortoletto P, Spandorfer SD, Tozetto-Mendoza TR, Linhares IM, Mendes-Correa MC, Witkin SS. Association between torquetenovirus in vaginal secretions and infertility: An exploratory metagenomic analysis. Am J Reprod Immunol 2023; 90:e13788. [PMID: 37881119 DOI: 10.1111/aji.13788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2023] [Revised: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023] Open
Abstract
PROBLEM The association of viruses with infertility remains incompletely evaluated. METHOD OF STUDY Vaginal secretions from 46 women seeking treatment in the Center for Reproductive Medicine and Infertility at Weill Cornell Medicine were tested for viruses by metagenomic analysis by lab personnel blinded to all clinical data. RESULTS Torquetenovirus (TTV) was identified in 16 women, alphapapillomavirus in seven women and most were positive for bacteriophages. Twelve of the subjects were fertile and sought to freeze their oocytes for future implantation. These women were all negative for TTV. In contrast, 16 of the 34 women (47.1%) being treated for infertility were TTV-positive (p = .0035). Evaluating the women by cause of infertility, five of nine women (55.6%) whose male partner had inadequate sperm parameters and six of 14 women (42.9%) with defective ovulation were TTV positive (p = .0062 and p = .0171, respectively, vs. the fertile women). Alphapapillomavirus was identified in one (8.3%) fertile woman, five (35.7%) women with ovulation deficiency, and one (11.1%) woman with male factor infertility. These differences were not statistically significant. There were no differences in bacteriophage families or the presence of Lactobacillus phages between fertile or infertile women or between different causes of infertility. There was a negative association between TTV detection and Lactobacillus crispatus dominance in the vaginal microbiota (p = .0184), but no association between TTV detection and the presence of alphapapillomavirus or Candida species. CONCLUSION Detection of TTV in the vagina might be a biomarker for specific causes of infertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Charlys Da Costa
- Laboratory of Investigative Medicine in Virology (LIM 52), Department of Infectious Diseases, Institute of Tropical Medicine, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Pietro Bortoletto
- Boston IVF, Waltham, Massachusetts, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Steven D Spandorfer
- Center for Reproductive Medicine and Infertility, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, USA
| | - Tania Regina Tozetto-Mendoza
- Laboratory of Investigative Medicine in Virology (LIM 52), Department of Infectious Diseases, Institute of Tropical Medicine, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Iara M Linhares
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Faculty of Medicine of the University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Maria Cassia Mendes-Correa
- Faculty of Medicine of the University of São Paulo - São Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
- Laboratory of Investigative Medicine in Virology (LIM-52), Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Steven S Witkin
- Laboratory of Investigative Medicine in Virology (LIM-52), Sao Paulo, Brazil
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, USA
- Faculty of Medicine of the University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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6
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Balle C, Happel AU, Heffron R, Jaspan HB. Contraceptive effects on the cervicovaginal microbiome: Recent evidence including randomized trials. Am J Reprod Immunol 2023; 90:e13785. [PMID: 37881121 PMCID: PMC10696626 DOI: 10.1111/aji.13785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Revised: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Until recently, most data regarding the effects of non-barrier contraceptives on the mucosal microbiome have derived from observational studies, which are potentially biased due to behavioral confounders that may mask their true biological effects. METHOD OF STUDY This narrative review summarises recent evidence of the effect of contraceptives on the cervicovaginal microbiome, emphasising data obtained through randomized trials. RESULTS Good quality data describe that initiation of long-acting progestin-only contraceptives, including levonorgestrel (LNG)-implant and the injectables depot-medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA-IM) and norethisterone enanthate (NET-EN) do not alter the mucosal microbial environment. Likewise, no strong evidence exists that the use of oral contraceptive pills (OCPs) is associated with alterations of the vaginal microbiome or increased risk of bacterial sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Limited data on the effect of intravaginal rings (IVRs) on the mucosal environment exist and show conflicting effects on the vaginal microbiota. Copper intrauterine device (Cu-IUD) initiation has been associated with bacterial vaginosis (BV) acquisition, including in a randomized trial. LNG-IUDs may have similar affects but need to be evaluated further. CONCLUSION Different synthetic hormones have divergent effects on the microbiome and therefore novel hormonal methods need to be rigorously evaluated. Furthermore, the addition of antiretrovirals into multipurpose technologies may alter the effects of the hormonal component. There is thus a critical need to improve our understanding of the biological effects of contraceptive hormones and delivery methods with different pharmacokinetic and chemical properties on the mucosal microbiome in rigorous trials, to inform the development of novel contraceptives and improve individual family planning guidance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina Balle
- Division of Immunology, Department of Pathology, University of Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Anna-Ursula Happel
- Division of Immunology, Department of Pathology, University of Cape Town, South Africa
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Renee Heffron
- University of Washington Department of Global Health, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Heather B. Jaspan
- Division of Immunology, Department of Pathology, University of Cape Town, South Africa
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, South Africa
- University of Washington Department of Global Health, Seattle, WA, USA
- Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
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7
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Paietta EN, Kraberger S, Custer JM, Vargas KL, Espy C, Ehmke E, Yoder AD, Varsani A. Characterization of Diverse Anelloviruses, Cressdnaviruses, and Bacteriophages in the Human Oral DNA Virome from North Carolina (USA). Viruses 2023; 15:1821. [PMID: 37766228 PMCID: PMC10537320 DOI: 10.3390/v15091821] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2023] [Revised: 08/22/2023] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The diversity of viruses identified from the various niches of the human oral cavity-from saliva to dental plaques to the surface of the tongue-has accelerated in the age of metagenomics. This rapid expansion demonstrates that our understanding of oral viral diversity is incomplete, with only a few studies utilizing passive drool collection in conjunction with metagenomic sequencing methods. For this pilot study, we obtained 14 samples from healthy staff members working at the Duke Lemur Center (Durham, NC, USA) to determine the viral diversity that can be identified in passive drool samples from humans. The complete genomes of 3 anelloviruses, 9 cressdnaviruses, 4 Caudoviricetes large bacteriophages, 29 microviruses, and 19 inoviruses were identified in this study using high-throughput sequencing and viral metagenomic workflows. The results presented here expand our understanding of the vertebrate-infecting and microbe-infecting viral diversity of the human oral virome in North Carolina (USA).
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Simona Kraberger
- The Biodesign Center for Fundamental and Applied Microbiomics, Center for Evolution and Medicine and School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
| | - Joy M. Custer
- The Biodesign Center for Fundamental and Applied Microbiomics, Center for Evolution and Medicine and School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
| | - Karla L. Vargas
- The Biodesign Center for Fundamental and Applied Microbiomics, Center for Evolution and Medicine and School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
| | - Claudia Espy
- Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Erin Ehmke
- Duke Lemur Center, Duke University, Durham, NC 27705, USA;
| | - Anne D. Yoder
- Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Arvind Varsani
- The Biodesign Center for Fundamental and Applied Microbiomics, Center for Evolution and Medicine and School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
- Structural Biology Research Unit, Department of Integrative Biomedical Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7925, South Africa
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8
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Britto AMA, Siqueira JD, Curty G, Goes LR, Policarpo C, Meyrelles AR, Furtado Y, Almeida G, Giannini ALM, Machado ES, Soares MA. Microbiome analysis of Brazilian women cervix reveals specific bacterial abundance correlation to RIG-like receptor gene expression. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1147950. [PMID: 37180114 PMCID: PMC10167488 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1147950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The relationship among microbiome, immunity and cervical cancer has been targeted by several studies, yet many questions remain unanswered. We characterized herein the virome and bacteriome from cervical samples and correlated these findings with innate immunity gene expression in a Brazilian convenience sample of HPV-infected (HPV+) and uninfected (HPV-) women. For this purpose, innate immune gene expression data were correlated to metagenomic information. Correlation analysis showed that interferon (IFN) is able to differentially modulate pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) expression based on HPV status. Virome analysis indicated that HPV infection correlates to the presence of Anellovirus (AV) and seven complete HPV genomes were assembled. Bacteriome results unveiled that vaginal community state types (CST) distribution was independent of HPV or AV status, although bacterial phyla distribution differed between groups. Furthermore, TLR3 and IFNαR2 levels were higher in the Lactobacillus no iners-dominated mucosa and we detected correlations among RIG-like receptors (RLR) associated genes and abundance of specific anaerobic bacteria. Collectively, our data show an intriguing connection between HPV and AV infections that could foster cervical cancer development. Besides that, TLR3 and IFNαR2 seem to create a protective milieu in healthy cervical mucosa (L. no iners-dominated), and RLRs, known to recognize viral RNA, were correlated to anaerobic bacteria suggesting that they might be related to dysbiosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alan Messala A. Britto
- Departamento de Enfermagem Materno-Infantil (DEMI), Faculdade de Enfermagem (FEnf), Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Programa de Oncovirologia, Instituto Nacional de Câncer (INCA), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Infecção HIV/aids e Hepatites Virais, Hospital Universitário Gaffrée e Guinle (HUGG/Ebserh), Universidade Federal do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UNIRIO), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Juliana D. Siqueira
- Programa de Oncovirologia, Instituto Nacional de Câncer (INCA), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Gislaine Curty
- Programa de Oncovirologia, Instituto Nacional de Câncer (INCA), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Livia R. Goes
- Programa de Oncovirologia, Instituto Nacional de Câncer (INCA), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Cintia Policarpo
- Laboratório de Genômica Funcional e Transdução de Sinal, Departamento de Genética, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Angela R. Meyrelles
- Instituto de Ginecologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Yara Furtado
- Instituto de Ginecologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Escola de Medicina e Cirurgia da Universidade Federal do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UNIRIO), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Gutemberg Almeida
- Instituto de Ginecologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Ana Lucia M. Giannini
- Laboratório de Genômica Funcional e Transdução de Sinal, Departamento de Genética, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Elizabeth S. Machado
- Hospital Universitário Clementino Fraga Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Marcelo A. Soares
- Programa de Oncovirologia, Instituto Nacional de Câncer (INCA), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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9
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Sharifian K, Shoja Z, Jalilvand S. The interplay between human papillomavirus and vaginal microbiota in cervical cancer development. Virol J 2023; 20:73. [PMID: 37076931 PMCID: PMC10114331 DOI: 10.1186/s12985-023-02037-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2022] [Accepted: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 04/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Over the past few decades, we have grown accustomed to the idea that human papillomavirus can cause tumors. The genetic and environmental factors that make the difference between elimination of viral infection and the development of cancer are therefore an area of active investigation at present. Microbiota has emerged as an important factor that may affect this balance by increasing or decreasing the ability of viral infection to promote. The female reproductive system has its specific microbiota that helps to maintain health and prevent infection with pathogens. In contrast to other mucosal sites, the vaginal microbiota typically has low diversity and contains few Lactobacillus spp. which by using high-throughput 16s rRNA gene sequencing, classified into five different community state types. According to emerging information, increased diversity of vaginal microbiota and reduced abundance of Lactobacillus spp. contribute to HPV acquisition, persistence, and development of cervical cancer. In this review, the role of normal female reproductive tract microbiota in health, mechanisms which dysbiosis can cause diseases through interaction with microbes and several therapeutic approaches were addressed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kimia Sharifian
- Department of Virology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, 14155, Iran
| | | | - Somayeh Jalilvand
- Department of Virology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, 14155, Iran.
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10
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Takada K, Melnikov VG, Kobayashi R, Komine-Aizawa S, Tsuji NM, Hayakawa S. Female reproductive tract-organ axes. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1110001. [PMID: 36798125 PMCID: PMC9927230 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1110001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The female reproductive tract (FRT) and remote/versatile organs in the body share bidirectional communication. In this review, we discuss the framework of the "FRT-organ axes." Each axis, namely, the vagina-gut axis, uterus-gut axis, ovary-gut axis, vagina-bladder axis, vagina-oral axis, uterus-oral axis, vagina-brain axis, uterus-brain axis, and vagina-joint axis, is comprehensively discussed separately. Each axis could be involved in the pathogenesis of not only gynecological diseases but also diseases occurring apart from the FRT. Although the microbiota is clearly a key player in the FRT-organ axes, more quantitative insight into the homeostasis of the microbiota could be provided by host function measurements rather than current microbe-centric approaches. Therefore, investigation of the FRT-organ axes would provide us with a multicentric approach, including immune, neural, endocrine, and metabolic aspects, for understanding the homeostatic mechanism of women's bodies. The framework of the FRT-organ axes could also provide insights into finding new therapeutic approaches to maintain women's health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazuhide Takada
- Division of Microbiology, Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Nihon University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan,Division of Immune Homeostasis, Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Nihon University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan,*Correspondence: Kazuhide Takada, ; Satoshi Hayakawa,
| | | | - Ryoki Kobayashi
- Division of Immune Homeostasis, Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Nihon University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan,Microbiology and Immunology, Nihon University, School of Dentistry at Matsudo, Chiba, Japan
| | - Shihoko Komine-Aizawa
- Division of Microbiology, Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Nihon University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan,Division of Immune Homeostasis, Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Nihon University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Noriko M. Tsuji
- Division of Microbiology, Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Nihon University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan,Division of Immune Homeostasis, Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Nihon University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan,Department of Food Science, Jumonji University, Saitama, Japan
| | - Satoshi Hayakawa
- Division of Microbiology, Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Nihon University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan,Division of Immune Homeostasis, Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Nihon University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan,*Correspondence: Kazuhide Takada, ; Satoshi Hayakawa,
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11
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Jimoh AO, Balle C, Brown B, Feng C, Havyarimana E, Konstantinus IN, Gill K, Bekker LG, Passmore JAS, Jaspan HB, Varsani A, Happel AU. Genome Sequences of Anelloviruses, a Genomovirus, Microviruses, Polyomaviruses, and an Unclassified Caudovirus Identified in Vaginal Secretions from South African Adolescents. Microbiol Resour Announc 2023; 12:e0114322. [PMID: 36533922 PMCID: PMC9872636 DOI: 10.1128/mra.01143-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2022] [Accepted: 12/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Other than for papillomaviruses, there is a paucity of whole-genome sequences for bacteriophages and eukaryote-infecting viruses isolated from the female genital tract. Here, we report the genome sequences of 16 microviruses, 3 anelloviruses, 2 polyomaviruses, 1 genomovirus, and 1 caudovirus that were identified in vaginal secretion samples from adolescents in South Africa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adijat O. Jimoh
- Department of Pathology, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Genetics, Genomics, and Bioinformatics Department, National Biotechnology Development Agency, Abuja, Nigeria
| | - Christina Balle
- Department of Pathology, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Bryan Brown
- Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Colin Feng
- Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Enock Havyarimana
- Department of Pathology, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- School of Infection and Immunity, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Iyaloo N. Konstantinus
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Namibia Institute of Pathology, Windhoek, Namibia
- NRF-DST Centre of Excellence in HIV Prevention, Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa, Durban, South Africa
| | | | - Linda-Gail Bekker
- Desmond Tutu HIV Centre, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Jo-Ann S. Passmore
- Department of Pathology, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Desmond Tutu HIV Centre, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- National Health Laboratory Service, Cape Town, South Africa
- Division of Medical Virology, Department of Pathology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Heather B. Jaspan
- Department of Pathology, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Arvind Varsani
- The Biodesign Center for Fundamental and Applied Microbiomics, Center for Evolution and Medicine and School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USA
- Structural Biology Research Unit, Department of Integrative Biomedical Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Anna-Ursula Happel
- Department of Pathology, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
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12
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Ottmann M. [These viruses that inhabit and visit us: The human virome]. Med Sci (Paris) 2022; 38:1028-1038. [PMID: 36692282 DOI: 10.1051/medsci/2022161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent advances in new sequencing technologies have opened the way to the deciphering of human virome. So far, human virome is defined as the complete list of viruses found in human body. Those viruses could be endogenous, prokaryotic, archaeal and eukaryotic. In addition, each compartment of the human body constitutes a different microenvironment with its own virome. Viral infections can be categorized according to the outcome of the acute phase and until recently, only symptomatic and pathological infections were studied. It is now well established that a healthy person has an extremely diverse virome. This review summarizes the current state of our knowledge and also proposes another classification of the human virome based on principles of ecology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michèle Ottmann
- Centre international de recherche en infectiologie (CIRI), université Claude Bernard-Lyon 1, université de Lyon, Inserm U1111 - CNRS UMR 5308 - ENS, Laboratoire de virologie et pathologies humaines, Faculté de médecine RTH Laennec, 7 rue Guillaume Paradin, 69372 Lyon cedex 08, France
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13
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Gholiof M, Adamson-De Luca E, Wessels JM. The female reproductive tract microbiotas, inflammation, and gynecological conditions. FRONTIERS IN REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH 2022; 4:963752. [PMID: 36303679 PMCID: PMC9580710 DOI: 10.3389/frph.2022.963752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The intricate interactions between the host cells, bacteria, and immune components that reside in the female reproductive tract (FRT) are essential in maintaining reproductive tract homeostasis. Much of our current knowledge surrounding the FRT microbiota relates to the vaginal microbiota, where ‘health’ has long been associated with low bacterial diversity and Lactobacillus dominance. This concept has recently been challenged as women can have a diverse vaginal microbial composition in the absence of symptomatic disease. The structures of the upper FRT (the endocervix, uterus, Fallopian tubes, and ovaries) have distinct, lower biomass microbiotas than the vagina; however, the existence of permanent microbiotas at these sites is disputed. During homeostasis, a balance exists between the FRT bacteria and the immune system that maintains immune quiescence. Alterations in the bacteria, immune system, or local environment may result in perturbances to the FRT microbiota, defined as dysbiosis. The inflammatory signature of a perturbed or “dysbiotic” FRT microbiota is characterized by elevated concentrations of pro-inflammatory cytokines in cervical and vaginal fluid. It appears that vaginal homeostasis can be disrupted by two different mechanisms: first, a shift toward increased bacterial diversity can trigger vaginal inflammation, and second, local immunity is altered in some manner, which disrupts the microbiota in response to an environmental change. FRT dysbiosis can have negative effects on reproductive health. This review will examine the increasing evidence for the involvement of the FRT microbiotas and inflammation in gynecologic conditions such as endometriosis, infertility, and endometrial and ovarian cancer; however, the precise mechanisms by which bacteria are involved in these conditions remains speculative at present. While only in their infancy, the use of antibiotics and probiotics to therapeutically alter the FRT microbiota is being studied and is discussed herein. Our current understanding of the intimate relationship between immunity and the FRT microbiota is in its early days, and more research is needed to deepen our mechanistic understanding of this relationship and to assess how our present knowledge can be harnessed to assist in diagnosis and treatment of gynecologic conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahsa Gholiof
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Emma Adamson-De Luca
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
- AIMA Laboratories Inc., Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Jocelyn M. Wessels
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
- AIMA Laboratories Inc., Hamilton, ON, Canada
- *Correspondence: Jocelyn M. Wessels
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14
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Kaelin EA, Skidmore PT, Łaniewski P, Holland LA, Chase DM, Herbst-Kralovetz MM, Lim ES. Cervicovaginal DNA Virome Alterations Are Associated with Genital Inflammation and Microbiota Composition. mSystems 2022; 7:e0006422. [PMID: 35343798 PMCID: PMC9040584 DOI: 10.1128/msystems.00064-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2022] [Accepted: 03/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
While the link between the cervicovaginal bacterial microbiome, human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, and cervical cancer is recognized (P. Łaniewski, D. Barnes, A. Goulder, H. Cui, et al., Sci. Rep. 8:7593, 2018, http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-25879-7; A. Mitra, D. A. MacIntyre, Y. S. Lee, A. Smith, et al., Sci. Rep. 5:16865, 2015, http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/srep16865; A. Mitra, D. A. MacIntyre, J. R. Marchesi, Y. S. Lee, et al., Microbiome 4:58, 2016, http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s40168-016-0203-0; J. Norenhag, J. Du, M. Olovsson, H. Verstraelen, et al., BJOG, 127:171-180, 2020, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/1471-0528.15854; E. O. Dareng, B. Ma, A. O. Famooto, S. N. Adebamowo, et al., Epidemiol. Infect. 144:123-137, 2016, http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0950268815000965; A. Audirac-Chalifour, K. Torres-Poveda, M. Bahena-Roman, J. Tellez-Sosa et al., PLoS One 11:e0153274, 2016, http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0153274; M. Di Paola, C. Sani, A. M. Clemente, A. Iossa, et al., Sci. Rep. 7:10200, 2017, http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-09842-6), the role of the cervicovaginal virome remains poorly understood. In this pilot study, we conducted metagenomic next-generation sequencing of cervicovaginal lavage specimens to investigate the relationship between the cervicovaginal DNA virome, bacterial microbiome, genital inflammation, and HPV infection. Specific virome alterations were associated with features of the local microenvironment related to HPV persistence and progression to cervical cancer. Cervicovaginal viromes clustered distinctly by genital inflammation state. Genital inflammation was associated with decreased virome richness and alpha diversity and an increased abundance of Anelloviridae species from the genus Alphatorquevirus. Lactobacillus bacteriophages were closely associated with increased Lactobacillus abundance, consistent with phage-host relationships. Interestingly, bacteria-bacteriophage transkingdom interactions were linked to genital inflammation and showed specific interactions with bacterial vaginosis-associated bacteria, including Gardnerella, Prevotella, and Sneathia. Taken together, our results reveal prominent virome interactions with features of the cervicovaginal microenvironment that are associated with HPV and cervical cancer. These findings expand our understanding of the cervicovaginal host-microbiome interactions in women's health. IMPORTANCE HPV infection is an established risk factor for cervical cancer. However, more broadly, the role of the cervicovaginal virome in cervical cancer progression is not well understood. Here, we identified cervicovaginal DNA virome alterations associated with local microenvironment factors (vaginal microbiota and genital inflammation) that influence HPV persistence and progression to cervical cancer. These findings indicate that the cervicovaginal virome plays an important role in women's health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily A. Kaelin
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USA
- Center for Fundamental and Applied Microbiomics, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USA
| | - Peter T. Skidmore
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USA
- Center for Fundamental and Applied Microbiomics, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USA
| | - Paweł Łaniewski
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine—Phoenix, University of Arizona, Phoenix, Arizona, USA
| | - LaRinda A. Holland
- Center for Fundamental and Applied Microbiomics, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USA
| | - Dana M. Chase
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine-Phoenix, University of Arizona, Phoenix, Arizona, USA
- UA Cancer Center, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
| | - Melissa M. Herbst-Kralovetz
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine—Phoenix, University of Arizona, Phoenix, Arizona, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine-Phoenix, University of Arizona, Phoenix, Arizona, USA
- UA Cancer Center, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
| | - Efrem S. Lim
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USA
- Center for Fundamental and Applied Microbiomics, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USA
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15
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Blondin-Ladrie L, Aranguren M, Doyon-Laliberté K, Poudrier J, Roger M. The Importance of Regulation in Natural Immunity to HIV. Vaccines (Basel) 2021; 9:vaccines9030271. [PMID: 33803543 PMCID: PMC8003059 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines9030271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2021] [Revised: 03/15/2021] [Accepted: 03/16/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Worldwide, most Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infections are acquired through heterosexual intercourse, and in sub-Saharan Africa, 59% of new HIV infections affect women. Vaccines and microbicides hold promise for preventing the acquisition of HIV. To this end, the study of HIV highly exposed seronegative (HESN) female commercial sex workers (CSWs), who constitute a model of natural immunity to HIV, provides an exceptional opportunity to determine important clues for the development of preventive strategies. Studies using both female genital tract (FGT) and peripheral blood samples of HESN CSWs, have allowed identifying distinct features, notably low-inflammatory patterns associated with resistance to infection. How this seemingly regulated response is achieved at the initial site of HIV infection remains unknown. One hypothesis is that populations presenting regulatory profiles contribute to the orchestration of potent anti-viral and low-inflammatory responses at the initial site of HIV transmission. Here, we view to update our knowledge regarding this issue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laurence Blondin-Ladrie
- Axe Immunopathologie, Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal (CRCHUM), Montréal, QC H2X0A9, Canada; (L.B.-L.); (M.A.); (K.D.-L.)
- Département de Microbiologie, Infectiologie et Immunologie de l‘Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC H3C3J7, Canada
| | - Matheus Aranguren
- Axe Immunopathologie, Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal (CRCHUM), Montréal, QC H2X0A9, Canada; (L.B.-L.); (M.A.); (K.D.-L.)
- Département de Microbiologie, Infectiologie et Immunologie de l‘Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC H3C3J7, Canada
| | - Kim Doyon-Laliberté
- Axe Immunopathologie, Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal (CRCHUM), Montréal, QC H2X0A9, Canada; (L.B.-L.); (M.A.); (K.D.-L.)
- Département de Microbiologie, Infectiologie et Immunologie de l‘Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC H3C3J7, Canada
| | - Johanne Poudrier
- Axe Immunopathologie, Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal (CRCHUM), Montréal, QC H2X0A9, Canada; (L.B.-L.); (M.A.); (K.D.-L.)
- Département de Microbiologie, Infectiologie et Immunologie de l‘Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC H3C3J7, Canada
- Correspondence: (J.P.); (M.R.)
| | - Michel Roger
- Axe Immunopathologie, Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal (CRCHUM), Montréal, QC H2X0A9, Canada; (L.B.-L.); (M.A.); (K.D.-L.)
- Département de Microbiologie, Infectiologie et Immunologie de l‘Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC H3C3J7, Canada
- Institut National de Santé Publique du Québec, Montréal, QC H2P1E2, Canada
- Correspondence: (J.P.); (M.R.)
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16
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Tuddenham S, Ravel J, Marrazzo JM. Protection and Risk: Male and Female Genital Microbiota and Sexually Transmitted Infections. J Infect Dis 2021; 223:S222-S235. [PMID: 33576776 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiaa762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Unique compositional and functional features of the cervicovaginal microbiota have been associated with protection against and risk for sexually transmitted infections (STI). In men, our knowledge of the interaction between the penile microbiota and STI is less developed. The current state of our understanding of these microbiota and their role in select STIs is briefly reviewed, along with strategies that leverage existing findings to manipulate genital microbiota and optimize protection against STIs. Finally, we focus on major research gaps and present a framework for future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan Tuddenham
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Jacques Ravel
- Institute for Genome Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Jeanne M Marrazzo
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
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