Characteristics of Vaginal Microbiome in Reproductive-Age Females with HPV Infection in Xinjiang, China

Abstract

Objective. We investigated the characteristics of vaginal microbiome in reproductive-age females with HPV infection in Xinjiang, China. Methods. A total of 135 females of reproductive age were enrolled. There were 43 healthy HPV-negative females in control group (N group), 58 HPV-positive females in nonlesion group (P1 group), and 34 HPV-positive females in low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion group (P2 group). DNA was extracted from the vaginal secretions, and V3–V4 regions of bacterial 16S rDNA were amplified and sequenced by NovaSeq. QIIME2 and R software were used to perform diversity analysis of bacteria. PICRUSt2 was used to predict the function of the vaginal microbiota. Results. Lactobacillus was the main genus of vaginal microbiota in asymptomatic reproductive-age females with or without HPV in Xinjiang. The diversity of vaginal microbiota in the P1 group was significantly higher than that in the N group, and the proportion of Gardnerella increased significantly. The vaginal microbiota structure of the P2 group was different from the N group, characterized by the decrease of Lactobacillus crispatus and the increase of Shuttleworthia. The function of the inordinate microbiome may play a role in accelerating HPV replication and integration. Conclusion. The structure of vaginal microbiota alters under persistent HPV infection in asymptomatic females of reproductive age in Xinjiang. The Gardnerella increase is associated with increased susceptibility to HPV infection, and Lactobacillus iners predominance and Shuttleworthia presence may be a signature of HPV infection with low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion.

Biomarker Identification for Preterm Birth Susceptibility: Vaginal Microbiome Meta‐Analysis Using Systems Biology and Machine Learning Approaches

“…Shuttleworthia has been linked to the incidence of PTB [48], although its precise pathogenic mechanism is yet to be determined [49]. Shuttleworthia was absent in the vaginal microbiota of Asian and Indian women.…”

Alterations in gut and genital microbiota associated with gynecological diseases: a systematic review and meta-analysis

“…With regard to vaginal microbiome composition, 10 studies provided data on Chao1 in patients (n = 656) versus controls (n = 736), and there was a significant increase in patients (SMD = 1.15, [95%CI: 0.74, 1.56], I 2 = 91%) (Fig. 3A) [50][51][52][53][54][55][56][57][58][59]. Data on Shannon index were reported by 17 studies in patients (n = 771) versus controls (n = 925) [39,50,51,[53][54][55][56][57][58][59][60][61][62][63][64][65][66].…”

“…3A) [50][51][52][53][54][55][56][57][58][59]. Data on Shannon index were reported by 17 studies in patients (n = 771) versus controls (n = 925) [39,50,51,[53][54][55][56][57][58][59][60][61][62][63][64][65][66]. The pooled estimate demonstrated a significant increase in patients (SMD = 0.51, [95%CI: 0.16, 0.86], I 2 = 91%) (Fig.…”

The Vaginal Microbiome during Pregnancy in Health and Disease

“…In a cohort of 135 Chinese women of reproductive age in Xinjiang comprising 43 healthy HPV-negative, 58 HPV-positive with no lesions, and 34 HPV-positive participants with low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions, the structure of the vaginal microbiota was found to change in persistent HPV infections in asymptomatic women. In women with low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions, the dominance of L. iners and the presence of Shuttleworthia may be markers for HPV infection [95].…”