Microbiota of the upper and lower genital tract

Rampersaud, Ryan; Randis, Tara M.; Ratner, Adam J.

doi:10.1016/j.siny.2011.08.006

Cited by 68 publications

(50 citation statements)

References 94 publications

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“…Analysis of the healthy female genital tract has proved to be a challenge since present results suggest there is both significant microbe diversity and site specificity [49].…”

Section: Figurementioning

confidence: 87%

The Completed Self: An Immunological View of the Human-Microbiome Superorganism and Risk of Chronic Diseases

Dietert

Dietert²

2012

Entropy

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Abstract:In this review, we discuss an immunological-driven sign termed the Completed Self, which is related to a holistic determination of health vs. disease. This sign (human plus commensal microbiota) forms the human superorganism. The worldwide emergence of an epidemic of chronic diseases has caused increased healthcare costs, increased premature mortality and reduced quality of life for a majority of the world's population. In addition, it has raised questions concerning the interactions between humans and their environment and potential imbalances. Misregulated inflammation, a host defensehomeostasis disorder, appears to be a key biomarker connecting a majority of chronic diseases. We consider the apparent contributors to this disorder that promote a web of interlinked comorbid conditions. Three key events are suggested to play a role: (1) altered epigenetic programming (AEP) that may span multiple generations, (2) developmental immunotoxicity (DIT), and (3) failure to adequately incorporate commensal microbes as a newborn (i.e., the incomplete self). We discuss how these three events can combine to determine whether the human superorganism is able to adequately and completely form during early childhood. We also discuss how corruption of this event can affect the risk of later-life diseases.

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“…Analysis of the healthy female genital tract has proved to be a challenge since present results suggest there is both significant microbe diversity and site specificity [49].…”

Section: Figurementioning

confidence: 87%

The Completed Self: An Immunological View of the Human-Microbiome Superorganism and Risk of Chronic Diseases

Dietert

Dietert²

2012

Entropy

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“…Comprehensive studies on healthy human vaginal microbiome have identified Lactobacillus spp. to be the dominant bacterial species by both culture-dependent and -independent methods [110][111][112][113]. Although absolute numbers vary, due to different endogenous and exogenous conditions (age, lifestyle, pregnancy, hormone levels, etc.…”

Section: A Role For the Microbiome?mentioning

confidence: 99%

Vulvovaginal Candidiasis: A Current Understanding and Burning Questions

Willems

Ahmed

Liu

et al. 2020

JoF

201

197

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Candida albicans, along with other closely related Candida species, are the primary causative agents of vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC)-a multifactorial infectious disease of the lower female reproductive tract resulting in pathologic inflammation. Unlike other forms of candidiasis, VVC is a disease of immunocompetent and otherwise healthy women, most predominant during their child-bearing years. While VVC is non-lethal, its high global incidence and profound negative impact on quality-of-life necessitates further understanding of the host and fungal factors that drive disease pathogenesis. In this review, we cover the current state of our understanding of the epidemiology, host response, fungal pathogenicity mechanisms, impact of the microbiome, and novel approaches to treatment of this most prevalent human candidal infection. We also offer insight into the latest advancements in the VVC field and identify important questions that still remain.

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“…However, the resident bacteria of the reproductive tract also play an important role, influencing the acidity of the cervicovaginal fluid (CVD), inflammatory and immune reactions, and reproductive success in women (Aldunate et al, ; Eloe & Rasko, ). For those who study nonhuman primates, it is of further interest that there is a very dramatic difference between the vaginal bacteria found in female monkeys and apes as compared to the microbial profiles of healthy women (Rampersaud, Tanis, & Ratner, ; Stumpf et al, ). In contrast to the typical predominance of just one genus, Lactobacilli , in women (Ravel et al, ), a more diverse polymicrobial community structure is commonly found in the lower reproductive tract of all nonhuman primates that have been studied (Yildirim et al, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Low Lactobacilli abundance and polymicrobial diversity in the lower reproductive tract of female rhesus monkeys do not compromise their reproductive success

Amaral

Lubach

Kapoor

et al. 2017

American J Primatol

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The lower reproductive tract of nonhuman primates is colonized with a diverse microbiota, resembling bacterial vaginosis (BV), a gynecological condition associated with negative reproductive outcomes in women. Our 4 aims were to: 1) assess the prevalence of low Lactobacilli and a BV-like profile in female rhesus monkeys, 2) quantify cytokines in their cervicovaginal fluid (CVF), 3) examine the composition and structure of their mucosal microbiota with culture-independent sequencing methods, and 4) evaluate the potential influence on reproductive success. CVF specimens were obtained from 27 female rhesus monkeys for Gram's staining, and to determine acidity (pH), and quantify proinflammatory cytokines. Based on Nugent's classification, 40% had a score of 7 or higher, which would be indicative of BV in women. Nugent scores were significantly correlated with the pH of the CVF. Interleukin-1β was present at high concentrations, but not further elevated by high Nugent scores. Vaginal swabs were obtained from 8 additional females to determine microbial diversity by rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. At the phylum level, the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio was low. The relative abundance of Lactobacilli was also low (between 3–17%), and 11 other genera were present at >1%. However, neither the microbial diversity in the community structure, nor high Nugent scores, was associated with reduced fecundity. Female monkeys provide an opportunity to understand how reproductive success can be sustained in the presence of a diverse polymicrobial community in the reproductive tract.

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Microbiota of the upper and lower genital tract

Cited by 68 publications

References 94 publications

The Completed Self: An Immunological View of the Human-Microbiome Superorganism and Risk of Chronic Diseases

The Completed Self: An Immunological View of the Human-Microbiome Superorganism and Risk of Chronic Diseases

Vulvovaginal Candidiasis: A Current Understanding and Burning Questions

Low Lactobacilli abundance and polymicrobial diversity in the lower reproductive tract of female rhesus monkeys do not compromise their reproductive success

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