Bioinformatics Analysis of Oral, Vaginal, and Rectal Microbial Profiles during Pregnancy: A Pilot Study on the Bacterial Co-Residence in Pregnant Women

Abstract

Preterm birth (PTB) and threatened preterm labor (TPL), an important pre-PTB state, are major obstetric complications during pregnancy. However, their triggers have not been fully elucidated. The vagina is dominated by Lactobacillus species (categorized as community state types; CSTs I, II, III, and V) or by mixed anaerobes (CST IV). An abundance of the latter is associated with bacterial vaginosis (BV) and BV-triggered PTB/TPL. To identify factors that influence the diversity of vaginal microbiota associated with BV and CST IV (BV-type) bacterial profile, we performed a bioinformatic analysis of the microbial taxa using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing data of bacterial genome in oral, vaginal, and rectal samples collected from 58 pregnant Japanese women. Interestingly, common residence of BV-associated bacteria in the vagina and rectum was individually detected in the CST IV (non-Lactobacillus dominated) group by species-level Spearman correlation coefficient analysis, suggesting that the rectum acts as a reservoir of BV-associated bacterial species in the CST IV group. The current study provides evidence of bacterial co-residence in vagina and rectum in the non-Lactobacillus dominated group, which could be targeted to reduce the risk of preterm incidence in pregnancy.

The healthy female microbiome across body sites: effect of hormonal contraceptives and the menstrual cycle

“…We included the rectum, a body site that is not often sampled and observe that it shares many characteristics with faeces ( Jones et al , 2018 ; Fair et al , 2019 ), but it is also unique. The rectal microbiome has previously been suggested to be a reservoir of bacteria that can readily colonise the vagina ( Kostic et al , 2014 ; Fudaba et al , 2021 ). This is partially confirmed here in the observation that Lactobacillus strains found in the rectum are significantly more frequent in the vagina of the same individuals, as previously reported ( Antonio et al , 2005 ).…”

Female reproductive tract-organ axes

“…In a previous study, 63 bacterial species were identified in the vagina or rectum, 44% of which were found in both organs, and the genotypes of 68% of the species were identical ( 56 ). A recent study showed that BV-associated bacteria in the vagina and rectum in pregnant women were individually detected by species-level Spearman correlation coefficient analysis ( 57 ). Furthermore, orally administered probiotic strains were also detected in the vagina ( 58 – 61 ).…”

Análise Da Condição Periodontal Da Gestante E Seu Parceiro Sexual E a Relação Com a Vaginose Bacteriana E O Risco De Parto Prematuro

“…O acúmulo de ácido láctico acidifica o ambiente vaginal a um pH ideal (pH < 4,5) que atua impedindo o crescimento e a colonização de outras espécies patogênicas, tanto bacterianas (como ocorre com a VB) quanto fúngicas. Além disso, o ácido láctico demonstrou inativar o HIV, o que pode explicar as observações de que a transmissão do HIV pode ser diminuída em indivíduos com uma comunidade vaginal dominada por espécies de Lactobacillus (CHU, et al, 2018;FUDABA, et al, 2021).…”

“…O microbioma vaginal normal difere de acordo com a etnia. Várias análises de perfis microbianos vaginais humanos, incluindo um estudo racial comparativo em larga escala foram realizadas, em que as espécies foram correlacionadas com o PP em afro-americanos, enquanto L. crispatus foi negativamente correlacionado com o PP (FUDABA, et al, 2021).…”