Mycoplasma hominis and Mycoplasma genitalium in the Vaginal Microbiota and Persistent High-Risk Human Papillomavirus Infection

Abstract

BackgroundRecent studies have suggested that the vaginal microenvironment plays a role in persistence of high-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV) infection and thus cervical carcinogenesis. Furthermore, it has been shown that some mycoplasmas are efficient methylators and may facilitate carcinogenesis through methylation of hrHPV and cervical somatic cells. We examined associations between prevalence and persistence of Mycoplasma spp. in the vaginal microbiota, and prevalent as well as persistent hrHPV infections.MethodsWe examined 194 Nigerian women who were tested for hrHPV infection using SPF25/LiPA10 and we identified Mycoplasma genitalium and Mycoplasma hominis in their vaginal microbiota established by sequencing the V3–V4 hypervariable regions of the 16S rRNA gene. We defined the prevalence of M. genitalium, M. hominis, and hrHPV based on positive result of baseline tests, while persistence was defined as positive results from two consecutive tests. We used exact logistic regression models to estimate associations between Mycoplasma spp. and hrHPV infections.ResultsThe mean (SD) age of the study participants was 38 (8) years, 71% were HIV positive, 30% M. genitalium positive, 45% M. hominis positive, and 40% hrHPV positive at baseline. At follow-up, 16% of the women remained positive for M. genitalium, 30% for M. hominis, and 31% for hrHPV. There was a significant association between persistent M. hominis and persistent hrHPV (OR 8.78, 95% CI 1.49–51.6, p 0.01). Women who were positive for HIV and had persistent M. hominis had threefold increase in the odds of having persistent hrHPV infection (OR 3.28, 95% CI 1.31–8.74, p 0.008), compared to women who were negative for both.ConclusionWe found significant association between persistent M. hominis in the vaginal microbiota and persistent hrHPV in this study, but we could not rule out reverse causation. Our findings need to be replicated in larger, longitudinal studies and if confirmed, could have important diagnostic and therapeutic implications.

Association of cervical microbial community with persistence, clearance and negativity of Human Papillomavirus in Korean women: a longitudinal study

“…The LEfSe analysis in the present study also confirmed enrichment of the genus Haemophilus and family Mycoplasmataceae in HPV-persistence women. The results for Mycoplasmataceae are in agreement with the finding of Abedamowo et al ., that Mycoplasma hominis in cervical microbiota is significantly associated with hr-HPV infection 16 . It has also been reported that a few Mycoplasma species are efficient methylators and can promote cervical carcinogenesis through methylation of hr-HPV and cervical somatic cells 16 .…”

“…The results for Mycoplasmataceae are in agreement with the finding of Abedamowo et al ., that Mycoplasma hominis in cervical microbiota is significantly associated with hr-HPV infection 16 . It has also been reported that a few Mycoplasma species are efficient methylators and can promote cervical carcinogenesis through methylation of hr-HPV and cervical somatic cells 16 . One of the previous cervical microbiota studies (16-weeks samples) conducted by Brotman et al .…”

Vaginal microbiota and human papillomavirus: a systematic review

“…Sixteen studies, including a total of 12.204 patients, have been published in the literature with regard to the association between vaginal microbiota and HPV infection ( 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 ).…”

NF-κB signaling and crosstalk during carcinogenesis

“…In 194 Nigerian women tested for high-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV), a significant association with Mycoplasma hominis (M. hominis) was observed with an OR of 8.78 (95% Confidence Interval, 1.49-51.6, P = 0.01) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) positive females had a three-fold increase in OR in the presence of persistent hrHPV infection [187].…”