The Changing Landscape of the Vaginal Microbiome

Huang, Bernice; Fettweis, Jennifer M.; Brooks, J. Paul; Jefferson, Kimberly K.; Buck, Gregory A.

doi:10.1016/j.cll.2014.08.006

Cited by 172 publications

(163 citation statements)

References 92 publications

(98 reference statements)

Supporting

Mentioning

134

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…Vaginal microbiomes can be categorized based on the predominant species and these categories have been referred to previously by our group as vagitypes [34] and by others as community state types (CSTs)[35]. This study suggests that use of COCs tends to favor a L. crispatus CST and disfavor a high diversity CST.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 80%

Effects of combined oral contraceptives, depot medroxyprogesterone acetate and the levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system on the vaginal microbiome

et al. 2017

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

OBJECTIVES Prior studies suggest that the composition of the vaginal microbiome may positively or negatively affect susceptibility to sexually transmitted infections (STI) and bacterial vaginosis (BV). Some female hormonal contraceptive methods also appear to positively or negatively influence STI transmission and BV. Therefore changes in the vaginal microbiome that are associated with different contraceptive methods may explain, in part, effects on STI transmission and BV. STUDY DESIGN We performed a retrospective study of 16S rRNA gene survey data of vaginal samples from a subset of participants from the Human Vaginal Microbiome Project at Virginia Commonwealth University. The subset included 682 women who reported using a single form of birth control that was condoms, combined oral contraceptives (COCs), depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA), or the levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system (LNG-IUS). RESULTS Women using COCs (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 0.29, 95% CI [0.13, 0.64]), and DMPA (aOR 0.34, 95% CI [0.13, 0.89]), but not LNG-IUS (aOR 1.55, 95% CI [0.72, 3.35]) were less likely to be colonized by BV-associated bacteria relative to women who used condoms. Women using COCs (aOR, 1.94, 95% CI [1.25 3.02]) were more likely to be colonized by beneficial H2O2-producing Lactobacillus species compared with women using condoms, while women using DMPA (aOR 1.09, 95% CI [0.63, 1.86]) and LNG-IUS (aOR 0.74, 95% CI [0.48, 1.15]) were not. CONCLUSIONS Use of COCs is significantly associated with increased vaginal colonization by healthy lactobacilli and reduced BV-associated taxa. IMPLICATIONS COC use may positively influence gynecologic health through an increase in healthy lactobacilli and a decrease in BV-associated bacterial taxa.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 80%

Effects of combined oral contraceptives, depot medroxyprogesterone acetate and the levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system on the vaginal microbiome

et al. 2017

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Women with a dominant population of vaginal lactobacilli are at a lower risk of UTI compared to women with more diverse microbiota, consisting of Gram-negative anaerobes, Actinobacteria , and other Firmicutes [214–216]. This vaginal condition is referred to by some as bacterial vaginosis (BV) and is often labeled as an ‘imbalance’ or dysbiosis of the vaginal microbiota because it has been associated with a wide variety of adverse health outcomes for women and their babies [217, 218]. Clinical features of BV (i.e.…”

Section: Vaginal Microbiota Bacterial Vaginosis (Bv) and Utimentioning

confidence: 99%

Gram-Positive Uropathogens, Polymicrobial Urinary Tract Infection, and the Emerging Microbiota of the Urinary Tract

2016

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Gram-positive bacteria are a common cause of urinary tract infection (UTI), particularly among individuals who are elderly, pregnant, or who have other risk factors for UTI. Here we review the epidemiology, virulence mechanisms, and host response to the most frequently isolated Gram-positive uropathogens: Staphylococcus saprophyticus, Enterococcus faecalis, and Streptococcus agalactiae. We also review several emerging, rare, misclassified, and otherwise underreported Gram-positive pathogens of the urinary tract including Aerococcus, Corynebacterium, Actinobaculum, and Gardnerella. The literature strongly suggests that urologic diseases involving Gram-positive bacteria may be easily overlooked due to limited culture-based assays typically utilized for urine in hospital microbiology laboratories. Some UTIs are polymicrobial in nature, often involving one or more Gram-positive bacteria. We herein review the risk factors and recent evidence for mechanisms of bacterial synergy in experimental models of polymicrobial UTI. Recent experimental data has demonstrated that, despite being cleared quickly from the bladder, some Gram-positive bacteria can impact pathogenic outcomes of co-infecting organisms. When taken together, the available evidence argues that Gram-positive bacteria are important uropathogens in their own right, but that some can be easily overlooked because they are missed by routine diagnostic methods. Finally, a growing body of evidence demonstrates that a surprising variety of fastidious Gram-positive bacteria may either reside in or be regularly exposed to the urinary tract and further suggests that their presence is widespread among women, as well as men. Experimental studies in this area are needed; however, there is a growing appreciation that the composition of bacteria found in the bladder could be a potentially important determinant in urologic disease, including susceptibility to UTI.

show abstract

“…Lactobacillus spp . dominate the vaginal landscape and inhibit the growth of pathogenic bacteria by creating an acidic environment and competing for nutrients (Huang, Fettweis, Brooks, Jefferson, Buck, 2014). Additionally, periodic hormonal cycles and continual sloughing of epithelial cells contribute to the maintenance of healthy vaginal flora.…”

Section: Implications Of Route Of Birthmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A study of 1290 women identified significantly different microbiome profiles between African American women and women of European ancestry (Huang, 2014). Specifically, African American women demonstrated a higher pH, greater variety of vaginal genus-level profiles dominated by anaerobic species, and smaller communities of protective species specifically lactobacilli (Huang, 2014). Lactobacilli produce an acidic vaginal environment, a protective factor for development of potentially harmful organisms in the vagina.…”

Section: Implications Of Route Of Birthmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Lactobacilli produce an acidic vaginal environment, a protective factor for development of potentially harmful organisms in the vagina. A vaginal microbiome with a higher pH and greater diversity of anaerobic species also contributes to a higher incidence of sexually transmitted infections and growth of other organisms associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes including preterm birth (Huang, 2014; Dunlop et al, 2015). …”

Section: Implications Of Route Of Birthmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

The Maternal Infant Microbiome

Dunn

Jordan

Baker

et al. 2017

McN: The American Journal of Maternal/Child Nursing

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The human microbiome plays a role in maintaining health, but is also thought to attenuate and/or exacerbate risk factors for adverse maternal-child health outcomes. The development of the microbiome begins in utero, however factors related to the labor and birth environment have been shown to influence the initial colonization process of the newborn microbiome. This “seeding” or transfer of microbes from the mother to newborn may serve as an early inoculation process with implications for the long-term health outcomes of newborns. Studies have shown that there are distinct differences in the microbiome profiles of newborns born vaginally compared to those born by cesarean. Antibiotic exposure has been shown to alter the microbial profiles of women and may influence the gut microbial profiles of their newborns. Considering that the first major microbial colonization occurs at birth, it is essential that labor and birth nurses be aware of factors that may alter the composition of the microbiome during the labor and birth process. The implications of various activities and factors unique to the labor and birth environment that may influence the microbiome of women and newborns during the labor and birth process (e.g. route of birth, antibiotic use, nursing procedures) are presented with a focus on the role of labor nurses and the potential influence of nursing activities on this process.

show abstract

The Changing Landscape of the Vaginal Microbiome

Cited by 172 publications

References 92 publications

Effects of combined oral contraceptives, depot medroxyprogesterone acetate and the levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system on the vaginal microbiome

Effects of combined oral contraceptives, depot medroxyprogesterone acetate and the levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system on the vaginal microbiome

Gram-Positive Uropathogens, Polymicrobial Urinary Tract Infection, and the Emerging Microbiota of the Urinary Tract

The Maternal Infant Microbiome

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About