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Bioscience Reports Sep 2021The reproductive tract microbiota plays a crucial role in maintenance of normal pregnancy and influences reproductive outcomes. Microbe-host interactions in pregnancy... (Review)
Review
The reproductive tract microbiota plays a crucial role in maintenance of normal pregnancy and influences reproductive outcomes. Microbe-host interactions in pregnancy remain poorly understood and their role in shaping immune modulation is still being uncovered. In this review, we describe the composition of vaginal microbial communities in the reproductive tract and their association with reproductive outcomes. We also consider strategies for manipulating microbiota composition by using live biotherapeutics, selective eradication of pathogenic bacteria with antibiotics and vaginal microbiota transplantation. Finally, future developments in this field and the need for mechanistic studies to explore the functional significance of reproductive tract microbial communities are highlighted.
Topics: Animals; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Bacteria; Biological Therapy; Dysbiosis; Female; Host-Pathogen Interactions; Humans; Microbiota; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious; Pregnancy Outcome; Reproduction; Vagina; Vaginosis, Bacterial
PubMed: 34397086
DOI: 10.1042/BSR20203908 -
Canadian Journal of Microbiology Apr 2017The idea you could use lactic acid bacteria to treat and prevent recurrence of vaginal infections was ridiculed in the early 1980s. Bacteria were the bad guys to be... (Review)
Review
The idea you could use lactic acid bacteria to treat and prevent recurrence of vaginal infections was ridiculed in the early 1980s. Bacteria were the bad guys to be eradicated by current and emerging antibiotic classes. Thirty years later, probiotic administration of microbes is widespread worldwide, including for vaginal and bladder health in women, and the scientific basis and clinical efficacy data for this and multiple other applications prove the viability of this concept. The development of this approach, the creation of a definition for probiotics, and the expansion to other areas of women's health form the basis of this review.
Topics: Female; Humans; Lactobacillus; Probiotics; Vagina; Women's Health
PubMed: 28177795
DOI: 10.1139/cjm-2016-0733 -
International Journal of Molecular... Aug 2023The development of new technologies such as sequencing has greatly enhanced our understanding of the human microbiome. The interactions between the human microbiome and... (Review)
Review
The development of new technologies such as sequencing has greatly enhanced our understanding of the human microbiome. The interactions between the human microbiome and the development of several diseases have been the subject of recent research. In-depth knowledge about the vaginal microbiome (VMB) has shown that dysbiosis is closely related to the development of gynecologic and obstetric disorders. To date, the progress in treating or modulating the VMB has lagged far behind research efforts. Photobiomodulation (PBM) uses low levels of light, usually red or near-infrared, to treat a diversity of conditions. Several studies have demonstrated that PBM can control the microbiome and improve the activity of the immune system. In recent years, increasing attention has been paid to the microbiome, mostly to the gut microbiome and its connections with many diseases, such as metabolic disorders, obesity, cardiovascular disorders, autoimmunity, and neurological disorders. The applicability of PBM therapeutics to treat gut dysbiosis has been studied, with promising results. The possible cellular and molecular effects of PBM on the vaginal microbiome constitute a theoretical and promising field that is starting to take its first steps. In this review, we will discuss the potential mechanisms and effects of photobiomodulation in the VMB.
Topics: Female; Humans; Autoimmunity; Dysbiosis; Microbiota; Vagina; Low-Level Light Therapy
PubMed: 37686314
DOI: 10.3390/ijms241713507 -
International Urogynecology Journal May 2017The paravaginal defect has been a topic of active discussion concerning what it is, how to diagnose it, its role in anterior vaginal wall prolapse, and if and how to... (Review)
Review
INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS
The paravaginal defect has been a topic of active discussion concerning what it is, how to diagnose it, its role in anterior vaginal wall prolapse, and if and how to repair it. The aim of this article was to review the existing literature on paravaginal defect and discuss its role in the anterior vaginal wall support system, with an emphasis on anatomy and imaging.
METHODS
Articles related to paravaginal defects were identified through a PubMed search ending 1 July 2015.
RESULTS
Support of the anterior vaginal wall is a complex system involving levator ani muscle, arcus tendineus fascia pelvis (ATFP), pubocervical fascia, and uterosacral/cardinal ligaments. Studies conclude that physical examination is inconsistent in detecting paravaginal defects. Ultrasound (US) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have been used to describe patterns in the appearance of the vagina and bladder when a paravaginal defect is suspected. Different terms have been used (e.g., sagging of bladder base, loss of tenting), which all represent changes in pelvic floor support but that could be due to both paravaginal and levator ani defects.
CONCLUSION
Paravaginal support plays a role in supporting the anterior vaginal wall, but we still do not know the degree to which it contributes to the development of prolapse. Both MRI and US are useful in the diagnosis of paravaginal defects, but further studies are needed to evaluate their use.
Topics: Female; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Pelvic Floor; Pelvic Organ Prolapse; Ultrasonography; Urinary Bladder; Vagina
PubMed: 27640064
DOI: 10.1007/s00192-016-3096-3 -
MSphere Dec 2020Dominance of species in vaginal communities is a hallmark of healthy conditions in the female genital tract. Key nutrients for lactobacilli include sugars produced when...
Dominance of species in vaginal communities is a hallmark of healthy conditions in the female genital tract. Key nutrients for lactobacilli include sugars produced when glycogen is degraded by α-amylase in the vagina. While α-amylase activity has been demonstrated in vaginal fluids, it is unclear whether α-amylases are produced solely by the host, bacteria in the vagina, or both. We screened cervicovaginal mucus from 23 reproductive-age women, characterized the species composition of vaginal communities, measured vaginal pH, and determined levels of amylase activity, glycogen, and lactic acid. Based on differences in these measured variables, one sample from each of four individual donors was selected for metagenomic and proteomic analyses. Of eight putative bacterial amylases identified in the assembled bacterial metagenomes, we detected four in vaginal fluids. These amylases were produced by various bacteria in different vaginal communities. Moreover, no two communities were the same in terms of which bacteria were producing amylases. Although we detected bacterial amylases in vaginal fluids, there was no clear association between the bacterial species that was dominant in a community and the level of amylase activity. This association was likely masked by the presence of human α-amylase, which was also detected in vaginal fluids. Finally, the levels of amylase activity and glycogen were only weakly associated. Our findings show, for the first time, that multiple amylases from both bacterial and human origins can be present simultaneously in the vagina. This work also suggests that the link between glycogen, amylase, and in the vagina is complex. In this study, we show that multiple bacteria in the vaginal community produce amylases that hydrolyze glycogen into simpler sugars (i.e., maltose and maltotriose). These sugars serve as "common goods" that sustain bacterial populations in vaginal communities. Given the temporal changes that are observed in the human vaginal microbiome, we expect the kinds of bacterial amylases produced will also vary over time. These differences influence the pool of resources that are broadly shared and shape the species composition of the vaginal bacterial community.
Topics: Adult; Female; Glycogen; Humans; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Lactic Acid; Lactobacillus; Metagenome; Microbiota; Proteomics; Vagina; Vaginosis, Bacterial; alpha-Amylases
PubMed: 33298571
DOI: 10.1128/mSphere.00943-20 -
Frontiers in Cellular and Infection... 2022The human microbiota influences physiology, disease, and metabolic reproduction. The origin of uterine bacteria is controversial. The main assumption is that the germs... (Review)
Review
The human microbiota influences physiology, disease, and metabolic reproduction. The origin of uterine bacteria is controversial. The main assumption is that the germs enter the uterine cavity from the vagina through the cervical canal, bloodstream, fallopian tubes, and gynecological surgical channels. Understanding the microbiota at various anatomical sites is critical to the female reproductive system and pregnancy. Today's study focuses on the role of uterine bacteria in pregnancy and embryo implantation. According to our findings, the uterine microbiome influences embryo implantation and pregnancy outcome. Pregnancy is a natural, evolutionarily selected approach to human reproduction. During pregnancy, the microbiota of the reproductive tract changes, facilitating the maintenance of pregnancy, and the human immune system undergoes a series of changes that recognize and adapt to the non-self. From the beginning of pregnancy, a non-self fetus must establish a placenta of embryonic origin to protect itself and promote growth; the VMB tends to be more stable and lactobacillus-dominated in late gestation than in early gestation. Any material that disrupts this connection, such as microbial changes, is associated with a higher risk of poor health and poor pregnancy outcomes in women (eclampsia). The presence of any material that disrupts this connection, such as microbial changes, is associated with a higher risk of poor health and poor pregnancy outcomes (preeclampsia, preterm birth, gestational diabetes, etc.). In this work, we review the last decade of relevant research to improve our understanding of the mechanisms by which the microbiota of the female reproductive tract influences female reproductive health. This work discusses the mechanisms associated with the reproductive tract microbiota and pregnancy immunity, as well as the impact of an abnormal microbiota on adverse pregnancy outcomes. Emphasis is placed on the characteristics and sources of the female vaginal, uterine, and placental microbiota and the importance of a well-stabilized local human microbiota and immune system for embryo implantation, placental development, fetal growth, and pregnancy outcome.
Topics: Pregnancy; Female; Infant, Newborn; Humans; Placenta; Premature Birth; Uterus; Cervix Uteri; Vagina; Bacteria
PubMed: 36683698
DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.1025714 -
Viruses May 2022Globally, most Human Immunodeficiency Virus type 1 (HIV) transmission occurs through vaginal-penile sex (heterosexual transmission). The local immune environment at the... (Review)
Review
Globally, most Human Immunodeficiency Virus type 1 (HIV) transmission occurs through vaginal-penile sex (heterosexual transmission). The local immune environment at the site of HIV exposure is an important determinant of whether exposure during sex will lead to productive infection, and the vaginal and penile immune milieus are each critically shaped by the local microbiome. However, there are key differences in the microbial drivers of inflammation and immune quiescence at these tissue sites. In both, a high abundance of anaerobic taxa (e.g., ) is associated with an increased local density of HIV target cells and an increased risk of acquiring HIV through sex. However, the taxa that have been associated to date with increased risk in the vagina and penis are not identical. Just as importantly, the microbiota associated with comparatively less inflammation and HIV risk-i.e., the optimal microbiota-are very different at the two sites. In the vagina, spp. are immunoregulatory and may protect against HIV acquisition, whereas on the penis, "skin type" flora such as are associated with reduced inflammation. Compared to its vaginal counterpart, much less is known about the dynamics of the penile microbiome, the ability of clinical interventions to alter the penile microbiome, or the impact of natural/induced microbiome alterations on penile immunology and HIV risk.
Topics: Female; HIV Infections; HIV-1; Humans; Inflammation; Male; Penis; Vagina
PubMed: 35746636
DOI: 10.3390/v14061164 -
Methods (San Diego, Calif.) Oct 2018There is increasing appreciation of the role that vaginal microbiota play in health and disease throughout a woman's lifespan. This has been driven partly by molecular... (Review)
Review
There is increasing appreciation of the role that vaginal microbiota play in health and disease throughout a woman's lifespan. This has been driven partly by molecular techniques that enable detailed identification and characterisation of microbial community structures. However, these methods do not enable assessment of the biochemical and immunological interactions between host and vaginal microbiota involved in pathophysiology. This review examines our current knowledge of the relationships that exist between vaginal microbiota and the host at the level of the vaginal mucosal interface. We also consider methodological approaches to microbiomic, immunologic and metabolic profiling that permit assessment of these interactions. Integration of information derived from these platforms brings the potential for biomarker discovery, disease risk stratification and improved understanding of the mechanisms regulating vaginal microbial community dynamics in health and disease.
Topics: Female; Host Microbial Interactions; Humans; Lactobacillus; Metabolomics; Microbiota; Mucous Membrane; Vagina
PubMed: 29705211
DOI: 10.1016/j.ymeth.2018.04.022 -
Advances in Wound Care Apr 2021To design and validate a novel murine model of full-thickness (FT) vaginal wound healing that mirrors postinjury tissue repair and underscores the impact of estrogen...
To design and validate a novel murine model of full-thickness (FT) vaginal wound healing that mirrors postinjury tissue repair and underscores the impact of estrogen signaling-driven healing kinetics, inflammation, and neovascularization. Five-week-old female CD1 mice were subjected to two 1-mm FT wounds. To assess wound healing kinetics, vaginas were harvested at 6, 12, 18, 24, 48, and 72 h and 7 days postinjury. Wounds from all time points were analyzed by hematoxylin and eosin and trichrome to, respectively, assess the rate of wound closure and tissue deposition. Inflammatory leukocyte (CD45), neutrophil (Ly6G), and macrophage (F480 and CD206) infiltration was examined by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and the resulting anti-inflammatory M2 (CD206)/total (F480) macrophage ratio quantified. Neovascularization (CD31) and estrogen receptor-α (ERα) expression levels were similarly determined by IHC. We observed rapid healing with resolution of mucosal integrity by 48 h ( < 0.05), and overall neutrophils and polarized type 2 macrophages (M2) apexed at 12 h and reduced to near control levels by day 7 postinjury. Tissue repair was virtually indistinguishable from the surrounding vagina. CD31 vessels increased between 12 h and day 7 and ERα trended to decrease at 12 h postinjury and rebound at day 7 to uninjured levels. A proof-of-concept murine model to study vaginal wound healing kinetics and postinjury regenerative repair in the vagina was developed and verified. We surmise that murine vaginal mucosal repair is accelerated and potentially regulated by estrogen signaling through the ERα, thus providing a cellular and molecular foundation to understand vaginal healing responses to injury.
Topics: Animals; Estrogen Receptor alpha; Estrogens; Female; Inflammation; Kinetics; Macrophages; Mice; Models, Animal; Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; Regeneration; Vagina; Wound Healing
PubMed: 32602816
DOI: 10.1089/wound.2020.1198 -
The British Journal of Radiology Dec 2017The role of ultrasound in the assessment of the female pelvis whether using transabdominal/transluminal approach is well established. Little was reported about the use... (Review)
Review
The role of ultrasound in the assessment of the female pelvis whether using transabdominal/transluminal approach is well established. Little was reported about the use of the superficial transperineal approach that could provide a full assessment of the lower cervix and vagina, which may be overlooked in the standard examinations. The proximity of the probe to the vagina helps not only the detection of organ abnormalities but also proper characterization and differentiation of vaginal masses. . We discuss the diagnostic role of this superficial ultrasound approach in improving the perception and interpretation of the anatomy and different diseases of the vagina.
Topics: Female; Humans; Perineum; Ultrasonography; Vagina; Vaginal Diseases
PubMed: 28937267
DOI: 10.1259/bjr.20170326