Effect of Metronidazole on Concentrations of Vaginal Bacteria Associated with Risk of HIV Acquisition.

Several bacterial vaginosis (BV)-associated bacteria have been associated with elevated risk of HIV acquisition, however susceptibility of these bacteria to antibiotics is poorly understood. Vaginal samples were collected from 22 persons daily for two weeks following BV diagnosis. Metronidazole treatment was prescribed for 5-7 days.

IgA coating of vaginal bacteria is reduced in the setting of bacterial vaginosis (BV) and preferentially targets BV-associated species.

Immunoglobulin (Ig) bacterial coating has been described in the gastrointestinal tract and linked to inflammatory bowel disease; however, little is known about Ig coating of vaginal bacteria and whether it plays a role in vaginal health including bacterial vaginosis (BV). We examined Ig coating in 18 women with symptomatic BV followed longitudinally before, 1 week, and 1 month after oral metronidazole treatment. Immunoglobulin A (IgA) and/or immunoglobulin G (IgG) coating of vaginal bacteria was assessed by flow cytometry, and Ig coated and uncoated bacteria were sorted and characterized using 16S rRNA sequencing.

Vaginal Bacteria Elicit Acute Inflammatory Response in Fallopian Tube Organoids.

To facilitate in vitro mechanistic studies in pelvic inflammatory disease and subsequent tubal factor infertility, we sought to establish patient tissue derived fallopian tube (FT) organoids and to study their inflammatory response to acute vaginal bacterial infection. FT tissues were obtained from four patients after salpingectomy for benign gynecological diseases. We introduced acute infection in the FT organoid culture system by inoculating the organoid culture media with two common vaginal bacterial species, Lactobacillus crispatus and Fannyhessea vaginae.

Vaginal bacteria elicit acute inflammatory response in fallopian tube organoids: a model for pelvic inflammatory disease.

To facilitate mechanistic studies in pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) and subsequent tubal factor infertility, as well as ovarian carcinogenesis, we sought to establish patient tissue derived fallopian tube (FT) organoids and to study their inflammatory response to acute vaginal bacterial infection. Experimental study. Academic medical and researchcenter.

Vaginal bacteria elicit acute inflammatory response in fallopian tube organoids: a model for pelvic inflammatory disease.

Objective: To facilitate mechanistic studies in pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) and subsequent tubal factor infertility, as well as ovarian carcinogenesis, we sought to establish patient tissue derived fallopian tube (FT) organoids and to study their inflammatory response to acute vaginal bacterial infection.

Design: Experimental study.

Setting: Academic medical and research center.

Impact of Topical Interventions on the Vaginal Microbiota and Metabolome in Postmenopausal Women: A Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Postmenopausal women with genitourinary symptoms of menopause are often prescribed vaginal estradiol or moisturizer for symptom improvement, but the impact of these treatments on the local microenvironment is poorly understood.

Objective: To compare changes in the vaginal microbiota, metabolome, and pH among women using low-dose vaginal estradiol tablet or low pH moisturizer gel for 12-weeks vs low pH placebo.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This is a post hoc prespecified secondary analysis of a 12-week multicenter randomized clinical trial among postmenopausal women with moderate to severe genitourinary symptoms.

Association between postmenopausal vulvovaginal discomfort, vaginal microbiota, and mucosal inflammation.

Background: Half of all postmenopausal women report symptoms of vulvar, vaginal, or urinary discomfort with substantial impact on sexual function and quality of life; underlying mechanisms leading to symptoms are poorly understood.

Objective: To examine the possibility that the vaginal microbiota and/or mucosal immune response contributes to the severity of bothersome vaginal symptoms, we conducted a substudy of samples from a randomized trial of vaginal treatment for genitourinary syndrome of menopause to compare these features between women whose symptoms improved and women whose symptoms did not improve.

Study Design: This is a secondary analysis of samples collected in a 12-week randomized trial of treatment with vaginal estradiol or moisturizer vs placebo for moderate-severe postmenopausal symptoms of vaginal discomfort.

Bacterial Communities Associated With Abnormal Nugent Score in Postmenopausal Versus Premenopausal Women.

The Nugent score is the reference standard for bacterial vaginosis (BV) diagnosis but has not been validated in postmenopausal women. We compared relative abundances from 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing of vaginal microbiota with Nugent score in cohorts of premenopausal (n = 220) and postmenopausal (n = 144) women. In premenopausal women, 33 taxa were significantly correlated with Nugent score, including the classic BV-associated taxa Gardnerella, Atopobium, Sneathia, Megasphaera, and Prevotella.

Vaginal Microbiota and Mucosal Immune Markers in Women With Vulvovaginal Discomfort.

Background: Up to 30% of women with vaginal symptoms are not assigned a diagnosis after standard diagnostic assessment.

Methods: We compared premenopausal women with idiopathic vaginitis (IV) or vulvodynia (VVD) to healthy controls. Microbiota were characterized using rRNA sequencing.

Cryptic diversity hides host and habitat specialization in a gorgonian-algal symbiosis.

Shallow water anthozoans, the major builders of modern coral reefs, enhance their metabolic and calcification rates with algal symbionts. Controversy exists over whether these anthozoan-algae associations are flexible over the lifetimes of individual hosts, promoting acclimative plasticity, or are closely linked, such that hosts and symbionts co-evolve across generations. Given the diversity of algal symbionts and the morphological plasticity of many host species, cryptic variation within either partner could potentially confound studies of anthozoan-algal associations.