vaginal microbiome

Question 1

Why is it important to study the vaginal microbiome?

Answer 1

Sexual health, cervical cancer, reproductive health

Question 2

What is bacterial vaginosis?

Answer 2

Occurs when normal microbiota is out of balance/gets disrupted

Question 3

What are the dichotomous states of the vaginal microbiome, and their association with health and disease?

Answer 3

1. Healthy - low species diversity, dominated by lactobacillus, pH <4.5
2. Dysbiosis - high species diversity, overgrowth of anaerobic bacteria, pH>4.5 - leads to bacterial vaginosis, sti acquisition, cervical cancer, pelic inflammatory disease, preterm birth

Question 4

What is a mechanism that affects the vaginal glycome, leading to increased risk of Chlamydia trachomatic infection?

Answer 4

Dysbiotic bacteria cleave sialic acid, facilitating Gal1-mediated chlamydia infections
Gal1 increases binding and invasion of chlamydia
Terminal sialic acids prevent Gal1 binding
Sialidases are produced by bacterial vaginosis associated microbes, eg. gardnerella and prevotella