A New Catalog of Microbiological Tools for Women's Infectious Disease Research.

Amanda L Lewis,Warren G Lewis

doi:10.1128/genomea.00890-16

Abstract

Genitourinary infections pose serious health risks. But, little is known about how genitourinary bacteria attach, maintain colonization, compete for resources, and cause pathology. In this issue, we introduce a new set of 62 genitourinary reference strains of bacteria and their genomes to spur experimental research on infectious diseases that impact women.

Highlights

It is estimated that one-third of women in the United States have bacterial vaginosis (BV) [1], an imbalance of the vaginal microbiota marked by few lactobacilli and overgrowth of potentially pathogenic anaerobic microorganisms, including Gram-negative bacteria, Firmicutes, and Actinobacteria
Despite the clear obstetric and gynecologic health risks associated with BV, we still know surprisingly little about the underlying causes of the condition
Several interdependent factors have contributed to the illdefined roles of urogenital bacteria in infectious diseases of the female urinary and reproductive tracts, including BV

Summary

Introduction

It is estimated that one-third of women in the United States have bacterial vaginosis (BV) [1], an imbalance of the vaginal microbiota marked by few lactobacilli and overgrowth of potentially pathogenic anaerobic microorganisms, including Gram-negative bacteria, Firmicutes, and Actinobacteria. Several genera of BV-associated bacteria have been isolated from sites of infection in the upper reproductive tract, including species of Gardnerella, Prevotella, Fusobacterium, Megasphaera, and others [12,13,14]. Several interdependent factors have contributed to the illdefined roles of urogenital bacteria in infectious diseases of the female urinary and reproductive tracts, including BV.

Results

Conclusion