Abstract
The vaginal and uterine microbiota play important roles in the health of the female reproductive system. However, the interactions among the microbes in these two niches and their effects on uterine health remain unclear. Here we profile the vaginal and uterine microbial samples of 145 women, and combine with deep mining of public data and animal experiments to characterize the microbial translocation in the female reproductive tract and its role in modulating uterine health. Synchronous variation and increasing convergence of the uterine and vaginal microbiome with advancing age are shown. We also find that transplanting certain strains of vaginal bacteria into the vagina of rats induces or reduces endometritis-like symptoms, and verify the damaging or protective effects of certain vaginal bacteria on endometrium. This study clarifies the interdependent relationship of vaginal bacterial translocation with uterine microecology and endometrial health, which will undoubtedly increase our understanding of female reproductive health.
Highlights
The vaginal and uterine microbiota play important roles in the health of the female reproductive system
Elevated pH leads to the proliferation of harmful bacteria such as Gardnerella and Prevotella, which leads to dysbiosis and an increased risk of various diseases, including bacterial vaginosis (BV) and urinary tract infections (UTIs)[21,22]
We collect both vaginal and uterine samples from healthy women and women with chronic endometritis and conduct data mining of the reproductive tract microbiomes of more than 1000 samples. By combining these results with those of animal experiments, we reveal microbial translocation in the female reproductive tract and elucidate the effect of perturbation of the vaginal microbiota on intrauterine microbiota and reproductive health. These results demonstrate the interdependent effect of the vaginal microbiota and bacterial translocation on uterine microecology and endometrial health, which will increase our understanding of microbial cross-transmission in the female reproductive system as well as their role in modulating the physical health of women
Summary
The vaginal and uterine microbiota play important roles in the health of the female reproductive system. Certain studies have speculated that intrauterine infection is caused by vaginal bacteria ascending to the uterine cavity[27], the communication of microbes between these two body sites is still unclear, and the mechanisms underlying the modulation of the microbiota in utero and induction of disease when vaginal bacteria translocate to the upper reproductive system remain obscure. We collect both vaginal and uterine samples from healthy women and women with chronic endometritis and conduct data mining of the reproductive tract microbiomes of more than 1000 samples By combining these results with those of animal experiments, we reveal microbial translocation in the female reproductive tract and elucidate the effect of perturbation of the vaginal microbiota on intrauterine microbiota and reproductive health. These results demonstrate the interdependent effect of the vaginal microbiota and bacterial translocation on uterine microecology and endometrial health, which will increase our understanding of microbial cross-transmission in the female reproductive system as well as their role in modulating the physical health of women
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