title: Vaginal microbiome and sexually transmitted infections: an epidemiologic perspective.
abstract: Vaginal bacterial communities are thought to help prevent sexually transmitted infections. Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a common clinical syndrome in which the protective lactic acid-producing bacteria (mainly species of the Lactobacillus genus) are supplanted by a diverse array of anaerobic bacteria. Epidemiologically, BV has been shown to be an independent risk factor for adverse outcomes including preterm birth, development of pelvic inflammatory disease, and acquisition of sexually transmitted infections. Longitudinal studies of the vaginal microbiome using molecular techniques such as 16S ribosomal DNA analysis may lead to interventions that shift the vaginal microbiota toward more protective states.
authors: Department of Epidemiology and Public Health and Institute for Genome Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21201, USA. rbrotman@som.umaryland.edu
authors: Rebecca M
authors: RM
authors: Brotman
mesh_terms: D001421:Bacteria, Anaerobic / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D005260:Female; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology; D006094:Gram-Positive Bacteria / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007778:Lactobacillus / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology; D054892:Metagenome; D056265:Microbial Interactions; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000209:etiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D021521:Ribotyping; D012307:Risk Factors; D015231:Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Bacterial / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D014621:Vagina / Q000382:microbiology*; D014626:Vaginal Smears; D016585:Vaginosis, Bacterial / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology