title: Distinct Effects of the Cervicovaginal Microbiota and Herpes Simplex Type 2 Infection on Female Genital Tract Immunology.
abstract: Genital inflammation is a key determinant of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission, and may increase HIV-susceptible target cells and alter epithelial integrity. Several genital conditions that increase HIV risk are more prevalent in African, Caribbean, and other black (ACB) women, including bacterial vaginosis and herpes simplex virus type-2 (HSV-2) infection. Therefore, we assessed the impact of the genital microbiota on mucosal immunology in ACB women and microbiome-HSV-2 interactions.
  
  
  
  Cervicovaginal secretions and endocervical cells were collected by cytobrush and Instead Softcup, respectively. T cells and dendritic cells were assessed by flow cytometry, cytokines by multiplex enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and the microbiota by 16S ribosomal ribonucleic acid gene sequencing.
  
  
  
  The cervicovaginal microbiota of 51 participants were composed of community state types (CSTs) showing diversity (20/51; 39%) or predominated by Lactobacillus iners (22/51; 42%), L. crispatus (7/51; 14%), or L. gasseri (2/51; 4%). High-diversity CSTs and specific bacterial phyla (Gardnerella vaginalis and Prevotella bivia) were strongly associated with cervicovaginal inflammatory cytokines, but not with altered endocervical immune cells. However, cervical CD4+ T-cell number was associated with HSV-2 infection and a distinct cytokine profile.
  
  
  
  This suggests that the genital microbiota and HSV-2 infection may influence HIV susceptibility through independent biological mechanisms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, and.|Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Shannon
authors.affiliation: Institute for Genome Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, and.|Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gajer
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, and.|Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Yi
authors.affiliation: Institute for Genome Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, and.|Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: Institute for Genome Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, and.
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Humphrys
authors.affiliation: Women's Health in Women's Hands Community Health Centre, and.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Thomas-Pavanel
authors.affiliation: Women's Health in Women's Hands Community Health Centre, and.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chieza
authors.affiliation: Women's Health in Women's Hands Community Health Centre, and.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Janakiram
authors.affiliation: Women's Health in Women's Hands Community Health Centre, and.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Saunders
authors.affiliation: Women's Health in Women's Hands Community Health Centre, and.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Tharao
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, and.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Huibner
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, and.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shahabi
authors.affiliation: Institute for Genome Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, and.|Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ravel
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, and.|Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.|University Health Network (RK), Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kaul
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000821:virology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D016207:Cytokines / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006558:Herpes Genitalis / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D018928:Immunity, Mucosal / Q000276:immunology; D064307:Microbiota / Q000276:immunology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D014621:Vagina / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000821:virology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines
keywords: CD4+ T cells; cytokines; HIV transmission; female genital tract; microbiome; mucosal immunology.