The Female Holobiont of Endometriosis and other Infertility-associated Conditions Raw sequence reads
The microbiota is in symbiosis with the human body as a holobiont. The microbial population adapts to environmental conditions, allowing certain species to colonize specific body sites. Infertility conditions affect the female reproductive tract (FRT) and its resident microbiota. However, a disturbance in homeostasis could influence the FRT and other distal body sites, such as the gastrointestinal tract (GIT). The study aims to determine homeostasis in the FRT-GIT microbiome concerning infertility. Clinical profiles and FRT samples (endometrium, endometrial fluid, and vagina), as well as GIT samples (oral and feces), were collected from 21 patients with endometriosis and other infertility-associated diseases. We performed a metataxonomic analysis of site-specific microbial communities and estimated diversity metrics. Additionally, we implemented nestedness test to explore interrelationships between body sites. The results revealed a distinct microbial profile for endometriosis, potentially distinguishing it from other infertility conditions. The nestedness test showed that specific bacterial communities are associated with different body sites and infertility conditions. Although the host-microbial balance in the uterus is directly affected by infertility, systemic homeostasis might impact other sites of the body. To conclude, we proposed the female holobiont as a community a community comprised of the host and microbes that must maintain overall homeostasis across all body sites to ensure a woman's health.