ena-STUDY-CUSB-HM-10-11-2014-14:30:17:258-1001
The vaginal microbiome during pregnancy and the postpartum period in a European population.
Determining the composition and structure of the vaginal microbiome during pregnancy is critical to understanding its role in maintaining reproductive health outcomes. Historically, studies on the pregnant vaginal microbiome have been limited to Northern American populations. Using MiSeq sequencing of 16S rRNA gene amplicons, we characterised the vaginal microbiota of a mixed British ethnic cohort of women (n=42) who experienced normal, uncomplicated term delivery and whom were sampled longitudinally throughout pregnancy (8-12, 20-22, 28-30 and 34-36 weeks gestation) and the postpartum period (6 weeks) in. We show that the composition of the vaginal microbiome dramatically changes postpartum to become less Lactobacillus spp. dominant with greater alpha-diversity (CST IV) irrespective of the community structure for that individual during pregnancy and independent of their ethnic background. As observed in North American populations, a British population is characterised by a vaginal microbiome during pregnancy that is dominated by Lactobacillus spp. and low alpha-diversity (community state types CST I, II and III). However, significant numbers of women in this British cohort have an L. jensenii (CST V) dominated microbiome that is characterised by low levels of alpha-diversity. CST V was predominantly observed in women with Asian and Caucasian ethnic backgrounds whereas CST II (L. gasseri) was absent in samples collected from Black women. This study reveals new insights into biogeographical and ethnic effects upon the microbial communities in the vaginal microbiome during pregnancy and in the postpartum period and has important implications for future studies designed to explore relationships between the vaginal microbiome, host health and pregnancy outcomes.
Determining the composition and structure of the vaginal microbiome during pregnancy is critical to understanding its role in maintaining reproductive health outcomes. Historically, studies on the pregnant vaginal microbiome have been limited to Northern American populations. Using MiSeq sequencing of 16S rRNA gene amplicons, we characterised the vaginal microbiota of a mixed British ethnic cohort of women (n=42) who experienced normal, uncomplicated term delivery and whom were sampled longitudinally throughout pregnancy (8-12, 20-22, 28-30 and 34-36 weeks gestation) and the postpartum period (6 weeks) in. We show that the composition of the vaginal microbiome dramatically changes postpartum to become less Lactobacillus spp. dominant with greater alpha-diversity (CST IV) irrespective of the community structure for that individual during pregnancy and independent of their ethnic background. As observed in North American populations, a British population is characterised by a vaginal microbiome during pregnancy that is dominated by Lactobacillus spp. and low alpha-diversity (community state types CST I, II and III). However, significant numbers of women in this British cohort have an L. jensenii (CST V) dominated microbiome that is characterised by low levels of alpha-diversity. CST V was predominantly observed in women with Asian and Caucasian ethnic backgrounds whereas CST II (L. gasseri) was absent in samples collected from Black women. This study reveals new insights into biogeographical and ethnic effects upon the microbial communities in the vaginal microbiome during pregnancy and in the postpartum period and has important implications for future studies designed to explore relationships between the vaginal microbiome, host health and pregnancy outcomes.