The microbiota continuum along the female reproductive tract and its relation to uterine-related diseases

Chen Chen, Xiaolei Song, Weixia Wei, Huanzi Zhong, Juanjuan Dai, Zhou Lan, Fei Li, Xinlei Yu, Qiang Feng, Zirong Wang, Hailiang Xie, Xiaomin Chen, Chunwei Zeng, Bo Wen, Liping Zeng, Hui Du, Huiru Tang, Changlu Xu, Yan Xia, Huihua Xia, Huanming Yang, Jian Wang, Jun Wang, Lise Madsen, Susanne Brix, Karsten Kristiansen, Xun Xu, Junhua Li (), Ruifang Wu () and Huijue Jia ()
Additional contact information
Chen Chen: BGI-Shenzhen
Xiaolei Song: BGI-Shenzhen
Weixia Wei: Peking University Shenzhen Hospital
Huanzi Zhong: BGI-Shenzhen
Juanjuan Dai: Peking University Shenzhen Hospital
Zhou Lan: BGI-Shenzhen
Fei Li: BGI-Shenzhen
Xinlei Yu: BGI-Shenzhen
Qiang Feng: BGI-Shenzhen
Zirong Wang: BGI-Shenzhen
Hailiang Xie: BGI-Shenzhen
Xiaomin Chen: BGI-Shenzhen
Chunwei Zeng: BGI-Shenzhen
Bo Wen: BGI-Shenzhen
Liping Zeng: Peking University Shenzhen Hospital
Hui Du: Peking University Shenzhen Hospital
Huiru Tang: Peking University Shenzhen Hospital
Changlu Xu: BGI-Shenzhen
Yan Xia: BGI-Shenzhen
Huihua Xia: BGI-Shenzhen
Huanming Yang: BGI-Shenzhen
Jian Wang: BGI-Shenzhen
Jun Wang: BGI-Shenzhen
Lise Madsen: BGI-Shenzhen
Susanne Brix: Technical University of Denmark
Karsten Kristiansen: BGI-Shenzhen
Xun Xu: BGI-Shenzhen
Junhua Li: BGI-Shenzhen
Ruifang Wu: Peking University Shenzhen Hospital
Huijue Jia: BGI-Shenzhen

Nature Communications, 2017, vol. 8, issue 1, 1-11

Abstract: Abstract Reports on bacteria detected in maternal fluids during pregnancy are typically associated with adverse consequences, and whether the female reproductive tract harbours distinct microbial communities beyond the vagina has been a matter of debate. Here we systematically sample the microbiota within the female reproductive tract in 110 women of reproductive age, and examine the nature of colonisation by 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing and cultivation. We find distinct microbial communities in cervical canal, uterus, fallopian tubes and peritoneal fluid, differing from that of the vagina. The results reflect a microbiota continuum along the female reproductive tract, indicative of a non-sterile environment. We also identify microbial taxa and potential functions that correlate with the menstrual cycle or are over-represented in subjects with adenomyosis or infertility due to endometriosis. The study provides insight into the nature of the vagino-uterine microbiome, and suggests that surveying the vaginal or cervical microbiota might be useful for detection of common diseases in the upper reproductive tract.

Date: 2017
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:nat:natcom:v:8:y:2017:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-017-00901-0

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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-017-00901-0

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