Exploring the role of the vaginal microbiome in HPV infection dynamics: A prospective cohort study

Summary: Persistent human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is a key risk factor for cervical cancer, often associated with changes in the vaginal microbiome (VMB). High-throughput 16S rRNA sequencing was used to study the VMB in a prospective cohort of 731 individuals. Participants were monitored thro...

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Main Authors: Yiran Liu, Ran Li, Jun Liu, Xiaolong Liang, Mingrui Su, Shuzhen Wang, Boran Mu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-05-01
Series:iScience
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589004225007370
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author Yiran Liu
Ran Li
Jun Liu
Xiaolong Liang
Mingrui Su
Shuzhen Wang
Boran Mu
author_facet Yiran Liu
Ran Li
Jun Liu
Xiaolong Liang
Mingrui Su
Shuzhen Wang
Boran Mu
author_sort Yiran Liu
collection DOAJ
description Summary: Persistent human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is a key risk factor for cervical cancer, often associated with changes in the vaginal microbiome (VMB). High-throughput 16S rRNA sequencing was used to study the VMB in a prospective cohort of 731 individuals. Participants were monitored through two follow-up screenings and then categorized into two groups: 22 female patients with persistent HPV infection (PHI), 31 female patients who cleared the infection (HC). After excluding those with HPV and other urogenital infections, 43 female patients were selected as controls, and their samples were analyzed using the same high-throughput sequencing method. Results indicate that high-risk HPV infections correlate with increased microbial diversity and reduced Lactobacillus levels. Even after HPV clearance, distinct microbial differences persist, suggesting that VMB could serve as a biomarker for monitoring infection and cervical health management, especially in populations at higher risk.
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spelling doaj-art-88cb136b96a849bca6c3d3bdd6671fbf2025-08-20T03:09:37ZengElsevieriScience2589-00422025-05-0128511247610.1016/j.isci.2025.112476Exploring the role of the vaginal microbiome in HPV infection dynamics: A prospective cohort studyYiran Liu0Ran Li1Jun Liu2Xiaolong Liang3Mingrui Su4Shuzhen Wang5Boran Mu6Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital Affiliated with Capital Medical University, 8 Gongti South Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100020, ChinaDepartment of Infectious Disease, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital Affiliated with Capital Medical University, 8 Gongti South Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100020, ChinaDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital Affiliated with Capital Medical University, 8 Gongti South Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100020, ChinaDepartment of Pathology, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital Affiliated with Capital Medical University, 8 Gongti South Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100020, ChinaDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital Affiliated with Capital Medical University, 8 Gongti South Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100020, ChinaDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital Affiliated with Capital Medical University, 8 Gongti South Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100020, China; Corresponding authorDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital Affiliated with Capital Medical University, 8 Gongti South Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100020, China; Corresponding authorSummary: Persistent human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is a key risk factor for cervical cancer, often associated with changes in the vaginal microbiome (VMB). High-throughput 16S rRNA sequencing was used to study the VMB in a prospective cohort of 731 individuals. Participants were monitored through two follow-up screenings and then categorized into two groups: 22 female patients with persistent HPV infection (PHI), 31 female patients who cleared the infection (HC). After excluding those with HPV and other urogenital infections, 43 female patients were selected as controls, and their samples were analyzed using the same high-throughput sequencing method. Results indicate that high-risk HPV infections correlate with increased microbial diversity and reduced Lactobacillus levels. Even after HPV clearance, distinct microbial differences persist, suggesting that VMB could serve as a biomarker for monitoring infection and cervical health management, especially in populations at higher risk.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589004225007370Reproductive medicineMicrobiome
spellingShingle Yiran Liu
Ran Li
Jun Liu
Xiaolong Liang
Mingrui Su
Shuzhen Wang
Boran Mu
Exploring the role of the vaginal microbiome in HPV infection dynamics: A prospective cohort study
iScience
Reproductive medicine
Microbiome
title Exploring the role of the vaginal microbiome in HPV infection dynamics: A prospective cohort study
title_full Exploring the role of the vaginal microbiome in HPV infection dynamics: A prospective cohort study
title_fullStr Exploring the role of the vaginal microbiome in HPV infection dynamics: A prospective cohort study
title_full_unstemmed Exploring the role of the vaginal microbiome in HPV infection dynamics: A prospective cohort study
title_short Exploring the role of the vaginal microbiome in HPV infection dynamics: A prospective cohort study
title_sort exploring the role of the vaginal microbiome in hpv infection dynamics a prospective cohort study
topic Reproductive medicine
Microbiome
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589004225007370
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