A longitudinal pilot study in pre-menopausal women links cervicovaginal microbiome to CIN3 progression and recovery

Abstract Increasing evidence suggests vaginal dysbiosis is associated with persistent high-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV) infection and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) development. In this pilot longitudinal study, we investigate the potential of vaginal microbiome biomarkers to predict...

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Main Authors: Cristiana Banila, Efthymios Ladoukakis, Dorota Scibior-Bentkowska, Leandro Rodrigues Santiago, Caroline Reuter, Michelle Kleeman, Belinda Nedjai
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-06-01
Series:Communications Biology
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-025-08328-w
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author Cristiana Banila
Efthymios Ladoukakis
Dorota Scibior-Bentkowska
Leandro Rodrigues Santiago
Caroline Reuter
Michelle Kleeman
Belinda Nedjai
author_facet Cristiana Banila
Efthymios Ladoukakis
Dorota Scibior-Bentkowska
Leandro Rodrigues Santiago
Caroline Reuter
Michelle Kleeman
Belinda Nedjai
author_sort Cristiana Banila
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Increasing evidence suggests vaginal dysbiosis is associated with persistent high-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV) infection and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) development. In this pilot longitudinal study, we investigate the potential of vaginal microbiome biomarkers to predict CIN3 development in hrHPV-positive (hrHPV+) women of reproductive age and assess loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP) outcomes. Fifty-nine non-menopausal women 20–53 years old, with normal cytology, were selected from the ARTISTIC trial and followed up twice over six years. Vaginal microbiome was analysed by 16S rRNA sequencing. HrHPV+ women with CIN3 showed a significant overrepresentation of Sneathia amnii, Megasphaera genomosp., Peptostreptococcus anaerobius and Achromobacter spanius (p < 0.05). Successfully LEEP-treated hrHPV-negative women exhibited increased Lactobacillus species, especially Lactobacillus gasseri. Additionally, Lactobacillus helveticus, suntoryeus and vaginalis showed a potential protective role against CIN3 development. These unique microbial biomarkers associated with CIN3 development and recovery following LEEP treatment bring new insights into the vaginal microbiome’s role on disease progression.
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spelling doaj-art-d5a4e6b2594c4b958a06a092f03426782025-08-20T02:05:42ZengNature PortfolioCommunications Biology2399-36422025-06-018111010.1038/s42003-025-08328-wA longitudinal pilot study in pre-menopausal women links cervicovaginal microbiome to CIN3 progression and recoveryCristiana Banila0Efthymios Ladoukakis1Dorota Scibior-Bentkowska2Leandro Rodrigues Santiago3Caroline Reuter4Michelle Kleeman5Belinda Nedjai6Wolfson Institute of Population Health, Queen Mary University of LondonWolfson Institute of Population Health, Queen Mary University of LondonWolfson Institute of Population Health, Queen Mary University of LondonThe Institute of Cancer Research (ICR), Genomics FacilityWolfson Institute for Biomedical Research, University College LondonGuy’s and St. Thomas NHS Foundation TrustWolfson Institute of Population Health, Queen Mary University of LondonAbstract Increasing evidence suggests vaginal dysbiosis is associated with persistent high-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV) infection and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) development. In this pilot longitudinal study, we investigate the potential of vaginal microbiome biomarkers to predict CIN3 development in hrHPV-positive (hrHPV+) women of reproductive age and assess loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP) outcomes. Fifty-nine non-menopausal women 20–53 years old, with normal cytology, were selected from the ARTISTIC trial and followed up twice over six years. Vaginal microbiome was analysed by 16S rRNA sequencing. HrHPV+ women with CIN3 showed a significant overrepresentation of Sneathia amnii, Megasphaera genomosp., Peptostreptococcus anaerobius and Achromobacter spanius (p < 0.05). Successfully LEEP-treated hrHPV-negative women exhibited increased Lactobacillus species, especially Lactobacillus gasseri. Additionally, Lactobacillus helveticus, suntoryeus and vaginalis showed a potential protective role against CIN3 development. These unique microbial biomarkers associated with CIN3 development and recovery following LEEP treatment bring new insights into the vaginal microbiome’s role on disease progression.https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-025-08328-w
spellingShingle Cristiana Banila
Efthymios Ladoukakis
Dorota Scibior-Bentkowska
Leandro Rodrigues Santiago
Caroline Reuter
Michelle Kleeman
Belinda Nedjai
A longitudinal pilot study in pre-menopausal women links cervicovaginal microbiome to CIN3 progression and recovery
Communications Biology
title A longitudinal pilot study in pre-menopausal women links cervicovaginal microbiome to CIN3 progression and recovery
title_full A longitudinal pilot study in pre-menopausal women links cervicovaginal microbiome to CIN3 progression and recovery
title_fullStr A longitudinal pilot study in pre-menopausal women links cervicovaginal microbiome to CIN3 progression and recovery
title_full_unstemmed A longitudinal pilot study in pre-menopausal women links cervicovaginal microbiome to CIN3 progression and recovery
title_short A longitudinal pilot study in pre-menopausal women links cervicovaginal microbiome to CIN3 progression and recovery
title_sort longitudinal pilot study in pre menopausal women links cervicovaginal microbiome to cin3 progression and recovery
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-025-08328-w
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