J. Ravel

Inferring stability and persistence in the vaginal microbiome: A stochastic model of ecological dynamics

This paper develops a stochastic model to analyze vaginal microbiome dynamics, showing how species interactions and environmental fluctuations influence microbial stability and persistence.

The vaginal microbiota of pregnant women varies with gestational age, maternal age, and parity

This study characterizes the vaginal microbiota in pregnant African-American women across gestation, identifying key factors like gestational age and parity that influence its composition.

Highly specialized carbohydrate metabolism capability in Bifidobacterium strain associated with intestinal barrier maturation in early preterm infants

Persistence and in vivo evolution of vaginal bacterial strains over a multi-year time period

This study identifies persistent bacterial strains in the vaginal microbiota over one year, showing their ability to evolve and co-exist in communities.

Vaginal microbiome-host interactions modeled in a human vagina-on-a-chip

This paper develops a human vagina-on-a-chip model to study vaginal microbiome-host interactions and their effects on health outcomes.

Sub-communities of the vaginal ecosystem in pregnant and non-pregnant women.

The paper identifies non-Lactobacillus-dominated sub-communities in vaginal ecosystems of pregnant and non-pregnant women using mixed membership models, revealing associations with preterm birth and menstrual cycle changes.

Identification of shared bacterial strains in the vaginal microbiota of reproductive-age mothers and daughters using genome-resolved metagenomics

The paper examines vertical transmission of vaginal microbiota in mother-daughter pairs and finds limited evidence for transmission but suggests biogeographic patterns in bacterial strain distribution.

Three-dimensional models of the cervicovaginal epithelia to study host-microbiome interactions and sexually transmitted infections

This paper introduces a 3D cervicovaginal epithelial model to study host-microbiome interactions and STIs, demonstrating infection by pathogens and vaginal bacteria.

Identification and characterization of bacterial glycogen-degrading enzymes in the vaginal microbiome

This study identifies and characterizes bacterial glycogen-degrading enzymes in the vaginal microbiome, showing their activity and expression across different community states.

Insight into the ecology of vaginal bacteria through integrative analyses of metagenomic and metatranscriptomic data

The paper analyzes metagenomic and metatranscriptomic data to understand factors driving vaginal microbiota composition and function, finding that transcriptional activity varies with community context.

Comparative metagenome-assembled genome analysis of Lachnovaginosum genomospecies, formerly known as BVAB1

The paper presents seven metagenome-assembled genomes of BVAB1, revealing its potential metabolic functions and suggesting a new name for the species.

Ultra-high throughput multiplexing and sequencing of >500 bp amplicon regions on the Illumina HiSeq 2500 platform

The paper describes modifications to the Illumina HiSeq 2500 platform for higher throughput amplicon sequencing with improved quality and multiplexing capabilities.

Microbial Biomarkers of Intestinal Barrier Maturation in Preterm Infants

This study identifies microbial biomarkers associated with intestinal barrier maturation in preterm infants, linking Clostridiales abundance and breastfeeding to reduced gut permeability.

Associations between sexual habits, menstrual hygiene practices, demographics and the vaginal microbiome as revealed by Bayesian network analysis

This study uses Bayesian network analysis to uncover associations between sexual habits, menstrual hygiene practices, demographics, and the vaginal microbiome, revealing new connections and limitations of current analytical methods.