Reproductive tract infections research

HIV-1 and Chlamydia trachomatis restrict their respective growth but promote their survival in co-infected human macrophages

This study shows HIV-1 and Chlamydia trachomatis restrict each other's growth in co-infected human macrophages but enhance host survival.

The cervicovaginal microbiome of pregnant people living with HIV on antiretroviral therapy in the Democratic Republic of Congo: A Pilot Study and Global Meta-analysis.

This study examines the cervicovaginal microbiome of HIV-positive pregnant people in the DRC, finding taxonomic and functional differences compared to HIV-negative individuals and linking microbiome features to adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Female sex hormones enhance gonococcal colonization at the endocervix by modifying cervical mucus

This study shows that female sex hormones enhance gonococcal colonization at the endocervix by altering mucus production and structure, increasing bacterial microcolony size and number.

A genome-wide genetic screen identified targets for destabilizing the parasitophorous vacuole of Chlamydia trachomatis

The paper identifies CpoS as a key effector for maintaining Chlamydia trachomatis vacuole integrity by regulating sphingolipid supply and shows that disrupting this pathway can clear infection without harming host cells.

Cervicovaginal microbial features predict Chlamydia trachomatis spread to the upper genital tract of infected women

Multi-omic analysis of vaginal bacteria:host immune and metabolic interactions in adverse early pregnancy outcomes

This study investigates host-microbe interactions in early pregnancy by analyzing vaginal bacteria, immune responses, and metabolic profiles to identify markers of adverse outcomes.

Insights into Intestinal Barrier Disruption During Long-Term Gut Chlamydia Colonization in Mice: A Single-Cell Transcriptomic Approach

This study uses single-cell RNA sequencing to investigate how Chlamydia persists in the gut of mice, revealing disruptions in epithelial tight junctions and immune-cell interactions.

Comparative genomics of the sexually transmitted parasite Trichomonas vaginalis reveals relaxed and convergent evolution and genes involved in spillover from birds to humans

This study compares the genomics of seven Trichomonas species, revealing convergent genome size expansions in human-infecting lineages and genes involved in host-switching from birds to humans.

A Microphysiologic Model of the Cervical Epithelium Recapitulates Microbial, Immunologic, and Pathogenic Properties of Sexually Transmitted Infections

This paper develops a microphysiologic model of the cervical epithelium that replicates microbial, immunologic, and pathogenic features of STIs caused by Chlamydia and Neisseria.

Abnormal Vaginal Microbiota Associated with miRNA Targeting the HIV-Host Interactome

This study identifies miRNA dysregulation in vaginal dysbiosis linked to HIV risk by targeting the HIV-host interactome.

Genome wide association study of vaginal microbiota genetic diversity in French women

The paper conducts a GWAS to identify genetic polymorphisms associated with vaginal microbiota diversity in French women using data from the PAPCLEAR cohort.

Practical Media Formulations for Rapid Growth of Lactobacillus iners and Other Vaginal Bacteria

The paper develops three liquid media formulations to support rapid growth of Lactobacillus iners and other vaginal bacteria, enabling in vitro studies of their interactions.

Temporal Dynamics of the Vaginal Microbiome and Host Immune Markers Before, During, and After Metronidazole Treatment for Bacterial Vaginosis

This study examines the vaginal microbiome and immune markers before, during, and after metronidazole treatment for bacterial vaginosis, identifying distinct phases and highlighting the need for probiotics to maintain microbial balance.

Trichomonas vaginalis extracellular vesicles suppress IFNϵ-mediated protection against host cell cytolysis

This study shows that Trichomonas vaginalis extracellular vesicles suppress IFNϵ-mediated protection against host cell cytolysis by down-regulating interferon-epsilon and type I interferon responses.

A systems biology approach to evaluate potential probioticcandidates for womens vaginal health

The paper evaluates probiotic candidates for vaginal health using metabolic models and experimental assays, finding that D-lactic acid production, not metabolic similarity, drives inhibition of G. vaginalis.

Murine modeling of menstruation identifies immune correlates of protection during Chlamydia muridarum challenge.

This study uses a murine menstruation model to show that NK cell infiltration during endometrial remodeling protects against Chlamydia muridarum infection.

Infectivity of a pathogenicity-attenuated Chlamydia muridarum mutant in the genital tract

The paper evaluates a pathogenicity-attenuated Chlamydia muridarum mutant, intrOv, showing it fails to establish productive infection at low doses but recovers similarly to wild-type by day 7.

Role of Age in Mediating the Association Between the Vaginal Microbiota and Preterm Birth

This study examines how maternal age influences the link between vaginal microbiota and preterm birth, finding age mediates this relationship differently across racial groups.

The T3SS structural and effector genes of Chlamydia trachomatis are expressed in distinct phenotypic cell forms.

This study identifies distinct gene expression patterns in Chlamydia trachomatis developmental stages and shows T3SS genes are cell type restricted.

Chlamydia trachomatis TmeA promotes pedestal formation through N-WASP and TOCA-1 interactions

This paper identifies TmeA's role in promoting Chlamydia trachomatis invasion by interacting with N-WASP and TOCA-1 to facilitate pedestal formation.

Transformation of Gardnerella vaginalis with a Bifidobacterium-Escherichia coli shuttle vector plasmid

This paper develops a transformation protocol for Gardnerella vaginalis using a Bifidobacterium-E. coli shuttle vector plasmid, demonstrating plasmid maintenance and gene expression in this organism.

Dynamic and Heterogeneous Distribution of Trichomonasvirus Species in Trichomonas vaginalis

This study shows that Trichomonasvirus species are unevenly distributed within individual Trichomonas vaginalis cells, challenging previous assumptions about their uniform distribution.

Bacterial vaginosis-driven changes in cervicovaginal immunity that expand the immunological hypothesis for increased HIV susceptibility

This study investigates how bacterial vaginosis alters cervicovaginal immunity, identifying immune cell changes that may contribute to increased HIV susceptibility.

Comparative Metabolomic Analysis of Vaginal Microbiota in Planktonic and Biofilm States Unveils Species-Specific Metabolic Signatures

This study compares metabolomic profiles of key vaginal microbes in planktonic and biofilm states, revealing species-specific metabolic shifts and growth mode-dependent differences.

Profiling of Vaginal Microbial Communities in Chilean Women Via Self-sampling and Full-length 16S rRNA Sequencing

This study profiles vaginal microbial communities in Chilean women using full-length 16S rRNA sequencing and self-sampling, revealing Lactobacillus dominance and CST IV patterns.

First-void urine and cervicovaginal brushes as sampling devices for vaginal microbiome studies: a proof-of-concept study

This study compares first-void urine and cervicovaginal brushes to vaginal swabs for microbiome profiling in ten women, finding comparable results but highlighting storage effects and the need for optimized self-sampling techniques.

VIRGO2: Unveiling the Functional and Ecological Complexity of the Vaginal Microbiome with an Enhanced Non-Redundant Gene Catalog

This study introduces VIRGO2, an enhanced gene catalog for the vaginal microbiome, revealing new bacterial species, mycobiome features, and gene expression patterns.

Unraveling the Gardnerella Pangenome: Insights into Genetic Diversity, Virulence, and Antibiotic Resistance

This study performs a comprehensive pangenome analysis of 153 Gardnerella genomes to uncover genetic diversity, virulence factors, and antibiotic resistance genes, highlighting the need for precise species-level identification.

Characterization of vaginal microbiomes in clinician-collected bacterial vaginosis diagnosed samples

The paper uses 16S rRNA gene sequencing to characterize vaginal microbiomes in BV-diagnosed samples, showing strong concordance with PCR-based tests and identifying BV-associated microbial and metabolic signatures.

The vaginal microbiota shape local and systemic inflammation during Chlamydia trachomatis infection in non-human primate.

This study shows that Lactobacillus crispatus enrichment in the vaginal microbiota of non-human primates reduces systemic inflammation and increases anti-CT IgG production during Chlamydia trachomatis infection.