Effects of vaginal microbiota on human papillomavirus infection and its related diseases

• Published in: Microbial pathogenesis 2024-08, Vol.193, p.106761, Article 106761
• Main Authors: Chen, Ranzhong, Peng, Changmin, Wang, Zhenlei, Xiao, Yuanyuan, Tang, Shuangyang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cervical cancer; Human papillomavirus; Probiotics; Vaginal microbiome
• ISSN: 0882-4010; 1096-1208; 1096-1208
• DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2024.106761

With the knowledge of female reproductive tract microbiota gradually increasing, the connection between vaginal microbiota (VMB) and its related diseases is increasingly highlighted. Manifestation of VMB keeps changing with various dominated bacteria, which can affect the immune response of mucosal barrier and the entrance of pathogens. Human papillomavirus (HPV), as an oncogenic virus, is closely related to viral-associated cancer, such as cervical cancer. According to HPV infection status, VMB can transform into different types, and result in accelerating or restraining the progression of diseases, which have exposed the inner link between VMB and HPV. Therefore, probiotics therapy promises to be a new complementary therapy to rebuild a healthy VMB for patients, but there's still a long way to go before its ready for the clinic. This review focuses on composition, immune response, and application of VMB in HPV and its associated diseases and aims to provide the new ideas and directions for the research on VMB. •Described the developments in areas of vaginal microbiota and human papillomavirus.•Exhibit possible relation between the vaginal microbiota and the human papillomavirus.•Explore the applications of vaginal microbiota in human papillomavirus associated diseases.