Analysis of the cervical microbiome and potential biomarkers from postpartum HIV-positive women displaying cervical intraepithelial lesions

• Published in: Scientific reports 2017-12, Vol.7 (1), p.17364-10, Article 17364
• Main Authors: Curty, Gislaine, Costa, Raquel L., Siqueira, Juliana D., Meyrelles, Angela I., Machado, Elizabeth S., Soares, Esmeralda A., Soares, Marcelo A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 45/23; 45/47; 45/77; 631/326/2565/2134; 692/4028/67/1517/1371; Cellular biology; Cytology; HIV; Human immunodeficiency virus; Human papillomavirus; Humanities and Social Sciences; Microbiomes; Microbiota; multidisciplinary; Postpartum; Postpartum period; rRNA 16S; Science; Science (multidisciplinary)
• ISSN: 2045-2322; 2045-2322
• DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-17351-9

The cervical microbiota composition and diversity of HIV-positive women in the postpartum period is unknown. Using a high-throughput bacterial 16S rRNA gene sequencing, we identified four community state types (CSTs). CST III ( Lactobacillusdominant ) and CST IV (IV-A, IV-B.1, IV-B.2; high-diversity) were found in 41% and 59% of samples, respectively. We did not find association of any CST to postpartum period (six or twelve months), HPV infection or cytology (normal or lesion). However, five bacterial genera were associated with cervical lesions ( Gardnerella, Aerococcus, Schlegelella, Moryella and Bifidobacterium ), with significant odds ratio (OR) of 40 (2.28–706) for the presence of Moryella and 3.5 (1.36–8.9) for Schlegelella . Longitudinal analysis of samples at postpartum that regressed (lesion to normal), progressed (normal to lesion) and maintained the cytology (lesion or normal) evidenced Gardnerella with a significantly higher abundance in regressing lesions. In the current study, we report the first data on the cervical microbiota of HIV-positive women in the postpartum period. Consistent with previous studies of HIV-negative cohorts, HIV-positive women present a stable cervical microbiota of high-diversity in the postpartum period. Our results highlight that specific microbiota species may serve as sensors for changes in the cervical microenvironment associated with cervical lesions.