Cervicovaginal microbiome dynamics after taking oral probiotics

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Gynecology
• Human Microbiome

Background:

• The vaginal microbiota, less complex than the gut microbiota, plays a crucial role in reproductive health.
• Lactobacillus colonization is vital for maintaining vaginal homeostasis.
• Oral probiotics are being investigated for their potential to modulate the vaginal microbiome.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the colonization route of oral probiotics (Lactobacillus rhamnosus GR-1 and Lactobacillus reuteri RC-14) in Chinese women.
• To analyze the impact of these probiotics on the cervicovaginal microbiome over one year.
• To explore the potential of probiotics for targeted microbiome modulation in cases of vaginal dysbiosis.

Main Methods:

• Longitudinal study of 60 Chinese women over one year.
• Collection and shotgun metagenomic sequencing of 1334 samples from multiple body sites.
• Classification of cervicovaginal microbiome states into stable and dysbiosis.

Main Results:

• Metagenomic data did not support oral probiotics colonizing the vagina through the intestinal tract.
• Women with a stable vaginal microbiome maintained high Lactobacillus abundance irrespective of probiotic intake.
• Women with vaginal dysbiosis exhibited a more diverse and dynamic microbiome, with a subset potentially benefiting from probiotic supplementation.

Conclusions:

• Oral probiotic supplementation did not lead to vaginal colonization in the studied population.
• The cervicovaginal microbiome can be classified into stable and dysbiosis states.
• Probiotics may offer a targeted approach for women with subclinical vaginal dysbiosis, enabling personalized microbiome restoration.