Relationship between vaginal and oral microbiome in patients of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and cervical...

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Oncology
• Genetics

Background:

• Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and cervical cancer (CC) are significant health concerns.
• Understanding the interplay between microbial environments and cancer development is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess microbial variations and identify biomarkers in vaginal and oral environments of patients with HPV and CC.
• To develop novel prediction models for CC using microbial data.

Main Methods:

• Collected 164 vaginal and oral subgingival plaque samples from 82 women across four groups: control, abortion, HPV-infected, and CC.
• Conducted full-length 16S rDNA gene sequencing using the PacBio platform for microbiota analysis.

Main Results:

• CC group showed high abundances of anaerobic bacteria and altered alpha diversity in the vaginal microbiome, with specific bacteria identified as CC indicators.
• Oral microbial diversity was inversely correlated with vaginal diversity; lower oral diversity was linked to cancer development.
• Periodontal pathogens and elevated oral microbial amino acid metabolism were associated with CC, indicating a synergistic relationship between vaginal and oral bacteria.

Conclusions:

• HPV infection and CC significantly impact both vaginal and oral microenvironments, influencing systemic metabolism and bacterial synergy.
• Oral flora markers represent a potential screening tool for cervical cancer diagnosis.