The human reproductive tract microbiome: A novel source of live biotherapeutics

Live biotherapeutics which are live microorganisms with clinically validated therapeutic benefits are rapidly emerging as innovative interventions for a broad spectrum of health disorders. The human reproductive tract, particularly the female vagina is home to specific microbial community that play a vital role in maintaining mucosal immunity, preventing pathogen colonization and supporting successful pregnancy outcomes. Disruption to this microbial balance have been strongly associated with conditions such as bacterial vaginosis (BV), sexually transmitted infections (STI), infertility and pregnancy complications such as pre-term birth. Given the adverse effects of conventional pharmaceutical treatments, microbiome based therapeutic strategies are gaining increasing popularity as safer and more sustainable alternatives. Recent advancements in synthetic biology, genetic engineering and microbiome science have enabled the development of next generation live biotherapeutics that go beyond traditional probiotics which are intended for only maintaining general health. This chapter explores the human reproductive tract microbiome as a novel and promising source of live biotherapeutics candidates. We examine the composition and functional potential of microbial communities within the reproductive tract, the mechanisms by which they interact with the host, and the emerging evidence supporting the therapeutic applications of vaginally isolated microorganisms. Additionally, we highlight recent advancements in research focused on reproductive tract microbiome, strategies of mining live biotherapeutic product (LBP) candidates, and enlist few potential vaginal origin-LBPs and their associated studies. In addition, this chapter briefly introduces emerging strategies aimed at addressing reproductive health challenges such as vaginal microbiome transplantation (VMT) as innovative tool for addressing persistent challenges in reproductive health.