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13:56
A Comparative Approach to Characterize the Landscape of Host-Pathogen Protein-Protein Interactions
Published on: July 18, 2013
Neuraminidase-Associated Vaginal Dysbiosis Correlates with HPV Infection Across Oncogenic Risk Subtypes
Jiali Wang1, Li Bai1, Ning Leng1
1Department of Laboratory Medicine, Danyang Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Danyang, Jiangsu Province, 212300, People's Republic of China.
Infection and Drug Resistance
|August 1, 2026
Summary
Vaginal neuraminidase, an enzyme marker for anaerobic bacteria, is strongly linked to human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. This finding suggests microbial dysbiosis plays a key role in HPV susceptibility and cervical cancer risk.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Gynecology
- Oncology
Background:
- Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is a primary cause of cervical cancer.
- Cervicovaginal microbial dysbiosis is increasingly recognized as a factor influencing HPV susceptibility.
- This study investigates the link between microbial enzymatic markers and HPV infection across various risk subtypes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the association between specific microbial enzymatic markers and HPV infection.
- To determine the relationship between cervicovaginal dysbiosis and HPV susceptibility across different risk subtypes.
- To identify potential microbial functional biomarkers for HPV risk assessment.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional analysis of 43,426 women undergoing HPV screening.
- Standardized genotyping for HPV status and subtype classification (high-, possible-, low-risk).
- Analysis of clinical and laboratory parameters including vaginal pH, leukocyte esterase, fungal infection, and microbial enzymatic markers (neuraminidase, N-acetylglucosaminidase, β-glucuronidase).
Main Results:
- Neuraminidase was the most consistent independent predictor of HPV infection across all categories (adjusted OR range: 1.437-1.828; p<0.001).
- Age was associated with increased HPV risk (adjusted OR ≈ 1.014-1.018 per year; p < 0.001).
- Fungal infection showed a protective association (adjusted OR range: 0.636-0.778), while leukocyte esterase and WBC were selectively associated with high-risk HPV.
Conclusions:
- Neuraminidase-associated vaginal dysbiosis is significantly linked to HPV infection across multiple risk subtypes.
- Microbial functional biomarkers, like neuraminidase, may offer insights into cervicovaginal dysbiosis and HPV susceptibility.
- Findings are particularly relevant for populations prone to microbial imbalance and secondary infections.
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