Searching for vaginal microbiome predictors in human papillomavirus (HPV) infection in lower genital tract of Brazilian women in reproductive-age

Abstract

The understanding of the role played by vaginal microbiome on reproductive health has gained prominence in literature recently, specially regarding to its association to Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infection. Several risk factors for cervical HPV infection were already identified, highlighting bacterial vaginosis (BV). Despite the association between HPV and BV is well recognized, most aspects of this relation remain unknown. This is in part due to the great heterogeneity present in vaginal environment. Although the recent vaginal microbiome characterization has allowed the understanding of the real microbial composition in that local, the relation between vaginal microbiome components and HPV infection is to be elucidated. Aim: The aim of this study is the search vaginal microbiome predictors for Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infection in lower genital tract of Brazilian women in reproductive-age. Patients and Methods: We cross-sectionally enrolled 600 women from the five macro-regions of Brazil in previous study entitled "Characterization of the vaginal microbiome in Brazilian women of reproductive-age". Vaginal microbiome was then determined by sequencing V3-V4 regions of bacterial rRNA 16S gene through MiSeq Platform 300PE (Illumina, San Diego, CA) and clustered in community-state types (CSTs). HPV detection and genotyping will be performed in endocervical samples using Linear Array HPV genotyping kit (Roche Molecular Systems, Pleasanton, CA). Based on these obtained data, the association between viral infection and CSTs will be tested. Subsequent analyzes will comprise a score development based on bacterial species present in vaginal microbiome associated with high-risk HPV as predictors of viral infection. (AU)