Diversity of endocervical microbiota associated with genital Chlamydia trachomatis infection and infertility among women visiting obstetrics and gynecology clinics in Malaysia

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 14; no. 11; p. e0224658
• Main Authors: Cheong, Heng Choon, Yap, Polly Soo Xi, Chong, Chun Wie, Cheok, Yi Ying, Lee, Chalystha Yie Qin, Tan, Grace Min Yi, Sulaiman, Sofiah, Hassan, Jamiyah, Sabet, Negar Shafiei, Looi, Chung Yeng, Gupta, Rishein, Arulanandam, Bernard, AbuBakar, Sazaly, Teh, Cindy Shuan Ju, Chang, Li Yen, Wong, Won Fen
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 18.11.2019; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Academic Medical Centers; Adult; Anaerobes; Bacteria; Bacteria, Anaerobic - immunology; Bacteria, Anaerobic - isolation & purification; Biology and Life Sciences; Cervix; Cervix Uteri - microbiology; Chlamydia; Chlamydia infections; Chlamydia Infections - complications; Chlamydia Infections - immunology; Chlamydia Infections - microbiology; Chlamydia trachomatis; Chlamydia trachomatis - isolation & purification; Chlamydia trachomatis - pathogenicity; Cohort Studies; Complications; Condoms; Disruption; DNA, Bacterial - genetics; DNA, Bacterial - isolation & purification; Female; Genomics; Gynecology; HIV; Host-Pathogen Interactions - immunology; Human immunodeficiency virus; Humans; Infections; Infectious diseases; Infertility; Infertility - immunology; Infertility - microbiology; Instrument industry (Equipment); Malaysia; Medical research; Medicine; Medicine and Health Sciences; Metagenomics; Microbiology; Microbiomes; Microbiota; Microbiota (Symbiotic organisms); Microbiota - genetics; Microbiota - immunology; Microorganisms; Obstetrics; Outpatient Clinics, Hospital; Pathogenic microorganisms; Pathogens; Premature birth; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S - genetics; Sexually transmitted diseases; STD; Streptococcus infections; Studies; Urinary tract diseases; Urinary tract infections; Urogenital system; Womens health; Young Adult; Malaysia; United States; Kuala Lumpur Malaysia; Selangor Malaysia; United States > US; Texas
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0224658

The cervical microbiota constitutes an important protective barrier against the invasion of pathogenic microorganisms. A disruption of microbiota within the cervical milieu has been suggested to be a driving factor of sexually transmitted infections. These include Chlamydia trachomatis which frequently causes serious reproductive sequelae such as infertility in women. In this study, we profiled the cervical microbial composition of a population of 70 reproductive-age Malaysian women; among which 40 (57.1%) were diagnosed with genital C. trachomatis infection, and 30 (42.8%) without C. trachomatis infection. Our findings showed a distinct compositional difference between the cervical microbiota of C. trachomatis-infected subjects and subjects without C. trachomatis infection. Specifically, significant elevations of mostly strict and facultative anaerobes such as Streptococcus, Megasphaera, Prevotella, and Veillonella in the cervical microbiota of C. trachomatis-positive women were detected. The results from the current study highlights an interaction of C. trachomatis with the environmental microbiome in the endocervical region.