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Mtshali A, San JE, Osman F, Garrett N, Balle C, Giandhari J, Onywera H, Mngomezulu K, Mzobe G, de Oliveira T, Rompalo A, Mindel A, Abdool Karim SS, Ravel J, Passmore JAS, Abdool Karim Q, Jaspan HB, Liebenberg LJP, Ngcapu S. Temporal Changes in Vaginal Microbiota and Genital Tract Cytokines Among South African Women Treated for Bacterial Vaginosis. Front Immunol 2021; 12:730986. [PMID: 34594336 PMCID: PMC8477043 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.730986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2021] [Accepted: 08/30/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The standard treatment for bacterial vaginosis (BV) with oral metronidazole is often ineffective, and recurrence rates are high among African women. BV-associated anaerobes are closely associated with genital inflammation and HIV risk, which underscores the importance of understanding the interplay between vaginal microbiota and genital inflammation in response to treatment. In this cohort study, we therefore investigated the effects of metronidazole treatment on the vaginal microbiota and genital cytokines among symptomatic South African women with BV [defined as Nugent score (NS) ≥4] using 16S rRNA gene sequencing and multiplex bead arrays. Among 56 BV-positive women, we observed short-term BV clearance (NS <4) in a proportion of women six weeks after metronidazole treatment, with more than half of these experiencing recurrence by 12 weeks post-treatment. BV treatment temporarily reduced the relative abundance of BV-associated anaerobes (particularly Gardnerella vaginalis and Atopobium vaginae) and increased lactobacilli species (mainly L. iners), resulting in significantly altered mucosal immune milieu over time. In a linear mixed model, the median concentrations of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines were significantly reduced in women who cleared BV compared to pre-treatment. BV persistence and recurrence were strongly associated with mucosal cytokine profiles that may increase the risk of HIV acquisition. Concentrations of these cytokines were differentially regulated by changes in the relative abundance of BVAB1 and G. vaginalis. We conclude that metronidazole for the treatment of BV induced short-term shifts in the vaginal microbiota and mucosal cytokines, while treatment failures promoted persistent elevation of pro-inflammatory cytokine concentrations in the genital tract. These data suggest the need to improve clinical management of BV to minimize BV related reproductive risk factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andile Mtshali
- Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), Durban, South Africa.,Department of Medical Microbiology, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - James Emmanuel San
- KwaZulu-Natal Research Innovation and Sequencing Platform, Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - Farzana Osman
- Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), Durban, South Africa
| | - Nigel Garrett
- Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), Durban, South Africa.,Discipline of Public Health Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - Christina Balle
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine (IDM), University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Jennifer Giandhari
- KwaZulu-Natal Research Innovation and Sequencing Platform, Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - Harris Onywera
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine (IDM), University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Khanyisile Mngomezulu
- Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), Durban, South Africa
| | - Gugulethu Mzobe
- Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), Durban, South Africa
| | - Tulio de Oliveira
- Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), Durban, South Africa.,KwaZulu-Natal Research Innovation and Sequencing Platform, Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - Anne Rompalo
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Adrian Mindel
- Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), Durban, South Africa
| | - Salim S Abdool Karim
- Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), Durban, South Africa.,Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University, New York City, NY, United States
| | - Jacques Ravel
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States.,Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Jo-Ann S Passmore
- Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), Durban, South Africa.,Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine (IDM), University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.,Department of Medical Virology, National Health Laboratory Service, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Quarraisha Abdool Karim
- Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), Durban, South Africa.,Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University, New York City, NY, United States
| | - Heather B Jaspan
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine (IDM), University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.,Seattle Children's Research Institute, University of Washington Department of Pediatrics and Global Health, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Lenine J P Liebenberg
- Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), Durban, South Africa.,Department of Medical Microbiology, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - Sinaye Ngcapu
- Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), Durban, South Africa.,Department of Medical Microbiology, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
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