Bacterial vaginosis-driven changes in cervicovaginal immunity that expand the immunological hypothesis for increased HIV susceptibility.

ABSTRACT: Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a dysbiosis of the vaginal microbiome that is prevalent among reproductive-age females worldwide. Adverse health outcomes associated with BV include an increased risk of sexually-acquired HIV, yet the immunological mechanisms underlying this association are not well understood. To investigate BV-driven changes to cervicovaginal tract (CVT) and circulating T cell phenotypes, participants with or without BV provided vaginal tract (VT) and ectocervical (CX) tissue biopsies and PBMC samples. High-parameter flow cytometry revealed an increased frequency of cervical conventional CD4⁺ T cells (Tconv) expressing CCR5. However, we found no difference in number of CD3⁺CD4⁺CCR5⁺ cells in the CX or VT of BV+ vs BV- individuals, su

SUBMITTER: MacLean F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11245000 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature