Vaginal bacteria-derived extracellular vesicles diffuse through human cervicovaginal mucus to enable bacterial signaling to upper female reproductive tract tissues.

ABSTRACT: The composition of the vaginal microenvironment has significant implications for gynecologic and obstetric outcomes. Where a Lactobacillus-dominated microenvironment is typically considered optimal, a polymicrobial environment is associated with increased risk for female reproductive diseases. Recent work has examined bacteria-derived extracellular vesicles (bEVs) as an important mode of microbe-host communication in the female reproductive tract, with bEVs exhibiting unique species- and strain-level functions that may influence women's health outcomes. However, in order to communicate with female reproductive tissues, bEVs must be able to penetrate the protective cervicovaginal mucus barrier. As the first line of defense against bacteria and pathogens, cervicovaginal mucus protects

SUBMITTER: Steinman D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12248069 | biostudies-literature | 2025 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature