Optimising Vaginal Microbiome Profiling for Clinical Translation: A Comparative Assessment of Sample Storage Methods and a Vagina-Specific 16S rRNA Gene Database.

ABSTRACT: Vaginal microbiome composition has been linked to risk of preterm birth (PTB), a persistent global health challenge. 16S rRNA microbial profiling has identified specific vaginal community state types (CSTs) that have been associated with PTB risk. Diagnostic profiling requires standardised pre-analytical protocols. We evaluated two storage methods and validated a curated, vagina-specific 16S rRNA gene database (VagDB) to enhance annotation. Paired Copan FLOQ swabs from 22 women at high PTB risk were processed for either (a) dry/immediate freezing or (b) Amies-stabilisation/refrigeration. Amplicon sequence variants were generated via 16S rRNA gene (V4) PCR and Illumina sequencing. We assessed diversity, composition, and community state type (CST) allocation. Amies-stabilised samples yielded

SUBMITTER: Ali A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12844235 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature