Exploring the diversity of Gardnerella vaginalis in the genitourinary tract microbiota of monogamous couples through subtle nucleotide variation.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is an enigmatic disease of unknown origin that affects a large percentage of women. The vaginal microbiota of women with BV is associated with serious sequelae, including abnormal pregnancies. The etiology of BV is not fully understood, however, it has been suggested that it is transmissible, and that G. vaginalis may be an etiological agent. Studies using enzymatic assays to define G. vaginalis biotypes, as well as more recent genomic comparisons of G. vaginalis isolates from symptomatic and asymptomatic women, suggest that particular G. vaginalis strains may play a key role in the pathogenesis of BV.

Methodology/principal findings

To explore G. vaginalis diversity, distribution and sexual transmission, we developed a Shannon entropy-base

SUBMITTER: Eren AM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3201972 | biostudies-literature | 2011

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature