Unique roles of vaginal <i>Megasphaera</i> phylotypes in reproductive health.

ABSTRACT: The composition of the human vaginal microbiome has been extensively studied and is known to influence reproductive health. However, the functional roles of individual taxa and their contributions to negative health outcomes have yet to be well characterized. Here, we examine two vaginal bacterial taxa grouped within the genus Megasphaera that have been previously associated with bacterial vaginosis (BV) and pregnancy complications. Phylogenetic analyses support the classification of these taxa as two distinct species. These two phylotypes, Megasphaera phylotype 1 (MP1) and Megasphaera phylotype 2 (MP2), differ in genomic structure and metabolic potential, suggestive of differential roles within the vaginal environment. Further, these vaginal taxa show evidence of geno

SUBMITTER: Glascock AL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8767330 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature