Project description:The onset of menopause is accompanied by a dramatic increase in reported symptoms of vaginal dryness, soreness, irritation or itching, pain with intercourse and bleeding after intercourse. Collectively these affect 25-50% of women of post-menopausal age and significantly impact their quality of life. To examine how gene expression differs between these groups, surface vaginal epithelial cells were collected from postmenopausal women suffering from vaginal dryness and appropriate controls not suffering from dryness. Affymetrix GeneChip Human 1.0 ST microarrays were performed on RNA isolated from ten participants. Suitable RNA was extracted from ten participants which were classified into two groups, the dryness and control groups, based on diagnosis of dryness by a nurse during gynecoligical examination.
Project description:During sexual transmission of HIV-1 from male to female partners, the vagina is the initial site of contact with HIV infected semen. The mechanism of HIV traversing the CD4 negative multi-layered stratified squamous epithelial barrier of the vagina to infect sub-epithelial susceptible immune cells, is hitherto unknown. HIV gp120 binds to several host proteins on vaginal epithelial cells. To gain an insight into the physiologic changes that may occur in vaginal epithelial cells in response to interactions with HIV gp120, and obtain an understanding of the molecular mechanisms by which HIV breaches the vaginal epithelium, a global snap shot of gene expression profiles in the vaginal epithelial cell line Vk2/E6E7, treated with HIV gp120 was determined. The vaginal epithelial cell line Vk2/E6E7 was treated with HIV gp120 (83nM) for 24 hr, and Agilent one colour, microarrays were performed. Agilent one-color experiment,Organism: Human ,Agilent-Custom Whole Genome Human 8x60k designed by Genotypic Technology Pvt. Ltd. (AMADID: 027114), Labeling kit: Agilent Quick-Amp labeling Kit (p/n5190-0442)
Project description:During sexual transmission of HIV-1 from male to female partners, the vagina is the initial site of contact with HIV infected semen. The mechanism of HIV traversing the CD4 negative multi-layered stratified squamous epithelial barrier of the vagina to infect sub-epithelial susceptible immune cells, is hitherto unknown. HIV gp120 binds to several host proteins on vaginal epithelial cells. To gain an insight into the physiologic changes that may occur in vaginal epithelial cells in response to interactions with HIV gp120, and obtain an understanding of the molecular mechanisms by which HIV breaches the vaginal epithelium, a global snap shot of gene expression profiles in the vaginal epithelial cell line Vk2/E6E7, treated with HIV gp120 was determined. The vaginal epithelial cell line Vk2/E6E7 was treated with HIV gp120 (83nM) for 24 hr, and Agilent one colour, microarrays were performed.
Project description:Clinical treatment protocols for infertility with in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) provide a unique opportunity to assess the human vaginal microbiome in defined hormonal milieu. Herein, we have investigated the association of circulating ovarian-derived estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P4) concentrations to the vaginal microbiome. Thirty IVF-ET patients were enrolled in this study, after informed consent. Blood was drawn at four time points during the IVF-ET procedure. In addition, if a pregnancy resulted, blood was drawn at 4-to-6 weeks of gestation. The serum concentrations of E2 and P4 were measured. Vaginal swabs were obtained in different hormonal milieu. Two independent genome-based technologies (and the second assayed in two different ways) were employed to identify the vaginal microbes. The vaginal microbiome underwent a transition with a decrease in E2 (and/or a decrease in P4). Novel bacteria were found in the vagina of 33% of the women undergoing IVF-ET. Our approach has enabled the discovery of novel, previously unidentified bacterial species in the human vagina in different hormonal milieu. While the relationship of hormone concentration and vaginal microbes was found to be complex, the data support a shift in the microbiome of the human vagina during IVF-ET therapy using standard protocols. The data also set the foundation for further studies examining correlations between IVF-ET outcome and the vaginal microbiome within a larger study population.