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Abstract:
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We conducted an analysis of 16S rRNA surveys of the vaginal microbiome based on samples from over 6,000 women. Subjects also provided medical, lifestyle, and demographic information. We investigate differences in microbiome composition by demographic factors, history of pregnancy complications, history of sexually-transmitted infections (STIs), the diagnosis at the time of sample collection, and pregnancy status. Vaginal microbiome profiles are typically dominated by a single bacterium, leading to a classification of samples into groups that we call vagitypes. Vagitype classifications facilitate the discovery of relationships between microbiome profile and clinical data. The presence or absence of Lactobacillus species and a diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis have been shown to play an important role in the reproductive health of a woman. Our analysis provides information about these patterns and suggests roles for other bacteria in health and dysbiosis.
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