Vaginal microbiota and viral sexually transmitted diseases

Ann Ig. 2013 Sep-Oct;25(5):443-56. doi: 10.7416/ai.2013.1946.

Abstract

Healthy vaginal microbiota is an important biological barrier to pathogenic microorganisms. When this predominantly Lactobacillus community is disrupted, decreased in abundance and replaced by different anaerobes, bacterial vaginosis (BV) may occur. BV is associated with prevalence and incidence of several sexually transmitted infections. This review provides background on BV, discusses the epidemiologic data to support a role of altered vaginal microbiota for acquisition of sexually transmitted diseases and analyzes mechanisms by which lactobacilli could counteract sexually transmitted viral infections.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Coinfection
  • Female
  • HIV Infections / microbiology
  • Herpesviridae Infections / epidemiology
  • Herpesviridae Infections / virology
  • Humans
  • Lactobacillus / isolation & purification
  • Lactobacillus / physiology
  • Meta-Analysis as Topic
  • Microbiota*
  • Middle Aged
  • Opportunistic Infections / epidemiology
  • Opportunistic Infections / microbiology
  • Opportunistic Infections / prevention & control
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / epidemiology
  • Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / microbiology
  • Risk Factors
  • Sexual Behavior
  • Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Bacterial / microbiology
  • Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Bacterial / prevention & control
  • Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Bacterial / transmission*
  • Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Viral / microbiology
  • Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Viral / prevention & control
  • Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Viral / transmission
  • Superinfection
  • Vagina / microbiology*
  • Vagina / virology
  • Vaginosis, Bacterial / epidemiology
  • Vaginosis, Bacterial / transmission
  • Young Adult