The cervicovaginal microbiota-host interaction modulates chlamydia trachomatis infection
Author
Edwards, V.L.Smith, S.B.
McComb, E.J.
Humphrys, M.S.
Gajer, P.
Gwilliam, K.
Terplan, M.
Mark, K.S.
Brotman, R.M.
Bavoil, P.M.
Ravela, J.
Bing, M.
Date
2019Journal
mBioPublisher
American Society for MicrobiologyType
Article
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
The mechanism(s) by which Lactobacillus-dominated cervicovaginal microbiota provide a barrier to Chlamydia trachomatis infection remain(s) unknown. Here we evaluate the impact of different Lactobacillus spp. identified via cultureindependent metataxonomic analysis of C. trachomatis-infected women on C. trachomatis infection in a three-dimensional (3D) cervical epithelium model. Lactobacillus spp. that specifically produce D(-) lactic acid were associated with long-term protection against C. trachomatis infection, consistent with reduced protection associated with Lactobacillus iners, which does not produce this isoform, and with decreased epithelial cell proliferation, consistent with the observed prolonged protective effect. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that epigenetic modifications involving histone deacetylase-controlled pathways are integral to the cross talk between host and microbiota. These results highlight a fundamental mechanism whereby the cervicovaginal microbiota modulates host functions to protect against C. trachomatis infection. IMPORTANCE The vaginal microbiota is believed to protect women against Chlamydia trachomatis, the etiologic agent of the most prevalent sexually transmitted infection (STI) in developed countries. The mechanism underlying this protection has remained elusive. Here, we reveal the comprehensive strategy by which the cervicovaginal microbiota modulates host functions to protect against chlamydial infection, thereby providing a novel conceptual mechanistic understanding. Major implications of this work are that (i) the impact of the vaginal microbiota on the epithelium should be considered in future studies of chlamydial infection and other STIs and (ii) a fundamental understanding of the cervicovaginal microbiota’s role in protection against STIs may enable the development of novel microbiome-based therapeutic strategies to protect women from infection and improve vaginal and cervical health. Copyright 2019 Edwards et al.Sponsors
Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases of the National Institutes of Health under award numbers U19AI084044 and UH2AI083264.Identifier to cite or link to this item
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85071282597&doi=10.1128%2fmBio.01548-19&partnerID=40&md5=b4405733dba806f10d68402017b2d1fc; http://hdl.handle.net/10713/10493ae974a485f413a2113503eed53cd6c53
10.1128/mBio.01548-19
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