Characterization of the vaginal DNA virome in health and dysbiosis: an opening study in patients with non-female factor infertility

Jakobsen, R. R.; Haahr, T.; Humaidan, P. S. H. A.; Jensen, J. S.; Kot, W.; Castro-Mejia, J. L.; Deng, L.; Leser, T. D.; Nielsen, D. S.

doi:10.1101/755710

bioRxiv · 10.1101/755710

Characterization of the vaginal DNA virome in health and dysbiosis: an opening study in patients with non-female factor infertility

Jakobsen, R. R.·Haahr, T.·Humaidan, P. S. H. A.·Jensen, J. S.·Kot, W.·Castro-Mejia, J. L.·Deng, L.·Leser, T. D.·Nielsen, D. S.

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Abstract

BackgroundBacterial vaginosis (BV) is characterised by a reduction in Lactobacillus spp. abundance and increased abundance of facultative anaerobes, like Gardnerella vaginalis. BV aetiology is not fully understood, but bacteriophages could play a pivotal role causing perturbation of the vaginal bacterial community. Here we investigate the vaginal viral community, including bacteriophages, and its association to the bacterial community and BV-status.\n\nMethodsVaginal samples from 48 patients undergoing IVF treatment for non-female factor infertility were subjected to metagenomic sequencing of purified virus-like particles. The vaginal viral community was characterized and correlated with BV-status, bacterial community structure and presence of key vaginal bacterial species.\n\nResultsThe majority of identified vaginal viruses belonged to the class of double-stranded DNA bacteriophages, with eukaryotic viruses constituting 4% of total reads. Clear links between viral community composition and BV (q = 0.006, R = 0.26) as well as presence of L. crispatus (q = 0.001, R = 0.43), L. iners, Gardnerella vaginalis and Atopobium vaginae were found (q < 0.002, R > 0.15). Interestingly, also the eukaryotic viral community was correlated with BV-status (q = 0.018, R = 0.20).\n\nConclusionsThe vaginal virome is clearly linked with bacterial community structure and BV-status.\n\nClinical Trials RegistrationNCT02042352.

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Jakobsen, R. R., Haahr, T., Humaidan, P. S. H. A., Jensen, J. S., Kot, W., Castro-Mejia, J. L., Deng, L., Leser, T. D., Nielsen, D. S.. 2019-09-07. Characterization of the vaginal DNA virome in health and dysbiosis: an opening study in patients with non-female factor infertility. https://doi.org/10.1101/755710

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