Endometriosis-specific vaginal microbiota

Endometriosis is a chronic systemic disease where tissue similar to uterine lining grows outside the uterus and affects approximately 10% of reproductive-aged women worldwide. Its aetiology is poorly understood, and cure is not available. Its development and persistence depend on several coexisting factors including the vaginal microbiota, although its role played in endometriosis and its systemic involvement is not fully understood. Here we investigated the vaginal microbiota.Endometriosis patients were typified by changes to the microbiota with a loss of the dominant Lactobacilli species, Lactobacillus iners and increased bacterial diversity and the presence of species such as Anaerococcus senegalensis, Prevotella jejuni, Porphyromonas bennonis and Anaerococcus octavius.Further investigation on microbiota identification and diversity typing in conjunction with host and clinical factors will refine diagnoses and understanding of the etiology of this enigmatic chronic disease

子宫内膜异位症（Endometriosis）是一种慢性全身性疾病，其特征为类似子宫内膜的组织在子宫外异常生长，全球约有10%的育龄女性受其困扰。目前其病因学机制尚未完全阐明，且尚无根治手段。该病的发生与持续进展受多种共存因素影响，其中包括阴道微生物群，尽管其在子宫内膜异位症中的作用及全身性参与路径尚未完全明晰。本研究针对阴道微生物群展开了调查。研究发现，子宫内膜异位症患者的微生物群存在特征性改变：优势乳杆菌（Lactobacilli）物种丰度下降，尤以惰性乳杆菌（Lactobacillus iners）为甚，同时细菌多样性升高，且可检出塞内加尔厌氧球菌（Anaerococcus senegalensis）、空肠普雷沃菌（Prevotella jejuni）、本氏卟啉单胞菌（Porphyromonas bennonis）以及奥氏厌氧球菌（Anaerococcus octavius）等菌种。未来结合宿主与临床因素开展微生物群鉴定及多样性分型的深入研究，将有助于优化该神秘慢性疾病的诊断方案，并加深对其病因学的认知。