Characteristics of molecular vaginal microbiota articles published between 1 January 2008 and 15 November 2013.

BV = bacterial vaginosis; DGGE = Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis; HIV = human immunodeficiency virus; HPV = human papillomavirus; IVF = in-vitro fertilisation; LH-PCR = Length Heterogeneity PCR; NGS = next generation sequencing; qPCR = quantitative polymerase chain reaction; Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD); STD clinic = sexually transmitted disease clinic; STI = sexually transmitted infection; TRLFP = Terminal Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism; USA = United States of America; VMB = vaginal microbiota; WSW = women having sex with women.1Until 15 November 20131;2One article could include more than one category;3Europe other: Sweden (4), Greenland (1), Estonia (1), Austria (1);4Asia other: Japan (2), South Korea (1);5East Africa: Kenya (3), Tanzania (1);6West Africa: Burkina Faso (1), Ghana, Togo, Guinea and Mali (1);7Central America: Mexico (2), Costa Rica (1);85 publications representing only 3 studies;9Genes sequenced: 16S rRNA gene V1–V2 (8), V2–V3 (2), V3 (2), V3–V5 (3), V4–V6 (2), V6 (2), V6–V9 (1), chaperonin gene (1), and not reported (1);10Fingerprinting techniques used: TRFLP (5), DGGE (5), RAPD (2), and LH-PCR (1);11Hybridisation techniques used: DNA microarray (4) and Luminex (oligonucleotides coupled to beads; 1);12Descriptive other includes effects of race/ethnicity, pregnancy, menstrual cycle, menopause, tampon/pad use, vaginal douching, sexual debut and other sexual and contraceptive behaviours;13Cervical or endometrial microbiota (3) and oral and/or rectal reservoirs (3);14Other confirmed infections: Candidiasis (2), cervicitis (1), endometritis (1), and gingivitis (1).