Lactobacillus-depleted vaginal microbiota in HIV-1 pregnant women are associated with increased local inflammation and PTM

To characterise the vaginal microbiota of a UK cohort of pregnant women living with HIV-1 infection (PWLWH, n=53) sampled longitudinally throughout gestation compared to HIV uninfected pregnant women (HUPW, n-22) using metataxonomic profiling and to determine if differences in vaginal microbiota composition of PWLWH influence local inflammation and subsequent risk of PTB. The prospective study revealed an association between local inflammation, vaginal dysbiosis and PTB in PWLWH.