Nat Commun. 2017 Oct 17;8(1):875. doi: 10.1038/s41467-017-00901-0.

The microbiota continuum along the female reproductive tract and its relation to uterine-related diseases.

Chen C^1,², Song X^1,³, Wei W^4,⁵, Zhong H^1,^2,⁶, Dai J^4,⁵, Lan Z¹, Li F^1,^2,³, Yu X^1,², Feng Q^1,⁷, Wang Z¹, Xie H¹, Chen X¹, Zeng C¹, Wen B^1,², Zeng L^4,⁵, Du H^4,⁵, Tang H^4,⁵, Xu C^1,⁸, Xia Y^1,³, Xia H^1,^2,⁹, Yang H^1,¹⁰, Wang J^1,¹⁰, Wang J^1,¹¹, Madsen L^1,^6,¹², Brix S¹³, Kristiansen K^1,⁶, Xu X^1,², Li J^14,^15,^16,¹⁷, Wu R^18,¹⁹, Jia H^20,^21,^22,²³.

Author information

1: BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518083, China.
2: China National Genebank, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518120, China.
3: BGI Education Center, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518083, China.
4: Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, 518036, China.
5: Shenzhen Key Laboratory on Technology for Early Diagnosis of Major Gynecological diseases, Shenzhen, 518036, China.
6: Department of Biology, Laboratory of Genomics and Molecular Biomedicine, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 13, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark.
7: Shenzhen Engineering Laboratory of Detection and Intervention of human intestinal microbiome, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518083, China.
8: Qingdao University-BGI Joint Innovation College, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071, China.
9: Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Human Commensal Microorganisms and Health Research, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518083, China.
10: James D. Watson Institute of Genome Sciences, Hangzhou, 310000, China.
11: Macau University of Science and Technology, Taipa, Macau, 999078, China.
12: National Institute of Nutrition and Seafood Research, (NIFES), Postboks 2029, Nordnes, N-5817, Bergen, Norway.
13: Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Soltofts Plads, Building 221, 2800, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark.
14: BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518083, China. lijunhua@genomics.cn.
15: China National Genebank, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518120, China. lijunhua@genomics.cn.
16: Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Human Commensal Microorganisms and Health Research, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518083, China. lijunhua@genomics.cn.
17: School of Bioscience and Biotechnology, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, China. lijunhua@genomics.cn.
18: Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, 518036, China. wurf100@126.com.
19: Shenzhen Key Laboratory on Technology for Early Diagnosis of Major Gynecological diseases, Shenzhen, 518036, China. wurf100@126.com.
20: BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518083, China. jiahuijue@genomics.cn.
21: China National Genebank, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518120, China. jiahuijue@genomics.cn.
22: Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Human Commensal Microorganisms and Health Research, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518083, China. jiahuijue@genomics.cn.
23: Macau University of Science and Technology, Taipa, Macau, 999078, China. jiahuijue@genomics.cn.

Abstract

Reports on bacteria detected in maternal fluids during pregnancy are typically associated with adverse consequences, and whether the female reproductive tract harbours distinct microbial communities beyond the vagina has been a matter of debate. Here we systematically sample the microbiota within the female reproductive tract in 110 women of reproductive age, and examine the nature of colonisation by 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing and cultivation. We find distinct microbial communities in cervical canal, uterus, fallopian tubes and peritoneal fluid, differing from that of the vagina. The results reflect a microbiota continuum along the female reproductive tract, indicative of a non-sterile environment. We also identify microbial taxa and potential functions that correlate with the menstrual cycle or are over-represented in subjects with adenomyosis or infertility due to endometriosis. The study provides insight into the nature of the vagino-uterine microbiome, and suggests that surveying the vaginal or cervical microbiota might be useful for detection of common diseases in the upper reproductive tract.Whether the female reproductive tract harbours distinct microbiomes beyond the vagina has been a matter of debate. Here, the authors show a subject-specific continuity in microbial communities at six sites along the female reproductive tract, indicative of a non-sterile environment.