Vaginal Lactobacillus iners abundance predicts outcome in antibiotic
treatment of bacterial vaginosis
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To examine the distribution of Gardnerella genomospecies in
a Chinese cohort, investigate its relationship with BV and elucidate the
potential function of L. iners in predicting the clinical outcome of BV.
POPULATION: 130 non-pregnant BV patients and 41 healthy women from
Peking University First Hospital. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Patients
visited clinic again after antibiotic treatment and divided into three
groups according to Nugent score. METHODS: Vaginal swabs used for
microscopic examination, 16SrRNA sequencing, bacterial culture and
isolation and Gardnerella vaginalis, Atopobium vaginae and Lactobacillus
iners isolates used for competition tests. RESULTS: Seven Gardnerella
genomospecies were presented in all participants and relative abundance
of all detected genomospecies were higher in BV patients
(p<0.05). Cured patients possessed higher GS03 compared to
other groups (p=0.005, 0.0337). L. iners was significantly higher in
cured patients compared to other groups (p=0.0021, p<0.0001)
and it was able to inhibit the growth of Gardnerella vaginalis and
Atopobium vaginae. CONCLUSION: Seven Gardnerella genomospecies can be
detected in Chinese BV patients, but its distribution is not related to
BV. Cured patients possess higher relative abundance of L. iners is
higher and L. iners can inhibit growth Gardnerella vaginalis and
Atopobium vaginae. L. iners might become a predictive indicator of
clinical outcomes of BV patients and its antimicrobial function might be
beneficial to BV patients. FUNDING: National Key Research and
Development Program of China (2021YFC2301000) and the National Natural
Science Foundation of China (81971342). Key words: bacterial vaginosis,
Gardnerella genomospecies, Lactobacillus iners, 16SrRNA sequencing,
antimicrobial activity.