Peter Timms
University of Sunshine Coast
Queensland University of Technology, Australia
Title: The female genital tract microbiome : Friend or foe against invading pathogens
Biography
Biography: Peter Timms
Abstract
The female genital tract is a complex ecosystem with a dynamic microbiota. The main function of the genital tract is in relation to host fertilisation and reproduction and it is thought that the main role of the genital tract microbiota therefore is to prevent foreign invaders from establishing. It is well known that lactobacilli are the main bacterial constituents of the female genital tract. More recent use of 16SrRNA deep sequencing has shown that the microbiota can be divided into 5 or 6 types. Four of these types are dominated by lactobacilli but the other CST Type has reduced lactobacilli and increased anaerobes. This last CST Type is associated with bacterial vaginosis and also an increased risk of sexually transmitted infections. The vaginal microbiota has several proposed means by which it might provide a protective barrier (low pH, hydrogen peroxide, lactic acid, specific bacteriocins) although there is no consensus on which are the most important factors. Interestingly, some STIs seem to have co-evolved with the microbiota to their advantage. Chlamydia trachomatis for instance, is vulnerable to host immune attack via interferon gamma. This results in induction of the enzyme IDO and depletion of tryptophan. The genital strains of C.trachomatis have retained just the trpBA gene which enables them to potentially rescue tryptophan via indole from the genital tract microbiome. This demonstrates the complex interplay between the genital tract microbiota and invading pathogens.