Abstract:
The female genital tract is an intricate, yet balanced ecosystem that hosts a variety of
different residential microflora. The physiological changes that occur during pregnancy may
disrupt this balanced ecosystem and predispose women to a potentially pathogenic
microbiota. Bacteria that are associated with bacterial vaginosis (BV) are opportunistic
pathogens that frequently form part of this microbiota. The overgrowth of and infections
with these bacteria are linked to poor obstetric outcomes and increased transmission of other
reproductive tract infections (RTIs). These infections increase women’s susceptibility of
acquiring HIV, the rates of HIV shedding and the development of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) in HIV infected patients. It is unknown how the plethora of
bacterial species associated with BV contributes to the dynamics of this condition. The use
of high-throughput methods have led to the in-depth investigation of different BV-related
bacterial species and the functional capabilities of these species. However, the pathogenesis
of BV is still poorly defined and the role of individual BV-related bacterial species in specific
pregnancy complications is unclear and controversial. The majority of BV infections are
asymptomatic and successful diagnosis is complicated by the lack of reliable and
standardized diagnostic tests.
