Microbiome Profile of Deep Endometriosis Patients: Comparison of Vaginal Fluid, Endometrium and Lesion
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Women’s Health
Women’s Health
Women’s health, a vital aspect of medical science, encompasses various conditions unique to women’s physiological makeup. Historically, women were often excluded from clinical research, leading to a gap in understanding the intricacies of women’s health needs. However, recent advancements have highlighted the significant role that the microbiome plays in these conditions, offering new insights and potential therapies. MicrobiomeSignatures.com is at the forefront of exploring the microbiome signature of each of these conditions to unravel the etiology of these diseases and develop targeted microbiome therapies.
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Microbes
Microbes
Microbes, short for microorganisms, are tiny living organisms that are ubiquitous in the environment, including on and inside the human body. They play a crucial role in human health and disease, functioning within complex ecosystems in various parts of the body, such as the skin, mouth, gut, and respiratory tract. The human microbiome, which is […]
Microbiome Signatures identifies and validates condition-specific microbiome shifts and interventions to accelerate clinical translation. Our multidisciplinary team supports clinicians, researchers, and innovators in turning microbiome science into actionable medicine.
Karen Pendergrass
What was studied?
The study focused on identifying and comparing the bacterial patterns present in the vaginal fluid, eutopic endometrium, and endometriotic lesions of patients with endometriosis to those found in the vaginal fluid and eutopic endometrium of control patients without the disease. High-throughput DNA sequencing of the 16S rRNA marker gene was utilized to analyze the microbiome profile in these different biological samples from both groups.
Who was studied?
Twenty-one patients participated in this study, divided into two groups: eleven in the control group and ten in the endometriotic group. The control group consisted of women who underwent laparoscopic surgery for benign gynecological diseases or elective tubal ligation, where the absence of endometriosis was confirmed during peritoneal cavity inspection. The endometriotic group included only women with deep endometriosis, confirmed by laparoscopic surgery and histopathology analysis.
What were the most important findings?
The study found that microbiome sequencing of vaginal fluid, eutopic endometrium, and endometriotic lesions typically showed similar profiles, dominated by Lactobacillus, Gardnerella, Streptococcus, and Prevotella. Despite no significant overall differences in microbiome diversity between control and endometriotic patients, deep endometriotic lesions exhibited a distinct bacterial composition with less Lactobacillus and a higher abundance of Alishewanella, Enterococcus, and Pseudomonas.
What are the greatest implications of this study?
The study highlights several implications for endometriosis management: It provides insights into the pathogenesis by showing distinct bacterial compositions in deep lesions, suggesting microbial involvement in lesion development. This leads to the potential for non-invasive diagnostics by identifying specific microbial patterns, opening avenues for biomarker-based detection. Therapeutically, interventions like antibiotics or probiotics could be new treatment strategies if certain bacteria contribute to pathogenesis. The findings emphasize the need for more research to establish causal links between microbiome composition and endometriosis, understand the bacterial influence on the disease, and explore microbiome-based treatments.