01 Apr The vaginal microbiome: Associations with sexually transmitted infections and the mucosal immune response
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Authored by: Hanneke Borgdorff
Thesis Universiteit van Amsterdam
Promotor(s): J.H.H.M. van de Wijgert, T. van der Poll
Copromotor(s): S.E. Geerlings
Date of thesis defense: 24/03/2016
A healthy vaginal microbiota is dominated by lactobacilli. Disturbance of the microbiological vaginal microbiota balance (“dysbiosis”) is associated with an increased risk of acquisition of sexually transmitted infections including HIV, and preterm birth in pregnant women. Since 2002, studies have used molecular methods to investigate the complex relationship between vaginal microbiota and vaginal health. This thesis first reviews the findings of these studies. Read more