Pregnancy associates with alterations to the host and microbial proteome in vaginal mucosa.

ABSTRACT:

Problem

Pregnant women are at increased risk of HIV acquisition, but the biological mechanisms contributing to this observation are not well understood.

Method of study

Here, we assessed host immune and microbiome differences in the vaginal mucosa of healthy pregnant and non-pregnant women using a metaproteomics approach. Cervicovaginal lavage (CVL) samples were collected from 23 pregnant and 25 non-pregnant women.

Results

Mass spectrometry analysis of CVL identified 550 human proteins and 376 bacterial proteins from 11 genera. Host proteome analysis indicated 56 human proteins (10%) were differentially abundant (P < .05) between pregnant and non-pregnant women, including proteins involved in angiogenesis (P = 3.36E-3), cell movement of phagocytes (P = 1.34E-6), and p

SUBMITTER: Farr Zuend C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7317380 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature