The Role of <i>Prevotella</i> Species in Female Genital Tract Infections
Sheridan D. George,
Olivia T. Van Gerwen,
Chaoling Dong,
Lúcia G. V. Sousa,
Nuno Cerca,
Jacob H. Elnaggar,
Christopher M. Taylor,
Christina A. Muzny
Affiliations
Sheridan D. George
Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA
Olivia T. Van Gerwen
Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA
Chaoling Dong
Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA
Lúcia G. V. Sousa
Centre of Biological Engineering (CEB), Laboratory of Research in Biofilms Rosário Oliveira (LIBRO), Campus de Gualtar, University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
Nuno Cerca
Centre of Biological Engineering (CEB), Laboratory of Research in Biofilms Rosário Oliveira (LIBRO), Campus de Gualtar, University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
Jacob H. Elnaggar
Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Parasitology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
Christopher M. Taylor
Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Parasitology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
Christina A. Muzny
Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA
Female genital tract infections (FGTIs) include vaginal infections (e.g., bacterial vaginosis [BV]), endometritis, pelvic inflammatory disease [PID], and chorioamnionitis [amniotic fluid infection]. They commonly occur in women of reproductive age and are strongly associated with multiple adverse health outcomes including increased risk of HIV/sexually transmitted infection acquisition and transmission, infertility, and adverse birth outcomes such as preterm birth. These FGTIs are characterized by a disruption of the cervicovaginal microbiota which largely affects host immunity through the loss of protective, lactic acid-producing Lactobacillus spp. and the overgrowth of facultative and strict anaerobic bacteria. Prevotella species (spp.), anaerobic Gram-negative rods, are implicated in the pathogenesis of multiple bacterial FGTIs. Specifically, P. bivia, P. amnii, and P. timonensis have unique virulence factors in this setting, including resistance to antibiotics commonly used in treatment. Additionally, evidence suggests that the presence of Prevotella spp. in untreated BV cases can lead to infections of the upper female genital tract by ascension into the uterus. This narrative review aims to explore the most common Prevotella spp. in FGTIs, highlight their important role in the pathogenesis of FGTIs, and propose future research in this area.
