Changes of vaginal microbiota during cervical carcinogenesis in women with human papillomavirus infection

Objective To evaluate the changes of vaginal microbiota during cervical carcinogenesis in women with high-risk human papillomavirus infection. Materials and methods Vaginal microbiota was analyzed using next-generation sequencing in women with normal, cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN), or cervical cancer. Results A marked decrease ofLactobacillus crispatuswas found in the CIN/cancer groups compared with that in the normal group. The diversity of microorganisms increased in patients with CIN or cervical cancer with HPV infection.Atopobium vaginae(OR 4.33, 95% CI 1.15-16.32),Dialister invisus(OR 4.89, 95% CI 1.20-19.94),Finegoldia magna(OR 6.00, 95% CI 1.08-33.27),Gardnerella vaginalis(OR 7.43, 95% CI 1.78-31.04),Prevotella buccalis(OR 11.00, 95% CI 2.00-60.57), andPrevotella timonensis(OR 6.00, 95% CI 1.46-24.69) were significantly associated with the risk of CIN 2/3 or cervical cancer. Conclusion Women with the CIN and cervical cancer showed a high diversity in vaginal microbiota. Depletion ofLactobacillus crispatusand increased abundance of anaerobic bacteria were detected in women with cervical disease.