The human microbiome is a complex and dynamic system that plays a critical role in human health and disease. Women's health is especially susceptible to the influence of the microbiome, as imbalances in the oral, gut, and vaginal microbiomes can have significant impacts on various aspects of a woman's health, including reproductive and immune function. Despite this, there is still much to be learned about the exact mechanisms through which the microbiome affects women's health.
Exploring the influence of oral and/or vaginal microbiomes on women's health in relation to gut microbiomes is important because these microbial communities play a significant role in maintaining the health and well-being of the host. Disruptions in the microbial ecology of these microbiomes can lead to a number of health problems, including inflammation, altered immune function, and imbalances in hormones. These changes can impact reproductive health and increase the risk of conditions such as bacterial vaginosis and other infections. A deeper understanding of the host-microbe interactions in these microbiotas can inform the development of probiotics, prebiotics, and other strategies for maintaining a healthy microbial community and improving women's health. Additionally, these microbiotas may help to reduce the spread of antimicrobial resistance and other public health threats.
The purpose of this collection is to collect research aimed at exploring the influence of oral and/or vaginal microbiomes on women's health in relation to gut microbiomes. The ultimate goal is to gain a deeper understanding of the mechanisms underlying this relationship and to develop targeted interventions aimed at promoting health and preventing disease.
We invite original research articles, review articles, and perspectives. Relevant subtopics may include but are not limited to the following:
- Characterizing the oral and/or vaginal microbiomes in relation to gut microbiomes of a diverse group of women, including healthy, pregnant women and women with various infections, e.g., HIV, and HPV.
- Investigating the relationships between the oral and/or vaginal microbiomes and gut microbiomes in various aspects of women's health, such as reproductive, immune function, and metabolic disorders.
- Deciphering the roles and mechanisms of oral and/or vaginal microbiomes in relation to gut microbiomes in pregnant women for mother-infant health
- Determining the microbial cross-talk between gut microbiomes and oral/vaginal microbiomes in different organ sites regarding women’s health
- Developing targeted interventions aimed at promoting healthy gut microbiomes and preventing disease.
Key words: microbial interaction, Host-microbe interaction, reproductive health, hormonal balance
Zongxin Ling, Ph.D. is a Full Professor at the State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, China. His lab's research focus is on the crosstalk between human microbiota and the host, utilizing multi-omics approaches to study the relationship between microbiota and various host diseases such as bacterial vaginosis, HIV infection, liver diseases, food allergy, gastric cancer, neurodegenerative disease, and others. The lab also investigates the role and mechanisms of key functional microbes in disease development through animal models, and has identified key potential probiotics for treating gut dysbiosis.
Liwei Xie, Ph.D. is a Full Professor at the State Key Laboratory of Applied Microbiology Southern China, Institute of Microbiology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, China. His lab's research focus is on regulation of energy and nutritional metabolism through three aspects: identifying key regulatory factors in systemic metabolism, investigating gut microbiota's influence on host metabolism, and developing new treatments for metabolic diseases. The lab employs genetic mouse models, cell culture, multi-omics techniques, and self-developed bioinformatics tools to gain insight into disease mechanisms and develop therapeutic strategies for pre-clinical trials of metabolic diseases such as obesity and type 2 diabetes.
Disclosure statement: Prof. Ling and Prof. Xie declare there is no conflict of interest.
