Exploring the Interplay between Cervicovaginal Microbiome, HPV
Infection, and Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia in Taiwanese Women
Abstract
Human papillomavirus infection is a prevalent viral condition affecting
the female reproductive system, with high-risk HPV (hrHPV) posing
significant risks. The vaginal microbiome plays a crucial role in the
progression of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN). This study
investigates the correlation between cervicovaginal microbiota and HPV
status in cervicovaginal samples collected from 173 randomly selected
participants enrolled in a clinical trial assessing self-sampling for
HPV typing. Employing linear discriminant analysis effect size and
receiver operating characteristic methodologies, microbial diversity
across different cervical lesion categories was examined, identifying
potential bacterial species as markers for cervical abnormalities. Among
the cases analyzed, the positive predictive value of HPV infection was
74.2%, with Fannyhessea vaginae showing a relative abundance
exceeding 0.00123%. This research also investigated the relationship
between HPV alpha 7 and alpha 9 and various bacterial species. The
findings indicated a potential association between HPV alpha 7 and
Streptococcus, particularly Streptococcus pyogenes.
Further observational studies are warranted to establish the association
between vaginal microbiota dysbiosis and the carcinogenic potential of
(hr)HPV-induced cervical cancer. The proposed microbiological biomarkers
hold promise for reducing unnecessary invasive procedures and
facilitating CIN risk assessment.