Development of the vaginal microbiome in young Black women

描述（由申请人提供）：本研究的目的是了解年轻黑人女性阴道微生物群的发育组成、功能和相关因素。这种重点是合理的，因为与其他种族/族裔群体的妇女相比，黑人妇女在性健康和生殖健康方面存在巨大差异。没有研究追踪黑人女性从青春期到青年期阴道微生物群的演变。这是一个发育期，其特点是新的阴道卫生习惯（例如，冲洗、使用卫生棉条/卫生巾）、饮食和身体活动的改变、伴侣性活动、激素和屏障避孕措施的使用以及性传播感染。该项目的潜在影响将是为旨在减少黑人妇女性健康和生殖健康差距的公共卫生干预措施提供信息。我们建议对180名健康的14岁绝经后黑人青少年女性进行前瞻性队列研究。阴道拭子将每月自行获取，最长可达24个月。阴道微生物组组成将通过16S rRNA基因序列的系统发育分析进行评估。阴道微生物组功能将通过定期评估阴道pH值和Nugent评分，以及唾液雌激素和阴道糖原的量化来评估。营养相关因素

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The goal of this research is to understand the developmental composition, function, and correlates of the vaginal microbiome in young Black women. This focus is justified because of the substantial sexual health and reproductive health disparities of Black women compared to women of other racial/ethnic groups. No research traces the evolution of the vaginal microbiome of Black women from adolescence into young adulthood. This is a developmental interval characterized by new vaginal hygiene practices (e.g., douching, tampon/pad use), changes in diet and physical activity, partnered sexual activity, hormonal and barrier contraceptive use, and sexually transmitted infections. The potential impact of the project would be to inform public health interventions intended to reduce sexual and reproductive health disparities among Black women. We propose to assemble a prospective cohort of 180 healthy Black, post-menarchal 14 year-old adolescent women. Vaginal swabs will be self-obtained monthly for up to 24 months. Vaginal microbiome composition will be assessed by phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences. Vaginal microbiome function will be assessed by periodic assessment of vaginal pH and Nugent score, as well as quantification of salivary estrogen and vaginal glycogen. Nutritional correlates will be assessed with measurement of plasma 25- hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) status. Sexual behavior and reproductive health correlates of the vaginal microbiome will be assessed using electronic daily diaries. STI correlates will be diagnosed prospectively with nucleic acid amplifications tests.