A gut feeling: How can gastrointestinal bacterial infections alter female reproductive tract immunity and control of sexually transmitted infections

性传播感染在低收入和中等收入国家的妇女中非常普遍，对妇女健康造成毁灭性影响，并给卫生保健系统带来财政压力。重要的是，其他感染在这些地区也很常见，这使得合并感染很可能发生。先前的研究表明，胃肠道（GI）感染可以改变其他生物区室不相关感染的免疫和控制。胃肠道系统的细菌感染在性传播感染高发地区很常见，并可引起全身性炎症。然而，关于胃肠道细菌感染如何影响女性生殖道（FRT）的免疫力和对感染的易感性，人们知之甚少。我们以前使用小鼠感染模型来证明蠕虫感染可以间接改变FRT免疫，这对STI疾病有不利影响。在本研究中，我将研究远程胃肠道细菌感染对FRT免疫的影响，这如何影响常见性传播感染的控制，以及对生育能力的影响。本研究将为今后的人体研究奠定重要的基础。更好地了解对FRT健康的间接影响，将在未来对性传播感染的预防和治疗作出重大贡献。

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are highly prevalent amongst women in low- and middle-income countries, where they have a devastating impact on women's health and places financial strain on health care systems. Importantly, other infections are also common in these regions, making co-infections likely to occur. Previous studies have shown that gastrointestinal (GI) infections can change immunity and control of unrelated infections at other biological compartments. Bacterial infections of the GI system are common in regions with high rates of STIs, and can cause systemic inflammation. However, little is known about how GI bacterial infections affect immunity in the female reproductive tract (FRT) and susceptibility to infections. We have previously used mouse infection models to that helminth infections can indirectly change FRT immunity and this had a detrimental effect on STI disease. In this study, I will investigate the effects of a remote GI bacterial infection on FRT immunity, how this affects control of common STIs, as well as the effects on fertility. The proposed research will build an important foundation for future human studies. A better understanding of the indirect influences on FRT health, will significantly contribute to STI prevention and treatment in the future.