Development of the vaginal microbiome in young Black women

描述（由申请人提供）：本研究的目标是了解年轻黑人女性阴道微生物组的发育组成、功能和相关因素。这种关注是有道理的，因为黑人妇女与其他种族/族裔群体的妇女相比，在性健康和生殖健康方面存在巨大差距。没有研究追踪黑人女性阴道微生物组从青春期到青年期的演变。这是一个以新的阴道卫生习惯为特征的发育间隔（例如，冲洗、卫生棉条/垫的使用）、饮食和身体活动的变化、伴侣性活动、激素和屏障避孕药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。 我们建议收集一个前瞻性队列的180名健康的黑人，绝经后14岁的青春期女性。每月自行采集阴道拭子，最长持续24个月。将通过16 S rRNA基因序列的系统发育分析评估阴道微生物组组成。将通过定期评估阴道pH值和Nugent评分以及定量唾液雌激素和阴道糖原来评估阴道微生物组功能。营养相关因素将是 通过测量血浆25-羟基维生素D（25 OHD）状态进行评估。将使用电子日记评估阴道微生物组的性行为和生殖健康相关性。STI相关性将通过核酸扩增检测进行前瞻性诊断。

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.