Optimization a protocol for microbiome profiling of self-collected vaginal samples

人体内有数万亿的细菌，即人体微生物组，它们对我们的健康至关重要。 这些复杂的微生物群落的不平衡可能导致负面的健康结果。女性 生殖道，微生物组的紊乱可能导致令人不快的症状， 性传播病原体和妊娠并发症，如早产。DNA研究进展 测序技术为研究这些微生物群落带来了前所未有的机会， 利用微生物组谱的诊断潜力。使微生物组诊断成为女性的现实 将通过制定强有力的自我采样方法来促进健康。自我采样将改善 微生物组分析的可用性，并改善对筛查计划的参与。伊芙生物医学公司 开发了一种自我采样设备HerSwab，用于检测特定的致病病毒和细菌 但不知道该装置是否收集了适合于微生物组谱分析的样品。微生物 萨斯喀彻温大学的研究人员将与Eve Medical合作开发使用 HerSwab用于微生物组分析。这项工作的结果将为Eve Medical和 HerSwab，让我们离实现女性微生物组特征的诊断潜力又近了一步。 健康

The human body is colonized by trillions of bacteria, the human microbiome, that are essential to our health. Imbalances in these complex microbial communities can lead to negative health outcomes. In the female reproductive tract, disturbances in the microbiome can lead to unpleasant symptoms, increased transmission of sexually transmitted pathogens and pregnancy complications such as preterm birth. Advances in DNA sequencing technology have led to unprecedented opportunities to study these microbial communities and to exploit the diagnostic potential of microbiome profiles. Making microbiome diagnostics a reality for women's health will be facilitated by developing robust methods for self-sampling. Self-sampling will improve the availability of microbiome profiling and improve participation in screening programs. Eve Biomedical has developed a self-sampling device, HerSwab, for use in testing for specific disease causing viruses and bacteria but it is not known if this device collects a sample appropriate for microbiome profiling. Microbiome researchers at the University of Saskatchewan will work with Eve Medical to develop protocols for use of HerSwab for microbiome profiling. The results of this work will open new opportunities for Eve Medical and HerSwab and move us one step closer to realizing the diagnostic potential of microbiome profiles for women's health.