ArticleMicrobiome2025
Exploring the female genital tract mycobiome in young South African women using metaproteomics.
Article in Microbiome, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.
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Who cites it
3 citing papers in PubMed.
- Transkingdom interactions between HPV and the microbiome in the female reproductive tract: Gaps, challenges, and emerging perspectives.PLoS pathogens · 2026Article
- Cervicovaginal Mycobiome Restructuring by HPV and Bacterial Community State Types in a Kazakhstani Shotgun Metagenomic Cohort:International journal of molecular sciences · 2026Article
- Genomic Diversity of VaginalViruses · 2026Article
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Authors and funding
17 authors.
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Abstract
backgroundFemale genital tract (FGT) diseases such as bacterial vaginosis (BV) and sexually transmitted infections are prevalent in South Africa, with young women being at an increased risk. Since imbalances in the FGT microbiome are associated with FGT diseases, it is vital to investigate the factors that influence FGT health. The mycobiome plays an important role in regulating mucosal health, especially when the bacterial component is disturbed. However, we have a limited understanding of the FGT mycobiome since many studies have focused on bacterial communities and have neglected low-abundance taxonomic groups, such as fungi. To reduce this knowledge deficit, we present the first large-scale metaproteomic study to define the taxonomic composition and potential functional processes of the FGT mycobiome in South African reproductive-age women.
resultsWe examined FGT fungal communities present in 123 women by collecting lateral vaginal wall swabs for liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. From this, 39 different fungal genera were identified, with Candida dominating the mycobiome (53.2% relative abundance). We observed changes in relative abundance at the protein, genus, and functional (gene ontology biological processes) level between BV states. In women with BV, Malassezia and Conidiobolus proteins were more abundant, while Candida proteins were less abundant compared to BV-negative women. Correspondingly, Nugent scores were negatively associated with total fungal protein abundance. The clinical variables, Nugent score, pro-inflammatory cytokines, chemokines, vaginal pH, Chlamydia trachomatis, and the presence of clue cells were associated with fungal community composition.
conclusionsThe results of this study revealed the diversity of FGT fungal communities, setting the groundwork for understanding the FGT mycobiome. Video Abstract.
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