Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42090226›Full record

ReviewAmerican journal of reproductive immunology (New York, N.Y. : 1989)2026

Anaerobe-Driven Inflammation and Epithelial Barrier Disruption in Genital HIV Acquisition.

Shirley Constable, Yasamin Minazadeh, Lane B Buchanan, Henryroger Ssemunywa, Ronald M Galiwango, Rupert Kaul, Jessica L Prodger

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in American journal of reproductive immunology (New York, N.Y. : 1989), 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Special Issue on New Horizons in HIV and Reproductive Health Research.American journal of reproductive immunology (New York, N.Y. : 1989) · 2026
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Shirley ConstableDepartment of Microbiology and Immunology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.ORCID 0009-0008-8729-0392
Yasamin MinazadehDepartment of Microbiology and Immunology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.
Lane B BuchananDepartment of Microbiology and Immunology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.
Henryroger SsemunywaDepartment of Microbiology and Immunology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.
Ronald M GaliwangoRakai Health Sciences Program, Rakai, Uganda.
Rupert KaulDepartment of Medicine, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.ORCID 0000-0002-1586-4093
Jessica L ProdgerDepartment of Microbiology and Immunology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.

Funding

Canada Graduate Scholarship (SC)Canada Institutes of Health ResearchCanada Research Chairs Program CRC-2020-00175Engineering Health Equity FellowshipFrugal Biomedical Innovations Program at Western UniversityOntario Graduate Scholarship
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundGenital microbiome dysbiosis is an important risk factor for the sexual acquisition of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in both the male and female genital tracts. The vaginal, penile and urethral mucosae are distinct microenvironments with characteristic microbiome compositions. However, all three sites can be colonised by a group of strictly anaerobic bacteria that are strongly associated with mucosal inflammation and HIV risk. Our understanding of the relationship between genital anaerobes and HIV acquisition has largely focused on mucosal target cell density and activation. Yet, genital anaerobes disrupt epithelial barrier integrity, a crucial component of mucosal defence.

objectiveTo comprehensively evaluate the influence of genital anaerobes on epithelial barrier integrity in the context of HIV acquisition, across the penile, vaginal, and urethral mucosae.

resultsWithin the vaginal microbiome, anaerobes have been studied extensively in the context of bacterial vaginosis and several mechanisms of mucosal barrier disruption, including mucus degradation, epithelial cell damage and junction protein cleavage, have been identified and linked to HIV risk. The effects of these same bacteria are less defined in the context of the penile and urethral epithelia, despite their prevalence and association with HIV acquisition.

conclusionsFurther investigation of genital anaerobe-mediated barrier disruption in both sexes is needed to elucidate shared and site-specific mechanisms influencing HIV transmission. This knowledge is essential to understanding HIV risk and developing effective prevention strategies.

Indexed as

Bacteria, AnaerobicDysbiosisHIV InfectionsInflammationMucous MembranePenisUrethraVaginaVaginosis, BacterialAnimalsEpitheliumFemaleHumansMaleMicrobiotaanaerobebarrier integritygenital microbiomeHIVinflammation

Identifiers

PMID42090226
PMCPMC13148465

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.