The Human Vulvar Microbiome: A Systematic Review
Microorganisms, vol. 9, pp. 2568
Abstract
The link between cancer and the microbiome is a fast-moving field in research. There is little knowledge on the microbiome in ((pre)malignant) conditions of the vulvar skin. This systematic review aims to provide an overview of the literature regarding the microbiome composition of the healthy vulvar skin and in (pre)malignant vulvar disease. This study was performed according to the PRISMA guidelines. A comprehensive, electronic search strategy was used to identify original research articles (updated September 2021). The inclusion criteria were articles using culture-independent methods for microbiome profiling of the vulvar region. Ten articles were included. The bacterial composition of the vulva consists of several genera including Lactobacillus, Corynebacterium, Staphylococcus and Prevotella, suggesting that the vulvar microbiome composition shows similarities with the corresponding vaginal milieu. However, the vulvar microbiome generally displayed higher diversity with commensals of cutaneous and fecal origin. This is the first systematic review that investigates the relationship between microbiome and vulvar (pre)malignant disease. There are limited data and the level of evidence is low with limitations in study size, population diversity and methodology. Nevertheless, the vulvar microbiome represents a promising field for exploring potential links for disease etiology and targets for therapy.
Authors 9
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Leiden University Medical Center · Centre for Human Drug Research
Affiliation as printed
Centre for Human Drug Research, 2333 CL Leiden, The Netherlands
Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands
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Maastricht University Medical Centre · Catharina Ziekenhuis
Affiliation as printed
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and Catharina Cancer Institute, Catharina Ziekenhuis, Michelangelolaan 2, 5623 EJ Eindhoven, The Netherlands
Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University Medical Centre, 6229 ER Maastricht, The Netherlands
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Bertine W. Huisman Aachen Centre for Human Drug Research (CHDR) Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics
Leiden University Medical Center · Centre for Human Drug Research
Affiliation as printed
Centre for Human Drug Research, 2333 CL Leiden, The Netherlands
Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands
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Leiden University Medical Center
Affiliation as printed
Directorate of Research Policy (Formerly: Walaeus Library), Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands
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Leiden University Medical Center
Affiliation as printed
Center for Microbiome Analyses and Therapeutics, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands
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Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research
Affiliation as printed
Leiden Skin Institute, 2333 CL Leiden, The Netherlands
Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research, TNO, 3704 HE Zeist, The Netherlands
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Robert Rißmann corresponding Aachen Centre for Human Drug Research (CHDR) Leiden/Amsterdam Center for Drug Research
Leiden University · Centre for Human Drug Research
Affiliation as printed
Centre for Human Drug Research, 2333 CL Leiden, The Netherlands
Leiden Amsterdam Center for Drug Research, Leiden University, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands
Leiden Skin Institute, 2333 CL Leiden, The Netherlands
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Affiliation as printed
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and Catharina Cancer Institute, Catharina Ziekenhuis, Michelangelolaan 2, 5623 EJ Eindhoven, The Netherlands
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Mariëtte I.E. van Poelgeest Aachen Centre for Human Drug Research (CHDR) Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics
Leiden University Medical Center · Centre for Human Drug Research
Affiliation as printed
Centre for Human Drug Research, 2333 CL Leiden, The Netherlands
Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands
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