Abstract
The composition of the vaginal microbiome is crucial for women's health. Its composition changes significantly with age, environment, lifestyle, physiological condition, biogeography and ethnicity. Yet we lack a in-depth comprehension of the factors fostering a healthy vaginal ecosystem, slowing down the development of much needed effective diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. Notably, there exists a substantial knowledge deficit regarding the vaginal microbiome in regions like Sub-Saharan and Central Africa. This PhD project aims to bridge this gap by delving into the vaginal microbiome dynamics in Central Africa (Cameroon) using state-of-the-art microbiome analyses. The study encompasses four distinct cohorts: healthy women residing in rural and urban areas, HIV-positive pregnant women, and HIV-negative pregnant women in Cameroon. Each participant contributes four vaginal swabs for comprehensive analysis: eNat swabs for DNA extraction and microbiome sequencing, Eswab for culturomics and metabolomics, a sterile swab for vaginal pH measurement, and another sterile swab for bacterial vaginosis assessment using the Nugent score. Furthermore, participants provide valuable insights into their dietary patterns, socio-economic status, personal hygiene practices, as well as reproductive and sexual health via a comprehensive survey. By integrating these metadata with microbiome data analysis, this research aims to unravel novel insights into the vaginal microbiome in Cameroon, identifying new avenues for diagnostic and therapeutic interventions.
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