Focus on Cervicovaginal Health: Microbiome, Sexually Transmitted Infections, and Beneficial Microbes: 2nd Edition

Dear Colleagues,

The cervicovaginal ecosystem is made up of diverse microorganisms coexisting in a dynamic balance and establishing complex connections with each other and with the host. In healthy reproductive-aged women, the vaginal microbiome generally shows a predominance of lactobacilli. Lactobacilli promote the maintenance of the vaginal homeostasis and prevent the colonization and growth of adverse microorganisms (e.g., Candida spp., anaerobes associated with bacterial vaginosis), including those responsible for sexually transmitted infections (e.g., Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae). Such defensive function is exerted through various mechanisms, such as vaginal pH lowering, bioactive compound production, competition for nutrients and adhesion sites, and modulation of the host immune response. However, the composition of the vaginal microbiome can vary throughout a woman’s life in response to endogenous and exogenous factors, such as age, pregnancy, pharmaceutical treatments, and urogenital infections.

Understanding the pathophysiology of the vaginal microbiota is crucial for maintaining the health and functioning of the female genital tract, in terms of novel biomarker discovery and development of new therapeutic approaches.

This Special Issue will cover a wide range of topics focusing on vaginal health: composition and functioning of the cervicovaginal microbiome in normal and pathological conditions, interactions between ‘health-promoting’ microorganisms and urogenital pathogens, discovery of new vaginal biomarkers in healthy status and dysbiosis, epidemiology and risk factors of common genital disorders (bacterial vaginosis, STIs, vulvovaginal candidiasis), animal models on the vaginal microenvironment, and innovative antimicrobial-free treatments for urogenital infections.

This Special issue aims to help to enhance current knowledge on the role and functioning and of the cervicovaginal microbial niche. All types of articles will be considered for publication, including short reports, primary research articles, and reviews.

We look forward to your contribution.

Dr. Antonella Marangoni
Dr. Claudio Foschi
Guest Editors

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• vaginal microbiome
• vaginal metabolome
• lactobacilli
• host–pathogen interactions
• sexually transmitted infections
• Chlamydia
• gonorrhea
• vaginal dysbiosis
• vulvovaginal candidiasis
• animal models