Microbiota & infertility: microorganisms and immune factors in the idiopathic infertility

Abstract

In the present work, the possible relationship between the idiopathic infertility, the alteration of the vaginal microbiota and that of the local immune response is investigated. The next-generation Ion Torrent PGM sequencing platform allowed the survey of the vaginal microbial composition, while the Luminex assay permitted the dosage of the soluble local immune mediators. After the analysis, the women affected by idiopathic infertility showed a vaginal microbiota similar to that of women affected by bacterial vaginosis (Chapter 1) and, especially, to those women who belong to the Intermediate group (Chapter 2). Among Lactobacilli, L. iners, crispatus and gasseri have a peculiar pattern in women affected by idiopathic infertility. Furthermore, secondary players such as A. vaginae, P. bivia, U. parvum, and E. fergusonii contribute to the affected microbiome. Simultaneously, an altered immune response is detected in the vaginal niche of the Idiopathic group