Digital Commons Network^™

A Noncanonical Role Of T Follicular Helper Cells In Promoting Peripheral Tolerance By Supporting T Regulatory Cells, Shivangi Dave

All ETDs from UAB

T follicular helper (Tfh) cells are a specialized subset of CD4+ T cells that sup-port germinal center (GC) B cells and promote antibody (Ab)-mediated immunity. There is growing recognition of the heterogeneity and functional diversity of Tfh cells, supported by accumulating evidence that highlights their context-specific roles across a range of disease settings. While their contribution to B cell responses is well-established, our data demonstrate that Tfh cells have a broader and more dynamic function. In this study, we uncover a novel function of Tfh cells in maintaining immune homeostasis by supporting T regulatory cell (Treg) responses under normal physiological …

Air Pollution And Environmental Injustice Are Related To Respiratory Complications In Individuals With Sickle Cell Disease, Kelsey M. Maclin

All ETDs from UAB

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a genetically inherited blood disorder affecting people of African descent. SCD is characterized by painful episodes and an acute lung injury known as acute chest syndrome (ACS). Patients with SCD have a life expectancy <19 years compared to Blacks without SCD. There is minimal research investigating air pollution and health complications in SCD. The aims of this research were to investigate whether pulmonary function is affected by exposure to ambient air pollution, whether higher air pollution concentrations are associated with hospitalizations for ACS, and whether environmental injustice impacts the respiratory health of children and young adults with SCD. Air pollution data on the criteria air pollutants (CAPs) was obtained from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Patient health data were obtained from Children’s Hospital of Alabama electronic medical records. Logistic regression, distributed lag non-linear regression, Granger Causality, and Getis-Ord Gi* hot spot analysis were used to analyze our data. The EPA’s EJScreen tool was used as a measure of exposure to environmental injustice. ArcGIS was used to map the EJScreen data. Exposure to short-term air pollution is significantly associated with a reduction in pulmonary function in children and young adults with SCD. Children and young adults exposed to a one-unit increase in the monthly average concentrations of sulfur dioxide (SO2) experienced an increase in the odds of having abnormal pulmonary function. We observed the trends of each criteria air pollutant in our study to be closely aligned with the trends in the hospitalizations for ACS. Most of our study participants with a history of ACS lived in areas burdened by greater environmental injustices. Specifically, the hot spots for ACS overlapped with the hot spots for PM2.5. Unequal exposure to environmental injustices leads to increases in hospitalizations for respiratory complications in individuals with SCD. Reductions in air pollution could be greatly beneficial to the pulmonary function and overall respiratory health of individuals with SCD. Further research is needed to examine associations between air pollution and hospitalizations for ACS in individuals with SCD.

Probiotic Biogeography In The Neonatal Intestine, Sierra Hansen

All ETDs from UAB

Neonatal infection remains a leading cause of both neonatal morbidity and mortality worldwide, particularly in preterm infants. Probiotic bacteria have been demonstrated to protect against the development of neonatal intestinal dysbiosis, however, formulations and efficacy vary substantially, highlighting a critical gap in the current understanding of the mechanisms governing probiotic efficacy in this population. This gap is exacerbated by regulatory standards which favor economic expansion over scientific rigor. Furthermore, current studies on probiotic efficacy largely rely on indirect or relative readouts of intestinal bacterial burden. Herein, we directly quantify the probiotic effects of Ligilactobacillus murinus V10 and Escherichia coli Nissle …

Reducing The Risk Of Phishing Attacks Through Providing Consistent Training Via The Kaizen Education Platform, Dalton E. Pena

All ETDs from UAB

Introduction: Many healthcare organizations have experienced cybersecurity related phishing email attacks, costing these organizations many thousands to many millions of dollars to release ransomed data to maintain patient care delivery and operations. Use of technology alone has proven to be insufficient, as most occurrences of data breaches are related to human behaviors. Background: Cybersecurity is a threat increasingly common to healthcare organizations, and it is gaining in both sophistication and complexity, aided by artificial intelligence. Healthcare organizations have adopted new technologies and increased the prevalence of cybersecurity training to develop a healthy cyber culture and construct a human firewall against …

The Hidden Link Between Hiv And Cardiomyopathy: Unraveling Hiv's Impact On The Heart, Toluwalase Awoyemi, Oluwaremilekun Zeth Tolu-Akinnawo, Andrew Greek, Oluwakemi Adenuga, Chukwuebuka Asogwa, Isaac Ekundayo, Olamide Odusola, Oyinlola O. Fasehun, Mercy Ajayi, Onyinye Ugoala

School of Medicine Publications

This comprehensive review examines the complex relationship between human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and cardiomyopathy, focusing on the underlying molecular mechanisms, clinical manifestations, diagnostic approaches, and treatment strategies. It highlights the significant global health burden posed by HIV and its potential to cause long-term cardiovascular complications. The review investigates the pathogenesis of HIV-associated cardiomyopathy. It elucidates the intricate cellular and molecular pathways involved, including the actions of neutrophils, monocytes, macrophages, and lymphocytes in cardiac inflammation. Key signaling pathways such as TNF-NF-κB and the caspase-1 inflammasome are detailed, as they contribute to cardiac infection and injury. The clinical manifestations of HIV-associated cardiomyopathy …

Human Toxocariasis, Susana Lopez-Alamillo, Pravallika Padyala, Megan Carey, Megan M Duffey, Jill E Weatherhead

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Human toxocariasis is a globally prevalent zoonotic parasitic infection caused by larvae of Toxocara species, primarily Toxocara canis and Toxocara cati. Toxocariasis is commonly transmitted to humans through the ingestion of embryonated Toxocara eggs found in contaminated soil, water, or on surfaces contaminated with animal feces. Unlike in dogs and cats, humans are not definitive hosts for Toxocara spp., and, as a result, Toxocara larvae do not complete their life cycle in humans. Instead, following accidental oral ingestion of embryonated eggs, Toxocara larvae undergo an aberrant larval migratory cycle to various organs including the lungs, liver, muscles, and central …

Innovative Glycerin Impregnation Of Female Livestock Genital Organs And Satisfaction Assessment For Veterinary Anatomy Education In Thailand, Paisan Tienthai, Jantima Intarapanya, Pawana Chuesiri

The Thai Journal of Veterinary Medicine

Veterinary anatomy education faces several challenges, including increasing student enrollment, regulatory restrictions on animal use, and limitations of traditional preservation methods. Formalin preservation poses health risks, while plastination is costly and lacks flexibility. The conventional and modified Elnady Techniques present a safer and more cost-effective alternative, offering soft and flexible specimens; however, the adverse features still appear, and some steps require expensive equipment. This study aims to refine these Elnady Techniques, called ‘innovative glycerin impregnation’ for preserving female reproductive organs by reducing costs and simplifying the process using basic equipment. Additionally, veterinary students' satisfaction with glycerin-preserved specimens was compared to …

Yvonne Maddox, Yvonne T. Maddox Ph.D.

We Are NIH Oral History Project

No abstract provided.

Analysis Of The Carrying Capacity Of Proboscis Monkey Habitat On Bakut Island, South Kalimantan, Based On Leaf Area Index, Abdi Fithria, Rina Kanti, Arfa Agustina Rezekiah, Syamani D Ali, Eva Prihatiningtyas, Noor Aida Azizah, Eko Budi Setiawan, Ahdiyaka Jayasukma Pribadi, Naufal Noor Kamil

Jurnal Penelitian Kehutanan Wallacea

Bakut Island is one of the conservation forest areas in South Kalimantan. This island is the habitat of proboscis monkeys, and the proboscis monkey population is increasing from year to year. Therefore, it is estimated that one day the proboscis monkey habitat on Bakut Island will be over capacity. This study aims to estimate how long the population of proboscis monkeys on Bakut Island Nature Tourism Park can survive there by examining the amount of food the island's vegetation can produce. Proboscis monkey feed itself is estimated using the Leaf Area Index (LAI). LAI was extracted using UAV imaging and …

Ole Miss Team Studies Health Threat From Southwest Us Dust Storms, Clara Turnage

University of Mississippi News

OXFORD, Miss. – Massive dust storms swept across the American Southwest in the last month, leaving thousands without power and grounding dozens of flights. The storms are becoming more frequent, but the health impacts of these storms remain unknown.

Health Systems Responsiveness In Low And Middle-Income Countries (L&Mics): Revisiting Its Scope, Meesha Iqbal, Robert Morgan, Cici Bauer, Cecilia Ganduglia Cazaban, Sameen Siddiqi

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Introduction: Health systems responsiveness (HSR) addresses the legitimate non-health expectations of the population and plays a vital role in strengthening health systems and enhancing population health. Identifying specific constructs or domains within HSR is particularly important in the context of low and middle-income countries (L&MICs) to facilitate targeted improvement. Following a comprehensive systematic review of the literature, we developed a conceptual framework for HSR. This study was designed to validate our proposed framework through a Delphi process.

Methods: Global HSR experts were contacted via email to participate in the study, and a copy of the proposed framework (12 domains, 53 …

Innate And Adaptive Immune Features Associated With Immune-Related Adverse Events, Shaheen Khan, Venkat S Malladi, Mitchell S Von Itzstein, Hong Mu-Mosley, Farjana J Fattah, Yang Liu, Mary E Gwin, Jason Y Park, Suzanne M Cole, Sheena Bhalla, Jay Lohrey, David Hsiehchen, Angela Moses, Tao Wang, Yaming Xue, Angela B Mobley, J David Farrar, Marjaan Imam, Michelle Wu, Quan-Zhen Li, Edward K Wakeland, Yang Xie, Jeffrey A Sorelle, David E Gerber

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: While highly efficacious for numerous cancers, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) can cause unpredictable and potentially severe immune-related adverse events (irAEs), underscoring the need to understand irAE biology.

Methods: We used a multidimensional approach incorporating single-cell RNA sequencing, mass cytometry, multiplex cytokine assay, and antinuclear antibody (ANA) profiling to characterize the peripheral immune landscape of patients receiving ICI therapy according to irAE development.

Results: Analysis of 162 patients revealed that individuals who developed clinically significant irAEs exhibited a baseline proinflammatory, autoimmune-like state characterized by a significantly higher abundance of CD57+ T and natural killer (NK) T cells, plasmablasts, proliferating and …

Structure Of The T9ss Porkn Ring Complex Reveals Conformational Plasticity Based On The Repurposed Fge Fold, Xiangan Liu, John D Perpich, Liqiang Song, Christian Cambillau, Thierry Doan, Lei Zheng, Richard J Lamont, Eric Cascales, Bo Hu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The type IX secretion system (T9SS) is a protein secretion machinery unique to the Bacteroidetes-Chlorobi-Fibrobacteres superphylum, which plays crucial roles in bacterial pathogenesis and gliding motility. It is composed of >15 proteins, including the proton-motive force-dependent PorLM motor, the PorKN ring anchored to the outer membrane, and the Sov translocon. Here, we present the cryo-electron microscopy (EM) structure of the PorKN ring complex from Porphyromonas gingivalis at 3.2 Å resolution. Our structural analysis reveals that PorK contains a repurposed formylglycine-generating enzyme-like fold, which serves as a structural hub for complex assembly rather than enzymatic activity. The complex exhibits a 33-fold …

Community Mobilisation For Adoption Of Clean Cookstoves And Clean Fuel To Reduce Household Air Pollution And Blood Pressure In Lagos, Nigeria: Protocol For A Cluster-Randomised Trial, Ololade Wright, Juliet Iwelunmor, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

INTRODUCTION: In Africa, 75% of households are exposed to household air pollution (HAP), a key contributor to cardiovascular disease (CVD). In Nigeria, 90 million households rely on solid fuels for cooking, and 40% of adults have hypertension. Though clean fuel and clean stove (CF-CS) technologies can reduce HAP and CVD risk, their adoption in Africa remains limited.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS: Using the Exploration, Preparation, Implementation and Sustainment framework, this cluster-randomised controlled trial evaluates the implementation and effectiveness of a community mobilisation (CM) strategy versus a self-directed condition (i.e., receipt of information on CF-CS use without CM) on adoption of CF-CS …

Interprofessional Collaboration Through Leadership Initiatives: Eco-Friendly Cost Effective Strategy, Rozina Roshanali Essani

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background/Introduction: The world is increasingly adopting environmentally friendly practices to combat ecological degradation caused by single-use products. While these items offer convenience, their widespread use contributes significantly to waste generation. To address this issue, we identified the introduction of recycled tissues as a sustainable and cost-effective solution.

Methodology: A multidisciplinary team was formed, including representatives from the Department of Infection Prevention and Hospital Epidemiology (DIPHE), the Office of Environment and Sustainability, and the Purchase and Supply Chain Management Division (PSCMD). We conducted a pre-and post-analysis to identify necessary changes, supported by a literature review to ensure patient and staff safety …

Testis Expressed 50 Is Essential For Maintaining Sperm Acrosome Integrity During Epididymal Transit, Saori Haga, Kaori Nozawa, Ferheen Abbasi, Katarzyna Kent, Naoko Nagasawa, Tsutomu Endo, Haruhiko Miyata, Masahito Ikawa, Martin M Matzuk, Yoshitaka Fujihara

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

In mammals, sperm formation is completed in the seminiferous tubules within the testis, and sperm maturation occurs during the epididymal transit of the spermatozoa. Sperm morphology drastically changes when abnormal spermatozoa migrate from the testis to the epididymis. Detailed molecular mechanisms for sperm survival in the epididymis have not been determined yet. Globozoospermia is a cause of male infertility and is characterized by round-headed spermatozoa without acrosomes, an abnormal sperm nuclear membrane, and sperm midpiece defects. Testis expressed 50 (Tex50) is a testis-enriched gene that is expressed in mice and humans. Using CRISPR-Cas9, we generated Tex50 knockout (KO) …

A Scoping Review Of Epilepsy Care In Low-Resource Settings: Addressing Stigma, Healthcare Disparities, And Socioeconomic Barriers, Michael Mncedisi Willie

Journal of Indonesian Health Policy and Administration

Epilepsy affects around fifty million people worldwide, with stigma and limited healthcare access posing significant challenges, especially in low-resource settings. This scoping review aimed to identify key barriers to epilepsy care, focusing on stigma, healthcare access, and socioeconomic factors in sub-Saharan Africa and similar contexts. Using the Arksey and O’Malley framework, a systematic search was conducted across online databases for peer-reviewed studies published. The review found that stigma significantly delayed diagnosis, increased social isolation, and reduced treatment adherence. Healthcare barriers included a lack of trained professionals and inadequate treatment protocols. Socioeconomic challenges, such as poverty and rural residency, were linked …

African Swine Fever In Indonesia: Insights From Southeast Asia’S Policy Response Through The One Health Approach, Niken Salindri, Wachyu Sulistiadi

Journal of Indonesian Health Policy and Administration

African Swine Fever (ASF) seriously threatens pig production systems, food security, and rural livelihoods across Southeast Asia. This study employs an analysis of secondary national data from Indonesia using a quantitative descriptive analysis approach, complemented by regional policy responses to ASF from 2019 to 2024. To contextualize regional findings, this study also integrates official statistics from Statistics Indonesia (BPS) covering provincial pork production trends (2021–2023), the number of ASF-affected pigs per province (2020–2024), and per capita pork consumption by district. Quantitative data show that ASF outbreaks have been disproportionately concentrated in specific provinces such as East Nusa Tenggara and North …

Increased Circulating Th17 Cells And Altered Cd4 T Cell Maturation And Differentiation In Active Tuberculosis With Type 2 Diabetes: A Pilot Study, Paul Ogongo, Yoscelina Estrella Martinez-Lopez, Anthony Tran, Cecilia S. Lindestam Arlehamn, Alessandro Sette, Ilse A. Dominguez-Trejo, Genesis P. Aguillón-Durán, Esperanza M. Garcia-Oropeza, Blanca I. Restrepo

School of Medicine Publications

Introduction: Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a major risk factor for developing tuberculosis (TB). However, understanding the role of defective T cell responses in T2D and TB has been difficult, largely due to inconsistencies across studies. These discrepancies often stem from T cell subset classification primarily relying on cytokine expression profiles, which may not fully capture the complexity of T cell maturation, differentiation, and function in TB patients with T2D.

Objective and methods: In this pilot study, we sought to identify alterations in phenotypic and ex vivo responses of CD4 T cells to Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) antigens in people with …

Intestinal Microbiome Changes In Response To Amino Acid And Micronutrient Supplementation: Secondary Analysis Of The Amaze Trial, Monica N Mweetwa, Kazi Ahsan, John Louis-Auguste, Ellen Besa, Joram M Posma, Nathan Mcnulty, Micheal J Barrat, Jeff Gordon, Paul Kelly

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Microbial dysbiosis has been linked to environmental enteropathy (EE) and alterations in nutrient absorption; however, compositional modifications following exposure to supplementary nutrients are poorly understood. Here, we report the effect of amino acid and micronutrient supplementation on the gut microbiome of adults with EE. In the AMAZE trial, adults with EE were randomized to amino acids (AA) and/or micronutrients (MM) for 16 weeks in a 2 × 2 factorial design against placebo. Endoscopy was performed before and after intervention, during which duodenal aspirates were collected as well as fecal samples. 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing was performed on both these samples, …

Intensive Telemedicine Transitions Of Care Clinic: A Prospective Feasibility Study Of A Novel Ambulatory Model Serving Appalachian Patients, Jessica Thayer, Brett Miller, Marcelino Mederos Liriano, Kathryn Hoffman, Gina Baugh, Jenna Sizemore

Journal of Appalachian Health

Introduction: Hospital discharge is a complex process plagued with medical errors and poor coordination. Disjointed discharges are detrimental to Appalachian patients with access barriers and multiple chronic diseases. Telehealth is a tool used to improve access within rural Appalachia. To address this high-risk transition period, an interprofessional team deployed telemedicine to improve post-hospital care for Appalachian patients.

Purpose: Patients with uncontrolled chronic medical conditions were enrolled into the Intensive Telemedicine Transition of Care Clinic (I-TTC) with a primary outcome of 30-day Emergency Department (ED) presentations and hospital readmissions. Secondary outcomes included improved control of chronic conditions and patient cost savings. …

Prevalence Of Screening Patients For Alcohol Use In West Virginia: A Cross-Sectional Observational Study, Bayan Abuhalimeh, Christopher Waters, R. Constance Wiener

Journal of Appalachian Health

Introduction: Consequences of alcohol consumption are well-established and compounded by physiological changes of aging (increased sensitivity; medication interactions; etc.). Alcohol screening for all ages is recommended, especially as most Americans believe moderate drinking is acceptable. Screening is important in high alcohol use regions, such as rural areas where isolation is more likely, especially for older adults. The Appalachian Region has a significant rural population of older adults. West Virginia (WV) is representative of Appalachia. It is a rural state, has many older adults, and all counties are Appalachian.

Purpose: The purpose of this cross-sectional study is to determine the likelihood …

Finding Community: A Thematic Analysis Of Resilience During The Pandemic, Myles Kwitny, Quinn Richards, Grace Digirolamo, Shannon Freedman, Sophie Wenzel

Journal of Appalachian Health

Introduction: The Covid-19 pandemic impacted those within rural Appalachian communities, particularly people with marginalized identities.

Purpose: Through interviewing 44 participants from New River Valley, an Appalachian community in Virginia, this study sought to understand how resilience impacted individuals' experiences during the pandemic.

Methods: Participants belonged to one of the following groups: African American, Hispanic, older adults, or people who use drugs. Participants were required to reside in the New River Valley and be older than 18. Each participant was interviewed either in person, by phone, or over video call. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, then thematically analyzed for themes of resilience. …

A Pilot Study Of Integrating Vr Into Innovative Nursing Education By Interprofessional Collaboration, Luna Chang, Shu-Chuan Chen, Hsiao Hua Kao, Pei Jung Hsieh, Yi-Ying Tsao

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Due to global threats from infectious diseases, aging populations, and rising community health care needs such as chronic illnesses and dementia, nursing students face significant pressure when dealing with complex patient scenarios and health behavior challenges. There is an urgent need to develop innovative nursing curriculum designs through interdisciplinary collaboration, teaching students to integrate information technology into health care [1,5,6]. This approach will help cultivate their self-directed learning, innovation, and problem-solving skills, better preparing them for the evolving health care environment [2,3,4].

This study employs a comparative research design, with data collection conducted from May 2023 to September 2023. The …

An Analysis Of Psychological Capital And Influencing Factors Among Disaster Care Reservists, Qianmei Zhong

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Introduction: In recent years, with frequent occurrence of public health emergencies, various infectious diseases and natural disasters have placed a prominent burden on global public health and healthcare systems, especially on healthcare workers. This study aimed to investigate the current state of psychological capital among disaster care reservists and the factors influencing it.

Methods: Between January and February 2024, 330 members of the disaster nursing reserve team from four tertiary general hospitals in Mianyang, China, were surveyed using the STAR questionnaire to obtain information on general demographics, psychological capital, and job burnout.

Results: The total score of psychological capital was …

A Qualitative Study About Healthcare Practices For Rural Guatemalan Women, Linda Johanson

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

The purpose for this qualitative study to assess the healthcare practices of women in rural Guatemala. Understanding how women there approach health would provide useful information for nurses involved in development of culturally sensitive sustainable healthcare programs in Guatemala, and in providing culturally sensitive care to Guatemalan patients who are living outside of their country.

Studies have confirmed many challenges that rural Guatemalan experience with respect to health care services. Medical equipment and medications are notably scarce for pediatric patients (Hughes et al., 2022), and availability of access to care for adolescents is also deficient (Hassan et al., 2020). Attempts …

Creating The Thomas Mcrae Sanitorium For Negros: Race, Contagion, And Space In Jim Crow Arkansas, Shauna Gibbons

The Ozark Historical Review

The Thomas McRae Memorial Sanatorium for Negroes, located in Alexander, Arkansas, opened its doors in 1931 as the only resource for the entire state’s population of consumptive African Americans. It was touted as one of the best of its kind under the supervision of Dr Hugh A. Browne. But its “kind” was a facility intended for individuals whom whites in the medical and political establishment viewed not only as second class citizens but as biologically and medically different.

Effectiveness Of Helmet Non-Invasive Ventilator Training Based On Simulation, Jungmin Park, Sun Ju Chang

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Introduction: The use of helmet non-invasive ventilators in the treatment of patients with respiratory failure is increasing in intensive care unit. This study was based on the National League for Nursing/Jeffries Simulation Theory and aimed to develop a Helmet Non-Invasive Ventilator education training program and assess its impact on the knowledge, self-efficacy, and clinical performance abilities of intensive care unit nurses.

Design: A non-equivalent control group pretest- posttest design was used.

Methods: The participants consisted of 21 individuals in the experimental group and 22 in the control group. The experimental group received a simulation-based intervention, while the control …

A Validation Experiment: Utilizing Ultraviolet Light To Disinfect High Use Nursing Equipment, Gordon West

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

Background: Healthcare staff continue to utilize equipment that can travel from patient room to patient room without disinfection or cleaning between use. Additionally, nursing and housekeeping staff may not always communicate clearly regarding responsibilities for cleaning some of these items. The purpose of this study was to identify if a portable UV-C tent utilized with a UV-C device (Xenex® LightStrike™ Robot) can effectively disinfect high use equipment used within inpatient nursing units across a large military medical treatment facility.

Method: Healthcare equipment consisting of commodes, toilet seat risers, wheelchairs, vital sign machines, workstations on wheels, and bassinets were pre swabbed …

Investigating Bacterial Vaginosis Pathogenesis Using Peptide Nucleic Acid-Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization With A Focus On The Roles Of Gardnerella Species, Prevotella Bivia, And Fannyhessea Vaginae, Sheridan D. George, Megan H. Amerson-Brown, Lúcia G.V. Sousa, Tyler M. Carter, Alexa H. Rinehart, Ashleigh N. Riegler, Sixto M. Leal, Kristal J. Aaron, Jiaying Hao, Ashutosh Tamhane, Chaoling Dong, John W. Lammons, Jacob H. Elnaggar, Keonte J. Graves, Paweł Łaniewski, Melissa M. Herbst-Kralovetz, Christopher M. Taylor, Nuno Cerca, Christina A. Muzny

School of Graduate Studies Faculty Publications

Background. Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a vaginal dysbiosis characterized by polymicrobial communities of BV-associated bacteria (BVAB) adhered to the vaginal epithelium. Despite decades of research, its etiology remains unknown. We aimed to investigate BV biofilm formation over time among women who developed incident BV (iBV) using peptide nucleic acid-fluorescence in situ hybridization (PNA-FISH), focusing on 3 key BVAB (Gardnerella species, Prevotella bivia, and Fannyhessea vaginae). Methods. Heterosexual, nonpregnant women ages 18–45 with optimal vaginal microbiota were enrolled to self-collect twice-daily vaginal specimens for 60 days. iBV was defined as a Nugent score of 7–10 on ≥ 4 consecutive specimens. For …