AUTHOR=Oyenihi Ayodeji B. , Haines Ronald , Trama Jason , Faro Sebastian , Mordechai Eli , Adelson Martin E. , Osei Sekyere John 

TITLE=Molecular characterization of vaginal microbiota using a new 22-species qRT-PCR test to achieve a relative-abundance and species-based diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology

VOLUME=Volume 14 - 2024

YEAR=2024

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/cellular-and-infection-microbiology/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2024.1409774

DOI=10.3389/fcimb.2024.1409774

ISSN=2235-2988

ABSTRACT=Tweet: "A new proprietary qPCR assay designed by Medical Diagnostic Laboratories, LLC, quantitatively detects 22 species in the vaginal microbiome within 8 hours (from sample reception), providing a strong diagnostic resolution for bacterial vaginosis than current tests" Results. The qPCR test identified all 22 targeted species with 95 -100% sensitivity and specificity within 8 hours (from sample reception). Across most samples, Lactobacillus iners, Lactobacillus crispatus, Lactobacillus jensenii, Gardnerella vaginalis, Fannyhessea (Atopobium) vaginae, Prevotella bivia, and Megasphaera sp. type 1 were relatively abundant.BVAB-1 was more abundant and distributed than BVAB-2 and BVAB-3. No Mycoplasma genitalium was found. Inter-sample similarity was very low, and correlations existed between key species, which were used to model, train, and test a diagnostic index: MDL-BV index. The MDL-BV index, using both species and relative abundance markers, classified samples into three vaginal microbiome states. Testing this index on our samples, 491 were BV-positive, 318 were BV-negative, and 137 were transitional BV. Although important differences in BV status were observed between different age groups, races, and pregnancy status, they were statistically insignificant.Using a diverse and large number of vaginal samples from different races and age groups, including pregnant women, the new qRT-PCR test and MDL-BV index efficiently diagnosed BV within 8 hours (from sample reception), using 22 BV-associated species.