REVIEW article
Front. Microbiol.
Sec. Infectious Agents and Disease
This article is part of the Research TopicUncovering the Connections Between Pathogens and Hosts: Exploring the Impacts of Microorganisms and Developing Novel Diagnostic ToolsView all articles
Microbial Influences on HPV Infection and Cervical Carcinogenesis: Emerging Evidence from the Vaginal Microbiome
Provisionally accepted
- 1dalian medical university, Dalian, China
- 2First Affiliated Hospital, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
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Microbial communities play a vital role in the human defense system, existing symbiotically with us, contributing to metabolic processes, and strengthening immune defenses against pathogens. A diverse bacterial population in the vagina contributes to maintaining dynamic homeostasis, with their interactions playing a critical role in determining health or disease status. The balanced vaginal microbiota, dominated by Lactobacilli, helps maintain vaginal pH, converts glycogen to lactic acid, and produces bacteriocins and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), all contributing to its protective functions. On the other hand, an abnormal vaginal microbial composition, characterized by a decrease in beneficial microorganisms, heightens the risk of gynecological diseases such as bacterial vaginosis (BV), sexually transmitted infections, human papillomavirus (HPV) infections, and cervical cancer due to persistent infections. Variation in microbial composition is influenced by factors such as racial background, ethnicity, pregnancy, hormonal fluctuations, sexual behavior, personal hygiene practices, and various physiological conditions. This review aims to offer a detailed overview of the existing literature, focusing on the complex interplay between vaginal microbiota and gynecological conditions such as HPV infection. Our goal is to provide valuable insights that can inform future clinical strategies and interventions.
Keywords: cervical cancer, community state types, Human papillomavirus, lactobacilli, vaginal microbiota
Received: 27 Oct 2025; Accepted: 05 Dec 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Feng, Song, Ren, Xu, Chaoyang, Feng and Wang. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Nan Wang
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