Chlamydia trachomatis Incidence in Relation to Vaginal Microbiota Dynamics, Immunogenetics and Exposures in a Cohort of Young Student Women in France
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Given the potential role of the vaginal microbiota in the acquisition of Chlamydia trachomatis infections, we aim to investigate its contribution together with immunogenetics and epidemiological exposures to the incidence of C. trachomatis in young women. METHODS: This study involved 313 female students aged 18-24 years from the i-Predict prevention trial in France. Participants provided 4 self-collected vaginal samples and filled 4 self-administered questionnaires every 6 months for 18 months. C. trachomatis-positive participants and negative controls with complete follow-up were selected for this analysis and submitted to chlamydia testing and to vaginal microbiota characterization using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing. Thirteen human single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) related to C. trachomatis susceptibility and severity were also assessed. RESULTS: Compared with 260 noninfected participants, Gardnerella spp., Fannyhessea vaginae and Prevotella timonensis were more abundant in C. trachomatis-incident participants (n = 24) before infection. Having a CST IV at the preceding sample compared with a CST I (OR 3.77, 95%CI [1.12-12.69], P = .033) was associated with increased risk of C. trachomatis acquisition, as well as having had multiple concomitant partners in the last 6 months (5.40 [2.10-13.92], P < .001). Lifetime condom use was associated with decreased incidence (0.38 [0.15-0.95], P = .039). None of the tested human SNPs was associated with C. trachomatis infection. CONCLUSIONS: In this low-risk for C. trachomatis population, having a CST IV vaginal microbiota and associated bacterial anaerobes was a risk factor for C. trachomatis acquisition after adjustment for other exposures. Condom use remains one of the main tools to prevent incidence. Clinical Trials Registration. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02904811. Registration date: 19 September 2016.
Authors: Jeanne Tamarelle, Bertille de Barbeyrac, Carla Balcon, Lindsay Rutt, Michael France, Cécile Bébéar, Antoine Bourret, Arnaud Fauconnier, Jacques Ravel, Elisabeth Delarocque-Astagneau, Anne C M Thiébaut, the i-Predict study group, Bénédicte Sabin, Didier Guillemot, Servaas Morré, Isabelle Karsenti, Marie-Françoise Claret-Vermeulen, Emmanuelle Mathiot-Vicaigne, Christian Régnier, Philippe Aoussou, Raphaelle Badie-Perez, Karine Rebouillat-Savy, Nadia Valin, Christophe Tzourio, Anne-Cécile Rahis, Philippe Judlin, Jean-Luc Brun, André Bongain, Antoine Bourret, Philippe Aegerter, Layidé Méaude-Roufai, Chanez Chemani, Lamiae Grimaldi-Bensouda, Chamseddine Mediouni, Delphine Kersaudy-Rahib, Nathalie Lydié
Institutions: Institut Pasteur, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Bordeaux, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Laboratoire de Microbiologie Fondamentale et Pathogénicité, Université Paris Cité, Assistance Publique – Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpitaux Universitaires Paris-Ouest, Université de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, Université Paris-Saclay, Centre Hospitalier Intercommunal de Poissy, Risques cliniques et sécurité en santé des femmes et en santé périnatale, Inserm, Centre de recherche en Epidémiologie et Santé des Populations, Hôpital Raymond-Poincaré
Language: English
Subfield: Microbiology
Field: Immunology and Microbiology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7203679680