The composition of the vaginal microbiota is a key element for maintaining gynecological and reproductive health. With the aim of obtaining an accurate overview of the vaginal microbiota of Algerian women, in terms of their age and ethnic group, we conducted a 16S rRNA gene targeted metagenomic analysis of 100 vaginal samples taken from healthy childbearing and menopausal women. These data were used to establish the pattern of the vaginal microbiota during reproductive and postreproductive phases. Hormone levels were correlated to changes in microbial composition for menopausal women. The ethnic comparison revealed a particular microbiota profile for Algerian women, with a dominance of CST III and CST I. A rapid qPCR method developed by the authors was successfully used to identify the vaginal bacterial pattern for a customized gynecological management.
Keywords: Ethnicity; Menopause; Metagenetics; Probiotics; Vaginal microbiota.
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