241:
microbiota plays a crucial role in preventing various urogenital infections including sexually transmitted diseases. However, HPV infection occurs when it inhibits the production of cytokines, leading to changes in the microbial interactions within the cervical microenvironment. Lactobacillus bacteria plays an important role in maintaining the PH of the vagina by producing lactic acid. The lactate generated by lactobacilli elevates the thickness of cervical mucus, creating a barrier that entangles viral particles and hinders papillomavirus from reaching basal keratinocytes, which plays an important role in protection. When lactobacillus bacterias decline, the vaginal microbiota is dominated by non lactobacillus species. This increases the risk of HPV infections.
121:
exclude lager molecules and bacteria which prevents bacterial infections in the lower genital tract. Mucins inhibit diffusion of these large molecules, while smaller molecules can diffuse through the CMP more freely. Fourth, mucins are responsible for the retention of positively charged molecules, while negative charged molecules are repelled and pass through the CMP. This is due to the negatively charged
220:
232:. The permeability of the CMP is the most important factor as it can allow for a higher risk for the entrance of foreign particles that are harmful. It seems that those at a higher risk for preterm birth develop a less thick and impermeable CMP during the pregnancy, which in turn allows for the entrance of more foreign particles such as bacteria, which is a known cause of preterm birth.
55:.The CMP inhibits the migration of vaginal bacteria towards the uterus, protecting against opportunistic infections that can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease and the onset of preterm labor. Ensuring the presence and proper function of the CMP is essential in reducing severe infections and promoting overall reproductive health.
66:
properties and can be described as cloudy, clear, thick, salty and sticky. It holds innate and adaptive immunity properties allowing for protection of the cervical epithelium during pregnancy. Toward the end of the pregnancy, when the cervix thins, some blood is released into the cervix which causes
134:
The cervical mucus plug (CMP) has a viscoelastic structure which is a gel like. The CMP occupies the cervical canal during pregnancy. It displays potent antimicrobial properties against bacteria such as
Staphylococcus saprophyticus, S. aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterococcus
240:
Dysbiosis in the cervicovaginal microbiota has been closely associated with increased HPV infections. Human papillomaviruses are a type of double-stranded DNA viruses categorized within the
Papillomaviridae family. HPV infections are primarily transmitted through sexual contact. A healthy vaginal
227:
A common complication in pregnancy is preterm birth, as mentioned before. Preterm birth is birth prior to 37 weeks of gestation. In individuals with a higher risk for preterm birth, the CMP is found to be more translucent, extensible, and permeable compared to those at low risk for preterm birth.
177:
plays an important role in maintaining the vaginal PH by producing lactic acids that protects against infections. Lactobacillus bacteria reduction in the vaginal bacterial flora leads other anaerobic bacteria to grow more easily. It also lead to increased cervical mucus IL-8 and increased preterm
120:
The mucus glycoproteins (mucins) mentioned previously have five major components. The first is their ligand function for lectins, adhesion molecules, growth factors, cytokines, and chemokines. Second, they are responsible for binding water in CMPs and determines its hydration state. Third, mucins
144:
Naturally occurring
Lactobacillus species within the cervicovaginal mucus flora offer protection from harmful microbes by producing lactic acid, bacteriocins, and other molecules that lower the pH level and increase mucus viscosity. These changes reduce the adherence of harmful bacteria to the
153:
Throughout the menstrual cycle, the cervical mucus undergoes distinct changes. During the follicular phase, increasing levels of estrogen result in greater mucus volume and gradual reduction in thickness. Ovulation triggers significant surges in mucus levels due to high expression of
100:
Cervicovaginal mucus is composed of water, gel-forming-mucins (GFMS), and vaginal flora. GMFS are a combination of proteins and other molecules that are responsible for the viscoelastic properties of the mucus. Cervical mucus is formed by secretory cells within the cervical crypts.
125:
chains in the mucins, which promote retention of the positively charged molecules. Lastly, mucins inhibit viral replication of poxvirus and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in vitro. In addition, mucins can also create a communication between the CMP and cervical epithelium.
182:
occurs when the presence of naturally occurring bacteria such as lactobacilli declines resulting in an increase of harmful bacteria within the vagina. These changes result a CMP that is thin and porous which can leave the uterine compartment susceptible to infection.
207:, resulting in loss of the CMP. The CMP's most important task is to protect reproductive organs against infection by microorganisms coming from the vagina. It does so with a variety of polypeptides that have activity against microorganisms and
139:
This plug is recognized as an innate immune defense and plays an important role in safeguarding against infections that may ascend from the vaginal area to the uterus. The ascending infections have been associated with preterm
116:
Mucus within the genital tract serves numerous biological functions such as maintaining mucosa moisture, providing lubrication during intercourse, supporting fertility, and restricting ascending sperm cells during ovulation.
186:
Infections of the placenta and amniotic fluid by bacteria found in the vagina have been closely correlated to preterm labor. The CMP of pregnant women is in direct contact with the supracervical region of the
67:
the mucus to become bloody. As the pregnancy progresses into labor, the cervix begins to dilate and the mucus plug is discharged. The plug may come out as a plug, a lump, or simply as increased
170:
Healthy pregnancy results in a dense CMP which protects the uterine cavity from infection. Elevated progesterone plasma levels induce cervical mucus to form a more viscous plug called the CMP.
634:
Sakai M, Ishiyama A, Tabata M, Sasaki Y, Yoneda S, Shiozaki A, Saito S (August 2004). "Relationship between cervical mucus interleukin-8 concentrations and vaginal bacteria in pregnancy".
788:
Santella, Biagio; Schettino, Maria T.; Franci, Gianluigi; De
Franciscis, Pasquale; Colacurci, Nicola; Schiattarella, Antonio; Galdiero, Massimiliano (2022).
82:
can also disturb the mucus plug and cause a pregnant individuals to see some blood-tinged discharge, even when labor does not begin over the next few days.
89:
changes throughout an individual's menstrual cycle and allows for identification of specific proteins that may represent different stages of ovulation.
162:
expression, resulting in the thickening of cervical mucus. Immune factors and antimicrobial peptides vary a different stages of the menstrual cycle.
158:
which creates a watery consistency that aids sperm mobility into the reproductive tract. In the luteal phase, progesterone leads to a decrease in
85:
A cervical mucus plug can allow for identification of an individual's ovulation cycle and serve as fertility indicator. The cervical mucus plug
92:
Some proteins found within the cervical mucus of patients with endometriosis could serve as potential biomarkers for the disease.
329:
Becher N, Adams
Waldorf K, Hein M, Uldbjerg N (January 2009). "The cervical mucus plug: structured review of the literature".
108:(mucins) provide structural framework for a CMP, they determine the elasticity and fluid mechanics of a cervical mucus plug.
422:"The cervical mucus plug inhibits, but does not block, the passage of ascending bacteria from the vagina during pregnancy"
847:"The vaginal microbiota, human papillomavirus and cervical dysplasia: a systematic review and network meta-analysis"
173:
One of the most common causes of preterm birth is inflammation induced by the changes in vaginal bacterial flora.
377:
Fernandez-Hermida Y, Grande G, Menarguez M, Astorri AL, Azagra R (2018). "Proteomic
Markers in Cervical Mucus".
229:
188:
48:
584:"Protein profiling underscores immunological functions of uterine cervical mucus plug in human pregnancy"
71:
over several days. Loss of the mucus plug does not necessarily mean that delivery or labor is imminent.
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906:
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Critchfield AS, Yao G, Jaishankar A, Friedlander RS, Lieleg O, Doyle PS, et al. (2013-08-01).
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Hansen LK, Becher N, Bastholm S, Glavind J, Ramsing M, Kim CJ, et al. (January 2014).
211:. Without protection by the CMP, infection can occur leading to a number of complications.
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Exert a
Protective Effect on the Development of Cervical and Endometrial Cancer in Women?"
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63:
59:
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These individuals also may display shorter cervix which can result in increased risk of
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The cervical mucus plug (CMP) acts as a protective barrier by deterring the passage of
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Norenhag, J; Du, J; Olovsson, M; Verstraelen, H; Engstrand, L; Brusselaers, N (2019).
679:"Immunoglobulin levels and phagocytes in the cervical mucus plug at term of pregnancy"
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Lee DC, Hassan SS, Romero R, Tarca AL, Bhatti G, Gervasi MT, et al. (May 2011).
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526:"Interactions between microbiota and cervical epithelial, immune, and mucus barrier"
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790:"Microbiota and HPV: The role of viral infection on vaginal microbiota"
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Hein M, Petersen AC, Helmig RB, Uldbjerg N, Reinholdt J (August 2005).
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Cervical mucus plug in women at high risk Vs low risk of preterm birth.
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40:
218:
29:
32:
that condenses to form a cervical mucus plug during pregnancy.
851:
524:
Dong M, Dong Y, Bai J, Li H, Ma X, Li B, et al. (2023).
271:
Lacroix G, Gouyer V, Gottrand F, Desseyn JL (November 2020).
28:
during pregnancy. It is formed by a small amount of cervical
43:, and contains a variety of antimicrobial agents, including
728:"Cervical mucus properties stratify risk for preterm birth"
469:
Frąszczak K, Barczyński B, Kondracka A (October 2022).
135:
faecium, Streptococcus pyogenes, and S. agalactiae.
530:Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology
195:. This allows direct protection of the fetus.
683:Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica
426:Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica
331:Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica
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636:American Journal of Reproductive Immunology
277:International Journal of Molecular Sciences
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203:Impairment of a CMP may be caused by
24:) is a plug that fills and seals the
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273:"The Cervicovaginal Mucus Barrier"
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391:10.2174/0929866525666180418122705
696:10.1111/j.0001-6349.2005.00525.x
648:10.1111/j.1600-0897.2004.00203.x
1:
753:10.1371/journal.pone.0069528
794:Journal of Medical Virology
600:10.1016/j.jprot.2011.02.025
379:Protein and Peptide Letters
928:
543:10.3389/fcimb.2023.1124591
343:10.1080/00016340902852898
230:intra-amniotic infection
189:chorioamniotic membranes
130:Antimicrobial properties
863:10.1111/1471-0528.15854
492:10.3390/cancers14194909
224:
49:antimicrobial peptides
588:Journal of Proteomics
222:
290:10.3390/ijms21218266
744:2013PLoSO...869528C
205:cervical effacement
145:epithelial tissue.
80:vaginal examination
18:cervical mucus plug
438:10.1111/aogs.12296
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51:to those found in
806:10.1002/jmv.27837
69:vaginal discharge
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857:(2): 171–180.
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689:(8): 734–742.
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642:(2): 106–112.
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594:(6): 817–828.
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432:(1): 102–108.
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385:(5): 463–471.
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337:(5): 502–513.
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536:: 1124591.
76:intercourse
53:nasal mucus
907:Obstetrics
901:Categories
245:References
96:Components
912:Midwifery
887:195357045
871:1470-0328
814:0146-6615
180:Dysbiosis
166:Pregnancy
60:pregnancy
39:into the
22:operculum
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732:PLOS ONE
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740:Bibcode
609:3111960
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502:9564280
479:Cancers
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104:Mucus
41:uterus
883:S2CID
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660:S2CID
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355:S2CID
160:MUC5B
156:MUC5B
78:or a
30:mucus
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