Assessing the Relationship between Lactobacilli and HPV: A Decade of Research

The composition of the vaginal microbiota (VMB) influences the health of the female reproductive tract. Several studies have shown how the absence of lactobacilli causes an imbalance in the vaginal microbial community, favoring the development of infections. The present study aims to evaluate the relationship between the VMB and human papillomavirus (HPV) infection to clarify the role of the vaginal microbiota in the persistence and clearance of HPV. Many researchers have provided the scientific community with information on the composition of the microbiota and how it may also influence HPV infection and the development of cervical cancer. Studies have shown that the main Lactobacilli species that favor HPV clearance are Lactobacillus (L.) iners and L. gasseri. In this review, we focused on the general aspects of the interaction between HPV and the VMB, evaluating the influence of the microbiota on the immune system and the effect on different physiologic stages of women’s lives, like pregnancy and menopause. The diversity of the VMB worldwide was also assessed. The association between lactobacilli composition, ethnicity, and cancer must be related to other factors (age, smoking, physiological factors) and co-infections. New formulations of probiotics and innovative surgical removal systems that preserve the integrity of the VMB are also being developed to prevent and reduce the incidence of cervical cancer. More research and understanding are needed on a very complex topic such as the VMB.