Gopinath Lab

Unlike the intestinal microbiome, the vaginal microbiome consists of a smaller and more defined set of bacterial communities. The vaginal microbiome is also more consistent in people across the world. Changes in the vaginal microbiome have been linked to increased susceptibility to and transmission of sexually transmitted infections. We are interested in how vaginal bacteria, including health-associated lactobacilli, impact host immunity to sexually transmitted diseases.  
We recently identified a family of anti-inflammatory small molecules produced by vaginal lactobacilli and depleted in people with vaginal inflammation and bacterial vaginosis.   

The gut microbiome can influence distal sites in the body including the skin. We want to understand how the gut microbiome influences vaginal immune homeostasis. Conversely, it was recently discovered that genital herpes infections can result in viral infection of the enteric neurons in the colon. We will use this model to study how the vaginal immune response can prime and control immune responses to enteric viral infections.

We recently discovered that aminoglycosides (commonly used antibiotics) can induce antiviral gene transcription in dendritic cells, resulting in broad antiviral protection at the vaginal and nasal mucosa. We want to understand the intracellular signaling pathways involved, so we can build better antivirals.