STIs and the Vaginal Microbiome with Dr. Kate Rhodes and Dr. Melissa Herbst-Kralovetz - Ep.195

FemTech Focus

Dr. Kate Rhodes and Dr. Melissa Herbst-Kralovetz are researchers at the University of Arizona Health Sciences, looking at how the vaginal microbiome relates to gonorrhea and bacterial vaginosis. In this episode, Dr. Kate and Dr. Melissa talk to Brittany all about STI rates in the US, the impacts for women, the link between the vaginal microbiome and cancer, plus what it’s like to be a researcher of women’s health. Enjoy the episode!

Guest bios

Dr. Kate Rhodes is a Research Scientist at the Tucson Arizona Campus in the Department of Immunobiology., where her work is focussed on the complex interactions between infection-causing pathogens and the bacteria that live in the body. Dr. Kate is working to understand bacterial adaptation in the female reproductive tract.

Dr. Melissa Herbst-Kralovetz is an Associate Professor at College of Medicine Phoenix at the University of Arizona, in both the Department of Basic Medical Sciences and Obstetrics & Gynecology. Dr. Melissa has her own laboratory, currently studying the relationship between vaginal dysbiosis and HPV persistence, progression and carcinogenesis, endometrial cancer and other gynecologic sequelae.

Company bio

The University of Arizona Health Sciences is one of the top-ranked academic medical centers in the southwestern United States. The University of Arizona Health Sciences includes the College of Medicine (Phoenix), College of Medicine (Tucson), College of Nursing, Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, and the R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy.

The Herbst-Kralovetz research lab is broadly interested in understanding innate mucosal immune responses to resident bacteria, STI pathogens (e.g HPV, HSV), and microbial products at mucosal sites, including the female reproductive tract.

FemTech Focus Podcast bio

The FemTech Focus Podcast with Dr. Brittany Barreto is a meaningfully provocative conversational series that brings FemTech experts - including doctors, scientists, inventors, and founders - on air to talk about the innovative technology, services, and products (collectively known as FemTech) that are improving women's health and wellness. Though many leaders in FemTech are women, this podcast is not specifically about female founders, nor is it geared toward a specifically female audience. The podcast gives our host, Dr. Brittany Barreto, and guests an engaging, friendly environment to learn about the past, present, and future of women’s health and wellness.

Time Stamps

[03:00] Dr. Melissa Herbst-Kralovetz’s background

[05:18] Dr. Kate Rhodes’ background

[07:42] What is it like being a researcher of Women’s Health?

[11:33] An institute for Women’s Health?

[15:18] STI Statistics - globally and in women

[17:22] Consequences of STI infection in women

[23:33] Understanding the link between gonorrhea and the vaginal microbiome

[28:54] Lubricant and the vaginal microbiome

[32:38] The link between the vaginal microbiome and cancer

[38:21] The gut microbiome and the vaginal microbiome

[42:25] Is there “leaky vagina” like there is “_leaky gut_”?

[44.27] Dr. Melissa’s work with Native American communities

Research Papers

Personal and clinical vaginal lubricants: Impact on local vaginal microenvironment and implications for epithelial cell host response and barrier function.

Clinical and personal lubricants impact growth of vaginal Lactobacillus species and colonization of vaginal epithelial cells: an in vitro study.

Resources

Native American Initiatives for training the next generation of students at University of Arizona

The Summer Internship for Indigenous Peoples in Genomics

American Indian Youth Wellness Camp

Call to Action!

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Episode Contributors

Dr. Kate Rhodes

Dr. Melissa Herbst-Kralovetz

Herbst-Kralovetz Lab

Twitter: @HerbstKralovetz

LinkedIn: Melissa Herbst-Kralovetz

University of Arizona Health Sciences

LinkedIn: University of Arizona Health Sciences

Facebook: @UAZHealthSciences

Twitter: @UAZHealth

Instagram: @uazhealthsciences

Youtube: @UAHSC

Website: https://healthsciences.arizona.edu/

Dr Brittany Barreto

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brittanybarreto/

Twitter: @DrBrittB

Instagram: @drbrittanybarreto

FemTech Focus

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/femtechfocus

Twitter: @FemTech_Focus

Instagram: @femtechfocus