The Maggie Project: Exploring the Origin and Heredity of the Vaginal Microbiome

The vaginal microbiome plays a crucial role in women's health and reproduction, impacting not only women but also their partners and children. However, its ecology and primary colonizers are not well understood. This study aims to explore the origin and heredity of the vaginal microbiome using a citizen science approach. The researchers will assemble a cohort of 100 networks, each with a central participant and 2 to 15 co-participants, totaling up to 500 participants. Participants will provide vaginal or penis swabs, complete questionnaires, and central participants will also donate stool samples. Girls under 18 may participate as co-participants if their mothers are enrolled, with first-void urine samples as an alternative method. Male partners can be included if they have intimate contact with central participants, but male family members and friends will not be part of the study. In the first phase, shared microbial strains along the gut-vagina axis and within the intimate microbiomes of participants from the same and different networks will be assessed. Transmission pathways will also be examined. Additionally, the metabolic environment in the vagina will be characterized. In the second phase, central participants will self-collect weekly vaginal swabs at three time points per year over five years. This phase will provide insights into the persistence and stability of the vaginal microbiome and the vaginal metabolic environment. If consent is given, genetic data from metagenomic sequencing will be analyzed to focus on variations related to the colonization, transmission, and persistence of microbial strains. This study will offer valuable insights into the origins, transmission, and long-term dynamics of the vaginal microbiome.