The Effects of Circumcision on the Penis Microbiome

2010257 citationsJournal Articlegold Open Access

Authors

Lance B. Price · Translational Genomics Research Institute

Cindy M. Liu · Northern Arizona University

Kristine Johnson · Johns Hopkins University

Maliha Aziz · Translational Genomics Research Institute

Matthew K. Lau · Northern Arizona University

Jolene R. Bowers · Translational Genomics Research Institute

Jacques Ravel

Abstract

The anoxic microenvironment of the subpreputial space may support pro-inflammatory anaerobes that can activate Langerhans cells to present HIV to CD4 cells in draining lymph nodes. Thus, the reduction in putative anaerobic bacteria after circumcision may play a role in protection from HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases.

Topics & Keywords

Genital Health and Disease Reproductive tract infections research Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting Issues

UN Sustainable Development Goals

Good health and well-being

Publication Details

Published in: PLoS ONE

Volume 5, Issue 1, pp. e8422-e8422

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0008422

Field-Weighted Citation Impact: 24.02