Role of microbial flora in female genital tract: A comprehensive review

The female genital tract is a complex of microbial colonization, which shows a prominent role in the development of either a healthy or diseased condition. The aim of the present review is to describe the diverse components of both the protective and defective mechanisms induced by microbial species present in the female genital tract. The protective mechanism was induced by indigenous microbial flora colonized in the female genital tract, which includes innate immunity, secretions containing cytokines, antimicrobial peptides and inhibitory substances like organic acids, H2O2, bacteriosin and toll-like receptors. On the other hand, abnormal microorganisms produce virulence factors and enzymes, which cause life-threatening infectious diseases including cancer. The review summarizes that depending upon the presence and/or absence of normal and abnormal microorganisms, the female genital tract shows either a healthy and/or infectious condition.