Type 2 diabetes mellitus exacerbates vaginal group B <i>Streptococcus</i> colonization via impaired mucosal cytokine response

People with T2D are more susceptible to microbial infections, but there is limited understanding of the mechanisms that drive this vulnerability. One possibility is that T2D enhances colonization of opportunistic pathogens, like GBS, in mucosal reservoirs as a precursor to infection. In this study, we used a diabetic mouse model to test whether diabetes alters the vaginal mucosa to promote GBS colonization. We found that increased vaginal GBS colonization in diabetic mice was not linked to tissue glucose availability or changes to the vaginal microbiome, but instead was associated with impaired vaginal immune responses. These findings provide a foundation for translational approaches to reduce GBS persistence and dissemination in at-risk individuals.