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Cervical cytobrush sampling is a relatively non-invasive method permitting the longitudinal assessment of endocervical immune cells, but effects on FGT immunology are unknown. Blood, cervico-vaginal secretions and cervical cytobrushes were collected from sexually transmitted infection (STI)-free women at baseline and after either 6\u2009hours or 48\u2009hours. Endocervical immune cell subsets were assessed by flow cytometry, and pro-inflammatory cytokines by multiplex ELISA. The density of <jats:italic>Lactobacillus<\/jats:italic> species and key bacterial vaginosis-associated bacterial taxa were determined by qPCR. Paired changes were assessed before and after cytobrush sampling. After 6\u2009hours there were significant increases in CD4\u2009+\u2009T cell, antigen presenting cell (APC) and neutrophil numbers; APC elevations persisted at 48\u2009hours, while neutrophil and CD4\u2009+\u2009T cell numbers returned to baseline. In addition, pro-inflammatory cytokine levels were increased at 6\u2009hours and returned to baseline by 48\u2009hours. No significant changes were observed in the absolute abundance of <jats:italic>Lactobacillus<\/jats:italic> species or BV-associated bacteria at either time point. Overall, cytobrush sampling altered genital immune parameters at 6\u2009hours, but only APC number increases persisted at 48\u2009hours. This should be considered in longitudinal analyses of FGT immunology.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1038\/s41598-020-65544-6","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2020,5,22]],"date-time":"2020-05-22T10:03:39Z","timestamp":1590141819000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/springer_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":18,"title":["The impact of cervical cytobrush sampling on cervico-vaginal immune parameters and microbiota relevant to HIV susceptibility"],"prefix":"10.1038","volume":"10","author":[{"given":"A.","family":"Mohammadi","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"S.","family":"Bagherichimeh","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"M. 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