<p><strong>AIM: </strong>Bacterial vaginosis may lead to preterm birth through epigenetic programming of the inflammatory response, specifically via miRNA expression.</p>

<p><strong>METHODS: </strong>We quantified bacterial 16S rRNA, cytokine mRNA and 800 miRNA from cervical swabs obtained from 80 women at 16-19 weeks' gestation. We generated bacterial and cytokine indices using weighted quantile sum regression and examined associations with miRNA and gestational age at delivery.</p>

<p><strong>RESULTS &amp; DISCUSSION: </strong>Each decile of the bacterial and cytokine indices was associated with shorter gestations (p &lt; 0.005). The bacterial index was associated with miR-494, 371a, 4286, 185, 320e, 888 and 23a (p &lt; 0.05). miR-494 remained significant after false discovery rate correction (q &lt; 0.1). The cytokine index was associated with 27 miRNAs (p &lt; 0.05; q &lt; 0.01).</p>

<p><strong>CONCLUSION: </strong>Future investigation into the role of bacterial vaginosis- and inflammation-associated miRNA and preterm birth is warranted.</p>