Prior studies have shown increases in individual cytokines with TV (especially IL-8) and BV infection (multiple cytokines, often with the exception of IP-10) (Simhan et al., 2007; Jarrett et al., 2015; Dabee et al., 2021; Mtshali et al., 2021b). The gene discussed is CXCL8; the disease is bacterial vaginosis.