Immunology of the Female Reproductive Mucosa

The female reproductive tract (FRT) is a unique mucosal environment that is exposed to and interacts with a variety of factors, including commensal bacteria, potentially pathogenic microbes, as well as sperm and semen. The upper part of the FRT, primarily the endometrium, also has the unique function of providing a supportive environment to allow implantation and growth of a semi-allogeneic fetus during pregnancy. These divergent functional …