DNA extraction kits, Sequencing method, and Taxonomy classification
A variety of approaches were employed for DNA extraction; custom developed protocols, along with two standard extraction kits (Table 1 ) were used in studies reporting GBS within the vaginal microbiome. However, these kits and custom approaches were also used in studies that did not report GBS. In terms of sequencing methods, all studies reporting GBS used 16S rRNA sequencing, as well as most studies that did not report the presence of GBS. Additionally, there was no notable difference found in the 16S rRNA hypervariable region used across either set of studies. Similarly, multiple taxonomy databases were used for studies that did and did not report the presence of GBS.