Juwon Choi , Jay-Young Jo , Jisu Lee , Jo Eun Son , Sun Young Kim , Hye Eun Lee , Yeong-Je Seong , Keon Heo , Yongbaek Kim , Myeong Soo Park , Sanguine Byun
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC), primarily caused by Candida albicans infection, is one of the most common diseases among women and leads to various symptoms that adversely impact quality of life. VVC is conventionally treated with antifungal agents, but the high recurrence rates and the risk of inducing vaginal microbiome dysbiosis pose major concerns in effective treatment. Probiotics with immune-enhancing properties can be an effective strategy by strengthening mucosal immunity and reducing susceptibility to infection. Herein, this study investigates the therapeutic potential of Lactobacillus salivarius HHuMin-U (HMU) as a probiotic agent for treating VVC. Phenotype screening identified HMU as a top candidate with antifungal activity against C. albicans. HMU significantly upregulated immunomodulatory factors such as antimicrobial peptides, cytokines, and chemokines in human vaginal epithelial cells, which can strengthen the antifungal immune system. In an animal study, administration of HMU in a mouse VVC model significantly decreased the fungal burden and protected the mice from vaginal infection. Additionally, cellular infection models revealed that HMU reduced fungal adhesion and the cytolytic activity of C. albicans, while conditioned media from HMU-treated epithelial cells inhibited fungal growth. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that HMU treatment enriched gene sets related to epithelial barrier integrity, innate immune responses mediated by epithelial cells, and immune cell regulation. Mechanistically, the NF-κB pathway emerged as a key mediator of these responses. Collectively, HMU inhibits VVC by enhancing epithelial immunity and thus could be considered as a probiotic agent for the prevention and treatment of VVC.
期刊介绍:
New Biotechnology is the official journal of the European Federation of Biotechnology (EFB) and is published bimonthly. It covers both the science of biotechnology and its surrounding political, business and financial milieu. The journal publishes peer-reviewed basic research papers, authoritative reviews, feature articles and opinions in all areas of biotechnology. It reflects the full diversity of current biotechnology science, particularly those advances in research and practice that open opportunities for exploitation of knowledge, commercially or otherwise, together with news, discussion and comment on broader issues of general interest and concern. The outlook is fully international.
The scope of the journal includes the research, industrial and commercial aspects of biotechnology, in areas such as: Healthcare and Pharmaceuticals; Food and Agriculture; Biofuels; Genetic Engineering and Molecular Biology; Genomics and Synthetic Biology; Nanotechnology; Environment and Biodiversity; Biocatalysis; Bioremediation; Process engineering.