Inflammatory cytokine biomarkers of asymptomatic sexually transmitted infections and vaginal dysbiosis: a multicentre validation study

Masson, Lindi; Barnabas, Shaun; Deese, Jennifer; Lennard, Katie; Dabee, Smritee; Gamieldien, Hoyam; Jaumdally, Shameem Z.; Williamson, Anna‐Lise; Little, Francesca; Damme, Lut Van; Ahmed, Khatija; Crucitti, Tania; Abdellati, Saïd; Bekker, Linda‐Gail; Gray, Glenda; Dietrich, Janan; Jaspan, Heather B.; Passmore, Jo‐Ann S.

doi:10.1136/sextrans-2017-053506

Cited by 57 publications

(64 citation statements)

References 28 publications

(27 reference statements)

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…According to Ahn et al, LTA from L. plantarum K8 also modulated inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and IL-10) production in LPS-challenged THP-1 cells [ 205 ]. Patients with BV, sexually-transmitted diseases are often associated with overstimulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines and neutrophils recruitment to vagina mucosa surface [ 119 , 206 ]. Thus, the immunomodulatory activity of lactobacilli LTA could dampen the overstimulation and vaginal inflammation caused by pathogens.…”

Section: Lipoteichoic Acid (Lta)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Vaginal microbiota and the potential of Lactobacillus derivatives in maintaining vaginal health

2020

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Human vagina is colonised by a diverse array of microorganisms that make up the normal microbiota and mycobiota. Lactobacillus is the most frequently isolated microorganism from the healthy human vagina, this includes Lactobacillus crispatus, Lactobacillus gasseri, Lactobacillus iners, and Lactobacillus jensenii. These vaginal lactobacilli have been touted to prevent invasion of pathogens by keeping their population in check. However, the disruption of vaginal ecosystem contributes to the overgrowth of pathogens which causes complicated vaginal infections such as bacterial vaginosis (BV), sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC). Predisposing factors such as menses, pregnancy, sexual practice, uncontrolled usage of antibiotics, and vaginal douching can alter the microbial community. Therefore, the composition of vaginal microbiota serves an important role in determining vagina health. Owing to their Generally Recognised as Safe (GRAS) status, lactobacilli have been widely utilised as one of the alternatives besides conventional antimicrobial treatment against vaginal pathogens for the prevention of chronic vaginitis and the restoration of vaginal ecosystem. In addition, the effectiveness of Lactobacillus as prophylaxis has also been well-founded in long-term administration. This review aimed to highlight the beneficial effects of lactobacilli derivatives (i.e. surface-active molecules) with anti-biofilm, antioxidant, pathogen-inhibition, and immunomodulation activities in developing remedies for vaginal infections. We also discuss the current challenges in the implementation of the use of lactobacilli derivatives in promotion of human health. In the current review, we intend to provide insights for the development of lactobacilli derivatives as a complementary or alternative medicine to conventional probiotic therapy in vaginal health.

show abstract

Section: Lipoteichoic Acid (Lta)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Vaginal microbiota and the potential of Lactobacillus derivatives in maintaining vaginal health

2020

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…High-throughput technologies have enabled the characterization of the VMB on a grand scale and different bacterial species and microbiome profiles that have been associated with inflammation could therefore be easily characterized and used as indirect markers of an inflammatory state. However, characterizing the microbiome may reveal dysbiosis, but it is not an exhaustive approach to indicate the level of inflammation of the genital tract and therefore the risk of acquiring HIV and other STIs and developing reproductive complications (Mlisana et al, 2012 ; Masson et al, 2018 ). Consequently, the polymicrobial nature of BV and its association with divergent immune mediator profiles better support the use of direct markers of inflammation, such as immune mediators, as a diagnostic avenue.…”

Section: Alternative Approaches As Potential Diagnostic Avenues For Tmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…With the inclusion of another cytokine, IL-1α (direct relationship between its concentration and BV), the fit of the model was significantly improved ( p = 0.0001) and the model correctly classified 76% of women with a sensitivity of 72% and specificity of 81%. The performance of the three cytokine biomarkers was validated by Masson et al ( 2018 ) in a cohort of women who were recruited irrespective of vaginal symptoms and who were from four different geographical regions in Africa. The diagnostic model performed best with lateral vaginal swabs as genital specimen, correctly classifying 76% of women based on their STI, BV or intermediate VMB status with a sensitivity and specificity of 86% and 64% respectively.…”

Section: Alternative Approaches As Potential Diagnostic Avenues For Tmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bacterial Vaginosis: Current Diagnostic Avenues and Future Opportunities

Redelinghuys

Geldenhuys

Jung

et al. 2020

Front. Cell. Infect. Microbiol.

111

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

A healthy female genital tract harbors a microbiome dominated by lactic acid and hydrogen peroxide producing bacteria, which provide protection against infections by maintaining a low pH. Changes in the bacterial compositions of the vaginal microbiome can lead to bacterial vaginosis (BV), which is often associated with vaginal inflammation. Bacterial vaginosis increases the risk of acquiring sexually transmitted infections (STIs) like human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and affects women's reproductive health negatively. In pregnant women, BV can lead to chorioamnionitis and adverse pregnancy outcomes, including preterm premature rupture of the membranes and preterm birth. In order to manage BV effectively, good diagnostic procedures are required. Traditionally clinical and microscopic methods have been used to diagnose BV; however, these methods require skilled staff and time and suffer from reduced sensitivity and specificity. New diagnostics, including highly sensitive and specific point-of-care (POC) tests, treatment modalities and vaccines can be developed based on the identification of biomarkers from the growing pool of vaginal microbiome and vaginal metabolome data. In this review the current and future diagnostic avenues will be discussed.

show abstract

“…BV is characterized by reduced numbers of lactobacilli and overgrowth of a polymicrobial consortium often containing large numbers of Gardnerella vaginalis (Shipitsyna et al, 2013;Balashov et al, 2014). Despite all of this, many/most women do not report symptoms of BV to their providers, even in settings where the clinical signs and/or inflammatory markers are evident (Masson et al, 2019).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Gardnerella vaginalis as a Cause of Bacterial Vaginosis: Appraisal of the Evidence From in vivo Models

Morrill

Gilbert

Lewis

2020

Front. Cell. Infect. Microbiol.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Koch's postulates dictate the use of experimental models to illustrate features of human disease and provide evidence for a singular organism as the cause. The underlying cause(s) of bacterial vaginosis (BV) has been debated in the literature for over half a century. In 1955, it was first reported that a bacterium now known as Gardnerella vaginalis may be the cause of a condition (BV) resulting in higher vaginal pH, thin discharge, a fishy odor, and the presence of epithelial cells covered in bacteria. Here we review contemporary and historical studies on BV with a focus on reports of experimental infections in human or animal models using Gardnerella vaginalis. We evaluate experimental evidence for the hypothesis that G. vaginalis is sufficient to trigger clinical features of BV or relevant health complications associated with the condition. Additionally, we evaluate in vivo models of co-infection employing G. vaginalis together with other bacterial species to investigate evidence for the hypothesis that G. vaginalis may encourage colonization or virulence of other potential pathogens. Together, these studies paint a complex picture in which G. vaginalis has both direct and indirect roles in the features, health complications, and co-infections associated with BV. We briefly review the current taxonomic landscape and genetic diversity pertinent to Gardnerella and note the limitations of sequence-based studies using different marker genes and priming sites. Although much more study is needed to refine our understanding of how BV develops and persists within the human host, applications of the experimental aspects of Koch's postulates have provided an important glimpse into some of the causal relationships that may govern this condition in vivo.

show abstract

Inflammatory cytokine biomarkers of asymptomatic sexually transmitted infections and vaginal dysbiosis: a multicentre validation study

Cited by 57 publications

References 28 publications

Vaginal microbiota and the potential of Lactobacillus derivatives in maintaining vaginal health

Vaginal microbiota and the potential of Lactobacillus derivatives in maintaining vaginal health

Bacterial Vaginosis: Current Diagnostic Avenues and Future Opportunities

Gardnerella vaginalis as a Cause of Bacterial Vaginosis: Appraisal of the Evidence From in vivo Models

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About