Gynecological specimens research and new bacterial vaginosis treatment strategy – study review by BIOMEDICA CRO
The female genital tract is naturally colonized by mixed communities of bacteria, known as the vaginal microbiome. When these communities are dominated by species such as Lactobacillus crispatus, they provide important protective functions in genital health.
Bacterial vaginosis affects nearly 30% of women around the world, carrying increased risk for sexually transmitted diseases, HIV, and – in pregnant individuals – premature birth. Unfortunately, current antibiotic-based treatments for BV are poorly effective with high rates of recurrence.
Surprisingly, when the researchers analyzed a novel collection of more than 1,200 vaginal Lactobacillus genomes from more than 300 women across four continents, they found that none of the species were able to make their own cysteine. This finding was confirmed in experiments conducted with Ben Woolston, PhD, and Emily Balskus, PhD, at the Harvard Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology.
The team, therefore, hypothesized that all vaginal Lactobacillus species require external cysteine sources. They measured cysteine concentrations in gynecological specimens (vaginal fluid samples) from South African women with high rates of BV, finding that higher vaginal cysteine levels were linked to Lactobacillus-dominant microbiomes while BV was associated with low cysteine levels.
“These findings were exciting because they suggested a way to improve bacterial vaginosis treatment by blocking L. iners growth in favor of more health-associated species like L. crispatus,” explains co-author Nomfuneko Mafunda, an MPH candidate at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
Please find more information on Technology Networks website, news, “Opportunity Identified To Aid Vaginal Microbiome Health”.
Identified results potentially could change bacterial vaginosis treatment strategy. Investigations on how L. iners takes up cysteine from its environment are continued. It shows the importance of research on vaginal samples.
BIOMEDICA CRO has a database of gynecology sites and is ready to cover scientists’ needs in vaginal samples collection.
Also, we have contracted 50+ sites and departments with other disease areas.
Please email us office@biomedica-cro.com to receive high-quality human biospecimens and associated data for your studies.
