Vaginal microbiota: Potential targets for vulvovaginal candidiasis infection
Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) is the second most common cause of vaginal infection globally after bacterial vaginosis (BV) and associated with adverse reproductive and obstetric outcomes, including preterm delivery, sexually transmitted infections and pelvic inflammatory disease. Although effective...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2024-03-01
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| Series: | Heliyon |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844024032705 |
| _version_ | 1797259751575257088 |
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| author | Yufei Wang Zhaoxia Liu Tingtao Chen |
| author_facet | Yufei Wang Zhaoxia Liu Tingtao Chen |
| author_sort | Yufei Wang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) is the second most common cause of vaginal infection globally after bacterial vaginosis (BV) and associated with adverse reproductive and obstetric outcomes, including preterm delivery, sexually transmitted infections and pelvic inflammatory disease. Although effective control of VVC is achievable with the use of traditional treatment strategies (i.e., antifungals), the possibility of drug intolerance, treatment failure and recurrence, as well as the appearance of antifungal-resistant Candida species remain critical challenges. Therefore, alternative therapeutic strategies against VVC are urgently required. In recent years, an improved understanding of the dysbiotic vaginal microbiota (VMB) during VVC has prompted the consideration of administering -biotics to restore the balance of the VMB within the context of VVC prevention and treatment. Here, we aim to summarize the current evidence of the anti-Candida effects of probiotics, postbiotics and synbiotics and their potential use as an alternative/complementary therapy against VVC. Additionally, this review discusses advantages and challenges associated with the application of -biotics in VVC to provide guidance for their later use. We also review new developments in VVC therapy, i.e., vaginal microbiota transplantation (VMT) as an emerging live biotherapeutic therapy against VVC and discuss existing shortcomings associated with this nascent field, expecting to stimulate further investigations for introduction of new therapies against VVC. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T14:01:36Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f84afd1db43f4462a7966d86d96ca433 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2405-8440 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T23:14:24Z |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Heliyon |
| spelling | doaj.art-f84afd1db43f4462a7966d86d96ca4332024-03-17T07:57:44ZengElsevierHeliyon2405-84402024-03-01105e27239Vaginal microbiota: Potential targets for vulvovaginal candidiasis infectionYufei Wang0Zhaoxia Liu1Tingtao Chen2Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University Jiangxi Medical College, No.1299, Xuefu Avenue, Honggutan District, Nanchang City, Jiangxi Province, China; Queen Mary School, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, No.1299, Xuefu Avenue, Honggutan District, Nanchang City, Jiangxi Province, ChinaDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University Jiangxi Medical College, No.1299, Xuefu Avenue, Honggutan District, Nanchang City, Jiangxi Province, China; Corresponding author.Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University Jiangxi Medical College, No.1299, Xuefu Avenue, Honggutan District, Nanchang City, Jiangxi Province, China; School of Pharmacy, National Engineering Research Center for Bioengineering Drugs and the Technologies, Institute of Translational Medicine, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, No.1299, Xuefu Avenue, Honggutan District, Nanchang City, Jiangxi Province, China; Corresponding author. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China.Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) is the second most common cause of vaginal infection globally after bacterial vaginosis (BV) and associated with adverse reproductive and obstetric outcomes, including preterm delivery, sexually transmitted infections and pelvic inflammatory disease. Although effective control of VVC is achievable with the use of traditional treatment strategies (i.e., antifungals), the possibility of drug intolerance, treatment failure and recurrence, as well as the appearance of antifungal-resistant Candida species remain critical challenges. Therefore, alternative therapeutic strategies against VVC are urgently required. In recent years, an improved understanding of the dysbiotic vaginal microbiota (VMB) during VVC has prompted the consideration of administering -biotics to restore the balance of the VMB within the context of VVC prevention and treatment. Here, we aim to summarize the current evidence of the anti-Candida effects of probiotics, postbiotics and synbiotics and their potential use as an alternative/complementary therapy against VVC. Additionally, this review discusses advantages and challenges associated with the application of -biotics in VVC to provide guidance for their later use. We also review new developments in VVC therapy, i.e., vaginal microbiota transplantation (VMT) as an emerging live biotherapeutic therapy against VVC and discuss existing shortcomings associated with this nascent field, expecting to stimulate further investigations for introduction of new therapies against VVC.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844024032705Vulvovaginal candidiasisProbioticPostbioticPrebioticSynbioticVaginal microbiota transplantation |
| spellingShingle | Yufei Wang Zhaoxia Liu Tingtao Chen Vaginal microbiota: Potential targets for vulvovaginal candidiasis infection Heliyon Vulvovaginal candidiasis Probiotic Postbiotic Prebiotic Synbiotic Vaginal microbiota transplantation |
| title | Vaginal microbiota: Potential targets for vulvovaginal candidiasis infection |
| title_full | Vaginal microbiota: Potential targets for vulvovaginal candidiasis infection |
| title_fullStr | Vaginal microbiota: Potential targets for vulvovaginal candidiasis infection |
| title_full_unstemmed | Vaginal microbiota: Potential targets for vulvovaginal candidiasis infection |
| title_short | Vaginal microbiota: Potential targets for vulvovaginal candidiasis infection |
| title_sort | vaginal microbiota potential targets for vulvovaginal candidiasis infection |
| topic | Vulvovaginal candidiasis Probiotic Postbiotic Prebiotic Synbiotic Vaginal microbiota transplantation |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844024032705 |
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