Impact of Vaginal Bacterial Strains in Probiotics on Vaginal Health

Understanding Lactobacillus

Lactobacillus is a type of bacteria that inhabits the digestive, urinary, and reproductive tracts, constituting a significant portion of the microbiota. It is a prevalent probiotic found in yogurt and dietary supplements. This bacteria plays a crucial role in lowering vaginal pH and serves as a protective barrier against sexually transmitted infections in healthy women.

Bacterial Vaginosis and Its Implications

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is an infection that disrupts the natural equilibrium between beneficial bacteria like Lactobacillus and harmful bacteria within the vagina, resulting in a more diverse microbiota. This imbalance leads to elevated pH levels, vaginal inflammation, and abnormal discharge. BV is associated with negative pregnancy outcomes and an increased risk of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. While antibiotics are the conventional treatment for BV, many cases see a recurrence within six months.

Probiotics as a Potential Treatment

Research has explored the potential of probiotics, including various Lactobacillus strains, to enhance the treatment of bacterial vaginosis.

New Research Findings

A recent study published in PLOS Pathogens investigated fifty-seven Lactobacillus strains derived from South African women aged 16 to 22. The researchers compared these strains to commercially available probiotic strains for vaginal health. They assessed the strains’ growth at different pH levels, their ability to lower vaginal pH, produce antibacterial substances, inhibit pathogens, and their susceptibility to antibiotics.

The study found that vaginal Lactobacillus strains outperformed the commercially available strains in effectiveness. These findings indicate that incorporating these specific vaginal strains into probiotics may enhance treatment options for bacterial vaginosis. Whole-genome sequencing of the top five strains showed they are likely safe and do not pose a risk of antimicrobial resistance.

Future Directions

According to the researchers, developing a diverse range of well-defined probiotic treatments using vaginal strains could lead to improved outcomes for bacterial vaginosis, as well as a reduction in adverse pregnancy outcomes and sexually transmitted diseases. Future research will likely focus on clinical trials in Africa to test the new vaginal strains identified in this study.

References

Happel A-U, Kullin B, Gamieldien H, Wentzel N, Zauchenberger CZ, Jaspan HB, et al. (2020) Exploring potential of vaginal Lactobacillus isolates from South African women for enhancing treatment for bacterial vaginosis. PLoS Pathog 16(6): e1008559. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.ppat.1008559

Probiotics with top-performing Lactobacillus strains may improve vaginal health. (2020, June 4). Retrieved from https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-06/p-pwt052820.php

Bacterial Vaginosis – CDC Fact Sheet – https://www.cdc.gov/std/bv/stdfact-bacterial-vaginosis.htm

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