lactoferrin and Candidiasis--Vulvovaginal

Host defense responses of the human female genital tract mucosa to pathogenic microbes and viruses are mediated in part by the release of antimicrobial substances into the overlying mucosal fluid. While host defense has long been considered a prominent function of vaginal and cervical mucosae, evidence that cationic antimicrobial peptides and proteins have fundamental roles in the innate host defense of this tissue has only recently become available. This chapter explores elements of the physical and chemical defense barriers of the cervicovaginal mucosa, which protect against infections of the lower genital tract. Cationic antimicrobial and antiviral polypeptide components of cervicovaginal fluid are discussed in detail, with special emphasis placed on the defensin family of peptides as well as polypeptides that are active against viruses such as HIV-1. The reader should be cognizant that each polypeptide by itself does not provide complete protection of the genital tract. On the contrary, the abundance and multiplicity of antimicrobial peptides and proteins suggest protection of the cervicovaginal mucosa may be best realized from the aggregate effector molecules.

Topics: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; Candidiasis, Vulvovaginal; Cathelicidins; Cervix Uteri; Defensins; Female; Histones; Humans; Immunity, Innate; Lactoferrin; Leukocyte L1 Antigen Complex; Muramidase; Proteinase Inhibitory Proteins, Secretory; Proteins; Trichomonas Vaginitis; Vagina; Vaginosis, Bacterial

Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) is a recurrent vaginal condition in childbearing women.. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of an oral formulation containing Lactobacillus acidophilus GLA-14, Lactobacillus rhamnosus HN001 and bovine lactoferrin on symptoms and recurrence of VVC as adjuvant therapy to topical clotrimazole.. Forty-eight women positive for C. albicans, symptoms of VVC and documented history of recurrences were randomised into 2 groups receiving verum or placebo (2 capsules/day for 5 days followed by 1 capsule/day for additional 10 days) as adjuvant treatment to clotrimazole (induction phase) followed by a maintenance cycle of 6 months (1 capsule/day verum or placebo for 10 consecutive days each month). Symptoms, overall cure rate and recurrence rate were assessed.. After clotrimazole therapy, a significant improvement of symptoms was shown in both groups. However, only women treated with probiotics and lactoferrin showed a significant improvement of itching and discharge at 3 and 6 months. During the six-month follow-up, recurrences were significantly less in the intervention group vs placebo (33.3% vs 91.7% after 3 months and 29.2% vs 100% after 6 months).. The results show that the investigated lactobacilli mixture in combination with lactoferrin represents a safe and effective adjuvant approach for reducing symptoms and recurrences of RVVC.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Animals; Anti-Infective Agents; Candidiasis, Vulvovaginal; Chemoradiotherapy, Adjuvant; Clotrimazole; Double-Blind Method; Female; Humans; Lactoferrin; Maintenance Chemotherapy; Middle Aged; Placebos; Probiotics; Prospective Studies; Secondary Prevention; Treatment Outcome; Young Adult

Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) is a common vaginitis caused by Candida species,a frequently recurring condition. Fungal azole-resistant strains with azole-resistance have developed for long and wide explosion to the first-line antifungal azole agent. Bovine lactoferrin (BLF) is a protein from transferrin family secreted by the bovine mammary tissue. Its various biological functions are well known, especially the pronounced antifungal activity.. In the current study, we constructed a Lactobacillus casei strain (L.casei/pPG612.1-BLF), which secreted BLF encoded by a mature secretion vector plasmid pPG612.1, and evaluated its antifungal activity in vitro and in vivo. In a two-layer agar plate in vitro assay, the number of C. albicans CFUs decreased and the average colony size shrunk upon exposure to L. casei/pPG612.1-BLF. In a murine VVC model, the infection burden of mice intra-vaginally pre-inoculated with L. casei/pPG612.1-BLF was lower than in control groups. Furthermore, the infection burden in mice with VVC was reduced when the animals were continually given L. casei/pPG612.1-BLF as a topical treatment for 5 days.. Combined, these results suggested that the L. casei/pPG612.1-BLF strain is a promising preventative and therapeutic anti-VVC agent, highlighting the possibility of employing the probiotic L. casei as a vehicle for biotherapy in the female genital tract and exploiting the natural antibiotic antimicrobial peptides for other applications.

Topics: Animals; Antifungal Agents; Candida albicans; Candidiasis, Vulvovaginal; Disease Models, Animal; Female; Lacticaseibacillus casei; Lactoferrin; Mice; Organisms, Genetically Modified; Plasmids; Probiotics

Colonisation of the gastrointestinal tract is influenced by primary microbial exposure and bioactive factors in breastmilk. The aim was to explore the prevalence of oral Candida in the first year of life in relation to selected exposures. Oral Candida was studied in 100 healthy infants at 4 and 8 weeks, 3, 6 and 12 months of age and related to delivery mode, birth weight, infant health and feeding, antibiotics, antimycotics, steroids and probiotics in mother and infant, living conditions, maternal smoking and infections The association between lactoferrin and antisecretory factor in breastmilk and maternal serum haemoglobin, transferrin, and ferritin levels in relation to oral Candida was also explored. About 11% to 15% of the infants had oral Candida at the respective age. Colonisation was fairly stable until 6 months of age. There was no conclusive impact of the investigated exposures at entry. Infants with a furry pet at home had a lower frequency of Candida at 3 months, (P < 0.05) whereas all but one colonised infant had older siblings at 12 months (P < 0.01). Lactoferrin in breastmilk was negatively associated with colonisation at 6 months of age. It is concluded that 11 to 15% had oral Candida. Exposure to furry pets and siblings impacted oral Candida.

Topics: Age Factors; Animals; Candida; Candidiasis, Vulvovaginal; Cheek; Female; Ferritins; Humans; Infant; Lactoferrin; Male; Milk, Human; Mothers; Mouth Mucosa; Mycoses; Neuropeptides; Pets; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious; Prevalence; Saliva; Siblings; Sweden; Tongue; Transferrin

The objective of the study is to verify the clinical effectiveness of a cream containing lactoferrin in the treatment of acute vulvovagininal candidiasis.. The study enrolled 34 patients aged 25-45 years and preenting signs and symptoms of acute vulvovaginal candidiasis. The patients have been treated with a cream containing lactoferrin 4%, 5 g of cream in vagina and 2 cm applied on the vulva twice a day for 7 days. At the end of the treatment the patients a clinical and microscopical examination was performed in order to evaluate the effectiveness of the therapy.. The results obtained showed that 27 women completely recovered, 5 showed a good improvement and only 2 women were still suffering from vulvovaginitis at the end of treatment.. From the data of our study, a cream containing lactoferrin seems to be clinically effective in the treatment of acute vulvovaginal candidiasis, with a good response on all the characteristic symptoms of this infection.

Topics: Adult; Candidiasis, Vulvovaginal; Female; Humans; Lactoferrin; Middle Aged; Vaginal Creams, Foams, and Jellies

To study in vitro growth-inhibitory effects of activated lactoferrin (ALF) against vaginal isolates of Candida species and to measure the ability of ALF to block interactions of Candida albicans and Candida glabrata to the vaginal epithelial (VE) monolayer.. In vitro effects of ALF on growth of C albicans and C glabrata in Sabouraud dextrose (SD) broth were measured as change in broth turbidity by microscale optical density assay. ALF was tested at 5 and 2.5 mg/mL concentrations against 105 yeast cell inoculum at 370 degrees C for 96 hours and compared with native lactoferrin and control (growth in broth without ALF). VE cells were isolated from human vaginal tissue biopsies to establish a functional monolayer for yeast interaction studies. ALF effects on Candida interactions with the VE monolayer were tested using 3H-thymidine-labeled yeast. Prophylactic (treatment prior to yeast inoculation onto VE) and therapeutic (treatment to detach VE-adherent yeast) potential of ALF (5 mg/mL) was evaluated against vaginal isolates of C albicans strain NTRL809A and C glabrata strain NTRL131G.. Growth of Candida species indicated that a 105 yeast inoculum in SD broth proliferated to a stationary growth equilibrium (approximately 10(9) yeast cell density) in 18 hours (approximately 2 hours of generation time). ALF (5 mg/mL) elicited >96 hours of total stasis (100% growth inhibition) and was significantly effective against both Candida species (p < 0.0001). At 2.5 mg/mL dilution, ALF sustained total stasis activity to an average of 18 hours and 24 hours for C albicans (n = 5) and C glabrata (n = 5), respectively. Interaction studies indicated avid binding of C albicans (70 - 140 x 10(3) yeast) and C glabrata (50 - 75 x 10(3) yeast) per square centimeter of VE monolayer. ALF-treated VE showed significant blockade (p < 0.05) of yeast adhesion by 33% and 58% with C albicans and C glabrata, respectively. ALF treatment of yeast-VE complexes resulted in significant detachment (p < 0.05) of C albicans and C glabrata, by 58% and 51%, respectively.. ALF is a natural fungistatic agent with potent yeast adhesion-blocking and detachment properties and is effective against the vaginal pathogens C albicans and C glabrata.

Topics: Candida albicans; Candida glabrata; Candidiasis, Vulvovaginal; Cell Culture Techniques; Epithelial Cells; Female; Humans; Lactoferrin; Tissue Adhesions