Hallmarks of Bacterial Vaginosis
<b>Background:</b> Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is considered the most common cause of vaginal discharge, which is related to several public health issues, such as an increased risk for sexually transmitted infections, pelvic inflammatory disease, pregnancy-related problems such as abortion,...
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MDPI AG
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Diagnostics |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4418/15/9/1090 |
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| author | Diana Cristina Pérez-Ibave Carlos Horacio Burciaga-Flores Ximena García-Mejía Fernando Alcorta-Nuñez Orlando Solis-Coronado Moisés González Escamilla Oscar Vidal-Gutiérrez María Lourdes Garza-Rodríguez |
| author_facet | Diana Cristina Pérez-Ibave Carlos Horacio Burciaga-Flores Ximena García-Mejía Fernando Alcorta-Nuñez Orlando Solis-Coronado Moisés González Escamilla Oscar Vidal-Gutiérrez María Lourdes Garza-Rodríguez |
| author_sort | Diana Cristina Pérez-Ibave |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <b>Background:</b> Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is considered the most common cause of vaginal discharge, which is related to several public health issues, such as an increased risk for sexually transmitted infections, pelvic inflammatory disease, pregnancy-related problems such as abortion, stillbirth or premature birth, and tubal factor infertility. BV is not considered an infection but an imbalance in the vaginal microbiota, characterized by a substitution of the normal Lactobacilli flora by anaerobe. Reducing resistance against infections by several mechanisms, including bacterial homeostasis, stabilization of acid pH, inhibition of pathogens adhesion by polyamine degradation, production of anti-inflammatory molecules, surfactants, and antimicrobial substances like hydrogen peroxide, acids, and bacteriocins. Approximately half of women with BV can experience symptoms, which mainly include vaginal malodor, fishy discharge, stinging sensation, and increased vaginal pH. The treatment of BV is based primarily on promoting Lactobacilli restoration and eliminating dangerous microbiota with antibiotic therapy. However, there is a high rate of recurrence and relapse. <b>Objective:</b> Based on the current literature, this review aims to propose a list of ten BV hallmarks: dysbiosis, inflammation, apoptosis, pH basification, mucosal barrier integrity, pathway activation, epithelial damage, genomic instability, oxidative stress (OS), and metabolic reconfiguration. <b>Conclusions:</b> Understanding the causes of BV and the pathogenicity mechanisms is critical for preventing and improving the current therapeutic management of patients. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-c653cecf3ead467d9872a35324cccb6a |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2075-4418 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Diagnostics |
| spelling | doaj-art-c653cecf3ead467d9872a35324cccb6a2025-08-20T02:30:46ZengMDPI AGDiagnostics2075-44182025-04-01159109010.3390/diagnostics15091090Hallmarks of Bacterial VaginosisDiana Cristina Pérez-Ibave0Carlos Horacio Burciaga-Flores1Ximena García-Mejía2Fernando Alcorta-Nuñez3Orlando Solis-Coronado4Moisés González Escamilla5Oscar Vidal-Gutiérrez6María Lourdes Garza-Rodríguez7Servicio de Oncología, Centro Universitario Contra el Cáncer (CUCC), Hospital Universitario “Dr. José Eleuterio González”, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Monterrey 66451, MexicoServicio de Oncología, Centro Universitario Contra el Cáncer (CUCC), Hospital Universitario “Dr. José Eleuterio González”, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Monterrey 66451, MexicoFacultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Monterrey 66451, MexicoServicio de Oncología, Centro Universitario Contra el Cáncer (CUCC), Hospital Universitario “Dr. José Eleuterio González”, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Monterrey 66451, MexicoServicio de Oncología, Centro Universitario Contra el Cáncer (CUCC), Hospital Universitario “Dr. José Eleuterio González”, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Monterrey 66451, MexicoServicio de Oncología, Centro Universitario Contra el Cáncer (CUCC), Hospital Universitario “Dr. José Eleuterio González”, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Monterrey 66451, MexicoServicio de Oncología, Centro Universitario Contra el Cáncer (CUCC), Hospital Universitario “Dr. José Eleuterio González”, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Monterrey 66451, MexicoServicio de Oncología, Centro Universitario Contra el Cáncer (CUCC), Hospital Universitario “Dr. José Eleuterio González”, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Monterrey 66451, Mexico<b>Background:</b> Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is considered the most common cause of vaginal discharge, which is related to several public health issues, such as an increased risk for sexually transmitted infections, pelvic inflammatory disease, pregnancy-related problems such as abortion, stillbirth or premature birth, and tubal factor infertility. BV is not considered an infection but an imbalance in the vaginal microbiota, characterized by a substitution of the normal Lactobacilli flora by anaerobe. Reducing resistance against infections by several mechanisms, including bacterial homeostasis, stabilization of acid pH, inhibition of pathogens adhesion by polyamine degradation, production of anti-inflammatory molecules, surfactants, and antimicrobial substances like hydrogen peroxide, acids, and bacteriocins. Approximately half of women with BV can experience symptoms, which mainly include vaginal malodor, fishy discharge, stinging sensation, and increased vaginal pH. The treatment of BV is based primarily on promoting Lactobacilli restoration and eliminating dangerous microbiota with antibiotic therapy. However, there is a high rate of recurrence and relapse. <b>Objective:</b> Based on the current literature, this review aims to propose a list of ten BV hallmarks: dysbiosis, inflammation, apoptosis, pH basification, mucosal barrier integrity, pathway activation, epithelial damage, genomic instability, oxidative stress (OS), and metabolic reconfiguration. <b>Conclusions:</b> Understanding the causes of BV and the pathogenicity mechanisms is critical for preventing and improving the current therapeutic management of patients.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4418/15/9/1090bacterial vaginosisdysbiosishallmarksvaginal microbiotaLactobacillus<i>Gardnerella vaginalis</i> |
| spellingShingle | Diana Cristina Pérez-Ibave Carlos Horacio Burciaga-Flores Ximena García-Mejía Fernando Alcorta-Nuñez Orlando Solis-Coronado Moisés González Escamilla Oscar Vidal-Gutiérrez María Lourdes Garza-Rodríguez Hallmarks of Bacterial Vaginosis Diagnostics bacterial vaginosis dysbiosis hallmarks vaginal microbiota Lactobacillus <i>Gardnerella vaginalis</i> |
| title | Hallmarks of Bacterial Vaginosis |
| title_full | Hallmarks of Bacterial Vaginosis |
| title_fullStr | Hallmarks of Bacterial Vaginosis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Hallmarks of Bacterial Vaginosis |
| title_short | Hallmarks of Bacterial Vaginosis |
| title_sort | hallmarks of bacterial vaginosis |
| topic | bacterial vaginosis dysbiosis hallmarks vaginal microbiota Lactobacillus <i>Gardnerella vaginalis</i> |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4418/15/9/1090 |
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