Ceragenins Prevent the Development of Murine Vaginal Infection Caused by <i>Gardnerella vaginalis</i>

<b>Background/Objectives:</b> Bacterial vaginosis (BV), an infection caused primarily by <i>Gardnerella vaginalis</i>, is the most prevalent vaginal infection. Although BV is often characterized by an asymptomatic course, it can lead to considerable health complications. Curr...

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Main Authors: Urszula Wnorowska, Ewelina Piktel, Tamara Daniluk, Paulina Paprocka, Paul B. Savage, Bonita Durnaś, Robert Bucki
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-10-01
Series:Pharmaceuticals
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8247/17/11/1445
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author Urszula Wnorowska
Ewelina Piktel
Tamara Daniluk
Paulina Paprocka
Paul B. Savage
Bonita Durnaś
Robert Bucki
author_facet Urszula Wnorowska
Ewelina Piktel
Tamara Daniluk
Paulina Paprocka
Paul B. Savage
Bonita Durnaś
Robert Bucki
author_sort Urszula Wnorowska
collection DOAJ
description <b>Background/Objectives:</b> Bacterial vaginosis (BV), an infection caused primarily by <i>Gardnerella vaginalis</i>, is the most prevalent vaginal infection. Although BV is often characterized by an asymptomatic course, it can lead to considerable health complications. Currently, BV therapy choices are limited, and available treatments are complicated by concerns about antibiotic resistance. Ceragenins, which together comprise an innovative class of low molecular-weight, cholic acid-based antibacterial agents, have emerged as potential alternatives to conventional treatments. <b>Methods:</b> This study investigates (i) the antibacterial activity of ceragenins against <i>G. vaginalis</i> in in vitro experimental settings at varied pH, and (ii) the effectiveness and anti-inflammatory properties of CSA-13 in a <i>G. vaginalis</i>-induced bacterial vaginosis animal model. <b>Results and Conclusions:</b> We demonstrate that ceragenins, particularly CSA-13, maintain their antibacterial efficacy throughout pH range of 4.5–7, with the highest activity observed at neutral pH (7.0). Additionally, in an animal model, beneficial effects of ceragenins are attributed to anti-inflammatory properties of these compounds, making these compounds promising agents as potential new treatment options against <i>G. vaginalis</i>-associated vaginal infections.
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spelling doaj-art-f2caf3f8325e4e79abf0597fd7da69722025-08-20T01:54:08ZengMDPI AGPharmaceuticals1424-82472024-10-011711144510.3390/ph17111445Ceragenins Prevent the Development of Murine Vaginal Infection Caused by <i>Gardnerella vaginalis</i>Urszula Wnorowska0Ewelina Piktel1Tamara Daniluk2Paulina Paprocka3Paul B. Savage4Bonita Durnaś5Robert Bucki6Department of Medical Microbiology and Nanobiomedical Engineering, Medical University of Białystok, 15-222 Białystok, PolandIndependent Laboratory of Nanomedicine, Medical University of Białystok, 15-222 Białystok, PolandDepartment of Medical Microbiology and Nanobiomedical Engineering, Medical University of Białystok, 15-222 Białystok, PolandDepartment of Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Medical Science, Collegium Medicum, Jan Kochanowski University in Kielce, 25-317 Kielce, PolandDepartment of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602, USADepartment of Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Medical Science, Collegium Medicum, Jan Kochanowski University in Kielce, 25-317 Kielce, PolandDepartment of Medical Microbiology and Nanobiomedical Engineering, Medical University of Białystok, 15-222 Białystok, Poland<b>Background/Objectives:</b> Bacterial vaginosis (BV), an infection caused primarily by <i>Gardnerella vaginalis</i>, is the most prevalent vaginal infection. Although BV is often characterized by an asymptomatic course, it can lead to considerable health complications. Currently, BV therapy choices are limited, and available treatments are complicated by concerns about antibiotic resistance. Ceragenins, which together comprise an innovative class of low molecular-weight, cholic acid-based antibacterial agents, have emerged as potential alternatives to conventional treatments. <b>Methods:</b> This study investigates (i) the antibacterial activity of ceragenins against <i>G. vaginalis</i> in in vitro experimental settings at varied pH, and (ii) the effectiveness and anti-inflammatory properties of CSA-13 in a <i>G. vaginalis</i>-induced bacterial vaginosis animal model. <b>Results and Conclusions:</b> We demonstrate that ceragenins, particularly CSA-13, maintain their antibacterial efficacy throughout pH range of 4.5–7, with the highest activity observed at neutral pH (7.0). Additionally, in an animal model, beneficial effects of ceragenins are attributed to anti-inflammatory properties of these compounds, making these compounds promising agents as potential new treatment options against <i>G. vaginalis</i>-associated vaginal infections.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8247/17/11/1445bacterial vaginosis<i>Gardnerella vaginalis</i>cerageninsbiofilm
spellingShingle Urszula Wnorowska
Ewelina Piktel
Tamara Daniluk
Paulina Paprocka
Paul B. Savage
Bonita Durnaś
Robert Bucki
Ceragenins Prevent the Development of Murine Vaginal Infection Caused by <i>Gardnerella vaginalis</i>
Pharmaceuticals
bacterial vaginosis
<i>Gardnerella vaginalis</i>
ceragenins
biofilm
title Ceragenins Prevent the Development of Murine Vaginal Infection Caused by <i>Gardnerella vaginalis</i>
title_full Ceragenins Prevent the Development of Murine Vaginal Infection Caused by <i>Gardnerella vaginalis</i>
title_fullStr Ceragenins Prevent the Development of Murine Vaginal Infection Caused by <i>Gardnerella vaginalis</i>
title_full_unstemmed Ceragenins Prevent the Development of Murine Vaginal Infection Caused by <i>Gardnerella vaginalis</i>
title_short Ceragenins Prevent the Development of Murine Vaginal Infection Caused by <i>Gardnerella vaginalis</i>
title_sort ceragenins prevent the development of murine vaginal infection caused by i gardnerella vaginalis i
topic bacterial vaginosis
<i>Gardnerella vaginalis</i>
ceragenins
biofilm
url https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8247/17/11/1445
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