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Project

Development and characterization of a new generation of probiotics against vulvovaginal candidiasis, based on yeast cells and ascospores

Of all women worldwide, 70% will get vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) at least once in her life, 40% more than once and 5% suffers from the recurrent version and they get at least four infections a year. In addition to the direct symptoms, such as increased vaginal discharge and physical pain, VVC can also cause serious complications during pregnancy, such as miscarriages. Current treatment consists of administration of antifungal agents. However, recent clinical research shows that drug resistance is increasing in Candida species and that existing antifungal agents may adversely affect the local microbiome. As a result, alternative therapies are becoming increasingly important. A promising alternative to standard antifungals are probiotics. The current probiotics based on bacteria cannot be combined with an antibiotic treatment, which is a major disadvantage since many vaginal yeast infections are the result of antibiotics. The use of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a probiotic is currently mainly limited to disorders of the gastrointestinal system. A significant obstacle to developing oral probiotics is that sufficient organisms must survive the digestive system to carry out their probiotic function. Furthermore, it is seen that after production, the number of living organisms in probiotics often decreases rapidly. The use of spores can provide a solution here as they are much more resistant to stressful conditions than vegetative cells. There is currently no yeast-based sporebiotic on the market. With this project, the company MY®HEALTH and the laboratory for Molecular Cell Biology, together aim to develop a product based on the yeast S. cerevisiae, that is effective against vaginal Candida infections. If possible, this product will contain spores, which fits within MY®HEALTH's specialization in sporebiotics. The development of this active (spore-based) probiotic requires research into the interaction and effects of the selected yeast strains with the intestinal and vaginal microbiome using model systems. Furthermore, this project will also generate knowledge through various screenings and assays for future research in related and follow-up research projects.

Date:23 Dec 2021 →  Today
Keywords:Vaginal candidiasis, Probiotic, S. cerevisiae
Disciplines:Mycology
Project type:PhD project