Lactobacillus Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Lactobacillus, including details on probiotics, digestion, diet, health, lactobacillus acidophilus.

An altered immunity hypothesis for the development of symptomatic bacterial vaginosis.

Witkin SS, Linhares IM, Giraldo P, Ledger WJ

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY 10021, USA. switkin@med.cornell.edu

The hypothesis is advanced that the transition from a Lactobacillus-dominated vaginal microflora to a microflora characteristic of bacterial vaginosis (BV), as well as development of the adverse consequences of BV in some women but not in others, are due to alterations in innate immunity. A microbial-induced inhibition of Toll-like receptor expression and/or activity may block induction of proinflammatory immunity and lead to the proliferation of atypical vaginal bacteria. A lack of 70-kDa heat-shock protein production and release in response to abnormal flora would compound this failure to activate antimicrobial immune responses. A deficit in vaginal mannose-binding lectin concentrations would further decrease the capacity for microbial killing and increase the likelihood of bacterial migration from the vagina to the upper genital tract.

Published 23 January 2007 in Clin Infect Dis, 44(4): 554-7.
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