{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,14]],"date-time":"2026-05-14T03:48:43Z","timestamp":1778730523025,"version":"3.51.4"},"reference-count":40,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"1","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2024,12,30]],"date-time":"2024-12-30T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1735516800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"National Science and Technology Council","award":["NSTC112-2320-B-005-009-MY3"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["NSTC112-2320-B-005-009-MY3"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["JoF"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC), a condition predominantly caused by Candida albicans, affects millions of women worldwide, prompting the need for alternative treatments due to the side effects and increasing resistance associated with conventional imidazole antifungals. This study investigated VAGINNE\u00ae, a novel fermentation broth derived from Lactobacillus species, as a potential VVC treatment. Using a BALB\/c mouse model of C. albicans infection, we evaluated VAGINNE\u00ae\u2019s effects on vaginal microbiome composition, inflammatory markers, and tissue integrity. Our findings revealed that VAGINNE\u00ae treatment enhanced the growth of beneficial Lactobacillus species while suppressing C. albicans proliferation, leading to a more balanced vaginal microbiome. Additionally, VAGINNE\u00ae significantly reduced pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-17A, IL-22, IL-23) in vaginal tissues and systemic inflammatory markers (IL-6, IL-1\u03b2) in plasma. Histological analysis showed minimal fungal invasion and preserved vaginal epithelial integrity in VAGINNE\u00ae-treated mice compared to untreated controls. These results suggest that VAGINNE\u00ae could serve as an effective anti-Candida and anti-inflammatory agent for managing VVC, offering a promising alternative to traditional antifungal treatments. By promoting a healthy vaginal microbiome, reducing inflammation, and maintaining tissue health, this probiotic-based approach presents a novel strategy for addressing VVC, particularly in cases of drug resistance or adverse reactions to standard therapies. This study underscores the potential of microbiome-modulating strategies in managing vaginal infections, paving the way for more targeted and side-effect-free VVC treatments.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/jof11010018","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2024,12,31]],"date-time":"2024-12-31T07:34:19Z","timestamp":1735630459000},"page":"18","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":3,"title":["Dual Mechanisms of Action: Anti-Candida and Anti-Inflammatory Potential of Lactobacillus Fermentation Broth in Treating Vulvovaginal Candidiasis"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"11","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-5367-2631","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Huann-Cheng","family":"Horng","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei 112, Taiwan"},{"name":"Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei City 112304, Taiwan"},{"name":"Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei City 112304, Taiwan"},{"name":"Faculty of Medicine, College of Medicine, Fu-Jen Catholic University, New Taipei City 24205, Taiwan"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-5935-3463","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Jin-Wei","family":"Xu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Forestry, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 402, Taiwan"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Yi-Shan","family":"Kuo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Graduate Institute of Biotechnology, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 402, Taiwan"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Yu-Sin","family":"Chen","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Graduate Institute of Biotechnology, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 402, Taiwan"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Yu-Hsuan","family":"Chiu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Medicine, College of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei City 112304, Taiwan"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Kuan-Hao","family":"Tsui","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung 813, Taiwan"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Yu-Tang","family":"Tung","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Graduate Institute of Biotechnology, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 402, Taiwan"},{"name":"Advanced Plant and Food Crop Biotechnology Center, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 402, Taiwan"},{"name":"Cell Physiology and Molecular Image Research Center, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110, Taiwan"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2024,12,30]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"203","DOI":"10.1016\/S0002-9378(98)80001-X","article-title":"Vulvovaginal candidiasis: Epidemiologic, diagnostic, and therapeutic considerations","volume":"178","author":"Sobel","year":"1998","journal-title":"Am. 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