• News
    • News by Region
      • College Station
      • Dallas/Fort Worth
      • El Paso
      • Galveston
      • Lubbock
      • San Antonio
      • Texas Cancer News: What You Need to Know
    • News by Topic
      • Alzheimer’s
      • Biofuels
      • Cancer
      • Cardiovascular
      • Diabetes
      • Genetics
      • Infectious Disease
      • Medical Device
      • Neurology
      • Vaccines
    • News by Institution
      • CPRIT
      • Baylor College of Medicine
      • Rice University
      • Texas A&M
      • Texas Heart Institute
      • UNT Health Science Center
      • UT Arlington
      • UT Austin
      • UT Dallas
      • UTHealth
      • UT MD Anderson Cancer Center
      • UT Medical Branch
      • UT Health Science Center San Antonio
      • University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
    • Editorial Blog
  • Companies
    • Companies by City
      • Austin
        • Featured in Austin
      • College Station
      • Dallas
      • El Paso
      • Fort Worth
      • Galveston
      • Houston
        • Featured in Houston
      • Lubbock
      • San Antonio
      • Temple
      • Waco
    • Companies by Industry
      • Academic/Research
      • Biofuels
      • BioPharm Insurance
      • Biopharma
      • Biotech
      • Clinical Research
      • Contract Research
      • Cosmeceuticals
      • Diagnostics
      • Environmental
      • Featured
      • Genetics
      • Incubator/Accelerator
      • Legal
      • Manufacturing
      • Medical Devices
      • Pharmaceutical
      • Premium
      • Services
      • Supplements
      • Suppliers
      • Venture Capital
  • Service Providers
    • Services
      • Analytical Chemistry
      • Animal
      • Biochemistry
      • Bioprocess Contract
      • Biorepository
      • Cell Biology
      • Cell Culture
      • Chemistry
      • Clinical Research
      • Construction
      • Consulting
      • Contract Manufacturers
      • Contract Pharma
      • Contract Research
    • Suppliers
      • Biospecimens
      • Lab Equipment
      • Manufacturing
      • Meters
      • Microarrays
      • Microscopes
      • Miscellaneous
      • Molecular Biology
      • Packaging
      • Protein
      • Reagents
      • Research Tools
      • RNAi Technology
      • Safety & Hygiene
      • Sample Prep
      • Software Quality
      • Testing Systems
      • Vacuum Equipment
  • Channels
    • Regional Channels
      • Austin
      • College Station
      • Dallas / Fort Worth
      • El Paso
      • Galveston
      • Houston
      • Lubbock
      • San Antonio
    • Topic Channels
      • Alzheimer’s
      • Autism & Autism Spectrum Disorder: What You Need To Know
      • Autosomal Recessive Disease: What You Need To Know
      • Biofuels
      • Biomarkers: What You Need To Know
      • Biomaterials – Biospecimens
      • Brain Cancer: What You Need To Know
      • Cardiovascular
      • Chagas Disease: What You Need To Know
      • Cancer
      • Clostridium Difficile: What You Need To Know
      • Crohn’s Disease: What You Need To Know
      • Cystic Fibrosis: What You Need to Know
      • Dengue Fever: What You Need To Know
      • Depression
      • Ewing’s Sarcoma: What You Need To Know
      • Genetics
      • H7N9: What You Need To Know
      • Hepatitis B: What You Need To Know
      • Infectious Disease
      • Influenza: What You Need To Know
      • Leukemia: What You Need To Know
      • Liver Cancer: What You Need To Know
      • Lung Cancer: What You Need To Know
      • Medical Device
      • Myocardial Ischemia: What You Need To Know
      • Neglected Tropical Diseases: What You Need To Know
      • Neurology
      • Obesity: What You Need To Know
      • Peter Hotez: What You Need To Know
      • Prostate Cancer: What You Need To Know
      • Quantum Dots: What You Need To Know
      • Secondary Progressive MS: What You Need To Know
      • Spinal Muscular Atrophy: What You Need To Know
      • T-Cells: What You Need To Know
      • 3D Technology: What You Need To Know
      • Triple Negative Breast Cancer: What You Need To Know
      • West Nile Virus: What You Need To Know
  • About
  • Advertise

BioNews-TX

BioNews Texas

  • News
    • News by Region
      • College Station
      • Dallas/Fort Worth
      • El Paso
      • Galveston
      • Lubbock
      • San Antonio
      • Texas Cancer News: What You Need to Know
    • News by Topic
      • Alzheimer’s
      • Biofuels
      • Cancer
      • Cardiovascular
      • Diabetes
      • Genetics
      • Infectious Disease
      • Medical Device
      • Neurology
      • Vaccines
    • News by Institution
      • CPRIT
      • Baylor College of Medicine
      • Rice University
      • Texas A&M
      • Texas Heart Institute
      • UNT Health Science Center
      • UT Arlington
      • UT Austin
      • UT Dallas
      • UTHealth
      • UT MD Anderson Cancer Center
      • UT Medical Branch
      • UT Health Science Center San Antonio
      • University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
    • Editorial Blog
  • Companies
    • Companies by City
      • Austin
        • Featured in Austin
      • College Station
      • Dallas
      • El Paso
      • Fort Worth
      • Galveston
      • Houston
        • Featured in Houston
      • Lubbock
      • San Antonio
      • Temple
      • Waco
    • Companies by Industry
      • Academic/Research
      • Biofuels
      • BioPharm Insurance
      • Biopharma
      • Biotech
      • Clinical Research
      • Contract Research
      • Cosmeceuticals
      • Diagnostics
      • Environmental
      • Featured
      • Genetics
      • Incubator/Accelerator
      • Legal
      • Manufacturing
      • Medical Devices
      • Pharmaceutical
      • Premium
      • Services
      • Supplements
      • Suppliers
      • Venture Capital
  • Service Providers
    • Services
      • Analytical Chemistry
      • Animal
      • Biochemistry
      • Bioprocess Contract
      • Biorepository
      • Cell Biology
      • Cell Culture
      • Chemistry
      • Clinical Research
      • Construction
      • Consulting
      • Contract Manufacturers
      • Contract Pharma
      • Contract Research
    • Suppliers
      • Biospecimens
      • Lab Equipment
      • Manufacturing
      • Meters
      • Microarrays
      • Microscopes
      • Miscellaneous
      • Molecular Biology
      • Packaging
      • Protein
      • Reagents
      • Research Tools
      • RNAi Technology
      • Safety & Hygiene
      • Sample Prep
      • Software Quality
      • Testing Systems
      • Vacuum Equipment
  • Channels
    • Regional Channels
      • Austin
      • College Station
      • Dallas / Fort Worth
      • El Paso
      • Galveston
      • Houston
      • Lubbock
      • San Antonio
    • Topic Channels
      • Alzheimer’s
      • Autism & Autism Spectrum Disorder: What You Need To Know
      • Autosomal Recessive Disease: What You Need To Know
      • Biofuels
      • Biomarkers: What You Need To Know
      • Biomaterials – Biospecimens
      • Brain Cancer: What You Need To Know
      • Cardiovascular
      • Chagas Disease: What You Need To Know
      • Cancer
      • Clostridium Difficile: What You Need To Know
      • Crohn’s Disease: What You Need To Know
      • Cystic Fibrosis: What You Need to Know
      • Dengue Fever: What You Need To Know
      • Depression
      • Ewing’s Sarcoma: What You Need To Know
      • Genetics
      • H7N9: What You Need To Know
      • Hepatitis B: What You Need To Know
      • Infectious Disease
      • Influenza: What You Need To Know
      • Leukemia: What You Need To Know
      • Liver Cancer: What You Need To Know
      • Lung Cancer: What You Need To Know
      • Medical Device
      • Myocardial Ischemia: What You Need To Know
      • Neglected Tropical Diseases: What You Need To Know
      • Neurology
      • Obesity: What You Need To Know
      • Peter Hotez: What You Need To Know
      • Prostate Cancer: What You Need To Know
      • Quantum Dots: What You Need To Know
      • Secondary Progressive MS: What You Need To Know
      • Spinal Muscular Atrophy: What You Need To Know
      • T-Cells: What You Need To Know
      • 3D Technology: What You Need To Know
      • Triple Negative Breast Cancer: What You Need To Know
      • West Nile Virus: What You Need To Know
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Follow
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Google+
    • Linkedin
    • Pinterest
Good Bacteria In Vaginal Microbiome Protects Against HIV, UTMB Researchers Say
Home
News

Good Bacteria In Vaginal Microbiome Protects Against HIV, UTMB Researchers Say

April 1st, 2014 Sreetama Dutt 0 comments

good bacteria and HIVA recent study conducted at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) at Galveston has shown potential in finding possible “protective,” bacteria which could provide resistance against the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and its replication. This study, led by Richard Pyles, examines the symbiotic nature of microbial communities growing on Vaginal Epithelial Cells (VEC), and its possible role in preventing Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) like HIV/AIDS, according to a recent report published in PLOS One online, on March 27, 2014.

This is the first time VECs have been grown and cultured ex-vivo, mimicking the conditions suitable for growth of the Vaginal Microbiome (VMB) . The main reason for this is to study whether and how a particular bacterial community out of the VMB can alter or inhibit the replication of HIV.

Bacterial Vaginosis (BV), a pathophysiological condition where the ‘good’ bacteria are outnumbered by ‘bad’ bacteria, causing a disturbance in the health of vaginal flora and inflammation, has been shown to increase susceptibility towards HIV infection by lowering the potential of anti-retroviral drugs. Hence, maintenance of a healthy balance between the beneficial and non-beneficial bacterial communities is important.

Prophylactic treatments for vaginal infections including vaginal applicants, gels, suppositories, and rings have also failed to provide desired effects and instead have affected the populations of beneficial bacteria (eg. Lactobacillus sp.), which in turn has made the vaginal epithelia susceptible to infections. It was thus necessary to recreate similar conditions ex-vivo to check for defense mechanisms provided by the VMB against HIV. Another aim was to determine how overdose and misuse of antimicrobial drugs affected the symbiotic balance among the ‘good’ and ‘bad’ bacterial communities which alters the system’s defense mechanisms against pathogens.

Vaginal swabs, biopsies and routine gynecological examinations helped in obtaining VECs which were cultured and grown ex-vivo on petridishes in laboratory conditions. PCR analysis and genotyping helped in characterizing the communities of bacteria, which grew on the mucosal surface of these epithelial cells. Cryopreservation of VMBs helped in repeated analysis of the composition of the symbiotic flora subjected to various adverse conditions (including infections by pathogens). Hence a successful VEC-stratified multilayer culture system was created.

The research team was led by Richard Pyles from UTMB and Dr. Marc Baum, the lead scientist from Oak Crest Institute of Science, Pasadena, California. Commenting on the scope of the experiment, Dr. Baum noted, “This model is unique as it faithfully recreates the vaginal environment ex vivo, both in terms of the host cellular physiology and the associated complex vaginal microbiomes that could not previously be cultured. I believe it will be of immense value in the study of sexually transmitted infections.” To this Pyles added, ” This model will provide the opportunity to study the way that these mixed species bacterial communities change the activity of vaginal applicants including over-the-counter products like douches and prescription medications and contraceptives. These types of studies are very difficult or even impossible to complete in women who are participating in clinical trials.”

As the report suggests, surfaces with beneficial bacterial communities fared better in terms on HIV infections when treated with anti-retroviral drugs, as compared to surfaces without these bacteria. Thus, it is believed that enhancing growth of beneficial (‘good’) bacteria and maintaining homeostasis in terms of bacterial flora, can considerably reduce the chances of HIV and other STDs.

Share this article

Next article Multiple Sclerosis Treatment Natalizumab Associated With JC Virus Infection, According to New Study
Previous article Spinal Muscular Atrophy Treatment R&D Gets Boost From AveXis, REGENX Licensing Agreement

Sreetama Dutt

Sreetama Dutt studied biotechnology at SRM Institute of Science and Technology, and did her Masters in medical microbiology at University of Manchester in Manchester, UK. She is a science columnist for BioNews Texas.

Popular Tags

20th annual Vulcan Materials Funshoot 340B 2014 World Stem Cell Summit austin BIG DATA bioaustin biorepositories biospecimens blog Cancer Therapy & Research Center Chemistry Chuck Reed College Station CPRIT CPRIT Foundation crowdfunding cystic fibrosis Dallas DFW drug discount enventure fort worth Funding Galveston GlaxoSmithKline Governor Rick Perry Greatbatch Greg Abbott Health Industry Council of North Texas houston How to Support People With MS Jennifer Stevens lab Medical Device Multiple Sclerosis Multiple Sclerosis Support Obama Obamacare Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis san antonio Sante Ventures SB 149 Signs Of MS Texas A&M thbi

Archives

  • Texas’ Only Source For Biotech & Life Sciences News
  • About
  • News
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
  • Back to top
© BioNews Services
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. We never use your cookies for creepy ad retargeting that follows you around the web. OkRead more