Prevotella timonensis degrades the vaginal epithelial glycocalyx through high fucosidase and sialidase activities.

ABSTRACT: Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a polymicrobial infection of the female reproductive tract. BV is characterized by replacement of health-associated Lactobacillus species by diverse anerobic bacteria, including the well-known Gardnerella vaginalis. Prevotella timonensis, and Prevotella bivia are anerobes that are found in a significant number of BV patients, but their contributions to the disease process remain to be determined. Defining characteristics of anerobic overgrowth in BV are adherence to the mucosal surface and the increased activity of mucin-degrading enzymes such as sialidases in vaginal secretions. We demonstrate that P. timonensis, but not P. bivia, strongly adheres to vaginal and endocervical cells to a similar level as G. vaginalis but

SUBMITTER: Segui-Perez C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11389373 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature