Scientists test G. vaginalis treatment

Posted by Neil Clark

Scientists have used quantitative analysis processes to determine whether neutralising recombinant antibodies will become a novel treatment for in bacterial vaginosis.

In a study published by BMC Biotechnology journal, a team from Lithuania noted that bacterial vaginosis is often caused by gardnerella vaginalis colonising the vaginal tract, which produces protein toxin vaginolysin (VLY).

Inhibition of VLY-mediated cell lysis by antibodies may have important physiological relevance., with the team suggesting that recombinant single-chain antibodies may have the desired effect.

Using quantitative analysis processes, the scientists tested the antigen-binding activity of purified single-chain variable fragments of immunoglobulins (scFvs) and calculated apparent Kd values and found that the neutralizing potency of scFvs were in agreement with those of parental full-length antibodies.

"G. vaginalis caused infections continue to be a worldwide problem, therefore neutralizing recombinant antibodies may provide novel therapeutic agents useful in the treatment of bacterial vaginosis and other diseases caused by G. vaginalis," the report noted.