Bacterial vaginosis (BV), the most common condition affecting the female reproductive system in women aged 15 to 44, is linked to such serious health risks as premature birth, gynecological malignancies and sexually transmitted diseases. transmissible.

But effective long-term treatments for BV are limited: according to several studies, more than half experience a recurrence within six months.

Thanks to a $1.5 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), researchers at the Case Western Reserve School of Medicine will study the dynamics of BV in hopes of identifying a more effective approach.

We hope to better understand health promotion within humans. microbiota and find better ways to prevent and treat infections involving multiple types of bacteria. This research is a promising step toward better treatments for BV and highlights Case Western Reserve’s commitment to advancing women’s health. »

Gina Lewin, Assistant Professor, Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve School of Medicine

BV, which causes pain, odor and discharge, in addition to possible serious health risks, results from an imbalance of vaginal bacteria.

Lewin and his team of microbial ecologists – ; are also part of the Center for Global Health and Disease at Case Western Reserve – ; will study the diversity of bacteria in the vaginal microbiome at the single-cell level. They will focus on the different strains of bacteria present and their individual behaviors.

Lewin’s approach will examine genetic variations within thousands of bacterial cells in the vaginal microbiome, which could help understand how BV develops and why some women respond better to treatment than others. This aspect of the study will work with patient groups established in collaboration with researchers at the University of Manitoba, Canada.

Additionally, researchers will examine how individual bacterial cells behave and interact with a host environment, using advanced sequencing technology.