Rifaximin modulates the vaginal microbiome and metabolome in women affected by bacterial vaginosis.
Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a common vaginal disorder characterized by the decrease of lactobacilli and overgrowth of Gardnerella vaginalis and resident anaerobic vaginal bacteria. In the present work, the effects of rifaximin vaginal tablets on vaginal microbiota and metabolome of women affected by BV were investigated by combining quantitative PCR and a metabolomic approach based on (1)H nuclear magnetic resonance. To highlight the general trends of the bacterial communities and metabolomic profiles in response to the antibiotic/placebo therapy, a multivariate statistical strategy was set up based on the trajectories traced by vaginal samples in a principal component analysis space. Our data demonstrated the efficacy of rifaximin in restoring a health-like condition in terms of both bacterial communities and metabolomic features. In particular, rifaximin treatment was significantly associated with an increase in the lactobacillus/BV-related bacteria ratio, as well as with an increase in lactic acid concentration and a decrease of a pool of metabolites typically produced by BV-related bacteria (acetic acid, succinate, short-chain fatty acids, and biogenic amines). Among the tested dosages of rifaximin (100 and 25 mg for 5 days and 100 mg for 2 days), 25 mg for 5 days was found to be the most effective.
Centre of Foodomics, Department of Agro-Food Science and Technology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy l.laghi@unibo.it.
Luca
L
Laghi
Centre of Foodomics, Department of Agro-Food Science and Technology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
Gianfranco
G
Picone
Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
Federica
F
Cruciani
Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
Patrizia
P
Brigidi
Alfa Wassermann S.p.A., Bologna, Italy.
Fiorella
F
Calanni
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, General Hospital Heilig Hart, Tienen, and University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.
Gilbert
G
Donders
Centre of Foodomics, Department of Agro-Food Science and Technology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
Francesco
F
Capozzi
Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
Beatrice
B
Vitali
D019342:Acetic Acid; D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006194:Gardnerella vaginalis / Q000254:growth & development*; D006801:Humans; D019344:Lactic Acid; D007778:Lactobacillus / Q000254:growth & development; D008297:Male; D055442:Metabolome; D064307:Microbiota; D008875:Middle Aged; D012294:Rifamycins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000078262:Rifaximin; D019802:Succinic Acid; D014621:Vagina / Q000382:microbiology; D016585:Vaginosis, Bacterial / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D012294:Rifamycins; D019344:Lactic Acid; D019802:Succinic Acid; D000078262:Rifaximin; D019342:Acetic Acid