L. Fermentum Probiotic Strains for Vaginal Candidiasis Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current treatments for vaginal candidiasis, primarily using azole derivatives, face issues such as fungal resistance and side effects like irritation and burning, while probiotics offer a natural alternative but require specific strains with effective efficacy.
Innovation Solution
The use of specific bacterial strains, Limosilactobacillus fermentum CNCM I-5777 and I-5778, alone or in combination with Saccharomyces cerevisiae CNCM I-3856, for the prevention and treatment of vaginal candidiasis, administered in various forms including freeze-dried and lyophilized formats, effectively inhibiting Candida albicans hyphal formation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If azole derivatives are used to treat vaginal candidiasis, then antifungal efficacy is achieved, but fungal resistance develops and side effects occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses probiotic microorganisms (Lactobacillus fermentum and Saccharomyces cerevisiae) as intermediary agents to restore vaginal microbiota balance. These probiotics compete with Candida albicans for adhesion sites and nutrients, producing bacteriocins and organic acids that inhibit fungal growth without causing resistance or irritation, thus resolving the contradiction between efficacy and harmful effects
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the treatment approach from chemical antifungals to biological probiotics, altering the fundamental parameter of treatment modality. This shift from chemical to biological intervention maintains antifungal effectiveness while eliminating the problems of resistance development and side effects associated with azole derivatives
2Object-affected harmful factors
If probiotics are used as alternative treatment, then natural and safe treatment is provided, but specific effective strains must be identified
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary screening and selection of probiotic strains with proven antifungal activity against Candida albicans. By pre-identifying and characterizing effective strains (Lactobacillus fermentum CNCM I-5777 and Saccharomyces cerevisiae CNCM I-3856) before clinical application, the complexity of strain selection is reduced while ensuring therapeutic effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the approach from using generic probiotics to using specifically characterized strains with documented antifungal properties. This parameter change from general to specific strain selection simplifies the treatment protocol while maintaining safety and effectiveness
3Productivity
If recurrent vaginal yeast infections occur, then treatment frequency increases, but resistance to existing treatments develops
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs probiotic microorganisms as intermediary agents that restore the natural protective microbiota in the vagina. These probiotics establish long-term colonization that provides continuous protection against Candida overgrowth, reducing the need for repeated antifungal treatments and preventing resistance development through biological rather than chemical intervention
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables the vaginal ecosystem to restore its own natural defense mechanisms by introducing beneficial probiotic strains. The probiotics produce substances that inhibit Candida growth and compete for adhesion sites, allowing the body's natural protective systems to function effectively without relying on external chemical antifungals, thereby reducing treatment frequency and maintaining effectiveness
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a Limosilactobacillus fermentum strain chosen from the strain deposited with the CNCM on 17 November 2021 under number I-5777 or under number I-5778, for use thereof in the prevention and/or treatment of vaginal candidiasis. The invention further relates to a Limosilactobacillus fermentum strain as defined above, characterized in that it is used in combination with the Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain deposited with the CNCM on 17 October 2007 under number I-3856, for use thereof in the prevention and/or treatment of vaginal candidiasis.