Detection of biofilm and cytokines in the vaginal content of pregnant women with vulvovaginitis.

• Grant number: 25/03732-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: June 01, 2025
• End date: December 31, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Maternal and Child Health
• Principal Investigator: Bruna Ribeiro de Andrade Ramos
• Grantee: Lucas dos Santos
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina (FMB). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Botucatu. Botucatu , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Preterm birth (PTB), defined as delivery occurring before the 37th week of gestation, represents one of the main causes of neonatal mortality and is associated with various short and long-term complications, such as neurological and pulmonary injuries. Brazil is among the 10 countries with the highest PTB rates. Among the factors contributing to PTB are cervical shortening, intra-amniotic infections, and vulvovaginitis. A healthy vaginal microbiota is generally dominated by Lactobacillus spp. and plays a protective role by producing bacteriocins and lactic acid, which maintain the acidic vaginal pH. Among the most frequent vulvovaginitis, bacterial vaginosis (BV) results from the reduction or depletion of lactobacilli and an increase in anaerobic bacteria, such as Gardnerella vaginalis, increasing the risk of ascending infection and intrauterine inflammation. Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) involves the excessive proliferation of Candida spp., mainly Candida albicans, and is associated with inflammation and a higher risk of PTB, especially when recurrent. OBJECTIVE: The study aims to correlate the presence of biofilm and cytokine production (IL-10 and CXCL-8) with vulvovaginitis in pregnant women in the first and second trimesters. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study will be conducted using vaginal content samples from pregnant women in the municipality of Jaú - SP, distributed into five groups according to the diagnosis of BV, VVC, or eubiosis. The analysis involves biofilm quantification using crystal violet staining and cytokine measurement by ELISA, in addition to the application of appropriate statistical tests for verification.