Topical Treatment for Recurrent Vulvovaginal Diseases
- Others
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- Partent Issued in the U.S. under the number 7,335,633.
- Donders GG, Babula O, Bellen G, Linhares IM, Witkin SS. (2008).Mannose-binding lectin gene polymorphism and resistance to therapy in women withrecurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis. BJOG 115(10):1225-31.
- Giraldo PC, Babula O, Goncalves AK, Linhares IM, Amaral RL,Ledger WJ, Witkin SS. (2007). Mannose-binding lectin gene polymorphism,vulvovaginal candidiasis, and bacterial vaginosis. Obstet Gynecol 109: 1123-8.
- Sziller I, Babula O, Ujhazy A, Nagy B, Papp Z, Linhares IM,Ledger WJ, Witkin SS. (2007). Chlamydia trachomatis infection, Fallopian tubedamage and a mannose-binding lectin codon 54 gene polymorphism. Human Reprod 22:1861-5.
- Babula O, et al. (2004). Altered distribution ofmannose-binding lectin alleles at exon I codon 54 in women with vulvarvestibulitis syndrome. AmJ Obstet Gynecol. 191(3):762.e6.
- Babula O, Lazdane G, Kroica J, Ledger WJ, Witkin SS. (2003).Relation between recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis, vaginal concentrations ofmannose-binding lectin and a mannose-binding lectin gene polymorphism inLatvian women. Clin Infect Dis 37:733-737.
- *Abstract
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Mannose-binding lectin (MBL) is active in the innate immune defense against microorganisms and decreased circulating levels of MBL are associated with an increased rate of infection. MBL is present in the systemic circulation, and in the vagina, and specifically binds to mannose, N-acetyl-glucosamine and other carbohydrate molecules on microbial surfaces. This interaction initiates complement-dependent microbial killing and microbial opsonization via MBL-recognizing receptors on the surface of macrophages and dendritic cells.
Dr. Steven Witkin of the Weill Cornell Medical College determined that the presence of a mutant allele of the MBL gene increases the risk of developing recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis (RVVC) as well as vulvar vestibulitis syndrome (VVS). The low levels of vaginal MBL present in women with this polymorphism increases susceptibility to infection and development of clinical symptomatology.
RVVC is a prevalent debilitating condition where current treatments afford at best only temporary relief. Current treatments for VVS are generally ineffective.
The administration of MBL to the vagina in a topical formulation could treat and or prevent RVVC and/or VVS in patients with low MBL. It has been estimated the MBL polymorphism is very prevalent in Western populations occurring in as much as 25% of individuals. Human MBL, produced recombinantly or obtained from plasma, has shown safety in clinical trials. This topical administration directly to the site of infection improves the chances of therapeutic efficacy over other intravenous applications proposed for MBL.
- *Licensing
- Dan-Oscar Antsonda429@cornell.edu212-746-1297
- Country/Region
- USA
