Researchers and clinicians from around the world congregate to discuss findings and treatments for the most common cause of vaginal symptoms
HAMILTON, N.J., July 3, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — Genesis Biotechnology Group (GBG) sponsored a two-day symposium on June 18th and 19th entitled "The Vaginal Microbiome and Bacterial Vaginosis." Researchers and clinicians from the United States and around the world including from, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Germany and the United Kingdom gathered on the GBG campus to discuss the current state of Bacterial Vaginosis (BV) research and patient therapy.
BV is the most common cause of vaginal symptoms, affecting almost 30% of women of reproductive age in the United States and is associated with increased rates of sexually transmitted infections, preterm labor, pelvic inflammatory disease, endometritis, and post-operative obstetric and gynecologic surgical infections. Furthermore, with limited treatment options, approximately 58% of women treated for BV will have a recurrent episode within a year.
BV is an imbalance in the vaginal microflora. Healthy vaginal flora is typically dominated by one or two bacteria namely, Lactobacillus spp., that secrete lactic acid to maintain a low vaginal pH and antimicrobial molecules to maintain vaginal bacterial balance. At the symposium, these experts in the field discussed the vaginal microbiome, epidemiology, metabolic characteristics, and the interactions of these bacteria and vaginal epithelial cells. These research findings provide important implications for understanding BV, BV recurrence, and improved methods of BV therapy. The identification of unique and consensus vaginal microbial, metabolic, and host innate immune response signatures holds great promise for the early recognition and treatment of patients that suffer from acute and recurrent BV.
A major initiative of GBG is the support of basic and translational research to promote Women's Health. GBG established the Femeris Women's Health Research Center, whose goal is to collaborate with the research and medical community to understand medical issues that affect women's health and translate research findings to advance clinical diagnostics and drug discovery, ultimately leading to new and improved medical therapy.
To find out more, please visit www.genesisbiotechgroup.com
Contact:
Scott Gygax, Ph.D.
Email
609.570.1015