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D. A. Eschenbach, S. S. Thwin, D. L. Patton, T. M. Hooton, A. E. Stapleton, K. Agnew, C. Winter, A. Meier and W. E. Stamm, “Influence of the Normal Menstrual Cycle on Vaginal Tissue, Discharge, and Microflora,” Clinical Infectious Diseases, Vol. 30, No. 6, 2000, pp. 901-907. doi:10.1086/313818

has been cited by the following article:

• TITLE: Protection of Vaginal Epithelial Cells with Probiotic Lactobacilli and the Effect of Estrogen against Infection by Candida albicans

  AUTHORS: R. Doug Wagner, Shemedia J. Johnson, Danielle R. Tucker

  KEYWORDS: Probiotic; Epithelial Cells; Candidiasis; Estrogen; Candida albicans

  JOURNAL NAME: Open Journal of Medical Microbiology, Vol.2 No.3, September 26, 2012

  ABSTRACT: Some probiotic strains of lactobacilli appear to be protective against vulvovaginal candidiasis. The vaginal epithelial cell line (VK2 E6/E7) was used as a model to assess the protective mechanisms of probiotic lactobacilli for cells chal- lenged with Candida albicans. Co-culture of VK2 cells with Lactobacillus rhamnosus GR-1 and Lactobacillus reuteri RC-14 prior to C. albicans challenge showed reduced adherence of C. albicans to the VK2 cells and inhibition of C. albicans growth. H2O2 concentrations of 0.3 μg/ml, produced by lactobacilli and estrogen-primed VK2 cells, were inhi-bitory to C. albicans growth. C. albicans growth was also inhibited by 10 μg/ml lactic acid. C. albicans infection was increased by 17β-estradiol through induction of hyphal germination. L. reuteri RC-14, but not L. rhamnosus GR-1, H2O2, or lactic acid inhibited estrogen-stimulated hyphal germination. The results of this study support a role for H2O2 and lactic acid from probiotic bacteria in vaginal epithelial protection from candidiasis and a role for 17β-estradiol in the disease by induction of C. albicans hyphal germination.