Vaginal biosurfactant: a novel bio- and eco-compatible anti- agent.

Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) and recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis (RVVC), caused by spp. overgrowth, are common and challenging infections of the genital tract. Among virulence factors, the ability to adhere to host epithelium and to form biofilms are frequently retrieved, especially in RVVC. Vaginal pathogen overgrowth is counteracted by resident lactobacilli, which exert a barrier thanks to the production of antimicrobial metabolites, such as biosurfactants (BS). BS was recovered from vaginal BC12 and its chemical characteristics as well as its ability to lower the surface tension and to emulsify two different immiscible phases were investigated. BS showed the typical features of a lipopeptide with a critical micellar concentration of 1.2 mg/mL. BS showed antibiofilm activity towards various and non- isolates, notably, it was able to prevent biofilm formation and eradicate preformed biofilms. The absence of cytotoxicity of BS and its ability to counteract the adhesion of spp. were highlighted on HeLa cells through MTT and competition/exclusion assays, respectively. The environmental impact of BS was also investigated on a microcosm model (spring water) by culture-based and molecular (16S rRNA-targeted Illumina sequencing) methods, and no remarkable modifications in the taxonomy composition of the bacterial ecosystem were observed. To conclude, BS from BC12 appears as a promising, biocompatible and environmentally friendly approach to prevent and treat VVC/RVVC.