湉整楲敲溃玱漠桴滗岁湩牧畯狞甠摮牥-ISHAM.doc

Working Group Interim Report 2018 1 Title of Working Group Mucosal candidiasis 2 Name(s) of Coordinator(s) Flavia de Bernardis –Stavroula Antonopoulou 3 Primary email contact for Working Group flavia.debernardis@iss.it 4 Objectives This working group is focused on the mucosal candidiasis, specifically on the recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis (RVVC). The aim of this working group is to further investigate the pathogenesis of Candida vaginitis, to provide evidence for the role of Candida virulence factors [hyphal morphogenesis, adhesion and secretion of aspartyl proteinase (Sap). To investigate the immunoresponse to vaginal candidiasis. Finally, the research had provided information for new antimicotic therapies, since the conventional therapies are not highly effective against recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis. 5 Achievements of the Working Group in last year (250 words) To get insights into molecular and cellular defects underlying recurrent vulvovaginal candidiais (RVVC) we investigated the relationship between (RVVC) and presence of immune mediators in vaginal fluids. These are preliminary results: mean of three cytokines detections in vaginal fluids of 10 women for each group (10 women with RVVC, 10 women with Candida isolation but asymptomatic and 10 healthy women) Women with RVVC showed a higher level of both IL 4 and IL 5 cytokines compared to asyptomatic women or healthy women. Women with RVVC had also higher amount ol IL-13 cytokine in the vaginal fluid than the asyptomatic and control women. In contrast, lower amount of IL-17 A was detected in vaginal fluid of women with RVVC than in asymptomatic women. In conclusion, Our preliminary data indicate that women with RVVC had statistically significant elevated concentration of IL-4, IL-5 and IL-13 in vaginal fluids. We found lower amount of IL-17A in vaginal fluid of women with RVVC than in asymptomatic women. Women with RVVC may have acquired a local immune defect which can influence the induction