• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.33-46
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• 2006

Purpose : This study was conducted to investigate effects of 7 herbs among medicinals resolving dampness with aroma on vaginal microorganisms. Methods : Staphylococcus aureus, Methicillin- resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Candida albicans and Gardnerella vaginalis were used for vaginal pathogenic microorganisms. Lactobacillus gasseri, Streptococcus spp. and Escherichia coli HB101 were used for vaginal flora. Medicinals resolving dampness with aroma, Pogostemonis Herba, Amomi Cardamomi Fructus, Amomi Semen, Atractylodis Rhizoma, Ammomi Tsao-ko Fructus, Alpiniae Katsumadaii Semen and Magnoliae Cortex were used in this study. In vitro antimicrobial activities were observed by optical density and colony test. Results : The optical density showed that Alpiniae Katsumadaii Semen and Magnoliae Cortex among medicinals resolving dampness with aroma had antimicrobial effects on pathogenic vaginal microorganisms (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus). Pogostemonis Herba, Ammomi Tsao-ko Fructus had antimicrobial effects on Gardnerella vaginalis. The colony test showed that Alpiniae Katsumadaii Semen, Magnoliae Cortex among medicinals resolving dampness with aroma had antimicrobial effects on Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Pogostemonis Herbs, Alpiniae Katsumadaii Semen had antimicrobial effects aganist Gardnerella vaginalis. The optical density showed that Magnoliae Cortex among medicinals resolving dampness with aroma had antimicrobial effect on normal vaginal microorganisms (Streptococcus spp.). The colony test showed that medicinals resolving dampness with aroma had no antimicrobial effect on normal vaginal microorganisms. Conclusion : From this study, we could suggest that Pogostemonis Herba, Ammomi Tsao-ko Fructus, Alpiniae Katsumadaii Semen, Magnoliae Cortex of medicinals resolving dampness with aroma are available to antimicrobial agent of pathogenic vaginal microorganisms in vitro.

• Journal of Menopausal Medicine
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.139-145
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• 2017

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) and complicated vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) are frequently occurring vaginal infections in postmenopausal women, caused by an imbalance in vaginal microflora. Postmenopausal women suffer from decreased ovarian hormones estrogen and progesterone. A normal, healthy vaginal microflora mainly comprises Lactobacillus species (spp.), which act beneficially as a bacterial barrier in the vagina, interfering with uropathogens. During premenopausal period, estrogen promotes vaginal colonization by lactobacilli that metabolizing glycogen and producing lactic acid, and maintains intravaginal health by lowering the intravaginal pH level. A lower vaginal pH inhibits uropathogen growth, preventing vaginal infections. Decreased estrogen secretion in postmenopausal women depletes lactobacilli and increases intravaginal pH, resulting in increased vaginal colonization by harmful microorganisms (e.g., Enterobacter, Escherichia coli, Candida, and Gardnerella). Probiotics positively effects on vaginal microflora composition by promoting the proliferation of beneficial microorganisms, alters the intravaginal microbiota composition, prevents vaginal infections in postmenopausal. Probiotics also reduce the symptoms of vaginal infections (e.g., vaginal discharge, odor, etc.), and are thus helpful for the treatment and prevention of BV and VVC. In this review article, we provide information on the intravaginal mechanism of postmenopausal vaginal infections, and describes the effectiveness of probiotics in the treatment and prevention of BV and VVC.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.17-32
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• 2006

Purpose : The aim of this study is to investigate the antibiotic effects of 14 herbs among blood-activating stasis-dispelling medicinals on vaginal microorganisms. Methods : Staphylococcus aureus, Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Candida albicans, and Gardnerella vaginalis were used for vaginal pathogenic microorganisms. Lactobacillus gasseri, Streptococcus spp. and Escherichia coli HB101 were used for vaginal normal flora. The blood-activating stasis-dispelling medicinals, Mucunae Caulis, Salviae Radix, Persicae Semen, Myrrha, Zedoariae Rhizoma, Achuranthis Radix, Leonuri Herba, Melandrii Herba, Gleditsiae Spina, Lycopi Herba, Scirpi Rhizoma, Caesalpiniae Lignum, Corydlais Tuber and Polygoni Cuspidati Radix were used in this study. In vitro antibiotic activities were observed by optical density and colony test. Results : The optical density and colony test showed that Gleditsiae Spina, Scirpi Rhizoma, Corydlais Tuber, Polygoni Cuspidati Radix and Melandrii Herba of herbs among blood-activating stasis-dispelling medicinals had antimicrobial effect. Gleditsiae Spina had antimicrobial susceptibility and selective toxicity in Gardnerella vaginalis and MRSA. Scirpi Rhizoma had antimicrobial susceptibility and selective toxicity in Staphylococcus aureus and MRSA. Corydlais Tuber had antimicrobial susceptibility and selective toxicity in MRSA. Polygoni Cuspidati Radix had antimicrobial susceptibility and selective toxicity in Gardnerella vaginalis, Staphylococcus aureus and MRSA. Melandrii Herba had antimicrobial susceptibility and selective toxicity in Gardnerella vaginalis. Conclusion : According to the above results, we could suggest that Gleditsiae Spina, Scirpi Rhizoma, Corydlais Tuber, Polygoni Cuspidati Radix and Melandrii Herba of herbs among blood-activating stasis-dispelling medicinals be available to antimicrobial agent of vaginal pathogenic microbial species in vitro.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.175-190
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• 2006

Purpose : This study was conducted to investigate the in vitro inhibitory effects of heat-clearing medicinal on common bacterias in gynecology. Methods : The heat-clearing medicinals ( Trichosanthis Radix, Sophorae Fructus, Phragmitis Rhizoma, Buddleiae Flos, Bambusae Folium, Anemarrhenae Rhizoma, Celosiae Semen, Gardeniae Fructus, Prunellae Spica, Sophorae Radix, Dictamni Radicis Cortex, Coptidis Rhizoma, Gentianae Scabrae Radix, Scutellariae Radix, Phellodendri Cortex) were used in this study. Staphylococcus aureus, MRSA, Candida albicans and Gardnerella vaginalis were used for vaginal pathogenic microorganisms. Streptococcus spp., Escherichia coli HB101, Lactobacillus gasseri were used for normal vaginal florae. We evaluated antibiotic effect by the optical density and the colony test. Results : The optical density and colony test showed that Celosiae Semen, Prunellae Spica, Scutellariae Radix and Phellodendri Cortex of herbs among heat-clearing medicinal had antimircobial effect. Celosiae Semen and Prunellae Spica had antimicrobial susceptibility and selective toxicity in MRSA. Scutellariae Radix and Phellodendri Cortex had antimicrobial susceptibility and selective toxicity in Gardnerella vaginalis. Conclusion : According to the above results, we could suggest that Celosiae Semen, Prunellae Spica, Scutellariae Radix and Phellodendri Cortex among heat-clearing medicinal be available to antimicrobial agent of vaginal pathogenic microbial species in vitro.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.35 no.11
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• pp.1808-1816
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• 2022

Objective: The study of Hanwoo (Korean native cattle) has mainly been focused on meat quality and productivity. Recently the field of microbiome research has increased dramatically. However, the information on the microbiome in Hanwoo is still insufficient, especially relationship between vagina and feces. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to examine the microbial community characteristics by analyzing the 16S rRNA sequencing data of Hanwoo vagina and feces, as well as to confirm the difference and correlation between vaginal and fecal microorganisms. As a result, the goal is to investigate if fecal microbiome can be used to predict vaginal microbiome. Methods: A total of 31 clinically healthy Hanwoo that delivered healthy calves more than once in Cheongju, South Korea were enrolled in this study. During the breeding season, we collected vaginal and fecal samples and sequenced the microbial 16S rRNA genes V3-V4 hypervariable regions from microbial DNA of samples. Results: The results revealed that the phylum-level microorganisms with the largest relative distribution were Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Proteobacteria in the vagina, and Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, and Spirochaetes in the feces, respectively. In the analysis of alpha, beta diversity, and effect size measurements (LefSe), the results showed significant differences between the vaginal and fecal samples. We also identified the function of these differentially abundant microorganisms by functional annotation analyses. But there is no significant correlation between vaginal and fecal microbiome. Conclusion: There is a significant difference between vaginal and fecal microbiome, but no significant correlation. Therefore, it is difficult to interrelate vaginal microbiome as fecal microbiome in Hanwoo. In a further study, it will be necessary to identify the genetic relationship of the entire microorganism between vagina and feces through the whole metagenome sequencing analysis and meta-transcriptome analysis to figure out their relationship.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.31 no.11
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• pp.1490-1500
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• 2021

Various microorganisms reside in the human vagina; the vaginal microbiome is closely linked to both vaginal and general health, and for this reason, microbiome studies of the vagina are an area of research. In this study, we analyzed the vaginal microbiome of women before and after menopause to further increase our understanding of the vaginal microbiome and its contribution to general health. We did a 16s rRNA gene-based metagenomic analysis on the vaginal fluids of 11 premenopausal and 19 postmenopausal women in Korea. We confirmed that the taxonomic composition was significantly different between the two groups. In postmenopausal women, species richness was significantly decreased, but species diversity was significantly increased. In particular, among the taxonomic components corresponding to all taxon ranks of the vaginal microbiome, a reduction in Lactobacillus taxa after menopause contributed the most to the difference between the two groups. In addition, we confirmed through metabolic analysis that the lactic-acid concentration was also decreased in the vaginal fluid of women after menopause. Our findings on the correlation between menopause and the microbiome could help diagnose menopause and enhance the prevention and treatment diseases related to menopause.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.109-123
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• 2023

Preterm birth (PTB) is defined as giving birth prior to the 37th week of pregnancy and is a major cause of infant mortality. Studies have indicated that the vaginal microbiota's composition and its dysbiosis, particularly during pregnancy, may play a major role in PTB. While previous research work concentrated on well-studied microorganisms such as Lactobacillus, Prevotella, Gardnerella, various other microbes, and their significance in the vaginal microbiota's stability remain unknown. Moreover, current studies have focused primarily on the relative abundances of the microbes found, without considering their interactions with other members of the vaginal microbiota. In this work, we developed a novel computational approach and performed taxonomic classification of vaginal microbiota samples stratified longitudinally (Term/PTB) to observe compositional disparities and find underexamined microbes that may be contributing to PTB. Furthermore, we carried out a correlational analysis to build a microbial co-interaction network and investigated the functional implications of the genes present in both Term and PTB samples. The co-occurrence network revealed that Lactobacillus acts in solidarity to maintain the stability of the vaginal microbiota and did not have strong co-interactions with any of the other microbes. Similarly, microbes with strong interactions with Atopobium, a well-known marker microbe of PTB, were also observed. Additionally, several genes such as PTXA, FANCM, GPX, and DUSP were found to be playing an important role in the occurrence of PTB. This study provides a novel conceptual framework revealing distinct vaginal microbiota signatures that could be potential therapeutic targets for the prevention of PTB.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.146-152
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• 2017

Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) is one of the urogenital infections occurring in women worldwide. Candida albicans is generally observed among various types of microorganisms causing VVC. Antibiotic therapy is typical, and the use of Lactobacilli probiotics is to be recognized as a promising alternative. The aim of this study was to select vaginal lactobacilli with probiotic properties against C. albicans. In a previous study, we isolated 38 lactobacilli from vagina of Korean women and 20 isolates were shown to inhibit C. albicans. We further selected 10 isolates which were able to inhibit C. albicans less than $10^5CFU/mL$. Among these selected strains, Lactobacillus salivarius MG242 (identified by 16s rRNA sequencing) was finally selected based on its strong anti-candidal activity, acid/bile salt resistance and adhesion property. Indirect adhesion activity of MG242 measured by auto-aggregation assay showed more than 60% auto-aggregation after 5 h standing. Taken these results together, the selected strain MG242 may have potential for application in vagina health related products.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.81-86
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• 2014

Lactobacilli, the dominant species of microorganisms in the vaginal flora of healthy women, play important roles to prevent bacterial vaginosis and other sexually transmitted diseases. In this study, we carried out studies on stress adaptation prior to various stress treatment. We found that heat or salt adapted KLB46 showed higher cell viability than non adapted upon heat stress at $60^{\circ}C$ for 20 min. When chloramphenicol was added during the adaptation process, heat tolerance was abolished. This result suggested that de novo protein synthesis was essential during adaptation.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.465-476
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• 2022

The importance of beneficial microorganisms, particularly probiotics, that coexist in the human body, is being increasingly recognized. Probiotics are representative health functional foods that provide health benefits to humans through the production of various metabolites, including short-chain fatty acids. However, the health benefits are strain-specific, and the use of each probiotic strain should follow guidelines that assure its safety. Accurate identification of the strain should be managed through genetic and phenotypic analyses of the strain. Besides, the functionality of probiotics should be disclosed in vitro and in vivo so that they can be used as legal functional ingredients (i.e., individual standards). In this review, we deal with the guidelines, including the technical factors related to probiotic strains. The common health effects of probiotic strains include proliferation of beneficial bacteria, control of harmful bacteria, and facilitation of bowel activities. Probiotics with various functionalities (e.g., body fat and cholesterol reduction, vaginal health, and improvement of skin's immune system) have been investigated as "individual standards of raw materials for health functional foods" provided by MFDS. In the future, various biotechnologies including synthetic biology can be applied to produce customized probiotics to improve human health.