Lactobacillus crispatus and Reduced Vaginal Inflammation

• Exopolysaccharides of Lactobacillus crispatus mediate key balancing interactions with the vaginal mucosa.

  • 2026-02-19
  • NPJ biofilms and microbiomes 12(1)
  • • Vanessa Croatti
    • Caroline Dricot
    • Tom Eilers
    • Jelle Dillen
    • Tim Van Rillaer
    • Eline Cauwenberghs
    • Ilke Van Tente
    • Sam Bakelants
    • Dieter Vandenheuvel
    • Camille Allonsius
    • Isabel Pintelon
    • Sofie Thys
    • Wendy Mensah
    • Marina Naldi
    • Peter A Bron
    • Stijn Wittouck
    • Irina Spacova
    • Carola Parolin
    • Beatrice Vitali
    • Sarah Lebeer

  • PubMed: 41714642
  • DOI: 10.1038/s41522-026-00937-5

  3 Insights on

  • Reduced Vaginal Inflammation

  • Low evidence

  EPS presence enhanced immune-regulatory (LAP TGF-beta-1) and anti-inflammatory (CST5) responses, whereas its absence triggered elevated pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL1β, IL6, IL8) and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP10).

  Effect

  Beneficial

  Effect size

  Moderate