Lactobacillus iners growth inhibition by cystine uptake inhibitors is a target for shifting cervicovaginal microbiota towards lactobacillus crispatus-dominant communities

Abstract

Cervicovaginal microbiota domination by Lactobacillus crispatus is associated with beneficial health outcomes, whereas Lactobacillus iners dominance has more adverse associations. However bacterial vaginosis (BV) treatment typically leads to domination by L. iners rather than L. crispatus. L. iners differs from other lactobacilli by its inability to grow in Lactobacillus MRS media. We hypothesized that investigating this growth difference would identify targets for selective L. iners inhibition.