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Probiotics are living microbes that provide benefits to the host. The growing data on health promotion, following probiotics administration, increased interest among researchers and pharmaceutical companies. Infections of the lower genital tract in females, caused by a wide range of pathogens, represent one of the main areas for the use of probiotics and postbiotics. Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) affects 75% of women of reproductive age at least once during their lifetime, with 5–8% developing the recurrent form (RVVC). The disease is triggered by the overgrowth of Candida on the vaginal mucosa. Here, in order to establish its probiotic potential in the context of VVC, we evaluated the anti-fungal effects of the spore-producing Bacillus coagulans LMG S-24828 against C. albicans and C. parapsilosis as well as its beneficial effects in counteracting Candida vaginal infection in vitro. Our results show that both live B. coagulans and its Cell-Free Supernatant (CFS) exerted antifungal activity against both fungi. Moreover, live B. coagulans reduced hyphal formation, inhibited C. albicans adhesion to vaginal epithelial cells, showed co-aggregation capacity, and exerted a protective effect on vaginal epithelial cells infected with C. albicans. These data suggest that B. coagulans LMG S-24828 may provide benefits in the context of Candida vaginal infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Candida albicans (C. albicans) can behave as a commensal yeast colonizing the vaginal mucosa, and in this condition is tolerated by the epithelium. When the epithelial tolerance breaks down, due to C. albicans overgrowth and hyphae formation, the generated inflammatory response and cell damage lead to vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) symptoms. Here, we focused on the induction of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mtROS) in vaginal epithelial cells after C. albicans infection and the involvement of fungal burden, morphogenesis and candidalysin (CL) production in such induction. Bioluminescent (BLI) C. albicans, C. albicans PCA-2 and C. albicans 529L strains were employed in an in vitro infection model including reconstituted vaginal epithelium cells (RVE), produced starting from A-431 cell line. The production of mtROS was kinetically measured by using MitoSOX™ Red probe. The potency of C. albicans to induced cell damage to RVE and C. albicans proliferation have also been evaluated. C. albicans induces a rapid mtROS release from vaginal epithelial cells, in parallel with an increase of the fungal load and hyphal formation. Under the same experimental conditions, the 529L C. albicans strain, known to be defective in CL production, induced a minor mtROS release showing the key role of CL in causing epithelial mithocondrial activation. C. albicans PCA-2, unable to form hyphae, induced comparable but slower mtROS production as compared to BLI C. albicans yeasts. By reducing mtROS through a ROS scavenger, an increased fungal burden was observed during RVE infection but not in fungal cultures grown on abiotic surface. Collectively, we conclude that CL, more than fungal load and hyphae formation, seems to play a key role in the rapid activation of mtROS by epithelial cells and in the induction of cell-damage and that mtROS are key elements in the vaginal epithelial cells response to C. albicans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This contribution illustrates a new type of map, the "geological event map" (1:250,000 scale), which highlights the progressive steps of the geologic history recorded in the polycyclic orogenic belt of the European Alps, at their southwestern termination facing the western Mediterranean Sea. The formula of historical progression simplifies comprehension of significant phenomenal visions and reorients public curiosity towards geologic processes. This part of the Alpine belt records a geologic history starting with the Variscan convergence during Devonian, throughout the opening of the Tethys Ocean, Alpine convergence, followed by Apennine subduction driving the opening of the Ligurian-Provençal Ocean. Finally, from late Miocene to Present a progressive tectonic inversion characterizes the Ligurian-Provençal continental margin. This geologic history, over a time period of 400 million years, which includes three successive Wilson Cycles, is displayed in 8 plates composed of maps and illustrations. Each map explains the effects of successive tectonic events by adding geologic changes that modify the petrogenetic and structural configurations. The last plate shows the finite state of the geologic history at present-time. The map legend is based on ten major geodynamic events of which rock associations, and their genetic environment, are described in simple divulgation terms, to stimulate interest of neophytes. Illustration of the evolution of rocks and structures side of each map aims at conveying to non specialists in tectonics and petrology the impact of mechanisms associated with the Earth's deep engine upon surface changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]