Proteome profiles of vaginal fluids from women affected by bacterial vaginosis and healthy controls: outcomes of rifaximin treatment

Results: A large number of human proteins were differentially expressed in women with BV in comparison with healthy women (n ¼118) and in BV-affected women treated with rifaximin (n¼284). In both comparisons, a high proportion of the dysregulated proteins (� 20%) were involved in the innate immune response. Twenty-one of 24 proteins increased in abundance in women with BV versus healthy women and 31/59 proteins decreased after rifaximin treatment, suggesting a general reduction of the immune response resulting from the therapy. Majorchangesinproteinabundancewerefoundfollowingtreatmentwith25 mgofrifaximinoncedailyfor5 days. Conclusions:BVis associated with a massive change in theVFproteome, mainly regarding theabundance of proteins involved in the innate immune response. Rifaximin at a dosage of 25 mg for 5 days modulated the vaginal proteome, counteracting the alterations associated with the BVcondition.