The Role of Sialidases in the Development of Bacterial Vaginosis and their Use as Potential Markers in the Diagnosis of Vaginal Infections

Małgorzata Bodaszewska-Lubaś; Karolina Kot; Monika Brzychczy-Włoch

doi:10.2478/am-2026-0003

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The Role of Sialidases in the Development of Bacterial Vaginosis and their Use as Potential Markers in the Diagnosis of Vaginal Infections

Advancements of Microbiology

Volume 65 (2026): Issue 1 (March 2026)

By: Małgorzata Bodaszewska-Lubaś , Karolina Kot and Monika Brzychczy-Włoch

Open Access

|Mar 2026

Abstract

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is an inflammatory condition of the vagina with a polyetiological origin, most commonly associated with an overgrowth of anaerobic bacteria such as Gardnerella vaginalis or Prevotella spp. Pathogens compromise the protective barrier of the vagina through multiple mechanisms. Sialidases, key virulence factors of BV pathogens, desialylate vaginal glycans, altering their structure and function. Point-of-care tests based on sialidase activity are available for diagnostics. This work reviews the role of sialidases in BV pathophysiology, focusing on their effects on mucosal integrity and biofilm formation, as well as their potential diagnostic and therapeutic applications.

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Articles in this issue

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/am-2026-0003 | Journal eISSN: 2545-3149 | Journal ISSN: 0079-4252

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Language: English, Polish

Page range: 24 - 32

Submitted on: Nov 15, 2025

Accepted on: Feb 6, 2026

Published on: Mar 31, 2026

Published by: Polish Society of Microbiologists

In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services

Publication frequency: 4 issues per year

Keywords:

bacterial vaginosis,

diagnostic test,

G. vaginalis,

glycans,

POCT,

sialidases

Related subjects:

Life sciences,

Microbiology and virology

© 2026 Małgorzata Bodaszewska-Lubaś, Karolina Kot, Monika Brzychczy-Włoch, published by Polish Society of Microbiologists
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Volume 65 (2026): Issue 1 (March 2026)