Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42536598›Full record

ArticleIntervirology2026

A Tridimensional in vitro Epithelial Model of a Simulated Vaginal Environment for the Study of

Stefania Caramaschi, Francesco Ricchi, Arianna Sala, Laura Franceschini, Luca Fabbiani, Marzia Gozzoli, Luca Reggiani Bonetti, Elisabetta Blasi, Claudio Cermelli

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In one paragraph

Article in Intervirology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Stefania CaramaschiClinical and Experimental Medicine Ph.D. Program, Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, Laboratory of Microbiology and Virology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.
Francesco RicchiClinical and Experimental Medicine Ph.D. Program, Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, Laboratory of Microbiology and Virology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.
Arianna SalaMolecular Microbiology and Virology Unit, University Hospital Policlinico, Modena, Italy.
Laura FranceschiniDepartment of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.
Luca FabbianiDepartment of Medical and Surgical Sciences for Children and Adults, Anatomic Pathology Unit, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.
Marzia GozzoliDepartment of Medical and Surgical Sciences for Children and Adults, Anatomic Pathology Unit, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.
Luca Reggiani BonettiDepartment of Medical and Surgical Sciences for Children and Adults, Anatomic Pathology Unit, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.
Elisabetta BlasiDepartment of Surgical, Medical, Dental and Morphological Sciences with interest in Transplant, Oncological and Regenerative Medicine, Laboratories of Microbiology and Virology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.
Claudio CermelliDepartment of Surgical, Medical, Dental and Morphological Sciences with interest in Transplant, Oncological and Regenerative Medicine, Laboratories of Microbiology and Virology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy, claudio.cermelli@unimore.it.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionCandida albicans (C. albicans) and herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2) are highly prevalent genital pathogens that often coexist, potentially influencing mutual replication and host responses. Building on our recent work employing mono- and coinfections in A431 epithelial cells, we developed a three-dimensional (3D) in vitro model using inert scaffolds and the presence of a synthetic vaginal fluid (SVF) to better mimic vaginal epithelium.

methodsA431 cells were cultured on inert 3D scaffolds, with or without SVF for 5 days, and then infected with C. albicans and/or HSV-2. Cell viability was assessed by LDH release, fungal burden by CFU assay, and viral load by PCR. Histological and immunohistochemical analyses were performed to evaluate epithelial structure, pathogen presence, and IL-6 production.

resultsThe A431 cells formed a multilayered epithelium on scaffolds; yet, mature epithelial phenotype markers were not detected. SVF enhanced fungal growth and viral replication during coinfection. C. albicans significantly reduced epithelial viability, whereas HSV-2 showed minimal effects; dual infection caused slightly additive damage. IL-6 was produced in both mono and double infection.

conclusionThe 3D scaffold-based model supports polymicrobial infection. Nevertheless, the lack of cell epithelial phenotype highlights the need of further strategies to more closely replicate the in vivo vaginal mucosal environment.

Indexed as

Candida albicansCoinfectionEpithelial CellsHerpesvirus 2, HumanVaginaCell LineCell SurvivalFemaleHumansInterleukin-6Viral LoadInterleukin-6A431 cellsCandida albicansHerpes simplex virus 2Polymicrobic infectionsVaginal infections

Identifiers

PMID42536598
PMCPMC13685398

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.