Prebiotic Combinations Effects on the Colonization of Staphylococcal Skin Strains

Abstract

Background: An unbalanced skin microbiota due to an increase in pathogenic vs. commensal bacteria can be efficiently tackled by using prebiotics. The aim of this work was to identify novel prebiotic combinations by exerting species-specific action between S. aureus and S. epidermidis strains. Methods: First, the antimicrobial/antibiofilm effect of Xylitol-XYL and Galacto-OligoSaccharides–GOS combined with each other at different concentrations (1, 2.5, 5%) against S. aureus and S. epidermidis clinical strains was evaluated in time. Second, the most species-specific concentration was used to combine XYL with Fructo-OligoSaccharides–FOS, IsoMalto-Oligosaccharides–IMO, ArabinoGaLactan–LAG, inulin, dextran. Experiments were performed by OD600 detection, biomass quantification and LIVE/DEAD staining. Results: 1% XYL + 1% GOS showed the best species-specific action with an immediate antibacterial/antibiofilm action against S. aureus strains (up to 34.54% ± 5.35/64.68% ± 4.77) without a relevant effect on S. epidermidis. Among the other prebiotic formulations, 1% XYL plus 1% FOS (up to 49.17% ± 21.46/37.59% ± 6.34) or 1% IMO (up to 41.28% ± 4.88/36.70% ± 10.03) or 1% LAG (up to 38.21% ± 5.31/83.06% ± 5.11) showed antimicrobial/antibiofilm effects similar to 1% XYL+1% GOS. For all tested formulations, a prevalent bacteriostatic effect in the planktonic phase and a general reduction of S. aureus biofilm formation without loss of viability were recorded. Conclusion: The combinations of 1% XYL with 1% GOS or 1% FOS or 1% IMO or 1% LAG may help to control the balance of skin microbiota, representing good candidates for topic formulations.

The Role of Intravaginal Prebiotics in Controlling the Evolution of Uncomplicated Bacterial and Fungal Vaginal Infections

“…No patient reported any adverse effect throughout the treatment period. From our knowledge it is the first report of the effectiveness of α-glyco-oligosaccharides and xylitol combination in eradication the pathogens with preservation of local healthy flora in vaginal administration; previous signalled reports have tested this combination to eradicate pathogen flora from skin [16]. Also most of the reports for vaginal use of prebiotics [9,10] explore their efficacy using instruments that pointed out only their preventive action, such as Nugent score and vaginal smear pH that provide information only regarding lactobacilli population versus and some strains involved in bacterial vaginosis (Gardnerella).…”

Prebiotic effect of galacto‐oligosaccharides on the skin microbiota and determination of their diffusion properties

“…In the initial stage of the experimental work, screening of the optimum concentration of this prebiotic was performed in view of achieving the highest performance on stimulation and inhibition of S. epidermidis and S. aureus growth, respectively. To this end, nutrient media (nutrient broth) supplemented with GOS powder in three different concentrations (1% (w/v), 2% (w/v), and 5% (w/v)) were employed, where the range of examined concentrations was chosen on the basis of previously published studies concerning prebiotic influence on skin microbiota [5].…”

Complex Chronic Wound Biofilms Are Inhibited in vitro by the Natural Extract of Capparis spinose

“…Cell viability was evaluated by using Live/Dead staining (Molecular Probes Inc., Invitrogen, San Giuliano Milanese, Italy) according to Turnbull and Whitchurch (2014) and Di Lodovico et al (2019) . The number of viable and dead cells was determined by using an image analysis software (LEICA QWin) through the examination of at least 10 random fields of view, and the counts were repeated independently by three blinded microbiologists ( Di Lodovico et al, 2020a ).…”