The in vitro Activity of Vaginal Lactobacillus With Probiotic Properties Against Candida

Abstract

Lactobacilli, the predominant vaginal microorganisms in healthy premenopausal women, control other members of the vaginal microflora and thus protect against bacterial vaginosis and urinary tract infections. It has been claimed that some lactobacilli are also protective against Candida vaginitis. Little is known, however, about the mechanisms by which these lactobacilli can control vaginal populations of Candida and prevent vaginitis. To address this question, vaginal Lactobacillus strains with known antagonistic properties against bacteria were tested for their cell surface properties, adhesion to vaginal cell lines in vitro and antagonistic activities against Candida. A small proportion of the lactobacilli tested adhered strongly to cultured vaginal epithelial cells and inhibited growth of Candida albicans but not of C. pseudotropicalis. This anticandidal activity was in some Lactobacillus strains related to hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) production, but catalase treatment did not suppress this activity in other Lactobacillus strains, suggesting alternative mechanism(s). Moreover, tested vaginal Candida strains were resistant to relatively high concentrations of H2O2 that markedly exceeded those produced by even the most active Lactobacillus strains.

The Highly Autoaggregative and Adhesive Phenotype of the Vaginal Lactobacillus plantarum Strain CMPG5300 Is Sortase Dependent

“…The srtA mutant of L. plantarum showed a significant reduction in its ability to adhere to VK2/E6E7 cells. Our results also suggest that autoaggregation and adhesion to vag- Formation of biofilms by Lactobacillus strains is also an interesting phenotype, which has been shown to be related to the expression of potential probiotic properties in some L. reuteri strains (48) and to the prevention of the overgrowth and proliferation of Candida by other lactobacilli (49). In situ formation of loose, nonadherent bacterial biofilms by lactobacilli from vaginal biopsy specimens from women without genital infections was shown by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis by Verstraelen and Swidsinski (50).…”

Anticandidal activity of cell extracts from 13 probiotic Lactobacillus strains and characterisation of lactic acid and a novel fatty acid derivative from one strain

“…There are several reports about antimicrobial activity of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) (Ström, Sjogren, Broberg and Schnurer, 2002). Most of the antimicrobial activities of the probiotic organisms are attributed to organic acids, low pH and protein-like substances (Atanassova et al, 2003;De Muynck, Leroy, De Maeseneire, Arnaut, Soetaert, & Vandamme, 2004;Strus, Kucharska, Kukla, Brzychczy-Wloch, Maresz, & Heczko, 2005).…”

Antibacterial and Antioxidant Activity of Extracts from Selected Probiotic Bacteria

“…The potential health benefits of probiotics include improvement in gut health and lactose intolerance, prevention of diarrhoea, constipation alleviation, reduction in serum cholesterol, prevention of vaginitis and intestinal infections, management of diabetes mellitus, prevention of hepatic diseases and inflammatory bowel disease, risk reduction in colon tumours and cancer, oxidative stress reduction and host immune system modulation (Marchand & Vandenplas, 2000;Holzapfel & Schillinger, 2002;Blandino et al, 2003;Franz et al, 2003;Rousseau et al, 2005;Shen et al, 2011;Ejtahed et al, 2012;Li et al, 2012;Sharma et al, 2014;Nyanzi et al, 2014). A number of probiotic strains antagonize enteropathogens and the proposed mechanisms (although not always clear) include competition for nutrients and receptor sites, aggregation with bacterial pathogens and hydrogen peroxide production, production of bacteriocins (protein-like substances) and, stimulation of the immune system (Shalev et al, 1996;Atanassova et al, 2003;Strus et al, 2005;Guéniche et al, 2010;Bendali et al, 2011;Nyanzi et al, 2014).…”