Isolation of Vaginal Lactobacilli and Characterization of Anti-Candida Activity.

Healthy vaginal microbiota is dominated by Lactobacillus spp., which form a critical line of defence against pathogens, including Candida spp. The present study aims to identify vaginal lactobacilli exerting in vitro activity against Candida spp. and to characterize their antifungal mechanisms of ac...

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Main Authors: Carola Parolin, Antonella Marangoni, Luca Laghi, Claudio Foschi, Rogers Alberto Ñahui Palomino, Natalia Calonghi, Roberto Cevenini, Beatrice Vitali
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2015-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0131220
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author Carola Parolin
Antonella Marangoni
Luca Laghi
Claudio Foschi
Rogers Alberto Ñahui Palomino
Natalia Calonghi
Roberto Cevenini
Beatrice Vitali
author_facet Carola Parolin
Antonella Marangoni
Luca Laghi
Claudio Foschi
Rogers Alberto Ñahui Palomino
Natalia Calonghi
Roberto Cevenini
Beatrice Vitali
author_sort Carola Parolin
collection DOAJ
description Healthy vaginal microbiota is dominated by Lactobacillus spp., which form a critical line of defence against pathogens, including Candida spp. The present study aims to identify vaginal lactobacilli exerting in vitro activity against Candida spp. and to characterize their antifungal mechanisms of action. Lactobacillus strains were isolated from vaginal swabs of healthy premenopausal women. The isolates were taxonomically identified to species level (L. crispatus B1-BC8, L. gasseri BC9-BC14 and L. vaginalis BC15-BC17) by sequencing the 16S rRNA genes. All strains produced hydrogen peroxide and lactate. Fungistatic and fungicidal activities against C. albicans, C. glabrata, C. krusei, C. tropicalis, C. parapsilosis and C. lusitaniae were evaluated by broth micro-dilution method. The broadest spectrum of activity was observed for L. crispatus BC1, BC4, BC5 and L. vaginalis BC15, demonstrating fungicidal activity against all isolates of C. albicans and C. lusitaniae. Metabolic profiles of lactobacilli supernatants were studied by 1H-NMR analysis. Metabolome was found to be correlated with both taxonomy and activity score. Exclusion, competition and displacement experiments were carried out to investigate the interference exerted by lactobacilli toward the yeast adhesion to HeLa cells. Most Lactobacillus strains significantly reduced C. albicans adhesion through all mechanisms. In particular, L. crispatus BC2, L. gasseri BC10 and L. gasseri BC11 appeared to be the most active strains in reducing pathogen adhesion, as their effects were mediated by both cells and supernatants. Inhibition of histone deacetylases was hypothesised to support the antifungal activity of vaginal lactobacilli. Our results are prerequisites for the development of new therapeutic agents based on probiotics for prophylaxis and adjuvant therapy of Candida infection.
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spelling doaj.art-2931ae8c89e94fe885ace91622446e9d2022-12-21T19:12:06ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032015-01-01106e013122010.1371/journal.pone.0131220Isolation of Vaginal Lactobacilli and Characterization of Anti-Candida Activity.Carola ParolinAntonella MarangoniLuca LaghiClaudio FoschiRogers Alberto Ñahui PalominoNatalia CalonghiRoberto CeveniniBeatrice VitaliHealthy vaginal microbiota is dominated by Lactobacillus spp., which form a critical line of defence against pathogens, including Candida spp. The present study aims to identify vaginal lactobacilli exerting in vitro activity against Candida spp. and to characterize their antifungal mechanisms of action. Lactobacillus strains were isolated from vaginal swabs of healthy premenopausal women. The isolates were taxonomically identified to species level (L. crispatus B1-BC8, L. gasseri BC9-BC14 and L. vaginalis BC15-BC17) by sequencing the 16S rRNA genes. All strains produced hydrogen peroxide and lactate. Fungistatic and fungicidal activities against C. albicans, C. glabrata, C. krusei, C. tropicalis, C. parapsilosis and C. lusitaniae were evaluated by broth micro-dilution method. The broadest spectrum of activity was observed for L. crispatus BC1, BC4, BC5 and L. vaginalis BC15, demonstrating fungicidal activity against all isolates of C. albicans and C. lusitaniae. Metabolic profiles of lactobacilli supernatants were studied by 1H-NMR analysis. Metabolome was found to be correlated with both taxonomy and activity score. Exclusion, competition and displacement experiments were carried out to investigate the interference exerted by lactobacilli toward the yeast adhesion to HeLa cells. Most Lactobacillus strains significantly reduced C. albicans adhesion through all mechanisms. In particular, L. crispatus BC2, L. gasseri BC10 and L. gasseri BC11 appeared to be the most active strains in reducing pathogen adhesion, as their effects were mediated by both cells and supernatants. Inhibition of histone deacetylases was hypothesised to support the antifungal activity of vaginal lactobacilli. Our results are prerequisites for the development of new therapeutic agents based on probiotics for prophylaxis and adjuvant therapy of Candida infection.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0131220
spellingShingle Carola Parolin
Antonella Marangoni
Luca Laghi
Claudio Foschi
Rogers Alberto Ñahui Palomino
Natalia Calonghi
Roberto Cevenini
Beatrice Vitali
Isolation of Vaginal Lactobacilli and Characterization of Anti-Candida Activity.
PLoS ONE
title Isolation of Vaginal Lactobacilli and Characterization of Anti-Candida Activity.
title_full Isolation of Vaginal Lactobacilli and Characterization of Anti-Candida Activity.
title_fullStr Isolation of Vaginal Lactobacilli and Characterization of Anti-Candida Activity.
title_full_unstemmed Isolation of Vaginal Lactobacilli and Characterization of Anti-Candida Activity.
title_short Isolation of Vaginal Lactobacilli and Characterization of Anti-Candida Activity.
title_sort isolation of vaginal lactobacilli and characterization of anti candida activity
url https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0131220
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