Do nomadic lactobacilli fit as potential vaginal probiotics? The answer lies in a successful selective multi-step and scoring approach
Abstract Background The goal of this study was to create a multi-strain probiotic gel that would foster a lactobacilli-dominated vaginal microbiota in pregnant women and ensure appropriate eubiosis for the newborn. Nomadic lactobacilli (95 strains), mostly isolated from food sources, were preliminar...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2023-02-01
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| Series: | Microbial Cell Factories |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12934-023-02030-4 |
| _version_ | 1811165623759142912 |
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| author | Claudia Cappello Marta Acin-Albiac Daniela Pinto Andrea Polo Pasquale Filannino Fabio Rinaldi Marco Gobbetti Raffaella Di Cagno |
| author_facet | Claudia Cappello Marta Acin-Albiac Daniela Pinto Andrea Polo Pasquale Filannino Fabio Rinaldi Marco Gobbetti Raffaella Di Cagno |
| author_sort | Claudia Cappello |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The goal of this study was to create a multi-strain probiotic gel that would foster a lactobacilli-dominated vaginal microbiota in pregnant women and ensure appropriate eubiosis for the newborn. Nomadic lactobacilli (95 strains), mostly isolated from food sources, were preliminarily screened for functional traits before being characterized for their capability to inhibit the two vaginal pathogens Streptococcus agalactiae and Candida albicans, which may lead to adverse pregnancy-related outcomes. Eight best-performing strains were chosen and furtherly investigated for their ability to produce biofilm. Lastly, the two selected potential probiotic candidates were analyzed in vitro for their ability to reduce the inflammation caused by C. albicans infection on the reconstituted human vaginal epithelium (HVE). Results Lactiplantibacillus plantarum produced both isomers of lactic acid, while Lacticaseibacillus paracasei produced only l-isomer. The production of hydrogen peroxide was strain-dependent, with the highest concentrations found within Lact. paracasei strains. The auto-aggregation capacity and hydrophobicity traits were species-independent. S. agalactiae 88II3 was strongly inhibited both at pH 7.0 and 4.0, whereas the inhibition of C. albicans UNIBZ54 was less frequent. Overall, L. plantarum strains had the highest pathogen inhibition and functional scoring. L. plantarum C5 and POM1, which were selected as potential probiotic candidates also based on their ability to form biofilms, were able to counteract the inflammation process caused by C. albicans infection in the HVE model. Conclusions Our multi-step and cumulative scoring-based approach was proven successful in mining and highlighting the probiotic potential of two nomadic lactobacilli strains (L. plantarum C5 and POM1), being applicable to preserve and improve human vaginal health. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T15:39:40Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3da472110c3c4f59bf93080d47510271 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1475-2859 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T15:39:40Z |
| publishDate | 2023-02-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Microbial Cell Factories |
| spelling | doaj.art-3da472110c3c4f59bf93080d475102712023-02-12T12:26:30ZengBMCMicrobial Cell Factories1475-28592023-02-0122111510.1186/s12934-023-02030-4Do nomadic lactobacilli fit as potential vaginal probiotics? The answer lies in a successful selective multi-step and scoring approachClaudia Cappello0Marta Acin-Albiac1Daniela Pinto2Andrea Polo3Pasquale Filannino4Fabio Rinaldi5Marco Gobbetti6Raffaella Di Cagno7Faculty of Science and Technology, Free University of BolzanoFaculty of Science and Technology, Free University of BolzanoHuman Microbiome Advanced Project, Research & DevelopmentFaculty of Science and Technology, Free University of BolzanoDepartment of Soil, Plant and Food Science, University of Bari Aldo MoroHuman Microbiome Advanced Project, Research & DevelopmentFaculty of Science and Technology, Free University of BolzanoFaculty of Science and Technology, Free University of BolzanoAbstract Background The goal of this study was to create a multi-strain probiotic gel that would foster a lactobacilli-dominated vaginal microbiota in pregnant women and ensure appropriate eubiosis for the newborn. Nomadic lactobacilli (95 strains), mostly isolated from food sources, were preliminarily screened for functional traits before being characterized for their capability to inhibit the two vaginal pathogens Streptococcus agalactiae and Candida albicans, which may lead to adverse pregnancy-related outcomes. Eight best-performing strains were chosen and furtherly investigated for their ability to produce biofilm. Lastly, the two selected potential probiotic candidates were analyzed in vitro for their ability to reduce the inflammation caused by C. albicans infection on the reconstituted human vaginal epithelium (HVE). Results Lactiplantibacillus plantarum produced both isomers of lactic acid, while Lacticaseibacillus paracasei produced only l-isomer. The production of hydrogen peroxide was strain-dependent, with the highest concentrations found within Lact. paracasei strains. The auto-aggregation capacity and hydrophobicity traits were species-independent. S. agalactiae 88II3 was strongly inhibited both at pH 7.0 and 4.0, whereas the inhibition of C. albicans UNIBZ54 was less frequent. Overall, L. plantarum strains had the highest pathogen inhibition and functional scoring. L. plantarum C5 and POM1, which were selected as potential probiotic candidates also based on their ability to form biofilms, were able to counteract the inflammation process caused by C. albicans infection in the HVE model. Conclusions Our multi-step and cumulative scoring-based approach was proven successful in mining and highlighting the probiotic potential of two nomadic lactobacilli strains (L. plantarum C5 and POM1), being applicable to preserve and improve human vaginal health.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12934-023-02030-4Vaginal microbiotaVaginal ecosystemNomadic lactobacilliProbioticsPathogens inhibition screening |
| spellingShingle | Claudia Cappello Marta Acin-Albiac Daniela Pinto Andrea Polo Pasquale Filannino Fabio Rinaldi Marco Gobbetti Raffaella Di Cagno Do nomadic lactobacilli fit as potential vaginal probiotics? The answer lies in a successful selective multi-step and scoring approach Microbial Cell Factories Vaginal microbiota Vaginal ecosystem Nomadic lactobacilli Probiotics Pathogens inhibition screening |
| title | Do nomadic lactobacilli fit as potential vaginal probiotics? The answer lies in a successful selective multi-step and scoring approach |
| title_full | Do nomadic lactobacilli fit as potential vaginal probiotics? The answer lies in a successful selective multi-step and scoring approach |
| title_fullStr | Do nomadic lactobacilli fit as potential vaginal probiotics? The answer lies in a successful selective multi-step and scoring approach |
| title_full_unstemmed | Do nomadic lactobacilli fit as potential vaginal probiotics? The answer lies in a successful selective multi-step and scoring approach |
| title_short | Do nomadic lactobacilli fit as potential vaginal probiotics? The answer lies in a successful selective multi-step and scoring approach |
| title_sort | do nomadic lactobacilli fit as potential vaginal probiotics the answer lies in a successful selective multi step and scoring approach |
| topic | Vaginal microbiota Vaginal ecosystem Nomadic lactobacilli Probiotics Pathogens inhibition screening |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12934-023-02030-4 |
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