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Title Selection of Vaginal Lactobacillus Strains for the Development of a Tailor-Made South African Probiotic for Vaginal Health |
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Type Poster Presentation |
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Theme Probiotics and Prebiotics: Excellence in Science and Clinical Translation |
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Topic Development of Probiotic and Prebiotic Foods, Medical Foods, Supplements and Drugs |
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Main Author Anna-Ursula Happel1 |
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Presenting Author Anna-Ursula Happel1 |
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Co-Author Chambrez Zauchenberger1 Hoyam Gamielden1 Shameem Z Jaumdally1 2 Linda-Gail Bekker1 6 Shaun Barnabas1 Heather Jaspan1 4 Remy Froissart5 Jo-Ann Passmore1 2 3 |
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Department / Institution / Country Pathology / University of Cape Town / South Africa1 Immunology / DST-NRF Centre of Excellence in HIV Prevention / South Africa2 Immunology / National Health Laboratory Service / South Africa3 Seattle Children’s Research Institute / University of Washington / United States4 Maladies infectieuses et vecteurs: écologie, génétique, évolution et contrôle (MIVEGEC) / CNRS / France5 Clinical Research Unit / Desmond Tutu HIV Foundation / South Africa6 |
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Background and Rationale Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is highly prevalent globally and increases acquisition of sexually transmitted infections and adverse pregnancy outcomes. Standard treatment with antibiotics has high recurrence; and while adjunctive probiotics improve efficacy and durability, the species contained in commercial probiotics for vaginal health in South Africa are not genital tract commensals. |
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Objectives: Indicates the purpose of the study We isolated Lactobacillus strains from healthy South African women and selected strains exhibiting the best probiotic characteristics for the delvelopment of a tailor-made South African probiotic for vaginal health. |
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Methodology: Describe pertinent experimental procedures Lactobacillus spp. were isolated from cervico-vaginal fluid (61 strains) of healthy women. Growth kinetics at varying pHs (ph 3.5 – 6.0), ability to change culture pH, production of D-and L-lactic acid and H2O2, influence on growth of BV-associated bacteria (six clinical Gardnerella vaginalis and Prevotella bivia strains), inflammatory cyokine profiles and effect on cervical cell viability in vitro were measured. Strains were scored based on their performance regarding desirable probiotic characteristics. |
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Results: Summarize the results of the research Healthy South African women were colonized with L. crispatus, L. jensenii, L. gasseri, L. mucosae and L. vaginalis. L crispatus strains grew better at extremes of pH and lowered pH more effectively (ph 3.7 vs. pH > 4.0) than other vaginal strains. The production of D-and L-lactic acid and H2O2 varied between species and strains. Culture supernatants from clinical strains inhibited clinical G. vaginalis and P. bivia growth strain-specific. L. crispatus isolates did not increase inflammation, and some strains even downregulated the inflammatory responses. The majority of clinical Lactobacillus strains did not decrease cell viability in vitro. |
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Conclusions: State the main conclusions Commerical probiotics do not contain common female genital tracts commensals. L. crispatus strains had a better probiotic profile than the other species, although this was highly strain-specific. The ten Lactobacillus strains that scored the highest included three L. crispatus, each two L. jensenii, L. vaginalis and L. gasseri and one L. mucosae strain. |