title: Characterisation of potentially probiotic vaginal lactobacilli isolated from Argentinean women.
abstract: This study aims to evaluate potentially beneficial properties of 20 strains of vaginal lactobacilli isolated from women in Tucumán, Argentina, by determining acid and hydrogen peroxide production and auto-aggregation ability. The microorganisms were characterised genetically by amplified ribosomal 16S-DNA restriction analysis (ARDRA). Lactobacillus gasseri and L. rhamnosus were the predominant species identified among the 20 vaginal lactobacilli strains. Most achieved low pH values after 12 h incubation at 37 degrees C and produced hydrogen peroxide in static culture. However, pH decrease and semi-quantitative hydrogen peroxide production of most homofermentative lactobacilli were significantly higher than those of heterofermentative lactobacilli. Of the 20 strains studied, only three demonstrated remarkable auto-aggregation patterns. Four strains were selected for possible use in a probiotic product for vaginal application; however, further in vitro study of other potentially probiotic characteristics is required before attempting clinical trials.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Referencia para Lactobacilos (CERELA-CONICET), Chacabuco, Tucumán, Argentina.
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Juárez Tomás
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zonenschain
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Morelli
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Nader-Macías
mesh_terms: D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000378:metabolism; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007778:Lactobacillus / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000378:metabolism; D019936:Probiotics; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics; D014621:Vagina / Q000382:microbiology*
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide