title: In vitro evaluation of nutrients that selectively confer a competitive advantage to lactobacilli.
abstract: An assay was developed that tested the ability of Lactobacillus acidophilus to outcompete a challenge of Escherichia coli in a mixed culture containing different test nutrients. Using this assay, addition of fructo-oligosaccharide to the media allowed L. acidophilus to outcompete a challenge of E. coli, whereas in a mixed culture without the prebiotic the trend was reversed. Growth curves generated for E. coli in a single culture showed that fructo-oligosaccharide did not affect growth, indicating that the carbohydrate was not toxic to E. coli. This indicates that fructo-oligosaccharides may increase the ability of beneficial microbes to outcompete a pathogenic challenge. These results were confirmed using a skin simulant model that incorporates growth of the organisms at an air-surface interface to mimic the vulvar environment. It is possible to use a co-culture assay as an in vitro screening tool to define nutrients that confer a competitive advantage to beneficial flora specific to the female urogenital tract.
authors.affiliation: 1 Kimberly Clark Corporation, 2100 County Rd II, Neenah, WI 54946, USA.
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Vongsa
authors.affiliation: 1 Kimberly Clark Corporation, 2100 County Rd II, Neenah, WI 54946, USA.
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Minerath
authors.affiliation: 1 Kimberly Clark Corporation, 2100 County Rd II, Neenah, WI 54946, USA.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Busch
authors.affiliation: 1 Kimberly Clark Corporation, 2100 County Rd II, Neenah, WI 54946, USA.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.affiliation: 1 Kimberly Clark Corporation, 2100 County Rd II, Neenah, WI 54946, USA.
authors.forename: D W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Koenig
mesh_terms: D018920:Coculture Techniques; D003470:Culture Media / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007778:Lactobacillus / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D009844:Oligosaccharides / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D019936:Probiotics / Q000032:analysis; D014844:Vulva / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media; D009844:Oligosaccharides
keywords: competitive; fructo-oligosaccharides; growth; microflora; urogenital; vaginal