Identification of lactic acid bacteria isolated from the urogenital tract of women

[摘要] ENGLISH SUMMARY: Lactic acid bacteria are present in the oral cavity, gastrointestinal tract, vagina, plants,fermented foods, manure and sewage (Kandler & Weiss, 1986). These organisms areacidophilic and thrive at a low pH which renders the environment unsuitable for most othermicro-organisms. A number of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) have probiotic properties, e.g. somestrains in the gastrointestinal tract inhibit the growth of Helicobacter spp. which causesstomach ulcers (Midolo et a/., 1995). Some probiotic Lactobacillus spp. may also play a rolein cholesterol reduction (Mital & Garg, 1995). A few reports have been published on the roleof LAB in the prevention of preterm delivery and the protection against bacterial vaginosis(Hillier et al., 1992; Martius et al., 1988; Shalev et al., 1995). A number of species produceantimicrobial peptides that inhibit the growth of other microbes, including potential pathogens.Strains thus far isolated from the human vagina are Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillusbrevis, Lactobacillus gasseri, Lactobacillus jensenii, Lactobacillus delbrueckii, Lactobacillusfermentum, Lactobacillus plantarum and Lactobacillus casei (Rogosa & Sharpe, 1960; Giorgiet al., 1987). In most of these studies simple biochemical and phenotypical tests were used.The purpose of this study was to isolate and identify lactic acid bacteria isolated from theposterior fornix of the vagina of non-pregnant and pregnant patients. Advanced taxonomicmethods were used, e.g. sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDSPAGE), random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD)-PCR and 16S rRNA sequencing.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University