Thein vitroActivity of VaginalLactobacillusWith Probiotic Properties AgainstCandida

[摘要] Lactobacilli, the predominant vaginal microorganisms in healthy premenopausal women, control other members of thevaginal microflora and thus protect against bacterial vaginosis and urinary tract infections. It has been claimed that somelactobacilli are also protective againstCandidavaginitis. Little is known, however, about the mechanisms by which theselactobacilli can control vaginal populations ofCandidaand prevent vaginitis. To address this question, vaginalLactobacillusstrains with known antagonistic properties against bacteria were tested for their cell surface properties, adhesion to vaginalcell linesin vitroand antagonistic activities againstCandida. A small proportion of the lactobacilli tested adhered strongly tocultured vaginal epithelial cells and inhibited growth ofCandida albicansbut not ofC. pseudotropicalis. This anticandidalactivity was in someLactobacillusstrains related to hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) production, but catalase treatment did notsuppress this activity in otherLactobacillusstrains, suggesting alternative mechanism(s). Moreover, tested vaginalCandidastrains were resistant to relatively high concentrations ofH2O2that markedly exceeded those produced by even the mostactiveLactobacillusstrains.

[学科分类] 妇产科学