E-Posters-Effect of Vaginal Lactobacillus Species on the Growth of E. coli

Effect of Vaginal Lactobacillus Species on the Growth of E. coli - Patricia L Hudson, MD

Pdf Summary

This study aimed to determine the ability of different vaginal Lactobacillus species to inhibit the growth of E. coli, which is a common cause of urinary tract infections (UTIs) in women. The researchers cultured L. crispatus, L. jensenii, L. gasseri, and L. iners in a mixture of MRS broth and NYC III media to create conditioned media (CM). They then co-cultured a laboratory strain of E. coli with each CM, as well as solutions of D- and L-lactic acid, ascorbic acid, and hydrochloric acid. They compared bacterial growth using optical density at 600 nm (OD600) and colony forming units (CFUs).<br /><br />The results showed that CM from L. crispatus, L. jensenii, and L. gasseri inhibited the growth of E. coli, while CM from L. iners did not. Both clinical and laboratory strains of L. crispatus and E. coli exhibited similar phenotypes, indicating the potential effectiveness of L. crispatus in inhibiting E. coli growth.<br /><br />In terms of the factors influencing E. coli inhibition, the study found that pH had a stronger correlation with inhibition than the type or concentration of acid. The concentration of D-lactic acid was more associated with inhibition than L-lactic acid.<br /><br />These findings suggest that Lactobacillus probiotics, particularly L. crispatus, could be leveraged to more effectively prevent and treat UTIs caused by E. coli. By understanding the mechanisms of inhibition, strategies could be developed to optimize the use of probiotics in this context.<br /><br />It is worth noting that Dr. Mitchell, one of the authors of the study, has served as a consultant for pharmaceutical companies and receives research funding from one company. The other authors reported no relevant financial relationships.

Keywords

vaginal Lactobacillus species

inhibit growth

E. coli

urinary tract infections

L. crispatus

L. jensenii

L. gasseri

L. iners

conditioned media

bacterial growth