Evaluation of Antimicrobial, Antiadhesive and Co-Aggregation Activity of a Multi-Strain Probiotic Composition against Different Urogenital Pathogens

Abstract

The urogenital microbiota is dominated by Lactobacillus that, together with Bifidobacterium, creates a physiological barrier counteracting pathogen infections. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a multi-strain probiotic formulation (Lactiplantibacillus plantarum PBS067, Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus LRH020, and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BL050) to inhibit adhesion and growth of urogenital pathogens. The antimicrobial and antiadhesive properties of the probiotic strains and their mixture were evaluated on human vaginal epithelium infected with Candida glabrata, Neisseria gonorrheae, Trichomonas vaginalis, and Escherichia coli-infected human bladder epithelium. The epithelial tissue permeability and integrity were assessed by transepithelial/transendothelial electrical resistance (TEER). Co-aggregation between probiotics and vaginal pathogens was also investigated to elucidate a possible mechanism of action. The multi-strain formulation showed a full inhibition of T. vaginalis, and a reduction in C. glabrata and N. gonorrheae growth. A relevant antimicrobial activity was observed for each single strain against E. coli. TEER results demonstrated that none of the strains have negatively impaired the integrity of the 3D tissues. All the probiotics and their mixture were able to form aggregates with the tested pathogens. The study demonstrated that the three strains and their mixture are effective to prevent urogenital infections.

Use of probiotic lactobacilli in the treatment of vaginal infections: In vitro and in vivo investigations

“…L. crispatus can decrease the adhesion and invasiveness of N. gonorrhoeae through reducing the expression of genes responsible for pro-inflammatory cytokines like TNF-α and CCL20 in N. gonorrhoeae -infected epithelial cells ( Płaczkiewicz et al., 2020 ). Similarly, the cell surface aggregation-promoting factor from L. gasseri can block Trichomonas vaginalis adhesion to human vaginal ectocervical cells in a dose-dependent manner ( Phukan et al., 2018 ; Malfa et al., 2023 ). The three main intracellular parasites in the female vagina, Mycoplasma , Chlamydia , and Ureaplasma , have also been shown to be inhibited from infecting the vagina by lactate, bacteriocins, and the acidic environment induced by lactobacilli ( Parolin et al., 2018 ; García-Galán et al., 2020 ; Garza et al., 2021 ; Chen et al., 2022 ).…”

Growth Conditions Influence Lactobacillus Cell-Free Supernatant Impact on Viability, Biofilm Formation, and Co-Aggregation of the Oral Periodontopathogens Fusobacterium nucleatum and Porphyromonas gingivalis

“…Viable probiotics can interact with pathogen cells by competing for cellular receptor binding and avoiding the cell adhesion of pathogens to human cells [ 35 ]. Malfa and collaborators investigated probiotic co-aggregation with urogenital pathogens, demonstrating that single and mixed Lactobacillus strains could prevent urogenital infections without impairing tissue integrity [ 36 ]. Zakaria et al suggested that quorum sensing signaling molecules could explain the co-aggregation between Lactobacillus probiotics and pathogens, thus contributing to creating barriers that are able to prevent pathogen adhesion to epithelia and tissue invasion, and increasing the host defenses against infections in several districts [ 37 ].…”

Exploring the In Vitro Antibacterial Potential of Specific Probiotic Strains Against Oral Pathogens

“…It is worth mentioning that LAB exert strain-specific probiotic properties. For example, the antimicrobial and antiadhesive properties of L. plantarum PBS067 and L. rhamnosus LRH020 were already demonstrated in the context of urogenital infections in human bladder epithelia, where the probiotics were able to co-aggregate with urogenital pathogens, limiting the colonization [49].…”