Isolation and Characterization of <i>Lactobacillus gasseri</i> Strains from Women for Potential Vaginal Health Applications
<i>Lactobacillus</i>, a genus of lactic acid bacteria, is known to coexist symbiotically in the female vaginal microbiota and has gained attention as a potential probiotic with benefits for female reproductive health. This study aimed to evaluate the probiotic potential of <i>Lacto...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Microbiology Research |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2036-7481/16/1/12 |
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| Summary: | <i>Lactobacillus</i>, a genus of lactic acid bacteria, is known to coexist symbiotically in the female vaginal microbiota and has gained attention as a potential probiotic with benefits for female reproductive health. This study aimed to evaluate the probiotic potential of <i>Lactobacillus gasseri</i> BELG74(BELG74), isolated from the vaginal microbiota of Korean women, in promoting vaginal health through growth ability, pH reduction, lactic acid production, and antimicrobial activity. Among 36 <i>Lactobacillus gasseri</i> strains, BELG74 demonstrated the highest growth capacity at 1.84 × 10<sup>9</sup> CFU/mL and the lowest pH of 3.84. BELG74 produced the most lactic acid at a concentration of 20.12 g/L, which correlated with anti-pathogenic activity against <i>Gardnerella vaginalis</i>, <i>Fannyhessea vaginae,</i> and <i>Candida albicans</i> of more than 90%. It also showed high acid resistance (92.2%) and bile resistance (25.3%), ensuring its survival through the gastrointestinal tract. Furthermore, BELG74 exhibited strong biofilm formation and adhesion capacity of 28.7% to HeLa cells, making it effective in colonizing the vaginal environment and suppressing pathogenic bacteria. The reduction of IL-1β by 63% suggested anti-inflammatory effects. Additionally, BELG74 effectively neutralized trimethylamine and ammonia by over 99.9%, suggesting its ability to reduce unpleasant vaginal odors. These findings indicate that BELG74 could be a promising probiotic for improving vaginal health, with further clinical studies needed to confirm these benefits. |
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| ISSN: | 2036-7481 |