Probiotics are live microorganisms which when administered in adequate amounts confer a health benefit on the host. Human-origin <i>Lactobacillus</i> is a preferable source of probiotic bacteria. This stud...Probiotics are live microorganisms which when administered in adequate amounts confer a health benefit on the host. Human-origin <i>Lactobacillus</i> is a preferable source of probiotic bacteria. This study screened 14 vaginal <i>Lactobacillus</i> strains as probiotic candidates by investigating probiotic-related cell surface characteristics including cell surface hydrophobicity (CSH), Lewis acidity/basicity, autoaggregation, and biofilm formation. Moderate to high CSH and autoaggregation, high basicity and low acidity were prevalent in the 14 tested strains. Biofilm formation varied in a large range among the 14 tested strains. CSH showed a high correlation with Lewis acidity and autoaggregation, while Lewis acidity was highly correlated with autoaggregation and biofilm formation. Four strains were selected as promising probiotic strains. This study was the first one to compare antibiotic sensitivity between biofilm-forming cells and planktonic cells of <i>Lactobacillus</i> species, and found that biofilm-forming cells of a <i>L. fermentum</i> strain had a significantly higher survival rate than planktonic cells in cefotaxime, cefmetazole and tetracycline, but were as sensitive to oxacillin and ampicillin as planktonic cells were.展开更多
文摘Probiotics are live microorganisms which when administered in adequate amounts confer a health benefit on the host. Human-origin <i>Lactobacillus</i> is a preferable source of probiotic bacteria. This study screened 14 vaginal <i>Lactobacillus</i> strains as probiotic candidates by investigating probiotic-related cell surface characteristics including cell surface hydrophobicity (CSH), Lewis acidity/basicity, autoaggregation, and biofilm formation. Moderate to high CSH and autoaggregation, high basicity and low acidity were prevalent in the 14 tested strains. Biofilm formation varied in a large range among the 14 tested strains. CSH showed a high correlation with Lewis acidity and autoaggregation, while Lewis acidity was highly correlated with autoaggregation and biofilm formation. Four strains were selected as promising probiotic strains. This study was the first one to compare antibiotic sensitivity between biofilm-forming cells and planktonic cells of <i>Lactobacillus</i> species, and found that biofilm-forming cells of a <i>L. fermentum</i> strain had a significantly higher survival rate than planktonic cells in cefotaxime, cefmetazole and tetracycline, but were as sensitive to oxacillin and ampicillin as planktonic cells were.
