Biological and physicochemical properties of biosurfactants produced by Lactobacillus jensenii P6A and Lactobacillus gasseri P65.

BACKGROUND: Lactobacillus species produce biosurfactants that can contribute to the bacteria's ability to prevent microbial infections associated with urogenital and gastrointestinal tracts and the skin. Here, we described the biological and physicochemical properties of biosurfactants produced by Lactobacillus jensenii P6A and Lactobacillus gasseri P65. RESULTS: The biosurfactants produced by L. jensenii P6A and L. gasseri P65 reduced the water surface tension from 72 to 43.2 mN m-1 and 42.5 mN m-1 as their concentration increased up to the critical micelle concentration (CMC) values of 7.1 and 8.58 mg mL-1, respectively. Maximum emulsifying activity was obtained at concentrations of 1 and 5 mg mL-1 for the P6A and P65 strains, respectively. The Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy data revealed that the biomolecules consist of a mixture of carbohydrates, lipids and proteins. The gas chromatography-mass spectrum analysis of L. jensenii P6A biosurfactant showed a major peak for 14-methypentadecanoic acid, which was the main fatty acid present in the biomolecule; conversely, eicosanoic acid dominated the biosurfactant produced by L. gasseri P65. Although both biosurfactants contain different percentages of the sugars galactose, glucose and ribose; rhamnose was only detected in the biomolecule produced by L. jensenii P6A. Emulsifying activities were stable after a 60-min incubation at 100 °C, at pH 2-10, and after the addition of potassium chloride and sodium bicarbonate, but not in the presence of sodium chloride. The biomolecules showed antimicrobial activity against clinical isolates of Escherichia coli and Candida albicans, with MIC values of 16 µg mL-1, and against Staphylococcus saprophyticus, Enterobacter aerogenes and Klebsiella pneumoniae at 128 µg mL-1. The biosurfactants also disrupted preformed biofilms of microorganisms at varying concentrations, being more efficient against E. aerogenes (64%) (P6A biosurfactant), and E. coli (46.4%) and S. saprophyticus (39%) (P65 biosurfactant). Both strains of lactobacilli could also co-aggregate pathogens. CONCLUSIONS: This report presents the first characterization of biosurfactants produced by L. jensenii P6A and L. gasseri P65. The antimicrobial properties and stability of these biomolecules indicate their potential use as alternative antimicrobial agents in the medical field for applications against pathogens that are responsible for infections in the gastrointestinal and urogenital tracts and the skin.

Molecular identification of Lactobacillus spp. associated with puba, a Brazilian fermented cassava food.

Puba or carimã is a Brazilian staple food obtained by spontaneous submerged fermentation of cassava roots. A total of 116 lactobacilli and three cocci isolates from 20 commercial puba samples were recovered on de Man, Rogosa and Sharpe agar (MRS); they were characterized for their antagonistic activity against foodborne pathogens and identified taxonomically by classical and molecular methods. In all samples, lactic acid bacteria were recovered as the dominant microbiota (7.86 ± 0.41 log10 CFU/g). 16S-23S rRNA ARDRA pattern assigned 116 isolates to the Lactobacillus genus, represented by the species Lactobacillus fermentum (59 isolates), Lactobacillus delbrueckii (18 isolates), Lactobacillus casei (9 isolates), Lactobacillus reuteri (6 isolates), Lactobacillus brevis (3 isolates), Lactobacillus gasseri (2 isolates), Lactobacillus nagelii (1 isolate), and Lactobacillus plantarum group (18 isolates). recA gene-multiplex PCR analysis revealed that L. plantarum group isolates belonged to Lactobacillus plantarum (15 isolates) and Lactobacillus paraplantarum (3 isolates). Genomic diversity was investigated by molecular typing with rep (repetitive sequence)-based PCR using the primer ERIC2 (enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus). The Lactobacillus isolates exhibited genetic heterogeneity and species-specific fingerprint patterns. All the isolates showed antagonistic activity against the foodborne pathogenic bacteria tested. This antibacterial effect was attributed to acid production, except in the cases of three isolates that apparently produced bacteriocin-like inhibitory substances. This study provides the first insight into the genetic diversity of Lactobacillus spp. of puba.

Multiple antimicrobial resistance in Enterobacteriaceae isolates from pristine freshwater.

A freshwater enterobacterial population (N = 111) was studied for antimicrobial and mercury resistance patterns, and for its possible association with biotic and abiotic factors in that environment. Conventional biochemical tests identified Klebsiella sp, Morganella sp, Serratia sp, Escherichia sp, Enterobacter sp, Edwarsiella sp, Proteus sp, Citrobacter sp, Providencia sp, and Kluyvera sp. There was no correlation between antimicrobial resistance patterns of isolates and bacterial genera, but resistance patterns varied among water samples and between seasons. Resistance to multiple antimicrobials was common (61%). The percentage of bacteria resistant to at least one antimicrobial differed between the rainy (100%) and dry seasons (89%). Resistance to beta-lactams and chloramphenicol was the most frequent and resistance to amikacin, gentamicin and kanamycin was less frequent. The main water variables examined (abiotic factors pH and temperature; biotic factor chlorophyll a concentration) did not influence antimicrobial resistance. Significant impact on freshwater enterobacteria, as evidenced by antimicrobial-multiple resistance and by the presence of bla(TEM) gene, may point to the fact that it has an important role in horizontal spread of resistance.

Identification and in vitro production of Lactobacillus antagonists from women with or without bacterial vaginosis.

Lactobacilli isolated from the vaginal tract of women with and without bacterial vaginosis (BV) were identified and characterized for the production of antagonists. Bacterial samples were isolated from healthy women (N = 16), from patients with clinical complaints but without BV (N = 30), and from patients with BV (N = 32). Identification was performed using amplified ribosomal DNA restriction analysis. Production of antagonistic compounds was evaluated by the double-layer diffusion technique using Gram-positive (N = 9) and Gram-negative bacteria (N = 6) as well as yeast (N = 5) as indicator strains. Of a total of 147 isolates, 133 were identified as pertaining to the genus Lactobacillus. Lactobacillus crispatus was the species most frequently recovered, followed by L. johnsonii and L. jensenii. Statistical analysis showed that L. crispatus was more frequent in individuals without BV (P < 0.05). A higher production of antagonists was noted in L. crispatus isolates from healthy women (P < 0.05). More acidic local pH and higher H2O2 production by isolated lactobacilli from healthy women suggest these mechanisms as the possible cause of this antagonism. In conclusion, a significant correlation was detected between the presence and antagonistic properties of certain species of Lactobacillus and the clinical status of the patients.

Antagonism and synergism in Gardnerella vaginalis strains isolated from women with bacterial vaginosis.

Antagonistic and synergistic substances are important for interactions between micro-organisms associated with human body surfaces, either in healthy or in diseased conditions. In the present study, such compounds produced by Gardnerella vaginalis strains isolated from women with bacterial vaginosis (BV) were detected in vitro and the antagonistic ones were partially characterized. Among 11 G. vaginalis strains tested, all showed antagonistic activity against at least one of the 22 indicator bacteria assayed. Interestingly, for some of these strains, antagonism reverted to synergism, favouring one of the indicator strains (Peptostreptococcus anaerobius) when the growth medium was changed. Partial characterization of antagonistic substances suggested a bacteriocin-like chemical nature. Depending on growth conditions, G. vaginalis isolated from women with BV produced antagonistic or synergistic compounds for other bacterial components of the vaginal ecosystem. This is the first report to our knowledge of the production of antagonistic and/or synergistic substances by G. vaginalis. This ability may be a pivotal factor in understanding BV and the ecological role of this bacterium in the vaginal environment.

A Lactobacillus rhamnosus strain induces protection in different sites after Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Typhimurium challenge in gnotobiotic and conventional mice / Uma cepa de Lactobacillus rhamnosus induz proteção em diferentes sítios em camundongos gnotobióticos e convencionais após desafio com Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica sorovar Typhimurium

The ability of a Lactobacillus rhamnosus strain isolated from a healthy breast-fed human newborn to reduce the pathological consequences for the host due to an experimental oral infection with Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serov. Typhimurium in vivo was determined using gnotobiotic and conventional mice. Conventional mice received 0.1mL probiotic milk (8.0 log colony-forming unit) daily for 10 days before the oral pathogenic challenge (5.0 log colony-forming unit). Then probiotic treatment was continued until the end of the experiment. Probiotic treatment in germ-free mice consisted of a single dose of the probiotic milk at the beginning of the experiment and a challenge with S. Typhimurium 10 days later (3.0 log colony-forming unit). A protective effect was observed in both gnotobiotic and conventional animals in terms of histopathologic and morphometric data, but in different anatomical sites. This protection was observed in liver and intestines, respectively, for gnotobiotic and conventional mice. However, S. Typhimurium populations were similar in the feces of both treated and control gnotobiotic mice. We conclude that a protective effect of L. rhamnosus against experimental S. Typhimurium was observed. This protection was not due to the reduction of the population of pathogenic bacteria in the intestine...

A habilidade de uma cepa de Lactobacillus rhamnosus isolada de um recém-nascido saudável de reduzir as consequências patológicas para o hospedeiro após infecção experimental por Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica sorov. Typhimurium foi avaliada em camundongos gnotobióticos e convencionais. Os camundongos convencionais receberam 0,1mL de leite probiótico por dia (0,8 log unidade formadora de colônia), 10 dias antes do desafio oral com S. Typhimurium (5,0 log unidade formadora de colônia), e continuaram recebendo probiótico até o término do experimento. O tratamento com probiótico nos camundongos gnotobióticos consistiu em uma única dose de leite probiótico no início do experimento e desafio oral após 10 dias (3,0 log unidade formadora de colônia). Em termos histopatológicos e morfométricos, a proteção foi observada no fígado e nos intestinos nos animais gnotobióticos e convencionais, respectivamente. No entanto, a população de S. Typhimurium foi similar em ambos os grupos tratado e controle de animais gnotobióticos. Desta forma, conclui-se que a proteção conferida pela cepa de L. rhamnosus contra o desafio experimental S. Typhimurium foi observada em diferentes sítios anatômicos nos animais convencionais e gnotobióticos e que essa proteção não foi devido à redução da população de S. Typhimurium nos intestinos...

Molecular identification of Lactobacillus spp. associated with puba, a Brazilian fermented cassava food

Puba or carimã is a Brazilian staple food obtained by spontaneous submerged fermentation of cassava roots. A total of 116 lactobacilli and three cocci isolates from 20 commercial puba samples were recovered on de Man, Rogosa and Sharpe agar (MRS); they were characterized for their antagonistic activity against foodborne pathogens and identified taxonomically by classical and molecular methods. In all samples, lactic acid bacteria were recovered as the dominant microbiota (7.86 ± 0.41 log10 CFU/g). 16S-23S rRNA ARDRA pattern assigned 116 isolates to the Lactobacillus genus, represented by the species Lactobacillus fermentum (59 isolates), Lactobacillus delbrueckii (18 isolates), Lactobacillus casei (9 isolates), Lactobacillus reuteri (6 isolates), Lactobacillus brevis (3 isolates), Lactobacillus gasseri (2 isolates), Lactobacillus nagelii (1 isolate), and Lactobacillus plantarum group (18 isolates). recA gene-multiplex PCR analysis revealed that L. plantarum group isolates belonged to Lactobacillus plantarum (15 isolates) and Lactobacillus paraplantarum (3 isolates). Genomic diversity was investigated by molecular typing with rep (repetitive sequence)-based PCR using the primer ERIC2 (enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus). The Lactobacillus isolates exhibited genetic heterogeneity and species-specific fingerprint patterns. All the isolates showed antagonistic activity against the foodborne pathogenic bacteria tested. This antibacterial effect was attributed to acid production, except in the cases of three isolates that apparently produced bacteriocin-like inhibitory substances. This study provides the first insight into the genetic diversity of Lactobacillus spp. of puba.

Protective effect of Lactobacillus sakei 2a against experimental challenge with Listeria monocytogenes in gnotobiotic mice.

AIM: Lactobacillus sakei 2a isolated from sausage and presenting an in vitro antagonistic activity against Listeria monocytogenes Scott A was tested for a protective effect in mice experimentally challenged with the enterobacteria. METHODS AND RESULTS: In the experimental group, germ-free mice (n = 24) were inoculated intragastrically with 0.1 ml of a suspension containing 10(8) colony forming units (CFU) of Lact. sakei and 4 days later the animals were challenged intragastrically with 0.1 ml of a suspension containing 10(8) CFU of L. monocytogenes. Control group (n = 24) was only inoculated with the bacterial pathogen. Faecal counts showed that L. monocytogenes reached similar population levels (10(9) CFU g(-1) of contents) in both the groups. Animals in the control group showed lower (P = 0.0004) survival frequency (58.3%) when compared with the experimental one (100%). Anatomopathological examination confirmed the mortality data. CONCLUSIONS: Lactobacillus sakei 2a can survive in the mammal digestive tract where showed a protective effect against L. monocytogenes. This phenomenon was not due to an antagonistic activity. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Use of Lact. sakei 2a as a meat starter could inhibit not only L. monocytogenes growth in the fermented product but also pathogen virulence in the gastrointestinal tract.

Exoproducts of the Escherichia coli strain H22 inhibiting some enteric pathogens both in vitro and in vivo.

AIMS: The antagonistic activity of the Escherichia coli strain H22 against enteric bacteria was studied both in vitro and in vivo. METHODS AND RESULTS: In vitro, bacterial strains belonging to seven of nine genera of the family Enterobacteriaceae (Enterobacter, Escherichia, Klebsiella, Morganella, Salmonella, Shigella and Yersinia) were inhibited by the strain H22. Six days after simultaneous oral inoculation in germ-free mice, E. coli strain H22 reduced the faecal population of Shigella flexneri 4 to undetectable levels (P < 0.05). In ex vivo assay, inhibitory zones against Sh. flexneri 4 were observed around faecal samples from mice inoculated with E. coli strain H22. The in vitro inhibition of Sh. flexneri 4 was shown to be mediated by microcin C7. In addition to microcin C7, strain H22 was shown to produce aerobactin, new variants of colicins E1 and Ib, and bacteriophage particles with morphology similar to the phages of the family Myoviridae. CONCLUSIONS: Altogether, the properties of E. coli H22, observed both under in vitro and in vivo conditions, suggest its potential use as a probiotic strain for livestock and humans. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The strain H22 was shown to produce several antimicrobial compounds with inhibitory capabilities against pathogenic or potentially pathogenic enterobacteria.

Purification and molecular characterization of antibacterial compounds produced by Lactobacillus murinus strain L1.

AIMS: The aim of this work was to purify and characterize antibacterial compounds produced by Lactobacillus murinus strain L1. METHODS AND RESULTS: Antagonistic activity was observed in a deferred agar-spot assay against spoilage and pathogenic bacteria, but not against lactobacilli. The inhibitory activity occurred between pH 3.0 and 5.0, and was heat stable. The active compounds were purified by gel filtration chromatography and two peaks of antibacterial activity were observed using Bacillus cereus ATCC 11778 and Shigella sonnei ATCC 11060 as indicator strains. Two active low molecular weight compounds were responsible for this phenomenon and UV spectroscopy, gas chromatography and mass spectrometry were used to characterize them. One of them is lactic acid, while the other is a mono-substituted aromatic ring apparently constituted by group residues of m/z 192 linked in tandem to phenylalanine. CONCLUSIONS: Lactobacillus murinus produces at least two low molecular weight compounds active against B. cereus and Sh. sonnei. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This is the first purification of a new broad-spectrum antibacterial compound from Lact. murinus which inhibits various pathogenic and food spoilage bacteria without acting on other lactobacilli. Using it as a biotechnological control agent of bacterial spoilage may be a promising possibility for the food industry.

Identification and in vitro production of Lactobacillus antagonists from women with or without bacterial vaginosis

Lactobacilli isolated from the vaginal tract of women with and without bacterial vaginosis (BV) were identified and characterized for the production of antagonists. Bacterial samples were isolated from healthy women (N = 16), from patients with clinical complaints but without BV (N = 30), and from patients with BV (N = 32). Identification was performed using amplified ribosomal DNA restriction analysis. Production of antagonistic compounds was evaluated by the double-layer diffusion technique using Gram-positive (N = 9) and Gram-negative bacteria (N = 6) as well as yeast (N = 5) as indicator strains. Of a total of 147 isolates, 133 were identified as pertaining to the genus Lactobacillus. Lactobacillus crispatus was the species most frequently recovered, followed by L. johnsonii and L. jensenii. Statistical analysis showed that L. crispatus was more frequent in individuals without BV (P < 0.05). A higher production of antagonists was noted in L. crispatus isolates from healthy women (P < 0.05). More acidic local pH and higher H2O2 production by isolated lactobacilli from healthy women suggest these mechanisms as the possible cause of this antagonism. In conclusion, a significant correlation was detected between the presence and antagonistic properties of certain species of Lactobacillus and the clinical status of the patients.

Multiple antimicrobial resistance in Enterobacteriaceae isolates from pristine freshwater

A freshwater enterobacterial population (N = 111) was studied for antimicrobial and mercury resistance patterns, and for its possible association with biotic and abiotic factors in that environment. Conventional biochemical tests identified Klebsiella sp, Morganella sp, Serratia sp, Escherichia sp, Enterobacter sp, Edwarsiella sp, Proteus sp, Citrobacter sp, Providencia sp, and Kluyvera sp. There was no correlation between antimicrobial resistance patterns of isolates and bacterial genera, but resistance patterns varied among water samples and between seasons. Resistance to multiple antimicrobials was common (61%). The percentage of bacteria resistant to at least one antimicrobial differed between the rainy (100%) and dry seasons (89%). Resistance to â-lactams and chloramphenicol was the most frequent and resistance to amikacin, gentamicin and kanamycin was less frequent. The main water variables examined (abiotic factors pH and temperature; biotic factor chlorophyll a concentration) did not influence antimicrobial resistance. Significant impact on freshwater enterobacteria, as evidenced by antimicrobial-multiple resistance and by the presence of blaTEM gene, may point to the fact that it has an important role in horizontal spread of resistance.