article · Antibiotics
Lactic acid bacteria found in the vaginal microbiota help protect against reproductive tract infections. In this research, 259 bacterial isolates collected from healthy premenopausal Algerian women were evaluated for probiotic potential. Initial screening identified 164 strains capable of inhibiting vaginal pathogens, from which 38 were selected based on antimicrobial and biofilm-forming abilities. Further testing narrowed these down to 15 strains across three species: Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, Limosilactobacillus fermentum, and Ligilactobacillus salivarius. These strains were assessed for safety, acid tolerance, antibiotic susceptibility, cell adhesion properties, and metabolite production such as lactic acid and hydrogen peroxide. Several isolates showed strong inhibitory effects against pathogens linked to aerobic vaginitis and vulvovaginal candidiasis. In particular, three strains, designated Limosilactobacillus fermentum 70BJ2, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum 87JG8, and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum N17, demonstrated the strongest combination of antimicrobial, metabolic, and adhesion properties, positioning them as promising candidates for future clinical assessment.
Vaginal infections cause discomfort and health complications for many women globally. Identifying naturally occurring, beneficial bacteria with strong protective traits offers a pathway towards biological interventions. Characterising these specific local strains demonstrates how healthy microflora can potentially prevent or manage common conditions such as aerobic vaginitis and candidiasis without relying solely on conventional treatments.
This research provides early-stage laboratory evidence for developing targeted probiotic formulations to manage and prevent vaginal infections. Potential users include biopharmaceutical and consumer healthcare manufacturers developing urogenital wellness products. The identified strains are currently at an in vitro stage and require further in vivo validation and clinical trials before being translated into commercial therapeutic or preventive treatments.
AI-generated from the published abstract. Always read the original work before citing.
Background: The vaginal microbiota of healthy women is predominantly composed of lactic acid bacteria (LAB), particularly species from the lactobacilli group, which contribute to the maintenance of vaginal health through multiple protective mechanisms. Objectives: In the present study, vaginal LAB isolated from healthy premenopausal Algerian women were evaluated for their probiotic potential. Methods: A total of 259 LAB isolates were initially screened for antimicrobial activity against vaginal pathogens, among which 164 strains exhibited inhibitory effects. Based on antimicrobial capacity and biofilm formation ability, 38 strains were selected for further characterization. A refined subset of 15 strains belonging to Lactiplantibacillus (Lpb.) plantarum, Limosilactobacillus (Lmb.) fermentum, and Ligilactobacillus (Lgb.) salivarius were subsequently identified according to their superior antimicrobial and probiotic-related properties. The selected strains were evaluated for several functional and safety characteristics, including antimicrobial activity, production of lactic acid and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), biofilm formation, auto-aggregation, cell surface hydrophobicity, antibiotic susceptibility, hemolytic activity, and tolerance to acidic conditions. These studies were complemented with comparative genomics using the complete genome sequences of selected strains. Results: The isolates demonstrated significant inhibitory activity against vaginal pathogens associated with aerobic vaginitis, and vulvovaginal candidiasis. In addition, strong correlations were observed between metabolite production and antimicrobial activity. Several strains also exhibited enhanced biofilm formation, aggregation capacity, and favorable safety profiles. Among the tested isolates, Lmb. fermentum 70BJ2, Lpb. plantarum 87JG8, and Lpb.plantarum N17 emerged as particularly promising probiotic candidates due to their combined antimicrobial, metabolic, and adhesion-related properties. Conclusions: Overall, these findings demonstrate that the vaginal microbiota of healthy Algerian women represents a valuable source of potential probiotic strains and provide a strong basis for future in vivo validation and clinical application in the prevention and management of vaginal infections.
This page summarises published work. The authoritative version sits with the publisher.
DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics15090875
Is something wrong with this record? Report it or request removal.
Discussion
Have you built on this work, tried to replicate it, or seen it applied in practice? Share what you know. Verified researchers and MARATTO™ domain experts can open a discussion, and any member can reply. Contributions are reviewed before they appear.
No discussion yet. Open the first thread.
New to MARATTO™? Create a free account.
