Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “lactobacilli”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 307 records · Page 17Linked to original sources
PubMed2000

Caries experience and streptococci and lactobacilli salivary levels in 6-8-year-old Sardinians.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this investigation was to compare clinical data regarding oral status (DMFT/DMFS indices) and streptococci or lactobacilli counts in stimulated whole saliva in two groups of children, aged 6 and 8 years. METHODS: Seventy-nine boys and 93 girls aged 6 (84 subjects) and 8 (88 subjects) years old were selected. DMFT/dmft, DMFS/dmfs and OHI-S indices were recorded. Mutans streptococci (Sm) and lactobacilli (Lb) salivary levels were assessed using commercially available strip tests and were rated from 0 to 3 and from 0 to 4 in the group as a whole. RESULTS: Mean dmfs was 9.06 +/- 10.80, made up of ds = 7.28 +/- 9.54, fs = 1.19 +/- 3.64 and ms = 0.59 +/- 3.47. Mean DMFS was 0.73 +/- 1.91, made of DS = 0.54 +/- 1.29, FS = 0.08 +/- 0.56 and MS = 0.11 +/- 0.56. Statistically significant differences were found for both Sm and Lb scores between those with and without caries in the primary teeth (P < 0.05). The different Lb scores were also significant in relation to caries in permanent teeth in older children. CONCLUSION: A high proportion of children had some caries experience, and were in need of treatment.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed2002

Genetic diversity of vaginal lactobacilli from women in different countries based on 16S rRNA gene sequences.

AIMS: Lactobacilli are widely distributed in food and the environment, and some colonize the human body as commensal bacteria. The aim of this study was to determine the species of lactobacilli that colonize the vagina and compare them with those found in food and the environment. METHODS AND RESULTS: Thirty-five Lactobacillus strains from women from seven countries were isolated, and sequences from 16S rRNA genes were determined and compared with existing data in GenBank. A phylogenetic tree was achieved using the Neighbour-Joining method based on the analysis of 1465 nucleotides. The results showed that most vaginal isolates were L. crispatus, L. jensenii and L. gasseri. Some were L. vaginalis, L. fermentum, L. mucosae, L. paracasei and L. rhamnosus. Two isolates from a native American woman displayed distinct branches, indicating novel phylotypes. Few vaginal isolates matched food or environmental Lactobacillus species. CONCLUSIONS: Most women worldwide were colonized by three common Lactobacillus species: L. crispatus, L. jensenii and L. gasseri. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Knowledge of vaginal Lactobacillus species richness and distribution in women worldwide may lead to the design of better probiotic products as bacterial replacement therapy.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Vancomycin susceptibility as an aid to the identification of lactobacilli.

Forty strains of lactobacilli isolated from probiotic supplements or functional foods, and two clinical isolates, have been identified by API 50 CHL and tested for susceptibility to vancomycin. All the Lactobacillus acidophilus (16) and Lact. delbreuckii (two) strains were sensitive to vancomycin, while all the other strains (mainly Lact. rhamnosus, 15) were resistant. Susceptibility to other antibiotics was not species-specific. Differential susceptibility to vancomycin may be helpful in speciation of lactobacilli.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed2000

Selective control of lactobacilli in kimchi with nisin.

The use of nisin to control the lactobacilli responsible for the over-ripening of kimchi, traditional Korean fermented vegetables, was studied. Of the 40 strains of lactic acid bacteria studied, most were sensitive to nisin at a concentration of 100 IU ml-1, while two strains appeared to be resistant. In MRS broth containing nisin at concentrations of 100-300 IU ml-1, the growth of sensitive strains of Lactobacillus plantarum was delayed for 2-3 d at 20 degrees C. When nisin was added to kimchi at a concentration of 100 IU ml-1, the growth of Lactobacillus spp. was inhibited more than the growth of Leuconostoc spp. Scanning electron micrograph observations confirmed the results, demonstrating the predominance of cocci in kimchi containing nisin. These results suggest that at recommended levels, nisin can be used to preserve kimchi by inhibiting lactobacilli more effectively than other lactic acid bacteria involved in kimchi fermentation.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed2002

Modulation of delayed-type hypersensitivity and acquired cellular resistance by orally administered viable indigenous lactobacilli in Listeria monocytogenes infected Wistar rats.

AIMS: Various probiotic lactobacilli have been reported to modulate immunity. In this study we investigate the effects of viable indigenous Lactobacillus strains Utr-1, Utr-2 and Utr-3, on T cell-mediated immunological memory responses. METHODS AND RESULTS: In Listeria monocytogenes infected rats it was demonstrated that short-term daily ingestion of Lactobacillus strain Utr-3 significantly decreased delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) expression, whereas long-term, daily oral administration of Lactobacillus strain Utr-3 and Lactobacillus strain Utr-2 significantly enhanced acquired cellular resistance (ACR) towards Listeria re-infection. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings demonstrate that certain indigenous Lactobacillus strains are capable of modulating T cell-mediated immunity. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Our results support the importance of indigenous microflora analysis in probiotic lactobacilli studies.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed2005

[The lactobacilli-protection system of pregnant women--efficient prevention of premature births by early detection of disturbances].

BACKGROUND: The most frequent cause of preventable early premature births (< 32 + 0 gestational weeks) is urogenital tract infection (UTI). Screening for UTI and Chlamydia are now standard examinations. Detection of ascending genital infections, especially bacterial vaginosis, plays an ever-increasing role. Lactobacilli, which produce, e. g., lactic acid, H2O2, biosurfactants and coaggregation molecules, are particularly important for the vaginal biosystem. Some evaluations suggest that early diagnosis and therapy within this "lactobacilli-protection system" apparently leads to better results in the prevention of prematurity. Our screening recommendations for the pregnant patient comprise vaginal pH measurements both at the regular prenatal care visits and particularly the self measurement within the framework of our Self-Care Program. MATERIALS: 140 participating women were questioned for a second time. The data were compiled by the patients themselves. RESULTS: Due to elevated pH values, 21% of the women consulted their physician earlier than foreseen. Diagnoses: In 46% there was a disturbance of the vaginal milieu, in 4% bacterial vaginosis, in 33% Candida infection and in 21% "everything was OK". In spite of self-measured normal pH values in 25% of the patients the physician diagnosed the following: 25% disturbance of the vaginal milieu, 7% bacterial vaginosis, 32% infection with other bacteria (mainly Streptococci) and 50% Candida infection. CONCLUSION: Elevated pH values (measured by the patient) seem to indicate much more often a disturbance of vaginal milieu rather than an already existing bacterial vaginosis. Further investigations are necessary. The chances to treat vaginal disturbances--before a concrete infection is diagnosed--seem to be better for participants in the Self-Care Program.

Candidiasis, Vulvovaginal↗
PubMed1993

Lactobacilli in Papanicolaou smears, genital infections, and pregnancy.

Papanicolaou (Pap) smears taken at the first antenatal visit of black African women were examined for lactobacillary expression and its correlation with the prevalence of genital infections and with the outcome of pregnancy. Lactobacillary morphotypes were absent (grade III) in 52% of 256 women. Trichomonas, Chlamydia, gonococci, or syphilis was identified in 54% of grade III women, and in 17% of grade I + II women (p < 0.0001). There were partially independent positive associations of Trichomonas, Chlamydia, and gonococci and a negative association of Candida morphotypes with grade III. Absence of lactobacilli, whether or not in the context of bacterial vaginosis, is an indicator for the presence of other genital infections. Birthweight was 2000 gm or less in 5% of 82 children of grade I + II mothers, and in 16% of 83 children of grade III mothers (p = 0.02). Thus, there are populations in whom the grading of lactobacilli in routine Pap smears helps to direct further investigations and to predict the outcome of pregnancy.

Birth Weight↗
PubMed2004

Genotypic analyses of lactobacilli with a range of tannase activities isolated from human feces and fermented foods.

A total of 77 tannase producing lactobacilli strains isolated from human feces or fermented foods were examined for their genotypic profiles and intensities of tannase production. With a PCR-based assay targeting recA gene, all strains except one isolate were assigned to either Lactobacillus plantarum, L. paraplantarum, or L. pentosus whereas a 16/23S rDNA targeted PCR-based assay identified all except 6 isolates (inclusive of the above one isolate) as one of the closely related species. Subsequent DNA/DNA hybridization assays revealed that these 6 exceptional isolates showed low homology (between 1.2% and 55.8% relative DNA binding) against type strains of the three species. Supplemental carbohydrate fermentation profiles on the 6 isolates indicated that two of them were identified as L. acidophilus, one as Pediococcus acidilactici, one as P. pentosaceus, and two remained unidentifiable. The evidence suggests that the 16/23S rDNA targeted PCR assay can be used as a reliable identification tool for the closely related lactobacilli, and that the tannase gene is widely distributed within members of the Lactobacillaceae family. Meanwhile, a randomly amplified polymorphism DNA (RAPD) analysis revealed that all except 8 isolates were well allocated in 4 major RAPD clusters, though not species specific, consisting of two L. plantarum predominant clusters, one L. paraplantarum predominant, and one L. pentosus predominant. The RAPD patterns of the 8 non-clustered isolates, which consisted of the 6 unidentifiable isolates and 2 isolates identified as L. pentosus, were <40% similarity to those belonging to the 4 clusters. A quantitative assay of the tannase activities showed that there was a marked variation in the activities among the strains, which did not correlate with either species identification or clustering by RAPD.

Carbohydrates↗
PubMed2003

Molecular approaches for the detection and identification of bifidobacteria and lactobacilli in the human gastrointestinal tract.

In this review an overview of various molecular techniques and their application for the detection and identification of bifidobacteria and lactobacilli in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract is presented. The techniques include molecular typing techniques such as amplified ribosomal DNA restriction analysis (ARDRA), randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD), pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), ribotyping and community profiling techniques such as PCR coupled to temperature and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-TGGE and PCR-DGGE, respectively). Special attention is given to oligonucleotide probes and primers that target the ribosomal RNA (rRNA) sequences and their use in PCR and different hybridisation techniques such as DNA microarrays and fluorescent in situ hybridisation (FISH). In addition, recent findings based on the molecular studies of bifidobacteria and lactobacilli in the GI-tract are reviewed.

Bacterial Typing Techniques↗
PubMed1998

A study of the prevalence of hydrogen peroxide generating Lactobacilli in bacterial vaginosis: the determination of H2O2 concentrations generated, in vitro , by isolated strains and the levels found in vaginal secretions of women with and without infection.

The concentration of hydrogen peroxide in the vaginal secretions of normal women were compared with levels found in women infected with bacterial vaginosis (BV). The mean concentration found in 90 normal samples was 0.171 microg per ml, whereas in women with BV, the mean level was 0.04 microg per ml (P < 0.001). In vitro culture experiments using TMB agar showed that in normal women, 75% of Lactobacillus strains produced H2O2 and 25% did not, whereas in women 'infected' with BV. 14% of the isolates produced H2O2 and 86% did not (P < 0.001). Quantitative culture tests showed that both anaerobic and facultative strains of Lactobacilli isolated from normal women generated significantly higher levels of H2O2 than strains cultured from women with BV. Anaerobic strains isolated from normal women produced a mean level of 6.8 microg per ml, compared with the mean level of 1.4 microg per ml from women with BV. Facultative strains from normal women produced mean levels of 18.3 microg per ml compared with 2.4 microg per ml produced by strains from BV-infected women, which had been incubated under the same conditions (P < 0.001). There results indicate that Lactobacilli which produce H2O2 probably have a significant role in protecting the vaginal ecosystem from BV infection.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1999

Formation of biogenic amine in mayonnaise, herring and tuna fish salad by lactobacilli.

The effect of amino acid decarboxylase-positive lactobacilli in mayonnaise, herring and tuna fish salads on formation of biogenic amines (BA) was investigated. Commercial mayonnaise was inoculated with either of five amine-forming lactobacilli which were selected as model contaminants: Lactobacillus curvatus LTH 975 and LTH 1859 (cadaverine, putrescine, tyramine and phenylethylamine producing), L. delbrueckii LTH 1260 (tyramine and phenylethylamine forming) and L. buchneri LTH 1388 and LTH 661 (histamine forming). Low concentrations of tyramine (4.5 ppm) were detected and an addition of precursor amino acids resulted in an increase of amine concentrations to 40 ppm putrescine, 16.5 ppm tyramine and 5.5 ppm cadaverine. Herring and tuna fish salads were inoculated either with L. curvatus LTH 975 or L. Buchneri LTH 1388. In tuna fish salad 1 ppm putrescine, 3 ppm cadaverine, 7 ppm histamine and 28 ppm tyramine were found after 4 days when L. curvatus was added. In the corresponding herring salad putrescine (14 ppm), cadaverine (11.5 ppm), histamine (17 ppm) and tyramine (72 ppm) were detected. Fish salads containing L. buchneri displayed histamine concentrations of 900 ppm in tuna and 670 ppm in herring salad, respectively. Eight lactic acid bacteria and five yeasts, isolates from spoiled delicatessen salads and ingredients, were not able to form putrescine, cadaverine, histamine, tyramine or phenylethylamine.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Lactobacilli and vaginal host defense: activation of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 long terminal repeat, cytokine production, and NF-kappaB.

Lactobacilli, a component of the normal vaginal flora, can activate the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 long terminal repeat (LTR) in the Jurkat T lymphocyte and THP-1 macrophage cell lines. Activation of the LTR in Jurkat cells was strongly enhanced by vanadate and inhibited by catalase, implicating H2O2. In contrast, activation in THP-1 cells occurred in the absence of vanadate and was unaffected by catalase. The active material partitioned into the phenol layer on hot aqueous phenol extraction. Lactobacilli also increased tumor necrosis factor-alphaand interleukin-1betaproduction and activated NF-kappaB in THP-1 cells and increased tumor necrosis factor-alphaproduction by human monocytes. Human vaginal fluid specimens had comparable properties, which correlated with their bacterial content. These findings suggest the presence in vaginal fluid of agent(s) derived from indigenous bacteria that can activate the HIV-1 LTR, cytokine production, and NF-kappaB in cells of macrophage lineage, with possible influence on vaginal physiology and host defense.

Catalase↗
PubMed2004

Nucleic acid-based diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis and improved management using probiotic lactobacilli.

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a common condition in women that represents an imbalance of the vaginal microflora, lactobacilli depletion, and excess growth of mainly anaerobic Gram-negative pathogens. Diagnosis is made using a series of tests or a Gram stain of a vaginal smear. Treatment with antibiotics is quite effective, but recurrences are common. A study of 55 vaginal samples from 11 postmenopausal women showed the presence of BV by the Gram stain-based Nugent scoring system, and polymerase chain reaction-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis showed that Bacteroides or Prevotella species were the most common isolates recovered (24 of 25), with Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Streptococcus agalactiae also found in some samples. In one case, only Gardnerella vaginalis was found. These findings illustrate that BV remains common even among otherwise healthy women, but it is not caused solely by either Gardnerella or Mobiluncus. Use of a FemExam system (Cooper Surgical, Shelton, CT), based upon elevated pH and trimethylamine levels, to screen vaginal smears from 59 healthy women showed poor correlation with the Gram stain method. A randomized, placebo-controlled trial of these subjects showed that the lactobacilli-dominant microbiota was restored in subjects with BV but not in controls, following 2 months of daily oral intake of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GR-1 and Lactobacillus fermentum RC-14. These studies show that nucleic acid-based methods are effective at identifying bacteria responsible for BV. If such methods could be used to develop a commercially available, self-use kit, women would be much better placed to take control of their own health, for example, using medicinal food or dietary supplement products such as the clinically proven probiotic strains L. rhamnosus GR-1 and L. fermentum RC-14.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

The fate of ingested lactobacilli in the proximal small intestine.

A freeze-dried commercial preparation of Lactobacillus acidophilus and Lactobacillus bulgaricus (Lactinex) dissolved in skim milk was ingested by four nonfasting and seven fasting informed community volunteers in the Isolation Ward of the Center for Vaccine Development. Samples of jejunal fluid withdrawn from the volunteers at varying intervals were cultured for lactobacilli on a selective medium. Quantitative counts varied considerably amongst the individuals studied and also in the same person examined on two consecutive occasions. In general, however, it was shown that lactobacilli entered the small intestine and persisted in elevated numbers for about 3 h in fasting subjects and for up to 6 h in nonfasting individuals. By 4 h, counts in fasting volunteers had returned to base-line levels. Although both Lactobacillus species in Lactinex entered the intestine in approximately equal numbers, L. acidophilus was recovered from more samples and in slightly greater number than L. bulgaricus.

Diet↗
PubMed1991

Ligature wires and elastomeric rings: two methods of ligation, and their association with microbial colonization of Streptococcus mutans and lactobacilli.

Twelve orthodontic patients undergoing treatment with fixed appliances took part in the present study. In all patients elastomeric rings were used for ligation on one side of the dental arch midline, whereas steel wires were used on the opposite side. The number of micro-organisms in samples of plaque, taken from the labial surface of the upper lateral incisors, was recorded on five occasions during treatment. In samples of saliva, the numbers of Streptococcus mutans and lactobacilli were recorded on the same occasions. This registration was also made on two occasions before insertion of the fixed appliance, and 6 weeks after the period of active treatment. The results showed that, in the majority of patients, the incisor which was attached to the arch-wire with an elastomeric ring, exhibited a greater number of micro-organisms in the plaque than the incisor ligated with steel wire. Following insertion of fixed appliances the number of S. mutans and lactobacilli in saliva increased significantly. Variations in the number of micro-organisms in the saliva during active treatment were not reflected in any relative increase or decrease in microbial colonization on either steel ligatures or elastomeric rings. The use of retainers after active treatment was not associated with increased numbers of micro-organisms in the saliva.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Control of the microbial flora of the vagina by H2O2-generating lactobacilli.

H2O2-generating lactobacilli (LB+) are present in the vagina of most normal women but are absent from most women with bacterial vaginosis (BV). LB+ at high concentration was toxic to Gardnerella vaginalis (the predominant organism in the vagina of women with BV); when the LB+ was lowered to a level where it was ineffective alone, the addition of myeloperoxidase and chloride reinstituted toxicity. Toxicity was inhibited by catalase and was not seen when H2O2-negative lactobacilli were used, implicating H2O2 as the toxic molecule. LB+ could be replaced by H2O2 and chloride by iodide, bromide, or thiocyanate. The optimum pH for inhibition of G. vaginalis was 5.0-6.0 LB+ also was autoinhibitory when combined with myeloperoxidase and chloride. LB+ alone at low concentrations was toxic to Bacteroides bivius through the formation of H2O2. Adequate amounts of peroxidase were found in the vagina of 17 of 21 women. These findings suggest that LB+ may contribute to the control of the vaginal flora, particularly in the presence of peroxidase and a halide.

Antibiosis↗
PubMed1995

The in-vitro susceptibilities of vaginal lactobacilli to four broad-spectrum antibiotics, as determined by the agar dilution and E test methods.

The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of cefaclor, co-amoxiclav, clarithromycin and ciprofloxacin for 59 strains of vaginal lactobacilli were determined by both the reference agar dilution and E test methods. With the exception of clarithromycin, there was poor correlation between the results obtained by the two techniques. This was most apparent for the beta-lactams studied, the MICs of cefaclor as determined by the E test being particularly difficult to define. The stability of antimicrobial gradients in the E test may cause problems when testing slow-growing bacteria and/or organisms which grow only under anaerobic conditions. Accordingly, only those MICs determined by the agar dilution method are reported. The percentages of susceptible isolates were as follows: clarithromycin, 100; co-amoxiclav, 100; cefaclor, 20; and ciprofloxacin, 4. The administration of antimicrobials, such as ciprofloxacin and cefaclor, which have poor activities in vitro against lactobacilli, may therefore be advantageous to the host because it allows the protective effects of the normal vaginal flora to be preserved.

Agar↗
PubMed2005

Dietary glycine concentration affects intestinal Clostridium perfringens and lactobacilli populations in broiler chickens.

Previous studies have reported that intestinal populations of Clostridium perfringens, the causative agent of necrotic enteritis (NE), are correlated with diets high in glycine. To establish a direct causative link, 3 trials were conducted to examine the effect of dietary glycine levels on gut populations of C. perfringens, alpha-toxin production, and NE lesion scores in broiler chickens. In trials 1 and 2, 12 groups of 4 birds were fed 4 different ideal protein-balanced diets formulated to contain 0.75, 1.58, 3.04, or 4.21% glycine from d 14 to 28 of age. In trial 3, 24 groups of 4 birds were given 6 different ideal protein-balanced diets formulated to contain 0.50, 0.75, 1.00, 1.50, 2.00, or 4.00% glycine. All birds were orally challenged with a broth culture of C. perfringens type A on d 1 and between d 14 and 21 of age and killed on d 28. The majority of birds showed clinical signs of NE with 4.16 to 8.33% mortality in the 3 trials. The highest mortality and intestinal lesion scores were observed in chickens receiving 3.04% glycine in trials 1 and 2, and 4.00% glycine in trial 3. Clostridium perfringens populations in the cecum varied quadratically with increasing dietary glycine, with the maximal response seen at 3.30,3.89, and 3.51% dietary glycine in trials 1, 2, and 3, respectively. Numbers of lactobacilli in cecum declined significantly (P < 0.05) with increasing levels of glycine. The results suggest that dietary glycine level has a significant effect on C. perfringens and lactobacilli populations and may be a predisposing factor for NE in broiler chickens.

Animals↗