In Vitro Assessment of Lactobacillus crispatus UBLCp01, Lactobacillus gasseri UBLG36, and Lactobacillus johnsonii UBLJ01 as a Potential Vaginal Probiotic Candidate

Analysis of vaginal flora diversity and study on the role of Porphyromonas asaccharolytica in promoting IL-1β in regulating cervical cancer

Cervical cancer, a prevalent malignancy in the female reproductive tract, exhibits a high incidence. Existing evidence indicates a robust correlation between alterations in vaginal flora composition and the progression of cervical cancer. Nevertheless, there is a lack of clarity concerning the specific microorganisms within the vaginal microbiota that are linked to the onset and development of cervical cancer, as well as the mechanisms through which they exert carcinogenic effects. The 16 S ribosomal (rRNA) and metagenomic sequencing technology were used to analyze vaginal microorganisms, and screening for human papillomavirus (HPV) positive cervical cancer-associated microbial markers using fold change in mean bacterial abundance. Moreover, vaginal microenvironmental factors were detected, and the local vaginal inflammatory state in patients with cervical cancer was subjected to assay via qRT-PCR and ELISA. The hub inflammatory genes were screened by transcriptome sequencing after co-culture of bacteria and normal cervical epithelial cells, and an in vitro model was utilized to assess the impacts of inflammatory factors on cervical cancer. Both cervical cancer patients and HPV-positive patients showed significant changes in the composition of the vaginal flora, characterised by a decrease in the abundance of Lactobacillus and an increase in the abundance of a variety of anaerobic bacteria; The microbial sequencing identified Porphyromonas, Porphyromonas_asaccharolytica, and Porphyromonas_uenonis as microbial markers for HPV-associated cervical cancer. Vaginal inflammatory factors in patients with cervical cancer were overexpressed. After Porphyromonas_asaccharolytica intervention on cervical epithelial H8 cells, interleukin (IL)-1β, a hub differential gene, markedly promoted tumor-associated biological behaviors at the in vitro cytological level in cervical cancer. This study for the first demonstrated that Porphyromonas, Porphyromonas_asaccharolytica, and Porphyromonas_uenonis could serve as novel microbial markers for cervical cancer. Moreover, Porphyromonas_asaccharolytica was identified as having the ability to induce the overexpression of inflammatory genes in cervical epithelial cells to create a favorable microenvironment for the onset and development of cervical cancer. The effects of dysbacteriosis on cervical cancer were microbiologically elucidated.

Draft genome assembly of Lactobacillus johnsonii UMB3423 from a voided urine sample

While the urogenital microbiota of asymptomatic females is often dominated by species of Lactobacillus, Lactobacillus johnsonii is not a common member. It is more frequently found in the gastrointestinal tract. Here, we present the draft genome sequence of L. johnsonii UMB3423, which was isolated from a voided urine sample.

Prophylactic application of vaginal lactic acid bacteria against urogenital pathogens and its prospective use in sanitary suppositories

Beneficial and pathogenic microbes coexist in the vaginal canal, where a diminishing population of lactic acid bacteria may cause recurring urogenital infections. Probiotic bacteria Lactobacillus crispatus, Lactobacillus gasseri, Lactobacillus vaginalis, and pathogenic microbes Enterococcus faecalis, Enterobacter cloacae, Shigella sp., Staphylococcus epidermidis, and Escherichia fergusonii were isolated from vaginal swabs. Lactobacillus sp. and their probiotic culture free supernatant (PCFS) inhibited the growth of the above-mentioned urogenital pathogens. L. crispatus produced both lactic acid and hydrogen peroxide, exhibiting the best antimicrobial potential against the studied pathogens. Lyophilized L. crispatus had a shelf life of 12 months and the lyophilized PCFS also retained its antibacterial property with a minimum inhibition concentration of 1 μg/μL. Carboxy-methyl cellulose-alginate, a green alternative to super-absorbent polymers, was encapsulated with L. crispatus cells. The probiotic in its encapsulated state retained its viability for 21 days, and the bead showed 30% solvent absorptive capacity. PCFS-laced non-woven fabric displayed antibacterial property with no change in its physicochemical properties. These probiotic and postbiotic formulations have excellent prophylactic potential for urogenital infections. Such formulations can be exploited as additives in sanitary suppositories to enhance vaginal health.

In-vitro and preclinical testing of bacillus subtilis UBBS-14 probiotic in rats shows no toxicity

Introduction

Probiotics made from Bacillus subtilis provide a wide spread of health benefits, particularly in the treatment of diarrhea and gastrointestinal problems. Herein, we employed in vitro and in vivo paradigms to assess the potential adverse effects and toxicity of B. subtilis UBBS-14.

Materials and methods

According to Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) 423 and 407 requirements, a preclinical investigation was conducted in male and female Sprague-Dawley rats. Acute toxicity was examined following a single peroral (PO) administration of 5,000 mg/kg body weight (bw) i.e. equivalent to 500 billion colony-forming units (CFU) per kg bw. Single administration of B. subtilis UBBS-14 showed no mortality or adverse effects until the 14-day observation period, indicating LD50 is >5,000 mg/kg bw.

Results

Incubation of B. subtilis UBBS-14 with Caco2, HT29, and Raw 264.7 cell lines, showed no cytotoxic effects. This probiotic strain was also found responsive to the majority of antibiotics. For a 28-day repeated dose toxicity study, rats were administered 100, 500, and 1,000 mg/kg bw daily once (10, 50, and 100 billion CFU/kg bw/day, respectively) doses of B. subtilis UBBS-14. No notable changes were seen in the morphology, weight, and histopathology of the critical internal organs. The haematological, biochemical, electrolyte (sodium, potassium, chloride, and calcium), and urine analytical results were within the normal range and equivalent to the vehicle-treated group.

Conclusion

B. subtilis UBBS-14's no-observed-effect level (NOEL) was thus determined to be >1,000 mg/kg bw/day following a 28-day oral dosing.

The Effects of Lactobacillus johnsonii on Diseases and Its Potential Applications

Lactobacillus johnsonii has been used as a probiotic for decades to treat a wide range of illnesses, and has been found to have specific advantages in the treatment of a number of ailments. We reviewed the potential therapeutic effects and mechanisms of L. johnsonii in various diseases based on PubMed and the Web of Science databases. We obtained the information of 149 L. johnsonii from NCBI (as of 14 February 2023), and reviewed their comprehensive metadata, including information about the plasmids they contain. This review provides a basic characterization of different L. johnsonii and some of their potential therapeutic properties for various ailments. Although the mechanisms are not fully understood yet, it is hoped that they may provide some evidence for future studies. Furthermore, the antibiotic resistance of the various strains of L. johnsonii is not clear, and more complete and in-depth studies are needed. In summary, L. johnsonii presents significant research potential for the treatment or prevention of disease; however, more proof is required to justify its therapeutic application. An additional study on the antibiotic resistance genes it contains is also needed to reduce the antimicrobial resistance dissemination.

Interactions between microbiota and cervical epithelial, immune, and mucus barrier

The female reproductive tract harbours hundreds of bacterial species and produces numerous metabolites. The uterine cervix is located between the upper and lower parts of the female genital tract. It allows sperm and birth passage and hinders the upward movement of microorganisms into a relatively sterile uterus. It is also the predicted site for sexually transmitted infection (STI), such as Chlamydia, human papilloma virus (HPV), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The healthy cervicovaginal microbiota maintains cervical epithelial barrier integrity and modulates the mucosal immune system. Perturbations of the microbiota composition accompany changes in microbial metabolites that induce local inflammation, damage the cervical epithelial and immune barrier, and increase susceptibility to STI infection and relative disease progression. This review examined the intimate interactions between the cervicovaginal microbiota, relative metabolites, and the cervical epithelial-, immune-, and mucus barrier, and the potent effect of the host-microbiota interaction on specific STI infection. An improved understanding of cervicovaginal microbiota regulation on cervical microenvironment homeostasis might promote advances in diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for various STI diseases.

Gut microbiome and human health: Exploring how the probiotic genus Lactobacillus modulate immune responses

The highest density of microbes resides in human gastrointestinal tract, known as “Gut microbiome”. Of note, the members of the genus Lactobacillus that belong to phyla Firmicutes are the most important probiotic bacteria of the gut microbiome. These gut-residing Lactobacillus species not only communicate with each other but also with the gut epithelial lining to balance the gut barrier integrity, mucosal barrier defence and ameliorate the host immune responses. The human body suffers from several inflammatory diseases affecting the gut, lungs, heart, bone or neural tissues. Mounting evidence supports the significant role of Lactobacillus spp. and their components (such as metabolites, peptidoglycans, and/or surface proteins) in modulatingimmune responses, primarily through exchange of immunological signals between gastrointestinal tract and distant organs. This bidirectional crosstalk which is mediated by Lactobacillus spp. promotes anti-inflammatory response, thereby supporting the improvement of symptoms pertaining to asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), neuroinflammatory diseases (such as multiple sclerosis, alzheimer’s disease, parkinson’s disease), cardiovascular diseases, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and chronic infections in patients. The metabolic disorders, obesity and diabetes are characterized by a low-grade inflammation. Genus Lactobacillus alleviates metabolic disorders by regulating the oxidative stress response and inflammatory pathways. Osteoporosis is also associated with bone inflammation and resorption. The Lactobacillus spp. and their metabolites act as powerful immune cell controllers and exhibit a regulatory role in bone resorption and formation, supporting bone health. Thus, this review demonstrated the mechanisms and summarized the evidence of the benefit of Lactobacillus spp. in alleviating inflammatory diseases pertaining to different organs from animal and clinical trials. The present narrative review explores in detail the complex interactions between the gut-dwelling Lactobacillus spp. and the immune components in distant organs to promote host’s health.

Cervicovaginal microbiota isolated from healthy women exhibit probiotic properties and antimicrobial activity against pathogens isolated from cervical cancer patients

Abnormal cervicovaginal microbiota play an important role in HPV persistence and progression to cervical cancer. The present study aimed at isolating and identifying potential probiotics from vaginal swabs of healthy women and evaluating their activity against vaginal pathogens isolated from cervical cancer patients. Based on probiotic, acid-bile tolerance and antimicrobial properties, 13 lactic acid bacteria (LAB) from the healthy group were identified by MALDI TOF MS (Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption and Ionisation, Time Of Flight Mass Spectrometry). Among these, four strains, Lactobacillus gasseri P36Mops, Limosilactobacillus fermentum P37Mws, Lactobacillus delbrueckii P31Mcs and Enterococcus faecium P26Mcm, exhibited significant antimicrobial activity against 8 vaginal pathogens (Staphylococcus haemolyticus P41Tcs, Escherichia coli P30Tcs, E. coli P79Bcm, Enterococus faecalis P29Mops, E. faecalis P50Tws, E. faecalis P68Tcb, S. haemolyticus P48Bcb and S. haemolyticus P58Bcb) isolated from precancerous and cervical cancer patients. 16S rRNA sequencing of four potential probiotics revealed congruency with the MALDI-TOF MS identification and phylogenetic analysis showed genetic relationship with previously reported LAB strains. The selected LAB showed strain specific hydrophobicity (35.88-56.70%), auto-aggregation (35.26-61.39%) and antibiotic susceptibility. Interestingly, L. gasseri P36Mops was resistant to five standard antibiotics routinely used against urogenital or vaginal infections. LCMS (Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry) analyses of the CFS (cell-free supernatant) of the four potential probiotics revealed the presence of metabolites such as N-(1-deoxy-1-fructosyl)valine, hygroline, acetoxy-2-hydroxy-16-heptadecen-4-one, avocadyne 4-acetate, avocadyne 2-acetate, taraxinic acid glucosyl ester, 6-hydroxypentadecanedioic acid, with reported antimicrobial activity. The overall data suggest the bio-therapeutic potential of the identified vaginal probiotics against cervical cancer-associated pathogens.

Distribution of Vaginal and Gut Microbiome in Advanced Maternal Age

The distribution of the microbiome in women with advanced maternal age (AMA) is poorly understood. To gain insight into this, the vaginal and gut microbiota of 62 women were sampled and sequenced using the 16S rRNA technique. These women were divided into three groups, namely, the AMA (age ≥ 35 years, n = 13) group, the non-advanced maternal age (NMA) (age < 35 years, n = 38) group, and the control group (non-pregnant healthy women, age >35 years, n = 11). We found that the alpha diversity of vaginal microbiota in the AMA group significantly increased. However, the beta diversity significantly decreased in the AMA group compared with the control group. There was no significant difference in the diversity of gut microbiota among the three groups. The distributions of microbiota were significantly different among AMA, NMA, and control groups. In vaginal microbiota, the abundance of Lactobacillus was higher in the pregnant groups. Bifidobacterium was significantly enriched in the AMA group. In gut microbiota, Prevotella bivia was significantly enriched in the AMA group. Vaginal and gut microbiota in women with AMA were noticeably different from the NMA and non-pregnant women, and this phenomenon is probably related to the increased risk of complications in women with AMA.

Can Lactobacillus spp. Be a Factor Reducing the Risk of Miscarriage?

Pregnancy loss is a common obstetric problem. Significant causes of miscarriage include genetic and epigenetic disorders of the embryo, immunological and endocrine factors, uterine malformations, improper embryo selection, and lifestyle. Perhaps a hitherto underappreciated cause of miscarriage may be an abnormal microbiota composition of the female reproductive system. Lactobacillus spp. is the most common bacteria within the reproductive tract. However, the protective role of Lactobacilli in the vagina has been well described in the literature, while it is still unknown what function Lactobacilli may have in the uterus. Moreover, new research shows that Lactobacillus spp. can have a role in miscarriage. However, both molecular and immunological mechanisms of host-Lactobacillus spp. interactions are not fully understood. Understanding these relationships will help address the importance and extent of the protective role of Lactobacillus spp. in miscarriage.