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Friberg M, Woeller K, Iberi V, Mancheno PP, Riedeman J, Bohman L, Davis CC. Development of in vitro methods to model the impact of vaginal lactobacilli on Staphylococcus aureus biofilm formation on menstrual cups as well as validation of recommended cleaning directions. FRONTIERS IN REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH 2023; 5:1162746. [PMID: 37671283 PMCID: PMC10475951 DOI: 10.3389/frph.2023.1162746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2023] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 09/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Menstrual cups (MC) are a reusable feminine hygiene product. A recent publication suggested that Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) biofilms can form on MCs which may lead to increased risk of menstrual Toxic Shock Syndrome (mTSS). Additionally, there is concern that buildup of residual menses may contribute to microbial growth and biofilm formation further increasing mTSS risk. Quantitative and qualitative analysis of in vitro tests were utilized to determine if S. aureus biofilm could form on MC in the presence of the keystone species Lactobacillus after 12 h of incubation. The methodology was based on a modification of an anaerobic in vitro method that harnesses the keystone species hypothesis by including a representative of vaginal lactic acid bacteria. Methods MCs were incubated anaerobically for 12 h in Vaginal Defined Media (VDM) with the two morphologically distinct bacteria, Lactobacillus gasseri (L. gasseri) and S. aureus. Colony Forming Units (CFU) for each organism from the VDM broth and sonicated MC were estimated. In addition, a separate experiment was conducted where S. aureus was grown for 12 h in the absence of L. gasseri. Qualitative analysis for biofilm formation utilized micro-CT (µ-CT) and cryogenic scanning electron microscopy (Cryo-SEM). Results Samples collected from the media control had expected growth of both organisms after 12 h of incubation. Samples collected from VDM broth were similar to media control at the end of the 12-h study. Total S. aureus cell density on MC following sonication/rinsing was minimal. Results when using a monoculture of S. aureus demonstrated that there was a significant growth of the organism in the media control and broth as well as the sonicated cups indicating that the presence of L. gasseri was important for controlling growth and adherence of S. aureus. Few rod-shaped bacteria (L. gasseri) and cocci (S. aureus) could be identified on the MCs when grown in a dual species culture inoculum and no biofilm was noted via µ-CT and cryo-SEM. Additionally, efforts to model and understand the validity of the current labeled recommendations for MC cleaning in-between uses are supported. Discussion The data support continued safe use of the Tampax® cup when used and maintained as recommended.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Friberg
- Baby, Feminine and Family Care Microbiology, The Procter & Gamble Company, Mason, OH, United States
| | - Kara Woeller
- Baby, Feminine and Family Care, Global Product Stewardship, The Procter & Gamble Company, Cincinnati, OH, United States
| | - Vighter Iberi
- Corporate Functions Analytical, The Procter & Gamble Company, Mason, OH, United States
| | | | - James Riedeman
- Baby, Family and Feminine Care Analytical Chemistry, The Procter & Gamble Company, Cincinnati, OH, United States
| | - Lisa Bohman
- Data Modeling and Sciences, The Procter & Gamble Company, Mason, OH, United States
| | - Catherine C. Davis
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Creighton University, Omaha, NE, United States
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Tuffs SW, Haeryfar SMM, McCormick JK. Manipulation of Innate and Adaptive Immunity by Staphylococcal Superantigens. Pathogens 2018; 7:pathogens7020053. [PMID: 29843476 PMCID: PMC6027230 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens7020053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2018] [Revised: 05/15/2018] [Accepted: 05/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Staphylococcal superantigens (SAgs) constitute a family of potent exotoxins secreted by Staphylococcus aureus and other select staphylococcal species. SAgs function to cross-link major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II molecules with T cell receptors (TCRs) to stimulate the uncontrolled activation of T lymphocytes, potentially leading to severe human illnesses such as toxic shock syndrome. The ubiquity of SAgs in clinical S. aureus isolates suggests that they likely make an important contribution to the evolutionary fitness of S. aureus. Although the apparent redundancy of SAgs in S. aureus has not been explained, the high level of sequence diversity within this toxin family may allow for SAgs to recognize an assorted range of TCR and MHC class II molecules, as well as aid in the avoidance of humoral immunity. Herein, we outline the major diseases associated with the staphylococcal SAgs and how a dysregulated immune system may contribute to pathology. We then highlight recent research that considers the importance of SAgs in the pathogenesis of S. aureus infections, demonstrating that SAgs are more than simply an immunological diversion. We suggest that SAgs can act as targeted modulators that drive the immune response away from an effective response, and thus aid in S. aureus persistence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen W Tuffs
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada.
| | - S M Mansour Haeryfar
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada.
- Division of Clinical Immunology and Allergy, Department of Medicine, Western University, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada.
- Centre for Human Immunology, Western University, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada.
- Lawson Health Research Institute, London, ON N6C 2R5, Canada.
| | - John K McCormick
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada.
- Centre for Human Immunology, Western University, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada.
- Lawson Health Research Institute, London, ON N6C 2R5, Canada.
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Complete Genome Sequence of Lactobacillus acidophilus Strain ATCC 53544. GENOME ANNOUNCEMENTS 2017; 5:5/42/e01138-17. [PMID: 29051254 PMCID: PMC5646407 DOI: 10.1128/genomea.01138-17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Here we present the complete genome sequence of Lactobacillus acidophilus ATCC 53544. The assembly contains 1,991,906 bp and is 99.7% similar to L. acidophilus NCFM. This strain was isolated from a rectal swab specimen of an infant and has previously been used as a feed supplement for animals.
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Contribution of Lactococcus lactis reducing properties to the downregulation of a major virulence regulator in Staphylococcus aureus, the agr system. Appl Environ Microbiol 2014; 80:7028-35. [PMID: 25192992 DOI: 10.1128/aem.02287-14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Staphylococcus aureus is a major cause of food poisoning outbreaks associated with dairy products, because of the ingestion of preformed enterotoxins. The biocontrol of S. aureus using lactic acid bacteria (LAB) offers a promising opportunity to fight this pathogen while respecting the product ecosystem. We had previously established the ability of Lactococcus lactis, a lactic acid bacterium widely used in the dairy industry, to downregulate a major staphylococcal virulence regulator, the accessory gene regulator (agr) system, and, as a consequence, agr-controlled enterotoxins. In the present paper, we have shown that the oxygen-independent reducing properties of L. lactis contribute to agr downregulation. Neutralizing lactococcal reduction by adding potassium ferricyanide or maintaining the oxygen pressure constant at 50% released agr downregulation in the presence of L. lactis. This downregulation still occurred in an S. aureus srrA mutant, indicating that the staphylococcal respiratory response regulator SrrAB was not the only component in the signaling pathway. Therefore, this study clearly demonstrates the ability of L. lactis reducing properties to interfere with the expression of S. aureus virulence, thus highlighting this general property of LAB as a lever to control the virulence expression of this major pathogen in a food context and beyond.
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Stingley RL, Liu H, Mullis LB, Elkins CA, Hart ME. Staphylococcus aureus toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 (TSST-1) production and Lactobacillus species growth in a defined medium simulating vaginal secretions. J Microbiol Methods 2014; 106:57-66. [PMID: 25135489 DOI: 10.1016/j.mimet.2014.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2014] [Revised: 08/05/2014] [Accepted: 08/06/2014] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Lactobacillus species are commensal with the healthy vaginal environment and inhibit the growth of many pathogenic bacteria in the vaginal tract by a variety of mechanisms, such as the production of hydrogen peroxide, organic acids, and antimicrobial substances. Simulation of the vaginal environment is crucial for proper investigation of the effects of Lactobacillus species on pathogenic bacteria. In this study, we modified a medium used to simulate vaginal secretions to improve the growth of toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 (TSST-1)-producing Staphylococcus aureus clinical strains and Lactobacillus species so that interactions between these bacteria may be examined. A medium consisting of basal salts, vitamins, albumin, glycogen, mucin, urea, sodium bicarbonate, polyoxyethylene sorbitan monolaurate, and amino acids supported the growth of S. aureus and the production of TSST-1 as determined by Western analysis. Improved growth of the Lactobacillus species was seen when this same medium was supplemented with manganese chloride, sodium acetate, and an increase in glucose concentration. However, growth of S. aureus in the supplemented medium resulted in reduced levels of TSST-1. Production of TSST-1 was not detected in a medium routinely used for the growth of Lactobacillus species although S. aureus growth was not inhibited. The development of an improved genital tract secretion medium provides a more authentic environment in which to study the interactions of Lactobacillus species and vaginal pathogens, such as S. aureus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robin L Stingley
- Office of Scientific Coordination, National Center for Toxicological Research, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Jefferson, AR, USA
| | - Huanli Liu
- Office of Regulatory Affairs, Arkansas Regional Laboratories, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Jefferson, AR, USA
| | - Lisa B Mullis
- Division of Microbiology, National Center for Toxicological Research, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Jefferson, AR, USA
| | - Christopher A Elkins
- Office of Applied Research and Safety Assessment, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Laurel, MD, USA
| | - Mark E Hart
- Division of Microbiology, National Center for Toxicological Research, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Jefferson, AR, USA; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA.
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Trivedi D, Jena PK, Seshadri S. Colicin E2 Expression in Lactobacillus brevis DT24, A Vaginal Probiotic Isolate, against Uropathogenic Escherichia coli. ISRN UROLOGY 2014; 2014:869610. [PMID: 24649377 PMCID: PMC3932652 DOI: 10.1155/2014/869610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2013] [Accepted: 11/14/2013] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Novel therapeutic approaches are needed to combat the urinary tract infection in women. During menstruation elevated protein concentration and increase in oxygen and carbon dioxide concentrations with decrease in vaginal Lactobacilli all together contribute to urinary tract infections. Lactobacillus species are a predominant member of the vaginal microflora and are critical in the prevention of a number of urogenital diseases. In order to increase antimicrobial potential of vaginal Lactobacilli, bacteriocin colicin E2 which has specific activity against uropathogenic Escherichia coli has been overexpressed in vaginal probiotic Lactobacillus brevis DT24. Recombinant Lactobacillus brevis DT24 expressing colicin E2 showed much higher inhibitory activity against uropathogenic Escherichia coli than wild type L. brevis DT24 in vitro. Efficacy of probiotic Lactobacillus brevis DT24 expressing colicin E2 protein is required for further in vivo evaluation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Disha Trivedi
- Institute of Science, Nirma University, Sarkhej-Gandhinagar Highway, Chharodi, Ahmedabad, Gujarat 382481, India
| | - Prasant Kumar Jena
- Institute of Science, Nirma University, Sarkhej-Gandhinagar Highway, Chharodi, Ahmedabad, Gujarat 382481, India
| | - Sriram Seshadri
- Institute of Science, Nirma University, Sarkhej-Gandhinagar Highway, Chharodi, Ahmedabad, Gujarat 382481, India
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Inhibition of Staphylococcus aureus by lysostaphin-expressing Lactobacillus plantarum WCFS1 in a modified genital tract secretion medium. Appl Environ Microbiol 2011; 77:8500-8. [PMID: 21984245 DOI: 10.1128/aem.06755-11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Lactobacillus species are a predominant member of the vaginal microflora and are critical in maintaining an acidic vaginal environment thought to contribute to the prevention of a number of urogenital diseases. However, during menstruation the pH of the vaginal environment increases to neutrality, a pH conducive for Staphylococcus aureus proliferation and the production of toxic shock syndrome toxin 1 (TSST-1) in susceptible women. In order to generate Lactobacillus species capable of expressing lysostaphin (an endopeptidase that cleaves the cell wall of S. aureus) in a modified genital tract secretion medium (mGTS) under neutral-pH conditions, six prominent proteins from Lactobacillus plantarum WCFS1 spent medium were identified by mass spectrometry. Sequences for promoters, signal peptides, and mature lysostaphin were used to construct plasmids that were subsequently transformed into L. plantarum WCFS1. The promoter and signal sequences of Lp_3014 (putatively identified as a transglycosylase) or the promoter sequence of Lp_0789 (putatively identified as glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase) with the signal sequence of Lp_3014 exhibited lysostaphin activity on buffered medium containing heat-killed S. aureus. The cassettes were integrated into the chromosome of L. plantarum WCFS1, but only the cassette containing the promoter and signal sequence from Lp_3014 had integrated into the appropriate site. Coculture assays using buffered mGTS showed that lysostaphin expressed from L. plantarum WCFS1 reduced the growth of TSST-1-producing strains of S. aureus under neutral-pH conditions. This study provides the basis for determining whether lysostaphin-producing Lactobacillus strains could potentially be used as a means to inhibit the growth of S. aureus during menstruation.
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Medveďová A, Valík Ľ, Liptáková D, Hudecová A. Growth dynamic of ewes’ lump cheese microflora. POTRAVINARSTVO 2010. [DOI: 10.5219/52] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The preparation of ewes’ lump cheese has been known in Slovakia for a long time. It is made from raw or pasteurized ewes’ milk, especially due to the activity of lactic acid bacteria. The encouragement of the acidification process by the starters is profitable to use with the respect to the quality of the product. In our study we focused on the growth analysis of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli in ewes’ cheeses prepared in laboratory conditions with or without addition of starter culture from raw or heat treated milk. According to our experimental data, the addition of the lactic acid bacteria culture and the following pH decrease on the levels lower than 5.0 for 1 to 2 days were able to inhibit the growth of S. aureus and E. coli on concentrations lower than 104 CFU/g required by European Union legislation. The growth data found in this work may provide the information for food technologists and microbiologists to get the studied organisms under the control.
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BA Neville, PW O’Toole. Probiotic properties of Lactobacillus salivarius and closely related Lactobacillus species. Future Microbiol 2010; 5:759-74. [DOI: 10.2217/fmb.10.35] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Lactobacillus salivarius has been frequently isolated from the mammalian digestive tract and has been studied as a candidate probiotic. Research to date has described the immunomodulatory properties of the species in cell-lines, mice, rats and humans for the alleviation of intestinal disease and the promotion of host well-being. The ability of L. salivarius to inhibit pathogens and tolerate host antimicrobial defenses demonstrates the adaptation of this species to the gastrointestinal niche. L. salivarius is the best characterized of 25 species in the L. salivarius clade of the genus Lactobacillus. Several other species of this clade are candidate probiotics; however, their probiotic potential has not yet been exploited. This review summarizes the research defining the probiotic nature of L. salivarius, by focusing in particular on L. salivarius UCC118 as a representative strain. The emergent research detailing the probiotic potential of other species in this phylogenetic clade will also be discussed.
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