Metabolomic and Genomic Analysis of Lactobacillus crispatus Vaginal Isolates
Abstract
Lactobacillus crispatus is the dominant species in the vagina of many women. To add to our knowledge of its properties, the metabolic readout of twenty strains was analyzed using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). This led to a separation of the strains into two groups, Groups A and B. Notably, five Group B strains produced tyramine, known to raise vaginal pH, and make the environment more favourable to vaginal pathogens. The origin of Group B strains did not correlate with their host having bacterial vaginosis (BV), a condition associated with elevated pH. Five bacteriocins were detected in the genomes. Therefore, differences between L. crispatus vaginal strains based upon their genomes and metabolism. In absence of a correlation with the health status of the donor, it remains to be fully determined if this species is an active participant in creating a healthy state, or a bystander easily displaced by organisms causing dysbiosis.