Microbiology & Immunology Publications
Modulation of adhesion of uropathogenic enterococcus faecalis to human epithelial cells in vitro by lactobacillus species
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-1-2000
Journal
Microbes and Infection
Volume
2
Issue
7
First Page
773
Last Page
777
URL with Digital Object Identifier
10.1016/S1286-4579(00)90359-9
Abstract
Two mammalian antimicrobial peptides, FA-LL-37 and cecropin P1, were tested for activity against six uropathogens and five Lactobacillus strains by broth microdilution assay. Both peptides inhibited Escherichia coli at 25 μM (FA-LL-39), and 1.56 μM (cecropin P1), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (12.5 μM, and 25 μM), and Klebsiella pneumoniae, (50 μM, and 1.56 μM), but not Enterococcus faecalis and Staphylococcus epidermidis. FA-LL-37 acted bacteriocidally against E. coli and bacteriostatically against the other two Gram-negative organisms. Cecropin P1 was bacteriocidal to all susceptible bacteria. Lactobacilli were resistant to both peptides, with the exception of poultry isolate Lactobacillus fermentum B-54, which was susceptible to FA-LL- 37 at 100 μM. The differential activities of these peptides toward Gram- negative uropathogens versus urogenital lactobacilli demonstrate their potential as a topical treatment for urinary tract infections. In addition, production of such peptides in vivo could be a natural mechanism to aid in the maintenance of the lactobacilli-dominated urogenital flora at the expense of pathogens. (C) 2000 Editions scientifiques et medicales Elsevier SAS.