Microbiology & Immunology Publications
Title
The rationale for probiotics in female urogenital healthcare.
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-1-1989
Journal
Microbial Ecology
Volume
17
Issue
1
First Page
17
Last Page
25
URL with Digital Object Identifier
10.1007/BF02025590
Abstract
The hydrophobicity of six strains representing three species of Lactobacillus was measured using dextran-polyethylene glycol contact angle measurements. These ranged from 123.6° for Lactobacillus casei douche to 26.2° for L. casei RC-17 under identical growth conditions. The results indicated that the nutritional environment affected bacterial hydrophobicity. Electrophoretic mobilities of the lactobacilli were also determined and found to be negative for all specimens, and to vary with growth media, especially when sugars were added to urine. The electrophoretic mobility histograms showed one main peak for all strains, except Lactobacillus acidophilus T-13 which had two peaks, suggesting two morphological sizes or types within its population. In addition, strain T-13 was more positively charged than the other five strains after growth in agar, urine, and supplemented urine. The use of contact angle and electrophoretic mobility techniques allows examination of cell surface properties of lactobacilli that may have importance in the colonization of mucosal epithelia. © 1989 Springer-Verlag New York Inc.