Microbiology & Immunology Publications

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.

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