In-vitro and in-vivo activity of metronidazole against Gardnerella vaginalis, Bacteroides spp. and Mobiluncus spp. in bacterial vaginosis

1985 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 189-197 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian M. Jones ◽  
Ian Geary ◽  
Anura B. Alawattegama ◽  
George R. Kinghorn ◽  
Brian I. Duerden
Microbiology ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 156 (2) ◽  
pp. 392-399 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer L. Patterson ◽  
Annica Stull-Lane ◽  
Philippe H. Girerd ◽  
Kimberly K. Jefferson

Worldwide, bacterial vaginosis (BV) is the most common vaginal disorder in women of childbearing age. BV is characterized by a dramatic shift in the vaginal microflora, involving a relative decrease in lactobacilli, and a proliferation of anaerobes. In most cases of BV, the predominant bacterial species found is Gardnerella vaginalis. However, pure cultures of G. vaginalis do not always result in BV, and asymptomatic women are sometimes colonized with low numbers of G. vaginalis. Thus, there is controversy about whether G. vaginalis is an opportunistic pathogen and the causative agent of many cases of BV, or whether BV is a polymicrobial condition caused by the collective effects of an altered microbial flora. Recent studies of the biofilm-forming potential and cytotoxic activity of G. vaginalis have renewed interest in the virulence potential of this organism. In an effort to tease apart the aetiology of this disorder, we utilized in vitro assays to compare three virulence properties of G. vaginalis relative to other BV-associated anaerobes. We designed a viable assay to analyse bacterial adherence to vaginal epithelial cells, we compared biofilm-producing capacities, and we assessed cytotoxic activity. Of the BV-associated anaerobes tested, only G. vaginalis demonstrated all three virulence properties combined. This study suggests that G. vaginalis is more virulent than other BV-associated anaerobes, and that many of the bacterial species frequently isolated from BV may be relatively avirulent opportunists that colonize the vagina after G. vaginalis has initiated an infection.


Author(s):  
Joana Castro ◽  
Ângela Lima ◽  
Lúcia G. V. Sousa ◽  
Aliona S. Rosca ◽  
Christina A. Muzny ◽  
...  

Bacterial Vaginosis (BV) involves the presence of a multi-species biofilm adhered to vaginal epithelial cells, but its in-depth study has been limited due to the complexity of the bacterial community, which makes the design of in vitro models challenging. Perhaps the most common experimental technique to quantify biofilms is the crystal violet (CV) staining method. Despite its widespread utilization, the CV method is not without flaws. While biofilm CV quantification within the same strain in different conditions is normally accepted, assessing multi-species biofilms formation by CV staining might provide significant bias. For BV research, determining possible synergism or antagonism between species is a fundamental step for assessing the roles of individual species in BV development. Herein, we provide our perspective on how CV fails to properly quantify an in vitro triple-species biofilm composed of Gardnerella vaginalis, Fannyhessea (Atopobium) vaginae, and Prevotella bivia, three common BV-associated bacteria thought to play key roles in incident BV pathogenesis. We compared the CV method with total colony forming units (CFU) and fluorescence microscopy cell count methods. Not surprisingly, when comparing single-species biofilms, the relationship between biofilm biomass, total number of cells, and total cultivable cells was very different between each tested method, and also varied with the time of incubation. Thus, despite its wide utilization for single-species biofilm quantification, the CV method should not be considered for accurate quantification of multi-species biofilms in BV pathogenesis research.


2010 ◽  
Vol 59 (8) ◽  
pp. 891-897 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. S. Teixeira ◽  
K. L. K. Soares-Brandão ◽  
K. M. G. R. Branco ◽  
J. L. M. Sampaio ◽  
R. M. D. Nardi ◽  
...  

Antagonistic and synergistic substances are important for interactions between micro-organisms associated with human body surfaces, either in healthy or in diseased conditions. In the present study, such compounds produced by Gardnerella vaginalis strains isolated from women with bacterial vaginosis (BV) were detected in vitro and the antagonistic ones were partially characterized. Among 11 G. vaginalis strains tested, all showed antagonistic activity against at least one of the 22 indicator bacteria assayed. Interestingly, for some of these strains, antagonism reverted to synergism, favouring one of the indicator strains (Peptostreptococcus anaerobius) when the growth medium was changed. Partial characterization of antagonistic substances suggested a bacteriocin-like chemical nature. Depending on growth conditions, G. vaginalis isolated from women with BV produced antagonistic or synergistic compounds for other bacterial components of the vaginal ecosystem. This is the first report to our knowledge of the production of antagonistic and/or synergistic substances by G. vaginalis. This ability may be a pivotal factor in understanding BV and the ecological role of this bacterium in the vaginal environment.


2002 ◽  
Vol 46 (8) ◽  
pp. 2692-2695 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jose A. Simoes ◽  
Diane M. Citron ◽  
Alla Aroutcheva ◽  
Robert A. Anderson ◽  
Calvin J. Chany ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT This is the first report demonstrating the in vitro inhibitory activity of two novel microbicides (cellulose sulfate and polystyrene sulfonate) against bacterial vaginosis (BV)-associated bacteria. Vaginal application of these microbicides not only may reduce the risk of acquisition of human immunodeficiency virus and other sexually transmitted infection-causing organisms but may also decrease the incidence of BV.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ting Li ◽  
Fengjuan Wang ◽  
Zhan Zhang ◽  
Xiaonan Zong ◽  
Huihui Bai ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a disturbance of vaginal microflora that affects up to one-third of women of reproductive age. To compare the frequencies, clinical characteristics, and antimicrobial susceptibilities of vaginal microbes before and after metronidazole and clindamycin therapy. Results: A total of 140 premenopausal women with BV and 10 healthy women who underwent routine gynecological examination and were examined by the Vaginal Microecology Evaluation System at Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital between October 2018 and February 2019 were recruited for this study. Gardnerella (G.) vaginalis and Lactobacillus isolates were isolated and cultured. Clinical isolates were then evaluated for antimicrobial susceptibilities in vitro to metronidazole and clindamycin. Nested PCR and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis were used to characterize the quantitative structure of bacterial signatures. Facultatively anaerobic bacteria including G. vaginalis (40.31 %), Prevotella isolates (14.89 %) and Atopobium (A.) vaginae (4.65 %) were among the most frequently isolated species among the 129 samples. The clinical isolates had a significantly higher susceptibility rate to clindamycin than to metronidazole (80.00% vs 32.14%; P = 0.002) in vitro. Conclusions: Given metronidazole sparing Lactobacillus, metronidazole has better vaginal acidification than clindamycin in vivo. The CDC-recommended regimens for BV management with metronidazole and clindamycin were demonstrated to have roughly equivalent clinical efficacy. We recommend administering Lactobacillus probiotics 5 to 7 days after the last antibiotic dose when choosing clindamycin therapy.


2009 ◽  
Vol 54 (2) ◽  
pp. 597-601 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristi L. Strandberg ◽  
Marnie L. Peterson ◽  
Ying-Chi Lin ◽  
Melinda C. Pack ◽  
David J. Chase ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT We investigated the effects of glycerol monolaurate (GML) on Lactobacillus, Candida, and Gardnerella vaginalis human vaginal microflora. Our previous work demonstrated that 6 months of GML treatment vaginally does not alter lactobacillus counts in monkeys. Candida and G. vaginalis are commonly associated with vaginal infections in women, many becoming chronic or recurrent. In vitro growth inhibition studies determined the effects of GML (0 to 500 μg/ml) against multiple Candida species and G. vaginalis. A randomized, double-blind study investigated the effects of GML on vaginal microflora Lactobacillus, Candida, and G. vaginalis in colonized or infected women (n = 36). Women self-administered intravaginal gels containing 0% (n = 14), 0.5% (n = 13), or 5% (n = 9) GML every 12 h for 2 days. Vaginal swabs were collected before and immediately after the first gel administration and 12 h after the final gel administration. Swabs were tested for Lactobacillus, Candida, G. vaginalis, and GML. In vitro GML concentrations of 500 μg/ml were candicidal for all species tested, while a concentration of 10 μg/ml was bactericidal for G. vaginalis. Control and GML gels applied vaginally in women did not alter vaginal pH or Lactobacillus counts. Control gels reduced G. vaginalis counts but not Candida counts, whereas GML gels reduced both Candida and G. vaginalis. No adverse events were reported by participating women. GML is antimicrobial for Candida and G. vaginalis in vitro. Vaginal GML gels in women do not affect Lactobacillus negatively but significantly reduce Candida and G. vaginalis.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nathan das Neves Selis ◽  
Hellen Braga Martins de Oliveira ◽  
Hiago Ferreira Leão ◽  
Yan Bento dos Anjos ◽  
Beatriz Almeida Sampaio ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Probiotics are important tools in therapies against vaginal infections and can assist traditional antibiotic therapies in restoring healthy microbiota. Recent research has shown that microorganisms belonging to the genus Lactobacillus have probiotic potential. Thus, this study evaluated the potential in vitro probiotic properties of three strains of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, isolated during the fermentation of high-quality cocoa, against Gardnerella vaginalis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Strains were evaluated for their physiological, safety, and antimicrobial characteristics. Results The hydrophobicity of L. plantarum strains varied from 26.67 to 91.67%, and their autoaggregation varied from 18.10 to 30.64%. The co-aggregation of L. plantarum strains with G. vaginalis ranged from 14.73 to 16.31%, and from 29.14 to 45.76% with N. gonorrhoeae. All L. plantarum strains could moderately or strongly produce biofilms. L. plantarum strains did not show haemolytic activity and were generally sensitive to the tested antimicrobials. All lactobacillus strains were tolerant to heat and pH resistance tests. All three strains of L. plantarum showed antimicrobial activity against the tested pathogens. The coincubation of L. plantarum strains with pathogens showed that the culture pH remained below 4.5 after 24 h. All cell-free culture supernatants (CFCS) demonstrated activity against the two pathogens tested, and all L. plantarum strains produced hydrogen peroxide. CFCS characterisation in conjunction with gas chromatography revealed that organic acids, especially lactic acid, were responsible for the antimicrobial activity against the pathogens evaluated. Conclusion The three strains of L. plantarum presented significant probiotic characteristics against the two pathogens of clinical importance. In vitro screening identified strong probiotic candidates for in vivo studies for the treatment of vaginal infections.


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