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Cervicovaginal Bacillus velezensis Isolate: A Potential Probiotic and an Antagonist Against Candida and Staphylococcus

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Abstract

The cervicovaginal microbiota is an essential aspect of women’s reproductive and overall health. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the probiotic properties of a cervicovaginal isolate, obtained from a gynecologically healthy woman and assess its antagonistic effect against various microorganisms isolated from the vagina. Cytological examination was performed using Papanicolaou staining, and the isolated microorganism was identified via 16S Ribosomal RNA Gene Sequence Analysis. Probiotic characteristics were evaluated by determining the tolerance of the isolate to low pH, different NaCl concentrations, and bile salts. Bacterial adherence to stainless steel sheets, antibiotic susceptibility, and antimicrobial activity tests were also conducted and analyzed. Antimicrobial tests and antagonistic activities were assessed through disc diffusion assays. The cervicovaginal isolate was identified as B. velezensis ON116948 and was found to be tolerant to low pH, high NaCl and 0.3% bile salts. Additionally, it exhibited adherence. With the exception of amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (AMC) (30 μg) and oxacillin (OX) (1 μg), this isolate was susceptible to all the antibiotics tested. Candida species did not grow on B. velezensis spread media, while B. velezensis was able to grow on C. albicans, C. glabrata, C. tropicalis, S. condimenti and S. epidermidis spread media with growth zones of 13.7 ± 0.6, 13.3 ± 0.6, 14.2 ± 4.4, 10.5 ± 0.5 and 16.0 ± 1.0 (around discs), respectively. Our findings suggest that the cervicovaginal B. velezensis ON116948 isolate exhibits probiotic properties and antagonistic activity. These results provide important insights into the potential use of this isolate as a probiotic for the prevention of vaginal infections.

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Data Availability

The datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology (Biotechnology), Faculty of Science, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey

    Gulcan Sahal

  2. Department of Biology (General Biology), Faculty of Science, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey

    Hanife Guler Donmez

  3. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey

    Mehmet Sinan Beksac

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  1. Gulcan Sahal
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Contributions

Conceptualization: GS, HGD, MSB; Sample collection: HGD and MSB; Investigation: GS and HGD; Data analysis: GS and HGD; Writing—first draft: GS and HGD; Supervision: MSB; Review and editing: MSB. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Gulcan Sahal.

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Sahal, G., Donmez, H.G. & Beksac, M.S. Cervicovaginal Bacillus velezensis Isolate: A Potential Probiotic and an Antagonist Against Candida and Staphylococcus. Curr Microbiol 80, 332 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00284-023-03447-1

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