Abstract
Probiotics are increasingly being considered as non-pharmaceutical and safe potential alternatives for the treatment and prevention of a variety of pathologies including urinary tract infections. These are the most common infections in medical practice and are frequently treated with antibiotics, which have generated an intense selective pressure over bacterial populations. Proteus mirabilis is a common cause of urinary tract infections in catheterised patients and people with abnormalities of the urinary tract. In this work we isolated, identified and characterised an indigenous Lactobacillus murinus strain (LbO2) from the vaginal tract of a female mouse. In vitro characterisation of LbO2 included acid and bile salts tolerance, growth in urine, adherence to uroepithelial cells and in vitro antimicrobial activity. The selected strain showed interesting properties, suitable for its use as a probiotic. The ability of LbO2 to prevent and even treat ascending P. mirabilis urinary tract infection was assessed using an experimental model in the mouse. Kidney and bladder P. mirabilis counts were significantly lower in mice preventively treated with the probiotic than in non-treated mice. When LbO2 was used for therapeutic treatment, bladder counts of treated mice were significantly lower although no significant differences were detected in P. mirabilis kidney colonisation of treated and non-treated animals. These results are encouraging and prompt further research related to probiotic strains and the basis of their effects for their use in human and animal health.
Similar content being viewed by others
Abbreviations
- UTI:
-
Urinary tract infections
References
H.-L. Alakomi E. Skyttä M. Saarela T. Mattila-Sandholm K. Latva-Kala I.M. Helander (2000) ArticleTitleLactic acid permeabilises gram-negative bacteria by disrupting the outer membrane Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 66 2001–2005 Occurrence Handle10.1128/AEM.66.5.2001-2005.2000 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3cXjtV2ltbg%3D Occurrence Handle10788373
T. Asahara K. Nomoto M. Watanuki T. Yokokura (2001) ArticleTitleAntimicrobial activity of intraurethrally administered probiotic Lactobacillus casei in a murine model of Escherichia coli urinary tract infection Antimicrob. Agents Chemoter. 6 1751–1760 Occurrence Handle10.1128/AAC.45.6.1751-1760.2001
S.F. Astchul T.L. Madden A.A. Schaffer J. Zhang Z. Zhang W. Miller D.J. Lipman (1997) ArticleTitleGappedBLAST and PSI-BLAST: a new generation of protein database search programs Nucleic Acids Res. 25 3389–3402 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK2sXlvFyhu7w%3D Occurrence Handle9254694
C. Barbes S. Boris (1999) ArticleTitlePotential role of lactobacilli as prophylactic agents against genital pathogens AIDS Patient Care STDS 13 747–751 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD3c3gsl2nsw%3D%3D Occurrence Handle10743538
G. Cassell (1991) ArticleTitleASM gives testimony on women’s health issues ASM News 57 394–395
R.C.Y. Chan A.W. Bruce G. Reid (1984) ArticleTitleAdherence of cervical, vaginal, and distal urethral normal microbial flora to human epithelial cells and the inhibition of adherence of gram-negative uropathogens by competitive exclusion J. Urol. 131 596–601 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:BiuC3sbgtV0%3D Occurrence Handle6422061
M.L. Cross (2002) ArticleTitleMicrobes versus microbes: immune signals generated by probiotic lactobacilli and their role in protection against microbial pathogen FEMS Immunol. Med. Microbiol. 34 245–253 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0928-8244(02)00377-2 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD38Xoslans78%3D Occurrence Handle12443824
N.M. de Roos M.B. Katan (2000) ArticleTitleEfects of probiotics bacteria on diarrhealipid metabolismand carcinogenesis: a review of papers published between 1988 and 1998 Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 71 405–411 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3cXosFCnsA%3D%3D Occurrence Handle10648252
F.E. Dewhirst C.C. Chien B.J. Paster R.L. Ericson R.P. Orcutt D.B. Schauer J.G. Fox (1999) ArticleTitlePhylogeny of the defined murine microbiota: altered Schaedler flora Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 65 3287–3292 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK1MXltVOlsr8%3D Occurrence Handle10427008
G.W. Elemer C.M. Surawicz L.V. McFarland (1996) ArticleTitleBiotherapeutic agents. A neglected modality for the treatment and prevention of selected intestinal and vaginal infections J. Am. Med. Assoc. 275 870–876 Occurrence Handle10.1001/jama.275.11.870
P.G. Falk L.V. Hooper T. Midtvedt J.I. Gordon (1998) ArticleTitleCreating and maintaining the gastrointestinal ecosystem: what we know and need to know from Gnotobiology Microbiol. Mol. Biol. Rev. 62 1157–1170 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaK1M%2FlvVWgsQ%3D%3D Occurrence Handle9841668
B.B. Finlay S. Falkow (1997) ArticleTitleCommon themes in microbial pathogenicity revisited Microbiol. Mol. Biol. Rev. 61 136–169 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK2sXktFGqtLg%3D Occurrence Handle9184008
R. Fuller (1989) ArticleTitleProbiotics in man and animals J. Appl. Bacteriol. 66 365–378 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:BiaA38jgvFU%3D Occurrence Handle2666378
L. Hagberg Y. Engberg R. Freter J. Iane S. Olling C. Svanborg-Eden (1983) ArticleTitleAscending, unobstructed urinary tract infection in mice caused by pyelonephritogenic Escherichia coli of human origin Infect. Immun. 40 273–283 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:BiyC2MbosFQ%3D Occurrence Handle6339403
H.G.H.J. Heilig E.G Zoetendal E.E. Vaughan P. Marteau A. Akkermans W.M. de Vos (2002) ArticleTitleMolecular diversity of Lactobacillus spp. and other lactic acid bacteria in the human intestine as determined by specific amplification of 16S ribosomal DNA Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 68 114–123 Occurrence Handle10.1128/AEM.68.1.114-123.2002 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD38Xjt1WgsA%3D%3D Occurrence Handle11772617
D. Hemme P. Raibaud R. Ducluzeau J.V. Galpin P. Sicard J. Van Heljenoort (1980) ArticleTitleLactobacillus murinus sp. nov., a new species of the autochthonous dominant flora of the digestive tract of rat and mouse Ann. Microbiol. (Paris) 131 297–308 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:Bi6D3sjms1Q%3D
N.T. Hoa L. Baccigalupi A. Huxham A. Smertenko P.H. Van S. Ammendola E. Ricca S.M. Cutting (2000) ArticleTitleCharacterization of Bacillus species used for oral bacteriotherapy and bacterioprophylaxis of gastrointestinal disorders Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 12 5241–5247 Occurrence Handle10.1128/AEM.66.12.5241-5247.2000
W.H. Holzapfel P. Haberer R. Geisen J. Björkroth U. Schilinger (2001) ArticleTitleTaxonomy and important features of probiotic microorganisms in food and nutrition Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 66 365S–373S
T.M. Hooton D. Shcoles J.P. Hughes C. Winter P.L Roberts A.E. Stapleton A. Stergachis W.E. Stamm (1996) ArticleTitleA prospective study of risk factors for urinary infection in young women N. Engl. J. Med 335 468–474 Occurrence Handle10.1056/NEJM199608153350703 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:BymB1MrptFQ%3D Occurrence Handle8672152
T. Houndt H. Ochman (2000) ArticleTitleLong-term shifts in patterns of antibiotic resistance in enteric bacteria Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 66 5406–5409 Occurrence Handle10.1128/AEM.66.12.5406-5409.2000 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3MXjsVygsrc%3D Occurrence Handle11097921
C.N. Jacobsen V. Rosenfeldt Nielsen A.E. Hayford P.L. Moller K.F. Michaelsen A. Paerregaard B. Sandstrom M. Tvede M. Jakobsen (1999) ArticleTitleScreening of probiotic activities of forty-seven strains of Lactobacillus spp. by in vitro techniques and evaluation of the colonization ability of five selected strains in humans Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 65 4949–4956 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK1MXnt1Wmur4%3D Occurrence Handle10543808
K. Kailasapathy J. Chin (2000) ArticleTitleSurvival and therapeutic potential of probiotic organisms with reference to Lactobacillus acidophilusBifidobacterium spp Immunol. Cell Biol. 78 80–88 Occurrence Handle10.1046/j.1440-1711.2000.00886.x Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD3c7hslynug%3D%3D Occurrence Handle10651933
O. Kandler N. Weiss (1986) RegularNonsporing Gram Positive Rods P.H.A. Sneath N.S. Mair M.E. Sharpe J.E Holt (Eds) Bergey’s Manual of Systematic Bacteriology. Vol. 2 Williams and Wilkins BaltimoreMD 1208–1234
G. Klein A. Pack C. Bonaparte G. Reuter (1998) ArticleTitleTaxonomy and physiology of probiotic acid lactic bacteria Int. J. Food Microbiol. 41 103–125 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0168-1605(98)00049-X Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaK1czmvVGmug%3D%3D Occurrence Handle9704860
A.H. Mutnik P.J. Turner R.N. Jones (2002) ArticleTitleEmerging antimicrobial resistances among Proteus mirabilis in Europe: report from the MYSTIC Program (1997–2001). Metropenem Yearly Susceptibility test information collection J Chemother. 14 253–258 Occurrence Handle12120879
M.E. Nader de Macías C.S. Ruiz M.E. López de Bocanera A.A. Pesce de Ruiz Holgado (1996) ArticleTitlePreventive and therapeutic effects of lactobacilli on urinary tract infections in mice Anaerobe 2 85–93 Occurrence Handle10.1006/anae.1996.0011
R.R.S. Nelson (1999) ArticleTitleIntrinsically vancomycin-resistant gram-positive organisms: clinical relevance and implications for infection control J. Hospital Infect. 42 275–282 Occurrence Handle10.1053/jhin.1998.0605 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaK1Mzps1yksw%3D%3D
L. Nicolle (2002) ArticleTitleResistant pathogens in urinary tract infections J. Am. Geriatr. Soc. 50 230–235 Occurrence Handle10.1046/j.1532-5415.50.7s.3.x Occurrence Handle12028203
J. Osset R.M. Bartolomé E. García A. Andreu (2001) ArticleTitleAssessment of the capacity of Lactobacillus to inhibit the growth of uro-pathogens and block their adhesion to vaginal epithelial cells J. Infect. Dis. 183 485–491 Occurrence Handle10.1086/318070 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD3M7isFOksw%3D%3D Occurrence Handle11133381
G.C. O’Sullivan (2001) ArticleTitleProbiotics Br. J. Surg. 88 161–162 Occurrence Handle10.1046/j.1365-2168.2001.01656.x Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD3M7kt1Squg%3D%3D Occurrence Handle11167861
C.D. Piccini F.M. Barbé C.L. Legnani-Fajardo (1998) ArticleTitleIdentification of iron-regulated outer membrane proteins in uropathogenic Proteus mirabilis and its relationship with heme uptake FEMS Microbiol. Lett. 166 243–248 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0378-1097(98)00339-5 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK1cXls1Ortr4%3D Occurrence Handle9770281
G. Reid (2001) ArticleTitleProbiotic agents to protect the urogenital tract against infection Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 73 437S–43S Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3MXpvF2htg%3D%3D Occurrence Handle11157354
G. Reid (1999) ArticleTitleThe scientific basis for Probiotic strains of Lactobacillus Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 65 3763–3766 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK1MXlvFeqtrw%3D Occurrence Handle10473372
B.W. Senior (1978) ArticleTitleThe special affinity of particular types of Proteus mirabilis for the urinary tract J. Med. Microbiol. 12 1–8
J.D. Sobel (1999) ArticleTitleIs there a protective role for vaginal flora? Curr. Infect. Dis. Rep. 1 379–383 Occurrence Handle11095812
W.E. Stamm S.M. Martin J.V. Bennett (1997) ArticleTitleEpidemiology of nosocomial infection due to Gram negative bacilli: aspects relevant to development and use of vaccines J. Infect. Dis. 136 151–160
C.G. Vinderola M. Medici G. Perdigón (2004) ArticleTitleRelationship between interaction sites in the guthydrophobicity, mucosal immunomodulating capacities and cell wall protein profiles in indigenous and exogenous bacteria J. Appl. Microbiol. 96 230–43 Occurrence Handle10.1046/j.1365-2672.2004.02158.x Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2cXitVKgsb0%3D Occurrence Handle14723684
C.G. Vinderola P. Mocchiutti J.A. Reinheimer (2002) ArticleTitleInteractions among lactic acid starter and probiotic bacteria used for fermented dairy products J. Dairy Sci. 85 721–729 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD38Xjtlenu70%3D Occurrence Handle12018416
S. Wray S. Hull J. Cook J.Y. Barrish R. Hull (1986) ArticleTitleIdentification and characterization of urinary cell adhesin from a uropathogenic isolate of Proteus mirabilis Infect. Immun. 54 43–49 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaL28XlvVOhsLY%3D Occurrence Handle2875952
P. Zunino C. Piccini C. Legnani-Fajardo (1994) ArticleTitleFlagellate and non-flagellate Proteus mirabilis in the development of experimental urinary tract infection Microb. Pathog. 16 379–385 Occurrence Handle10.1006/mpat.1994.1038 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:ByqC3MrltlQ%3D Occurrence Handle7815921
P. Zunino L. Geymonat A.G. Allen C. Legnani-Fajardo D.J. Maskell (2000) ArticleTitleVirulence of a Proteus mirabilis ATF isogenic mutant is not impaired in a mouse model of ascending urinary tract infection FEMS Immun. Med. Microbiol. 29 137–143 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0928-8244(00)00198-X Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3cXmvFyrt78%3D
P. Zunino V. Sosa A.G. Allen A. Preston G. Schlapp D.J. Maskell (2003) ArticleTitleProteus mirabilis fimbriae (PMF) are important for both bladder and kidney colonization in mice Microbiology 149 3231–3237 Occurrence Handle10.1099/mic.0.26534-0 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3sXpsFagtL0%3D Occurrence Handle14600235
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Fraga, M., Scavone, P. & Zunino, P. Preventive and therapeutic administration of an indigenous Lactobacillus sp. strain against Proteus mirabilis ascending urinary tract infection in a mouse model. Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek 88, 25–34 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10482-004-5475-x
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10482-004-5475-x