Inhibition of uropathogenic biofilm growth on silicone rubber in human urine by lactobacilli – a teleologic approach

The ability of three Lactobacillus strains to inhibit the adhesion and growth of naturally occurring uropathogens on silicone rubber was investigated in human urine. The importance of biosurfactant production by Lactobacillus in discouraging uropathogen growth was determined in relation to the binding affinities of the lactobacilli for silicone rubber. L. fermentum B54 markedly inhibited uropathogen growth on the silicone rubber disks after 8 days for all five men included in the study, albeit to various extents ranging from 77% to 100%. In urine from women, however, this inhibition was less clear, as it was absent for two of the four women participating in this study. L. casei rhamnosus 36 completely discouraged uropathogen growth on the disks after 8 days for three of the four women, whereas its effect in urine from men was less pronounced (inhibition ranged from 48% to 100% and was absent for one man). L. casei rhamnosus ATCC 7469^T was the least inhibitory Lactobacillus strain tested and inhibition was absent for a number of both male and female participants, possibly as a result of the low binding affinity of this strain for silicone rubber and of its inability to release biosurfactants. We conclude that the inhibition of uropathogen growth is dependent on the Lactobacillus strain involved, and for L. fermentum B54 it was demonstrated to be sex-related. Hence, inhibition must be considered a multifactorial process.

Authors and Affiliations

1. Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Groningen, Antonius Deusinglaan 1 9713 AV Groningen, The Netherlands e-mail: h.c.van.der.mei@med.rug.nl Tel.: +31-50-3633140, , , , , , NL

   Martine M. C. Velraeds, Betsy van de Belt-Gritter & Henny C. van der Mei

2. Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada, , , , , , CA

   Henk J. Busscher & Gregor Reid

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