Korean J Obstet Gynecol.  2004 Jun;47(6):1154-1164.

Microbiologic and Molecular Genetic Analysis of Lactobacillus spp. Isolated from Vagina of Korean Women and A Pilot Clinical Study on the Treatment of Vaginitis using the Best Lactobacillus Strain KLB 46

• Park MY
• Park HM
• So JS
• Kim SC

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to analize the biologic and molecular genetic characteristics of Lactobacillus spp. isolated from vagina of Korean healthy women and to perform a pilot clinical study on the treatment of vaginitis using the best Lactobacillus strain KLB 46.
METHODS
Vaginal specimens were obtained from 205 Korean women with healthy vaginal ecosystems. 155 lactobacillus strains were used for catalase test, cell surface hydrophobicity (CSH) test and antimicrobial activity test. Also we identified the species prevalence by PCR-RFLP analysis of 16S rDNA gene and performed the minimal inhibitory concentrationtest using14 antibiotics to determine their patterns of antibiotic susceptibility. A pilot clinical trial of 8 bacterial vaginosis, 1 trichomonas vaginitis and 6 atrophic vaginitis using Lactobacillus crispatus KLB 46 was done by vaginal instillation (10(10)-10(11) cells/mL).
RESULTS
155 lactobacilli strains were isolated and all isolates showed high CSH and 61% of the isolates had higher CSH. L. acidophilus and L. crispatus were the most prevalent species by PCR-RFLP analysis of their 16S rDNA gene. And PCR-RFLP analysis suggested that KLB 46 was L. crispatus. The clinical study showed that the vaginal epithelial adherence rate was high as 77% for bacterial vaginosis and 33.3% for atrophic vaginitis.
CONCLUSION
The predominating lactobacilli were L. crispatus and L. acidophilus in Korean women's vaginas. Although further study would be needed, L. crispatus KLB 46 is a good candidate of suitable probiotics for bacterial vaginosis.

Keyword

Bacterial vaginosis; Lactobacillus crispatus KLB 46; Probiotics

MeSH Terms

Administration, Intravaginal
Anti-Bacterial Agents
Atrophic Vaginitis
Catalase
DNA, Ribosomal
Ecosystem
Female
Humans
Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions
Lactobacillus*
Molecular Biology*
Prevalence
Probiotics
Trichomonas Vaginitis
Vagina*
Vaginitis*
Vaginosis, Bacterial
Anti-Bacterial Agents
Catalase
DNA, Ribosomal