Lactic acid bacteria from the vagina of healthy Turkish women: identification, hydrogen peroxide production

Abstract

Lactic acid bacteria are ubiquitous in nature and in humans. They play a very significant role in the general health maintenance of the host. Lactic acid production is considered to be the major protection mechanism of lactobacilli against vaginal infections due to genital pathogens. Some species of Lactobacillus are also hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) producers. The present study was conducted to identify the species of lactic acid bacteria isolated from vaginal fluids of reproductive-age women and to characterize the H2O2-producing healthy Turkish women. We identified Lactobacillus paracasei spp. paracasei, L. brevis, L. delbrueckii subsp. delbrueckii, L. plantarum, Lactococcus lactis and Leuconostoc mesenteroides as the most frequent species. These healthy Turkish women had H2O2 -producing vaginal lactobacilli.