pathogenic infections by the production of antimicrobial compounds
such as lactic acid, short chain fatty acids, hydrogen
peroxide (H2O2), bacteriocin-like substances and biosurfactants [3].
Other mechanisms proposed for their antimicrobial activity are
competition for nutrient [4], ability to adhere to the surface of the
intestinal and vaginal epithelial cells to inhibit the adhesion of
pathogens [5] and stimulate the immune system via interactions
with immune cells [6]. Furthermore, challenging uropathogenic
Escherichia coli biofilms with lactobacilli in vitro caused significant
E. coli killing, and E. coli biofilms challenged with spent media of
Lactobacillus rhamnosus GR-1 caused a marked decrease of cell
density and increased cell death [7].
Although Lactobacillus fermentum is not a predominant species in
the gut as well as in the vagina, previous studies demonstrated that
L. fermentum exhibited probiotic characteristics and was a possible
candidate as a probiotic for gut and vagina use. L. fermentum produced
inhibitory compound including H2O2, bacteriocin and biosurfactants
to inhibit the growth of intestinal and urogenital