Potential of Probiotic Lactobacillus plantarum 2621 for the Management of Infertility.

Background: Infertility outcomes may be associated with the infections that would lead to morphological defects of spermatozoa in vitro. The purpose of this work was to investigate the effect of Lactobacillus plantarum 2621 (L. plantarum) on adherence of sperm agglutinating Escherichia coli (E. coli) in vitro and in vivo as well as its effect on fertility outcome. Materials and Methods: Interference of E. coli adherence to vaginal epithelial cells (VECs) by L. plantarum was studied by carrying out different assays such as exclusion, competition and displacement. Further, in vivo study was carried out in mouse model to evaluate the effect of presence of L. plantarum against E. coli and its effect on fertility outcome by administering intravaginally at one hour interval between L. plantarum (108c.f.u./20μl) and different concentrations of E. coli (102,104, and 106 c.f.u/20 μl) for ten consecutive days. Results: 116•8 bacteria/VEC adhesion levels were observed for L. plantarum 2621 whereas values for E. coli were 60•5 bacteria/VEC. L. plantarum interfered to different extents with the adherence of E. coli. L. plantarum 2621 decreased the adhesion by displacement and competition in a significant level (90.3% and 68.5% of inhibition). L. plantarum 2621 also excluded the E. coli attached to VEC (25.8% of inhibition).Upon mating and completion of gestation period 100% fertility was observed with 108c.f.u./20μl L. plantarum and 102 c.f.u/20μl E. coli, whereas 100% females were infertile when administered with 106 c.f.u/20μl of E. coli alongwith 108c.f.u./20μl L. plantarum and only 50% fertility outcome was observed with 104 c.f.u/20μl E. coli. Conclusion: Results indicated that L. plantarum displaces colonization of E. coli and endows competition that resulted in reinforcement of natural microflora and affects fertility outcome depending on the presence and count of E. coli.

HilA gene expression in SCFAs adapted and inorganic acid challenged Salmonella enterica serovar typhimurium.

Salmonella enterica serovar typhimurium (S. typhimurium) encounters short chain fatty acids (inorganic acids containing propionate, butyrate and acetate) in the intestine as well as in food preservatives. Short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) exposed organisms have been reported to offer resistance to organic acid resulting into enhanced virulence. However, the role of hilA (hyper invasive loci) gene expression has not been assessed in this context. In the present study, S. typhimurium was grown under SCFAs stress condition simulating the in vivo environment and hilA gene expression was evaluated. The gene expression was measured by beta-galactosidase (beta-gal) assay using a hilA-lacZY fusion strain and calculated as Miller units. hilA gene expression was found to be significantly higher in the SCFAs exposed cells than the unexposed ones, after 2 hrs and 4 hrs of exposure. However, no significant difference was observed between the activities at 2 hrs and 4 hrs. It indicates that hilA gene gets expressed by 2 hrs and persists till 4 hrs at least. The beta-gal activity was also measured in the unadapted / SCFAs adapted organisms followed by acid shock for 1 hr. The gene expression was also found to be higher in the SCFAs adapted--acid (pH 3) challenged as compared to the unadapated acid challenged organisms suggesting that SCFAs adaptation may induce organic acid tolerance by modulating the hilA response. This observation indicates that hilA may be the additional gene contributing to acid resistance and thereby increasing virulence of the organism after SCFAs adaptation.

Plasmodium berghei induced biochemical alterations in pregnant mice.

Malaria leads to pathophysiological and biochemical alterations in placenta and blood of pregnant mice. A significant decrease in the sugar, protein and lipid levels in the placental homogenate of pregnant-infected mice was observed compared to the pregnant mice. However, serum protein content was not altered much in the pregnant-infected mice as compared to the levels in control mice. The serum lipid level enhanced significantly in both pregnant and non pregnant-infected mice. The enzymatic activities of alkaline phosphatase and acid phosphatase altered significantly in malaria-infected placenta. Our study clearly highlights the possible role of these enzymes in damaging the placenta which in turn may jeoparadise the fetal growth together with altered biochemistry of placenta. Therefore biochemical along with pathological alterations occurring during malaria infection in pregnancy may account for compromised maternal fetal relationship.