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602253 
Journal Article 
Evaluation of Reuterin Production in Urogenital Probiotic Lactobacillus reuteri RC-14 
Cadieux, P; Wind, A; Sommer, P; Schaefer, L; Crowley, K; Britton, RA; Reid, G 
2008 
Yes 
Applied and Environmental Microbiology
ISSN: 0099-2240
EISSN: 1098-5336 
74 
15 
4645-4649 
Classified as a distinct species in 1980, Lactobacillus reuteri strains have been used in probiotic formulations for intestinal and urogenital applications. In the former, the primary mechanism of action of L. reuteri SD2112 (ATCC 55730) has been purported to be its ability to produce the antibiotic 3-hydroxypropionaldehyde (3-HPA), also known as reuterin. In the vagina, it has been postulated that probiotic Lactobacillus reuteri RC-14 does not require reuterin production but mediates a restoration of the normal microbiota via hydrogen peroxide, biosurfactant, lactic acid production, and immune modulation. The aim of the present study was to determine whether strain RC-14 produced reuterin. Using PCR and DNA dot blot analyses, numerous Lactobacillus species, including RC-14, were screened for the presence of the gene encoding the large subunit of glycerol dehydratase (gldC), the enzyme responsible for reuterin production. In addition, lactobacilli were grown in glycerol-based media and both high-performance liquid chromatography and a colorimetric assay were used to test for the presence of reuterin. L. reuteri RC-14 was determined to be negative for gldC sequences, as well as for the production of reuterin when cultured in the presence of glycerol. These findings support that the probiotic effects of L. reuteri RC-14, repeatedly demonstrated during numerous studies of the intestine and vagina, are independent of reuterin production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Applied & Environmental Microbiology is the property of American Society for Microbiology and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts) 
LACTOBACILLUS; RESEARCH; DISINFECTION & disinfectants; LACTIC acid; HYDROGEN peroxide; BIOSURFACTANTS; GLYCERIN; VAGINA; INTESTINES; LIQUID chromatography; PROBIOTICS