Growth inhibition of Staphylococcus aureus by H2O2-producing Lactobacillus paracasei subsp. paracasei isolated from the human vagina

H2O2 production by certain Lactobacillus strains is one of the mechanisms that helps to regulate the vaginal ecosystem. This paper describes the kinetics of H2O2 production by two different strains of Lactobacillus paracasei subsp. paracasei under different culture conditions and the effect of this metabolite on the growth of Staphylococcus aureus. L. paracasei F2 produced 2.72 mmol 1-1 H2O2 while L. paracasei F28 produced 1.84 mmol l(-1), both in agitated cultures. Although L. paracasei F2 produced a higher H2O2 concentration than L. paracasei F28, H2O2 production per number of live bacterial cells was 10-fold higher for F28. The latter also showed a faster decrease in viability during the stationary phase. There were no detectable levels of H2O2 in cultures without agitation. H2O2-producing lactobacilli inhibited growth of S. aureus in a plaque assay and in mixed cultures, depending on the initial inoculum of the pathogen.