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Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
Listeria monocytogenes, the agent responsible for listeriosis, can be transmitted
from mother to fetus/neonates by vertical transmission, transplacentally or during
passage through the birth canal. The purpose of this study was to investigate the
survival and biofilm formation of L. monocytogenes (isolated from clinical cases or
from food) in simulated vaginal fluid at different pH values (4.2, 5.5 and 6.5). The
results demonstrated that this pathogen is inhibited by the normal vaginal pH, but
may proliferate when it increases. Clinical strains were significantly more resistant
to pH 4.2 than food isolates. Listeria monocytogenes survived and even grew at the
higher pHs investigated, suggesting that fetus/neonates from women having
increased vaginal pH values during pregnancy may be at a higher risk of listeriosis.
All isolates tested were producers of biofilm at different pH values; however,
L. monocytogenes produced higher quantities of biofilm in a nutrient-rich medium.
No significant differences in biofilm production were detected between food and
clinical isolates. As L. monocytogenes are biofilm producers, this increases the
probability of occurrence of neonatal infection.
Description
Keywords
Listeria monocytogenes Vaginal fluid Vaginal Ph Biofilm
Pedagogical Context
Citation
BORGES, Sandra F.; SILVA, Joana G. L.; TEIXEIRA, Paula - Survival and biofilm formation of Listeria monocytogenes in simulated vaginal fluid: influence of pH and strain origin. FEMS Immunology and Medical Microbiology . ISSN 1574-695X. Vol. 62 (2011), p. 315–320
Publisher
Wiley