Female Microbiome | Strain Specific Research

• Survive in GI tract and urine
• Adhere to surface epithelial cells
• Form aggregations
• Pathogen inhibition via competition for attachment sites and nutrients
• Stimulation of the immune system
  
  • Decrease IL-6 and IL-8
  • Stimulate IL-10
• Strengthen barrier function
• Acidify the environment through lactic acid production
• Produce antibacterial agents such as bacteriocins and hydrogen peroxide

In vitro data

Pathogen Inhibition

Uropathogens including E. coli and P. aeruginosa often enter the bladder via the vagina from the rectum and grow and multiply after successful adhesion and colonisation of the bladder epithelium. The strains in Bio.Me™ Femme were tested in vitro for their ability to inhibit common uropathogens. All strains showed strong inhibitory activity for E. coliwhich is responsible for 80% of recurrent UTIs (1), as well as other common pathogens.

Barrier Function

Integrity of mucosal barriers are critical for essential physiological processes. After an inflammatory stressor, the TEER can be seen to decrease, indicating a reduction in barrier integrity (see ‘with stressor control’). In vitro data shows that strains in Bio.Me™ Femme strengthen the epithelial layer.

Lactic Acid & Metabolic Activity

The production of lactic acid is a probiotic effect, acidifying the vaginal environment and thus helping Lactobacillus growth. Lactic acid production is also an indication of metabolic activity. The more lactic acid probiotic bacteria produce, the more metabolically active they are.

The graph below shows the lactic acid production by Bio.Me™ Femme over time.