Table 2. Pilosotype distribution in our L. rhamnosus collection.

Source of isolation	SpaCBA positive	SpaCBA negative	Total	% SpaCBA
Human	31	46	77	40.2
Blood	14	17	31	45.1
Vaginal cavity/urethra	0	8	8	0
Oral Cavity	0	3	3	0
Intestinal tract	9	7	16	56.2
Others	8	11	19	42.1
Dairy products	3	20	23	13.0
Parmigiano Regiano cheese	3	9	12	25.0
Pecorino cheese	0	9	9	0
Other cheeses	0	2	2	0

The table describes the niches or isolation sources, the number of strains per group and their pilosotype, i.e. the presence of an intact and functional SpaCBA pili cluster as determined in Figure 6. Probiotic strains GG, VIFIT, IDOF, AK-RO and CO-RO were classified as intestinal isolates. The group ‘Others’ contained strains of unspecified origins (clinical specimens) or from minor isolation source (n<2), i.e. hip punction or pus.