Oral infections due to Candida albicans are a common occurrence in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). The purpose of this investigation was to determine whether the yeast and hyphal forms of the organism could be killed using the light-activated antimicrobial agent toluidine blue O (TBO). Three variables were investigated: TBO concentration, laser light dose and pre-irradiation time (PIT). Irradiation with light from a helium neon (HeNe) gas laser used in conjunction with the photosensitiser TBO resulted in substantial kills of both the yeast and hyphal forms. Killing was light dose-dependent with 42 J being the most effective dose. The optimum PIT for the yeast form was 5 min, whereas killing of the hyphal form was not affected by PIT. The results of this study have shown that both forms of C. albicans are susceptible to lethal photosensitisation using TBO in conjunction with HeNe laser light, suggesting the possibility that this approach could be useful for eliminating the organism from diseased lesions in vivo.

Abstract The gut microbiome has been implicated in host metabolism, endocrinology, and pathophysiology. Furthermore, several studies have shown that gut bacteria impact host growth, partially mediated through the growth hormone (GH)/insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) axis. Yet, no study to date has examined the specific role of GH on the gut microbiome. Our study thus characterized the adult gut microbial profile and intestinal phenotype in GH gene-disrupted (GH-/-) mice (a model of GH deficiency) and bovine GH transgenic (bGH) mice (a model of chronic, excess GH action) at 6 months of age. Both the GH-/- and bGH mice had altered microbial signatures, in opposing directions at the phylum and genus levels. For example, GH-/- mice had significantly reduced abundance in the Proteobacteria, Campylobacterota, and Actinobacteria phyla, whereas bGH mice exhibited a trending increase in those phyla compared with respective controls. Analysis of maturity of the microbial community demonstrated that lack of GH results in a significantly more immature microbiome while excess GH increases microbial maturity. Several common bacterial genera were shared, although in opposing directions, between the 2 mouse lines (e.g., decreased in GH-/- mice and increased in bGH mice), suggesting an association with GH. Similarly, metabolic pathways like acetate, butyrate, heme B, and folate biosynthesis were predicted to be impacted by GH. This study is the first to characterize the gut microbiome in mouse lines with altered GH action and indicates that GH may play a role in the growth of certain microbiota thus impacting microbial maturation and metabolic function.

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