Inhibitory Effects of Vaginal Lactobacilli on<em> Candida albicans </em>Growth, Hyphal Formation, Biofilm Development, and Epithelial Cell Adhesion

Abstract

Antifungal agents are not always efficient in resolving vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC), a common genital infection caused by overgrowth of Candida spp., including Candida albicans, or preventing recurrent infections. Although lactobacilli (which are dominant microorganisms constituting healthy human vaginal microbiota) are important barriers against VVC, the Lactobacillus metabolite concentration needed to suppress VVC is unknown. Therefore, we quantitatively evaluated Lactobacillus metabolite concentrations to determine their effect on Candida spp., including 27 vaginal strains of Lactobacillus crispatus, Lactobacillus jensenii, Lactobacillus gasseri, Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus, and Limosilactobacillus vaginalis, with inhibitory abilities against biofilms of Candida clinical isolates. Lactobacillus culture supernatants suppressed viable bacteria by approximately 24%-92% relative to preformed Candida biofilms, but their suppression differed between strains, not species. Lactate production was necessary to suppress preformed biofilms and hyphal elongation of C. albicans, whereas hydrogen peroxide was not always essential. Both lactic acid and hydrogen peroxide were required to suppress Candida planktonic cell growth. Lactobacillus strains that significantly inhibited biofilm formation in culture supernatant also inhibited Candida adhesion to epithelial cells in an actual live bacterial adhesion competition test. Healthy human microflora and their metabolites may play important roles in the development of new antifungal agent against VVC caused by C. albicans.

Inhibiting pathogenicity of vaginal Candida albicans by lactic acid bacteria and MS analysis of their extracellular compounds

“…The effect of PCFS produced by these strains were assessed on the adhesion, hyphae formation, and biofilm formation. The estimation of lactic acid and hydrogen peroxide in the PCFS was done and correlated with the inhibitory potential of the PCFS [93].…”

“…This deduces the inferior role of hydrogen peroxide in inhibition of C. albicans as it has been previously reported by Takano et. al[93]. would like to extend our sincere gratitude to the Dept.of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Tezpur University, Assam for extending the basic laboratory infrastructure.…”