Clinical strains of Lactobacillus reduce the filamentation of Candida albicans and protect Galleria mellonella against experimental candidiasis

Author(s)

Rossoni, Rodnei Dennis ^[1] ; Velloso, Marisol dos Santos ^[1] ; Alves Figueiredo, Livia Mara ^[1] ; Martins, Carolina Pistille ^[1] ; Cardoso Jorge, Antonio Olavo ^[1] ; Junqueira, Juliana Campos ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Sao Paulo State Univ UNESP, Inst Sci & Technol, Dept Biosci & Oral Diag, Sao Jose Dos Campos, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Folia Microbiologica; v. 63, n. 3, p. 307-314, MAY 2018.
• Web of Science Citations: 7

Abstract

Candida albicans is the most common human fungal pathogen and can grow as yeast or filaments, depending on the environmental conditions. The filamentous form is of particular interest because it can play a direct role in adherence and pathogenicity. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of three clinical strains of Lactobacillus on C. albicans filamentation as well as their probiotic potential in pathogen-host interactions via an experimental candidiasis model study in Galleria mellonella. We used the reference strain Candida albicans ATCC 18804 and three clinical strains of Lactobacillus: L. rhamnosus strain 5.2, L. paracasei strain 20.3, and L. fermentum strain 20.4. First, the capacity of C. albicans to form hyphae was tested in vitro through association with the Lactobacillus strains. After that, we verified the ability of these strains to attenuate experimental candidiasis in a Galleria mellonella model through a survival curve assay. Regarding the filamentation assay, a significant reduction in hyphae formation of up to 57% was observed when C. albicans was incubated in the presence of the Lactobacillus strains, compared to a control group composed of only C. albicans. In addition, when the larvae were pretreated with Lactobacillus spp. prior to C. albicans infection, the survival rate of G. mellonela increased in all experimental groups. We concluded that Lactobacillus influences the growth and expression C. albicans virulence factors, which may interfere with the pathogenicity of these microorganisms. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 15/09770-9 - Isolation and characterization of Lactobacillus spp. from oral cavity and its probiotic action in Candida albicans and Streptococcus mutans
• Grantee: Juliana Campos Junqueira
• Support type: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 13/25181-8 - Isolation and characterization of Lactobacillus spp. from oral cavity and their probiotic action in Candida albicans: biofilm formation, infection in invertebrate models and EFG1, HWP1 and ALS1 gene expression
• Grantee: Rodnei Dennis Rossoni
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate