Abstract
Candida yeasts are generally found in the vaginal microbiota; however, disruption of the balance maintained by host factors and microorganisms results in vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC). This study evaluated the antagonistic activity of vaginal Lactobacillus spp. on Candida albicans to verify whether active compounds of Lactobacillus spp. had antifungal and antivirulence activity. The antagonism assay showed that 15 out of 20 Lactobacillus strains had an inhibitory effect on C. albicans. Biosurfactants displayed surface-tension-reducing activity, with the best value obtained for Lactobacillus gasseri 1. Lactobacillus rhamnosus ATCC 9595, Lactobacillus acidophilus ATCC 4356, and Lactobacillus paracasei 11 produced biosurfactants that decreased C. albicans adhesion and disrupted biofilm formation. The best results were obtained in the pre-incubation assay for L. gasseri 1 and L. paracasei 11. Overall, Lactobacillus strains showed significant anti-Candida activity, and their biosurfactants exhibited considerable anti-adhesion and antibiofilm activity against C. albicans. To be considered safe for use in vivo, the safety of biosurfactant (BS) should be investigated using cytotoxicity assays.
Highlights
Candida yeasts are generally found in the vaginal microbiota, but their presence does not always lead to the manifestation of symptoms
We have recently shown that Lactobacillus fermentum ATCC 23271 displayed antagonistic activity on Candida species in vitro and inhibited yeast adherence to HeLa cells and mucin [33]
This work aimed to evaluate the antagonistic activity of Lactobacillus spp. from vaginal specimens on C. albicans from healthy women and those with clinical suspicion of vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC), verifying whether the active compounds of Lactobacillus spp., including BSs, have antifungal activities, and whether they interfere with the adhesion and biofilm processes of Candida albicans
Summary
Candida yeasts are generally found in the vaginal microbiota, but their presence does not always lead to the manifestation of symptoms. When homeostasis of the vaginal ecosystem is interrupted, overgrowth of Candida yeasts is facilitated and can lead to the development of vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) [2]. Primary symptoms of VVC are itching and soreness of the vulva, dysuria, white vaginal discharge, and dyspareunia. VVC can greatly affect the quality of life, in addition to increasing human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). VVC is associated with a very low mortality rate, symptoms contribute significantly to morbidity, especially in HIV-infected women. Women with vaginal colonization of Candida spp. during the second trimester of pregnancy have lower neonatal birth weight and higher rates of preterm birth than those colonized during other months of pregnancy [5]
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