Interplay between Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG and Candida and the involvement of exopolysaccharides.

Camille N Allonsius,Eline F M Oerlemans,Dieter Vandenheuvel,Marianne F L Broek,Kenn Foubert,Paul Cos,Peter Delputte,Shari Kiekens,Ilke De Boeck,Filip Kiekens,Sarah Lebeer

doi:10.1111/1751-7915.12799

Camille N Allonsius, Eline F M Oerlemans + Show 9 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1111/1751-7915.12799

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Journal: Microbial Biotechnology	Publication Date: Aug 3, 2017
Citations: 88	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: University of Antwerp

Abstract

SummaryA number of clinical studies have shown protective effects of lactobacilli against Candida species in the gastrointestinal tract, the urogenital tract and the oral cavity, while others did not show clear effects. Evidence on the mode of action of lactobacilli against Candida is also still lacking. In this study, the anti‐Candida activity of the model probiotic strain Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG was explored in different assays to determine molecular interactions. We found that L. rhamnosus GG was able to interfere with Candida growth, morphogenesis and adhesion. These three aspects of Candida's physiology are all crucial to its opportunistic pathogenesis. In follow‐up assays, we compared the activity of L. rhamnosus GG wild‐type with its exopolysaccharide (EPS)‐deficient mutant and purified EPS to evaluate the involvement of this outer carbohydrate layer. Our data demonstrate that purified EPS can both interfere with hyphal formation and adhesion to epithelial cells, which indicates that EPS is part of a combined molecular mechanism underlying the antihyphal and anti‐adhesion mechanisms of L. rhamnosus GG.

Highlights

Under normal circumstances, members of the Candida genus are non-pathogenic, commensal microorganisms inhabiting the gastrointestinal tract, oral cavity and female reproductive tract (Sardi et al, 2013)
Our data demonstrate that purified EPS can both interfere with hyphal formation and adhesion to epithelial cells, which indicates that EPS is part of a combined molecular mechanism underlying the antihyphal and anti-adhesion mechanisms of L. rhamnosus GG
As fungal overgrowth is the initial step in the pathogenesis of Candida, we first explored whether the presence of live L. rhamnosus GG could control the growth of C. albicans

Summary

Introduction

Members of the Candida genus are non-pathogenic, commensal microorganisms inhabiting the gastrointestinal tract, oral cavity and female reproductive tract (Sardi et al, 2013). A few species are known to shift to opportunistic pathogens and cause mucosal infections at these sites which in turn can lead to invasive candidiasis. The gastrointestinal tract is not the only site where Candida can shift to a pathogenic state. The main cause of all these infections is C. albicans, but C. glabrata has recently gained in importance as a human pathogen (Silva et al, 2012). Together, they are responsible for approximately 65%-75% of all systemic candidiasis infections, which places C. albicans and C. glabrata currently among the most common fungal pathogens in humans (Brunke and Hube, 2013)

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