Probiotic Lactobacillus reuteri has antifungal effects on oral Candida species in vitro

Abstract

Background: An alternative approach for managing Candida infections in the oral cavity by modulating the oral microbiota with probiotic bacteria has been proposed. Objective: The aim was to investigate the antifungal potential of the probiotic bacterium Lactobacillus reuteri (DSM 17938 and ATCC PTA 5289) against six oral Candida species (C. albicans, C. glabrata, C. krusei, C. tropicalis, C. dubliniensis, and C. parapsilosis). Design: The lactobacilli were tested for their ability to co-aggregate with and inhibit the growth of the yeasts assessed by spectrophotometry and the agar overlay inhibition assay. Additionally, the pH was evaluated with microsensors, and the production of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) by the lactobacilli was verified. Results: Both L. reuteri strains showed co-aggregation abilities with the yeasts. The lactobacilli almost completely inhibited the growth of C. albicans and C. parapsilosis, but did not affect C. krusei. Statistically significant differences in co-aggregation and growth inhibition capacities between the two L. reuteri strains were observed (p<0.001). The pH measurements suggested that C. krusei can resist the acids produced by the lactobacilli. Conclusions: L. reuteri exhibited antifungal properties against five of the six most common oral Candida species. Further, the results reconfirms that the probiotic capacity of L. reuteri is strain specific.

Randomized pilot study on probiotic effects on recurrent candidiasis in oral lichen planus patients

“…In a recent in vitro study, our group showed that L. reuteri (DSM 17938 and ATCC PTA 5289) inhibited the growth of C. albicans, C. dubliniensis, C. tropicalis, C. parapsilosis, and C. glabrata but not of C. krusei (Jorgensen et al, 2017), which supports the circumstance that one patient in the probiotic group with C. krusei at baseline developed OC after steroid treatment at Visit 2. All patients with OC were treated topically with nystatin oral mixture, which is a broadspectrum antimycotic drug with effect on all Candida species.…”

“…This might indicate that these patients harbor specific Candida strains that are more difficult to treat as there seems to be significant interspecies difference in terms of sensitivity to L. reuteri (DSM 17938 and ATCC PTA 5289). L. reuteri (DSM 17938 and ATCC PTA 5289) produces lactic acid and hydrogen peroxide and has the ability to co‐aggregate when exposed to Candida species in vitro, yet interspecies differences do exist (Jorgensen et al., ).…”

“…Probiotic bacteria may likewise affect microbial balance in the oral cavity, thereby reducing the growth of pathogens, including Candida species (Hatakka et al, 2007;Kraft-Bodi, Jorgensen, Keller, Kragelund, & Twetman, 2015). In vitro studies have shown that Lactobacilli reuteri (L. reuteri) (DSM 17938 and ATCC PTA 5289) inhibits the growth of Candida albicans (C. albicans), C. dubliniensis, C. tropicalis, C. parapsilosis, and C. glabrata but not of C. krusei (Hasslof, Hedberg, Twetman, & Stecksen-Blicks, 2010;Jorgensen, Kragelund, Jensen, Keller, & Twetman, 2017). Furthermore, in vivo intervention studies with L. reuteri (DSM 17938 and ATCC PTA 5289) administered in food or as lozenges reduced Candida presence and load (Hatakka et al, 2007;Kraft-Bodi et al, 2015), increased unstimulated whole saliva in the elderly (Hatakka et al, 2007), and reduced the gingival index in various patient groups (Krasse et al, 2006;Schlagenhauf et al, 2016;Vivekananda, Vandana, & Bhat, 2010).…”

The oral microbiome in oral lichen planus during a 1‐year randomized clinical trial

“…Our group has investigated the effect of Lactobacilli reuteri ( L. reuteri ; DSM 17938 and ATCC PTA 5289) in vitro and in vivo on Candida ( C .) species (Jorgensen, Kragelund, Jensen, Keller, & Twetman, ; Kraft‐Bodi, Jorgensen, Keller, Kragelund, & Twetman, ). In 2014, it was discovered that Malassezia is a predominant oral fungus genus in the mouth and that the relative abundance varied between 13% and 98% in saliva samples from healthy individuals (Dupuy, David, Li, Heider, Peterson et al, ).…”

Persistent Endodontics Pathogens Biofilm Inhibited by Lactobacillus reuteri Indonesian Strain Lactobacillus reuteri Indonesian

“…8 This Candida is one of the normal flora found in the oral cavity in 25-75% of the population, and it also can be found in the human gastrointestinal tract. 9,10 This species has the characteristics of an opportunistic pathogen: it is harmless in healthy individuals, but under certain conditions, it can cause infection in the oral cavity. 10,11 The infection can be caused by a hormone imbalance, antibiotic overuse, long term use of immunosuppressants, and the ability of C. albicans to change into an invasive form.…”