Effect of Lactobacillus acidophilus and Lactobacillus johnsonii on Growth, Phenotypic and Genotypic Expression of Virulence Factors of Candida albicans Causing Vulvovaginal Candidiasis

Abd El-Aala, ِAliaa A.; Ismail, Mohammed A.; Awad, Alaa R.; El Sharkawy, Mohammed A.

doi:10.21608/ejmm.2023.299696

Effect of Lactobacillus acidophilus and Lactobacillus johnsonii on Growth, Phenotypic and Genotypic Expression of Virulence Factors of Candida albicans Causing Vulvovaginal Candidiasis

Document Type : New and original researches in the field of Microbiology.

Authors

¹ Assistant lecturer of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt

² Professor of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt

³ Professor of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egyp

10.21608/ejmm.2023.299696

Abstract

Background: Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) causes significant morbidity among women of reproductive age, as well as a considerable financial burden on the health-care system. In the age of antibiotic resistance, using probiotic lactobacilli to treat VVC has become an appealing treatment approach. Objective: The goal of this research was to determine how L. acidophilus LA-5 and L. johnsonii B-2178 affect C. albicans growth, phenotypic and genotypic expression of virulence factors (biofilm and hyphal production) in females with VVC. Methodology: This study was conducted on 30 isolates of C. albicans recovered from 118 patients in the reproductive period, complaining of cheesy curd-like vaginal discharge and/or itching. The effect of L. acidophilus LA-5 and L. johnsonii B-2178 on growth of C. albicans isolates was determined. The effect of L. acidophilus LA-5 and L. johnsonii B-2178 cell-free supernatant (CFS) on phenotypic expression of virulence factors (biofilm and hyphae formation) among C. albicans isolates was determined. By using Quantitative Real-Time Reverse Transcription PCR (qRT-PCR), the effect of CFS of L. acidophilus LA-5 and L. johnsonii B-2178 on the transcription of C. albicans genes involved in the transition from yeast to hyphae and biofilm formation was determined. Results: Both L. acidophilus LA-5 and L. johnsonii B-2178 were effective in inhibiting C. albicans growth. The CFS of L. acidophilus LA-5 and L. johnsonii B-2178 significantly inhibited biofilm formation. The CFS of L. acidophilus LA-5 and L. johnsonii B-2178 reduced hyphae formation, but this reduction was not significant. The CFS of L. acidophilus LA-5 and L. johnsonii B-2178 significantly inhibited expression levels of virulence-related genes. Conclusions: L. acidophilus LA-5 and L. johnsonii B-2178 had growth inhibition effect, anti-biofilm effect, anti-hyphal effect and gene expression level inhibition on C. albicans isolates causing VVC.

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