MORPHOGENESIS AND PATHOGENESIS REGULATION OF CANDIDA ALBICANS BY PROBIOTIC BACTERIUM – PEDIOCOCCUS ACIDILACTICI

Abstract

The transition of Candida albicans from yeast to hyphae cause the attachment to epithelial cells, forming biofilm and invasion. Therefore, the effect of Pediococcus acidilactici on morphogenesis and pathogenesis of C. albicans were examined. Inhibitory activity of P. acidilactici on Candida species growth was investigated and inhibition of C. albicans biofilm formation was measured by XTT method. Also, expression of seven genes as: Agglutinin-like protein 1 (ALS1,3), hyphal cell-wall protein (HWP1), secreted aspartyl proteinase (SAP4,6), Enhanced filamentous growth 1 (EFG1) and Enhanced activated protein 1 (EAP1) were studied by RT-PCR with different concentrations of P. acidilactici. The experimental activity of this probiotic bacterium was evaluated in an animal model by culture and histopathological methods.  P. acidilactici inhibited the growth of Candida species at concentrations of 8-512 µg/mL (approximately 8 × 10⁶ to 5 × 10⁸ CFU/ml). This probiotic bacterium inhibited the germ tube and biofilm formation in a dose-dependent manner. RT-PCR analysis showed a reduction in genes expression. The P. acidilactici reduced the CFUs in mice receiving this probiotic bacterium. Histopathological analyses showed that Candida colonization was diminished in mice following the administration of probiotic. Since the wide range of antifungal activity of this bacterium bacterium, it can be used to manage oral candidiasis.