Influência de Lactobacillus acidophilus sobre biofilme formado por Candida albicans in vitro e infecção em modelo de invertebrado

As interações entre fungos e bactérias são abundantes na natureza e tem importância médica e ambiental. O desenvolvimento adequado de modelos in vitro e in vivo para caracterizar essas interações é essencial para o entendimento do desenvolvimento da doença e descoberta de novas estratégias terapêuticas. O objetivo desse estudo foi avaliar as interações entre Lactobacillus acidophilus e Candida albicans em modelos de estudo in vitro e em modelo experimental de invertebrado. No estudo in vitro, foram avaliados os efeitos de L. acidophilus sobre a formação de biofilme por C. albicans e sobre a capacidade de filamentação de C. albicans. Em ambos os testes, foram avaliados os efeitos diretos das células de L. acidophilus sobre C. albicans e também os efeitos indiretos, utilizando apenas o sobrenadante da cultura de Lactobacilos. Além disso, foram testados os efeitos de L. acidophilus sobre C. albicans em diferentes fases de crescimento da cultura bacteriana (4, 6, 18 e 24 h). Para a realização do estudo in vivo, as cepas de L. acidophilus foram inoculadas juntamente com C. albicans em lagartas de Galleria mellonella para indução de infecção experimental. Os efeitos de L. acidophilus sobre a candidose experimental foram avaliados pela análise de curva de sobrevivência de G. mellonella, quantificação de UFC/mL de C. albicans e avaliação histológica da filamentação de C. albicans nos tecidos do hospedeiro. Os resultados dos testes in vitro e da contagem de UFC/mL em G. mellonella foram submetidos à Análise de Variância e teste de Tukey. Os dados obtidos na curva de sobrevivência de G. mellonella foram analisados pelo método de Log-rank. (P ≤ 0,05). Os resultados in vitro demonstraram que a cultura de 24 h de L. acidophilus foi capaz de inibir a formação de biofilme e a filamentação por C. albicans. Esses efeitos inibitórios também foram observados...Interactions between fungi and bacteria are abundant in nature and are of medical and environmental importance. The developments of adequate models in vitro and in vivo to characterize these interactions are essential to understand diseases and to discover new therapeutic strategies. The aim of this study was to evaluate the microbial interactions between Lactobacillus acidophilus and Candida albicans on in vitro study models and experimental models of invertebrates. In the in vitro study, we analyzed the effects of L. acidophilus on C. albicans biofilm formation as well as its filamentation ability. On both tests, the direct effects of L. acidophilus cells and indirect effects of the supernatant culture of L. acidophilus were evaluated , as well as the L. acidophilus effects on C. albicans at different bacterial culture growth stages (4, 6 18 and 24h). To perfom the in vivo study, L. acidophilus and C. albicans strains were inoculated in Galleria mellonella model to induce experimental infection. The L. acidophilus effects on experimental candidosis have been evaluated by the analysis of the survival killing curve of G. mellonella, quantify C. albicans colony forming units per millimeter (CFU/mL) and through histological evaluation of C. albicans filamentation ability on the host tissues. The in vitro test results and the CFU/mL number in G. mellonella were submitted to ANOVA and Tukey’s test. The obtained data on G. mellonella killing curves have been analyzed using the long-rank test method. A 5% significance level has been considered on all tests. The in vitro results showed that the L. acidophilus 24 hour culture was able to inhibit the formation of biofilm and filamentation by C. albicans. These inhibitory effects were also observed when the supernatant of the L. acidophilus culture was placed in contact with C. albicans, suggesting that the inhibitory action occurred by the ...

Ação de diferentes fotossensibilizadores na terapia fotodinâmica antimicrobiana

Esse estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a ação dos fotossensibilizadores azul de metileno, azul de toluidina e verde de malaquita em conjunto com um laser de baixa intensidade sobre cepas planctônicas e biofilmes de Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli e Candida albicans. Em cada grupo, foram estudadas cinco cepas clínicas e uma cepa padrão. A formação do biofilme foi realizada colocando-se a suspensão microbiana em contato com corpos-de-prova e o meio de cultura BHI por 4 dias a 37ºC. Os fotossensibilizadores foram preparados nas concentrações de 3000, 1800, 600, 300, 150, 75 e 37,5 μM. Foi adicionado ao fotossensibilizador a suspensão de microrganismos para o estudo das células planctônicas e biofilme. Os ensaios foram executados utilizandose um laser de Arseneto de Gálio e Alumínio (660 nm). Os grupos controles foram radiados nas mesmas condições, entretanto não receberam fotossensibilizador. Para estudo das células planctônicas, após radiação, foram realizadas diluições e semeaduras em ágar BHI ou Sabouraud. Após incubação, foi feita a contagem de UFC/mL. Para análise do biofilme, após radiação, os corpos-de-prova foram submetidos à homogeneização ultra-sônica e as células dispersas foram semeadas em ágar BHI ou Sabouraud (37°C por 24 a 48 horas) para a contagem de UFC/corpo-de-prova. Os resultados foram submetidos à análise estatística descritiva. A redução de UFC/mL foi de 0,4 a 6,53 log10 dependente do microrganismo e fotossensibilizador testado. As concentrações mais eficazes dos fotossensibilizadores variaram entre 37,5 a 1800 μM para o azul de metileno, 37,5 a 300 μM para o azul de toluidina e 300 a 3000 μM para o verde de malaquita. A maior redução microbiana observada ocorreu com o fotossensibilizador verde de malaquita. Concluiu-se que os fotossensibilizadores estudados foram eficazes na redução dos microrganismos testados após a realização da terapia fotodinâmicaThe purpose of this study will be evaluate the action of photosensitizers methylene blue, toluidine blue and malachite green for photodynamic antimicrobial therapy on planctonic and biofilm strains of Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Candida albicans. In each group ten strains will be studied (1 ATCC and 5 clinical strain). An acrylic resin applying will be used for biofilm formation that will be immersed in steribe brain-heart infusion (BHI) broth containing 5% sacarose, then inoculated with standardized suspension of microorganisms and incubated at 37º C for four days. The photosensitizer will be prepared in the following concentrations: 3.000, 1.800, 600, 300, 150, 75, 37,5 μM and will be immersed the applying containing biofilm. The light source used will be a diode laser, with output power of 100mW and wavelength of 660nm. The control group will be treated under same condition, without photosesitizer. For the planctonic cells study, after irradiation, serial dilutions will be obtained from each sample in physiological solution and aliquots of 0,1ml will planted on BHI or Saboraud dextrose agar. After incubation at 37ºC for 24 or 48 hours the number of colony forming units will be calculated. For the biofim study, after irradiation the acrylic resin applying will be submitted to an ultrasonic homogenization. Serial dilution will be prepared and plated on BHI or Sabouraud dextrose agar. After incubation at 37ºC for 24 or 48 hours the number of colony forming units will be calculated. The results will be submitted to statistical analysis. The most effective concentrations of photosensitizers ranged from 37.5 to 1800 μM for methylene blue, 37.5 to 300 μM for toluidine blue and from 300 to 3000 μM for malachite green. Most microbial reduction was observed with the photosensitizer malachite green. It was concluded that the photosensitizers studied were effective in reducing microorganisms after photodynamic therapyCoordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES

Mixed biofilms formed by C. albicans and non-albicans species: a study of microbial interactions

Abstract Most Candida infections are related to microbial biofilms often formed by the association of different species. The objective of this study was to evaluate the interactions between Candida albicans and non-albicans species in biofilms formed in vitro. The non-albicans species studied were:Candida tropicalis, Candida glabrata andCandida krusei. Single and mixed biofilms (formed by clinical isolates of C. albicans and non-albicans species) were developed from standardized suspensions of each strain (107 cells/mL), on flat-bottom 96-well microtiter plates for 48 hour. These biofilms were analyzed by counting colony-forming units (CFU/mL) in Candida HiChrome agar and by determining cell viability, using the XTT 2,3-bis (2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulphophenyl)-5-[(phenylamino) carbonyl]-2H-tetrazolium hydroxide colorimetric assay. The results for both the CFU/mL count and the XTT colorimetric assay showed that all the species studied were capable of forming high levels of in vitro biofilm. The number of CFU/mL and the metabolic activity of C. albicans were reduced in mixed biofilms with non-albicans species, as compared with a singleC. albicans biofilm. Among the species tested, C. krusei exerted the highest inhibitory action against C. albicans. In conclusion, C. albicans established antagonistic interactions with non-albicans Candida species in mixed biofilms

Photodynamic inactivation of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli biofilms by malachite green and phenothiazine dyes: An in vitro study

Objectives: The organization of biofilms in the oral cavity gives them added resistance to antimicrobial agents. The action of phenothiazinic photosensitizers on oral biofilms has already been reported. However, the action of the malachite green photosensitizer upon biofilm-organized microorganisms has not been described. The objective of the present work was to compare the action of malachite green with the phenothiazinic photosensitizers (methylene blue and toluidine blue) on Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli biofilms.Methods: The biofilms were grown on sample pieces of acrylic resin and subjected to photodynamic therapy using a 660-nm diode laser and photosensitizer concentrations ranging from 37.5 to 3000 mu M. After photodynamic therapy, cells from the biofilms were dispersed in a homogenizer and cultured in Brain Heart Infusion broth for quantification of colony-forming units per experimental protocol. For each tested microorganism, two control groups were maintained: one exposed to the laser radiation without the photosensitizer (L+PS-) and other treated with the photosensitizer without exposure to the red laser light (L-PS+). The results were subjected to descriptive statistical analysis.Results: The best results for S. aureus and E. coli biofilms were obtained with photosensitizer concentrations of approximately 300 mu M methylene blue, with microbial reductions of 0.8-1.0 log(10); 150 mu M toluidine blue, with microbial reductions of 0.9-1.0 log(10); and 3000 mu M malachite green, with microbial reductions of 1.6-4.0 log(10).Conclusion: Greater microbial reduction was achieved with the malachite green photosensitizer when used at higher concentrations than those employed for the phenothiazinic dyes. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Comparison of the hemolytic activity between C. albicans and non-albicans Candida species

The ability to produce enzymes, such as hemolysins, is an important virulence factor for the genus Candida.The objective of this study was to compare the hemolytic activity between C. albicansand non-albicans Candida species. Fifty strains of Candida species, isolated from the oral cavity of patients infected with HIV were studied. The isolates included the following species: C. albicans, C. dubliniensis, C. glabrata, C. tropicalis, C. krusei, C. parapsilosis, C. dubliniensis, C. norvegensis, C. lusitaniae, and C. guilliermondii. Hemolysin production was evaluated on Sabouraud dextrose agar containing chloramphenicol, blood, and glucose. A loop-full of pure Candidaculture was spot-inoculated onto plates and incubated at 37ºC for 24 h in a 5% CO2 atmosphere. Hemolytic activity was defined as the formation of a translucent halo around the colonies. All C. albicansstrains that were studied produced hemolysins. Among the non-albicans Candidaspecies, 86% exhibited hemolytic activity. Only C. guilliermondiiand some C. parapsilosis isolates were negative for this enzyme. In conclusion, most non-albicans Candidaspecies had a similar ability to produce hemolysins when compared to C. albicans.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP

Correlation of phospholipase and proteinase production of Candida with in vivo pathogenicity in Galleria mellonella

An essential factor to the virulence of the genus Candida is the ability to produce enzymes and this may be crucial in the establishment of fungal infections. AIM:This study investigated in vitro enzymatic activities of Candida species and their virulence in an in vivo Galleria mellonella experimental model. METHODS: Twenty-four clinical strains of Candida spp. isolated from the human oral cavity were evaluated, including the following species: C. albicans, C. dubliniensis, C. glabrata, C. tropicalis, C. krusei, C. parapsilosis, C. norvegensis, C. lusitaniae and C. guilliermondii. All Candida strains were tested in vitro for production of proteinase and phospholipase. The Candida strains were also injected into Galleria mellonella larvae to induce experimental candidiasis, and after 24 hours, the survival rate was assessed. RESULTS: Phospholipase and proteinase activity were observed in 100% of the C. albicans strains. In the non-albicans species, proteinase and phospholipase activity were observed in 25 and 43% of the studied strains, respectively. The most pathogenic Candida species in G. mellonella were C. albicans, C. dubliniensis and C. lusitaniae, whereas C. glabrata was the least virulent species. Furthermore, a positive significant correlation was found between both enzymatic activities with virulence in G. mellonella. CONCLUSIONS: The virulence of Candida strains in G. mellonella is related to the quantity of proteinases and phospholipases production of each strain