strains of oral and vaginal origin show strong antifungal activity .

Intake of probiotic bacteria may prevent oral  infection. To screen the antifungal activity of 14  candidate strains of human origin, against six opportunistic  and non-albicans species. A second aim was to study the acid production of the four strains showing the strongest antifungal activity. We used an agar overlay growth inhibition assay to the assess the antifungal activity of the lactobacilli. The acid-producing capacity was measured with pH micro-sensors. All 14  candidates inhibited the growth of the  spp. The four best-performing strains were  DSM 32992 (oral origin),  DSM 32991 (oral),  22B42 (vaginal), and  PB01 (vaginal). The difference between  DSM 32992 and the other three strains was statistically significant (p < 0.001). The  spp. differed in susceptibility;  was highly inhibited, while  was not or slightly inhibited. The oral  DSM 32992 and DSM 32991 strains showed the lowest pH-values. Screening of probiotic lactobacilli showed significant strain-dependent variations in their antifungal capacity in a pH-dependent mode. Two strains of oral origin were most effective. A further characterization seems justified to elaborate on their probiotic properties.