Inhibitory effects of vaginal on C growth, hyphal formation, biofilm development, and epithelial cell adhesion.

INTRODUCTION

Antifungal agents are not always efficient in resolving vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC), a common genital infection caused by the overgrowth of spp., including , or in preventing recurrent infections. Although lactobacilli (which are dominant microorganisms constituting healthy human vaginal microbiota) are important barriers against VVC, the metabolite concentration needed to suppress VVC is unknown.

METHODS

We quantitatively evaluated metabolite concentrations to determine their effect on spp., including 27 vaginal strains of , and , with inhibitory abilities against biofilms of clinical isolates.

RESULTS

culture supernatants suppressed viable fungi by approximately 24%-92% relative to preformed biofilms; however, their suppression differed among strains and not species. A moderate negative correlation was found between lactate production and biofilm formation, but no correlation was observed between hydrogen peroxide production and biofilm formation. Both lactate and hydrogen peroxide were required to suppress planktonic cell growth. strains that significantly inhibited biofilm formation in culture supernatant also inhibited adhesion to epithelial cells in an actual live bacterial adhesion competition test.

DISCUSSION

Healthy human microflora and their metabolites may play important roles in the development of new antifungal agent against -induced VVC.