Huc Adèle, Azevedo Andreia S, Andrade José Carlos, Rodrigues Célia Fortuna
Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University Institute of Health Sciences-CESPU (IUCS-CESPU), 4585-116 Gandra PRD, Portugal.
LEPABE-Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal.
Biomedicines. 2025 Aug 3;13(8):1890. doi: 10.3390/biomedicines13081890.
Polymicrobial biofilms involving fungal and bacterial species are increasingly recognized as contributors to persistent infections, particularly in the oral cavity. and are two commensals that can turn into opportunistic pathogens and are able to form robust biofilms. : This study aimed to assess the interaction dynamics between these two microorganisms and to evaluate their susceptibility to fluconazole and azithromycin in single- and mixed-species forms. : Biofilm biomass was quantified using crystal violet assays, while biofilm cell viability was assessed through CFU enumeration (biofilm viability assay). To assess the resistance properties of single versus mixed-species coincubations, we applied the antimicrobial susceptibility test (AST) to each drug, and analysed spatial organization with confocal laser scanning microscopy, using PNA-FISH. : The results indicated that both species can coexist without significant mutual inhibition. However, a non-reciprocal synergism was also observed, whereby mixed-species biofilm conditions promoted the growth of , while growth remained stable. As expected, antimicrobial tolerance was elevated in mixed cultures, likely due to enhanced extracellular matrix production and potential quorum-sensing interactions, contributing to increased resistance against azithromycin and fluconazole. : This study provides novel insights into previously rarely explored interactions between and . These findings underscore the importance of investigating interspecies interactions within polymicrobial biofilms, as understanding their mechanisms, such as quorum-sensing molecules and metabolic cooperation, can contribute to improved diagnostics and more effective targeted therapeutic strategies against polymicrobial infections.
涉及真菌和细菌物种的多微生物生物膜越来越被认为是持续性感染的促成因素，尤其是在口腔中。 和 是两种共生菌，它们可转变为机会致病菌并能够形成坚固的生物膜。 ：本研究旨在评估这两种微生物之间的相互作用动态，并评估它们在单物种和混合物种形式下对氟康唑和阿奇霉素的敏感性。 ：使用结晶紫测定法对生物膜生物量进行定量，同时通过CFU计数（生物膜活力测定）评估生物膜细胞活力。为了评估单物种与混合物种共培养的抗性特性，我们对每种药物应用了抗菌药敏试验（AST），并使用肽核酸荧光原位杂交（PNA-FISH）通过共聚焦激光扫描显微镜分析空间组织。 ：结果表明，两种物种可以共存而没有明显的相互抑制。然而，也观察到一种非互惠的协同作用，即混合物种生物膜条件促进了 的生长，而 的生长保持稳定。正如预期的那样，混合培养物中的抗菌耐受性提高，这可能是由于细胞外基质产生增加和潜在的群体感应相互作用，导致对阿奇霉素和氟康唑的抗性增加。 ：本研究为以前很少探索的 和 之间的相互作用提供了新的见解。这些发现强调了研究多微生物生物膜内物种间相互作用的重要性，因为了解它们的机制，如群体感应分子和代谢合作，有助于改进诊断和制定更有效的针对多微生物感染的靶向治疗策略。
