Effect of Streptococcus salivarius K12 on the In Vitro Growth of Candida albicans and Its Protective Effect in an Oral Candidiasis Model

Abstract

ABSTRACTOral candidiasis is often accompanied by severe inflammation, resulting in a decline in the quality of life of immunosuppressed individuals and elderly people. To develop a new oral therapeutic option for candidiasis, a nonpathogenic commensal oral probiotic microorganism,Streptococcus salivariusK12, was evaluated for its ability to modulateCandida albicansgrowthin vitro, and its therapeutic activity in an experimental oral candidiasis model was tested.In vitroinhibition of mycelial growth ofC. albicanswas determined by plate assay and fluorescence microscopy. Addition ofS. salivariusK12 to modified RPMI 1640 culture medium inhibited the adherence ofC. albicansto the plastic petri dish in a dose-dependent manner. Preculture ofS. salivariusK12 potentiated its inhibitory activity for adherence ofC. albicans. Interestingly,S. salivariusK12 was not directly fungicidal but appeared to inhibitCandidaadhesion to the substratum by preferentially binding to hyphae rather than yeast. To determine the potentially anti-infective attributes ofS. salivariusK12 in oral candidiasis, the probiotic was administered to mice with orally induced candidiasis. Oral treatment withS. salivariusK12 significantly protected the mice from severe candidiasis. These findings suggest thatS. salivariusK12 may inhibit the process of invasion ofC. albicansinto mucous surfaces or its adhesion to denture acrylic resins by mechanisms not associated with the antimicrobial activity of the bacteriocin.S. salivariusK12 may be useful as a probiotic as a protective tool for oral care, especially with regard to candidiasis.