Biofilm formation of Candida Spp. isolated from the vagina and antibiofilm activities of lactic acid bacteria on the these Candida Isolates

Background: In this study, it was aimed to investigate the effects of bacterial cells and cell-free filtrates of Lactobacillus acidophilus 8MR7 and Lactobacillus paracasei subspecies paracasei 10MR8 on the biofilm formation of 3 Candida tropicalis, 3 C. glabrata and 12 C. albicans isolated from the vagina and identified their virulence factors. Methods: Haemolytic activities esterase activities, and phospholipase activities as virulence factors of Candida strains were determined. Biofilm formations of these isolates were determined by Congo Red agar and microtitration plate method. Anti-biofilm activities of bacterial cells and cell-free filtrates of L. acidophilus 8MR7 and L. paracasei subspecies paracasei 10MR8 on Candida isolates were determined by the microtitration plate method. Results: Bacterial cells of L. acidophilus 8MR7 and L. paracasei subspecies paracasei 10MR8 were not very effective in the in- hibition of biofilm, whereas it has been observed that the cell-free filtrates of these bacteria inhibit the formation of biofilms of Candida strains. Although the main mechanism for inhibiting the formation of Candida spp. biofilm is the competition for adhesion, it is concluded that the substances contained in the cell-free filtrates of lactic acid bacteria are also important. Conclusion: These isolates promise hope as potential bacteria that can be used for anti-adhesion purposes in health-care materials. Keywords: Lactobacillus acidophilus; L. paracesei subspecies paracesei; vagina; biofilm.