Effects of probiotic Saccharomyces cerevisiae on Candida parapsilosis biofilm and antifungal efficacy in vitro and in a murine model in Türkiye
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.3855/jidc.23048Keywords:
Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Candida parapsilosis, biofilm, synergy, antifungal, probioticAbstract
Introduction: This study investigated the effects of the probiotic Saccharomyces cerevisiae on Candida parapsilosis biofilm formation and antifungal susceptibility in vitro and evaluated its potential to enhance antifungal efficacy in a murine candidiasis model.
Methodology: C. parapsilosis ATCC 22019 and S. cerevisiae ATAFM-2021 were tested with fluconazole (FLU), caspofungin (CAS), and amphotericin B (AMB). Biofilm formation was quantified using the crystal violet assay under mono- and co-culture conditions with different inoculation timings. Antifungal susceptibility was assessed by microbroth dilution and checkerboard methods, and interactions were interpreted using the fractional inhibitory concentration index (FICi). In vivo candidiasis was induced in BALB/C mice. Antifungals were administered intraperitoneally for five days starting 24 hours after infection, while the probiotic was supplied in drinking water either 14 days before infection or 5 days after infection. Renal fungal burden was quantified as CFU/g.
Results: In vitro, S. cerevisiae reduced biofilm formation by 11–28%, with the strongest inhibition observed when applied before fungal inoculation. Minimum inhibitory concentration values of biofilm-embedded cells decreased, particularly for CAS and AMB. Synergistic interactions were consistently observed with CAS and AMB and were condition-dependent with FLU. In vivo, CAS demonstrated the highest efficacy. Probiotic pre-treatment enhanced the therapeutic effect of AMB but showed limited impact on CAS and FLU.
Conclusions: S. cerevisiae inhibited biofilm formation, reduced antifungal MIC values, and enhanced antifungal efficacy, particularly in combination with CAS and AMB. These findings support the potential role of probiotic adjunct strategies in the management of biofilm-associated candidiasis.
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