Lactobacillus Plantarum 108 Inhibits Streptococcus mutans and Candida albicans Mixed-Species Biofilm Formation

• Main Authors: Neha Srivastava, Kassapa Ellepola, Nityasri Venkiteswaran, Louis Yi Ann Chai, Tomoko Ohshima, Chaminda Jayampath Seneviratne
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2020-08-01
• Series: Antibiotics
• Subjects: Streptococcus mutans; Lactobacillus plantarum; glucosyltransferase; dental caries; probiotics
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6382/9/8/478

<i>Streptococcus </i><i>mutans</i> is the principal biofilm forming oral pathogen associated with dental caries. Studies have shown that <i>Candida albicans</i>, a commensal oral fungus is capable of forming pathogenic mixed-species biofilms with <i>S. </i><i>mutans</i><i>. </i>The treatment of bacterial and fungal infections using conventional antimicrobial agents has become challenging due to the antimicrobial resistance of the biofilm mode of growth. The present study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of secretory components of <i>Lactobacillus plantarum</i><i> 108</i>, a potentially promising probiotic strain, against <i>S. </i><i>mutans</i> and <i>C. albicans </i>single and mixed-species biofilms. <i>L. plantarum</i><i> 108</i> supernatant inhibited <i>S. </i><i>mutans</i> and <i>C. albicans</i> single-species biofilms as shown by XTT reduction assay, crystal violet assay, and colony forming units counting. The probiotic supernatant significantly inhibited the <i>S. </i><i>mutans</i><i> and C. albicans </i>mixed-species biofilm formation. The pre-formed mixed-species biofilms were also successfully reduced. Confocal microscopy showed poorly developed biofilm architecture in the probiotic supernatant treated biofilms. Moreover, the expression of <i>S. </i><i>mutans</i><i> </i>genes associated with glucosyltransferase activity and <i>C. albicans </i>hyphal specific genes (<i>HWP1, ALS1</i> and <i>ALS3</i>) were down-regulated in the presence of the probiotic supernatant<i>. </i>Altogether, the data demonstrated the capacity of <i>L. plantarum</i><i> 108</i> supernatant to inhibit the <i>S. </i><i>mutans</i><i> </i>and <i>C. albicans</i> mixed-species biofilms. Herein, we provide a new insight on the potential of probiotic-based strategies to prevent bacterial-fungal mixed-species biofilms associated with dental caries.