Bacteriophages Improve the Effectiveness of Rhamnolipids in Combating the Biofilm of <i>Candida albicans</i>
Biofilms formed by <i>Candida albicans</i> pose therapeutic challenges due to their resistance to conventional antimicrobials, highlighting the need for more effective treatments. Rhamnolipids (RLs) are biosurfactants with diverse antimicrobial properties. Bacteriophages are viruses that...
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2025-04-01
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| author | Izabela Dusza Dominika Jama Grzegorz Skaradziński Paulina Śliwka Tomasz Janek Aneta Skaradzińska |
| author_facet | Izabela Dusza Dominika Jama Grzegorz Skaradziński Paulina Śliwka Tomasz Janek Aneta Skaradzińska |
| author_sort | Izabela Dusza |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Biofilms formed by <i>Candida albicans</i> pose therapeutic challenges due to their resistance to conventional antimicrobials, highlighting the need for more effective treatments. Rhamnolipids (RLs) are biosurfactants with diverse antimicrobial properties. Bacteriophages are viruses that target specific bacterial strains. Recent studies have shown that they may affect biofilm formation by fungi and yeasts. This study investigated the combined antimicrobial effects of RLs and bacteriophages against <i>C. albicans</i> biofilms, focusing on their anti-adhesive and inhibitory effects on biofilm development. RT-PCR assays were used to analyze gene modulation in <i>C. albicans</i> biofilm formation in response to RLs and bacteriophage treatments, while hyphae formation was examined using microscopy. The results showed that RLs-bacteriophage combinations significantly reduced biofilm formation compared to individual treatments. A combination of 200 mg/L RLs with bacteriophage BF9 led to a 94.8% reduction in biofilm formation. In a subsequent model, the same RL concentration with bacteriophage LO5/1f nearly eliminated biofilm formation (~96%). Gene expression analysis revealed downregulation of key biofilm-associated genes when <i>Candida</i> cells were treated with 200 mg/L RLs and four bacteriophages (BF17, LO5/1f, JG004, FD). These results show the potential of RL and bacteriophage combinations in combating <i>C. albicans</i> biofilms, presenting a promising therapeutic approach against resilient infections. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-2272a9a0e2004b4f935410aa6f9367bd |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1420-3049 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Molecules |
| spelling | doaj-art-2272a9a0e2004b4f935410aa6f9367bd2025-08-20T02:18:04ZengMDPI AGMolecules1420-30492025-04-01308177210.3390/molecules30081772Bacteriophages Improve the Effectiveness of Rhamnolipids in Combating the Biofilm of <i>Candida albicans</i>Izabela Dusza0Dominika Jama1Grzegorz Skaradziński2Paulina Śliwka3Tomasz Janek4Aneta Skaradzińska5Department of Biotechnology and Food Microbiology, Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Science, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Chełmońskiego 37, 51-630 Wrocław, PolandDepartment of Biotechnology and Food Microbiology, Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Science, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Chełmońskiego 37, 51-630 Wrocław, PolandDepartment of Biotechnology and Food Microbiology, Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Science, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Chełmońskiego 37, 51-630 Wrocław, PolandDepartment of Biotechnology and Food Microbiology, Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Science, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Chełmońskiego 37, 51-630 Wrocław, PolandDepartment of Biotechnology and Food Microbiology, Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Science, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Chełmońskiego 37, 51-630 Wrocław, PolandDepartment of Biotechnology and Food Microbiology, Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Science, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Chełmońskiego 37, 51-630 Wrocław, PolandBiofilms formed by <i>Candida albicans</i> pose therapeutic challenges due to their resistance to conventional antimicrobials, highlighting the need for more effective treatments. Rhamnolipids (RLs) are biosurfactants with diverse antimicrobial properties. Bacteriophages are viruses that target specific bacterial strains. Recent studies have shown that they may affect biofilm formation by fungi and yeasts. This study investigated the combined antimicrobial effects of RLs and bacteriophages against <i>C. albicans</i> biofilms, focusing on their anti-adhesive and inhibitory effects on biofilm development. RT-PCR assays were used to analyze gene modulation in <i>C. albicans</i> biofilm formation in response to RLs and bacteriophage treatments, while hyphae formation was examined using microscopy. The results showed that RLs-bacteriophage combinations significantly reduced biofilm formation compared to individual treatments. A combination of 200 mg/L RLs with bacteriophage BF9 led to a 94.8% reduction in biofilm formation. In a subsequent model, the same RL concentration with bacteriophage LO5/1f nearly eliminated biofilm formation (~96%). Gene expression analysis revealed downregulation of key biofilm-associated genes when <i>Candida</i> cells were treated with 200 mg/L RLs and four bacteriophages (BF17, LO5/1f, JG004, FD). These results show the potential of RL and bacteriophage combinations in combating <i>C. albicans</i> biofilms, presenting a promising therapeutic approach against resilient infections.https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/8/1772<i>Candida albicans</i>rhamnolipidsbacteriophagesantimicrobial agentscombined therapybiofilm assay |
| spellingShingle | Izabela Dusza Dominika Jama Grzegorz Skaradziński Paulina Śliwka Tomasz Janek Aneta Skaradzińska Bacteriophages Improve the Effectiveness of Rhamnolipids in Combating the Biofilm of <i>Candida albicans</i> Molecules <i>Candida albicans</i> rhamnolipids bacteriophages antimicrobial agents combined therapy biofilm assay |
| title | Bacteriophages Improve the Effectiveness of Rhamnolipids in Combating the Biofilm of <i>Candida albicans</i> |
| title_full | Bacteriophages Improve the Effectiveness of Rhamnolipids in Combating the Biofilm of <i>Candida albicans</i> |
| title_fullStr | Bacteriophages Improve the Effectiveness of Rhamnolipids in Combating the Biofilm of <i>Candida albicans</i> |
| title_full_unstemmed | Bacteriophages Improve the Effectiveness of Rhamnolipids in Combating the Biofilm of <i>Candida albicans</i> |
| title_short | Bacteriophages Improve the Effectiveness of Rhamnolipids in Combating the Biofilm of <i>Candida albicans</i> |
| title_sort | bacteriophages improve the effectiveness of rhamnolipids in combating the biofilm of i candida albicans i |
| topic | <i>Candida albicans</i> rhamnolipids bacteriophages antimicrobial agents combined therapy biofilm assay |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/8/1772 |
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