Vaginal Lactobacillus gasseri biosurfactant: a novel bio- and eco-compatible anti-Candida agent
Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) and recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis (RVVC), caused by Candida spp. overgrowth, are common and challenging infections of the genital tract. Among Candida virulence factors, the ability to adhere to host epithelium and to form biofilms are frequently retrieved, especi...
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Elsevier
2025-12-01
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| Series: | Biofilm |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590207525000474 |
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| author | Federica Monti Barbara Giordani Stefano Fedi Daniele Ghezzi Paola Galletti Laura Mercolini Roberto Mandrioli Carola Parolin Barbara Luppi Beatrice Vitali |
| author_facet | Federica Monti Barbara Giordani Stefano Fedi Daniele Ghezzi Paola Galletti Laura Mercolini Roberto Mandrioli Carola Parolin Barbara Luppi Beatrice Vitali |
| author_sort | Federica Monti |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) and recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis (RVVC), caused by Candida spp. overgrowth, are common and challenging infections of the genital tract. Among Candida virulence factors, the ability to adhere to host epithelium and to form biofilms are frequently retrieved, especially in RVVC. Vaginal pathogen overgrowth is counteracted by resident lactobacilli, which exert a barrier thanks to the production of antimicrobial metabolites, such as biosurfactants (BS).BS was recovered from vaginal Lactobacillus gasseri BC12 and its chemical characteristics as well as its ability to lower the surface tension and to emulsify two different immiscible phases were investigated. BS showed the typical features of a lipopeptide with a critical micellar concentration of 1.2 mg/mL. BS showed antibiofilm activity towards various Candida albicans and non-albicans isolates, notably, it was able to prevent biofilm formation and eradicate preformed biofilms. The absence of cytotoxicity of BS and its ability to counteract the adhesion of Candida spp. were highlighted on HeLa cells through MTT and competition/exclusion assays, respectively. The environmental impact of BS was also investigated on a microcosm model (spring water) by culture-based and molecular (16S rRNA-targeted Illumina sequencing) methods, and no remarkable modifications in the taxonomy composition of the bacterial ecosystem were observed.To conclude, BS from L. gasseri BC12 appears as a promising, biocompatible and environmentally friendly approach to prevent and treat VVC/RVVC. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-96ed0200cec6411fbe5a4f29b03492ed |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2590-2075 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-12-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Biofilm |
| spelling | doaj-art-96ed0200cec6411fbe5a4f29b03492ed2025-08-20T02:35:22ZengElsevierBiofilm2590-20752025-12-011010029910.1016/j.bioflm.2025.100299Vaginal Lactobacillus gasseri biosurfactant: a novel bio- and eco-compatible anti-Candida agentFederica Monti0Barbara Giordani1Stefano Fedi2Daniele Ghezzi3Paola Galletti4Laura Mercolini5Roberto Mandrioli6Carola Parolin7Barbara Luppi8Beatrice Vitali9Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Bologna, 40127, ItalyDepartment of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Bologna, 40127, ItalyDepartment of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Bologna, 40127, ItalyDepartment of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Bologna, 40127, ItalyDepartment of Chemistry Giacomo Ciamician, University of Bologna, Bologna, 40126, ItalyDepartment of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Bologna, 40127, ItalyDepartment for Life Quality Studies, University of Bologna, Rimini, 47921, ItalyDepartment of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Bologna, 40127, ItalyDepartment of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Bologna, 40127, ItalyDepartment of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Bologna, 40127, Italy; Corresponding author. Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Via San Donato 19/2, 40127, Bologna, Italy.Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) and recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis (RVVC), caused by Candida spp. overgrowth, are common and challenging infections of the genital tract. Among Candida virulence factors, the ability to adhere to host epithelium and to form biofilms are frequently retrieved, especially in RVVC. Vaginal pathogen overgrowth is counteracted by resident lactobacilli, which exert a barrier thanks to the production of antimicrobial metabolites, such as biosurfactants (BS).BS was recovered from vaginal Lactobacillus gasseri BC12 and its chemical characteristics as well as its ability to lower the surface tension and to emulsify two different immiscible phases were investigated. BS showed the typical features of a lipopeptide with a critical micellar concentration of 1.2 mg/mL. BS showed antibiofilm activity towards various Candida albicans and non-albicans isolates, notably, it was able to prevent biofilm formation and eradicate preformed biofilms. The absence of cytotoxicity of BS and its ability to counteract the adhesion of Candida spp. were highlighted on HeLa cells through MTT and competition/exclusion assays, respectively. The environmental impact of BS was also investigated on a microcosm model (spring water) by culture-based and molecular (16S rRNA-targeted Illumina sequencing) methods, and no remarkable modifications in the taxonomy composition of the bacterial ecosystem were observed.To conclude, BS from L. gasseri BC12 appears as a promising, biocompatible and environmentally friendly approach to prevent and treat VVC/RVVC.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590207525000474BiosurfactantVaginal microbiotaLactobacilliCandidaBiofilm |
| spellingShingle | Federica Monti Barbara Giordani Stefano Fedi Daniele Ghezzi Paola Galletti Laura Mercolini Roberto Mandrioli Carola Parolin Barbara Luppi Beatrice Vitali Vaginal Lactobacillus gasseri biosurfactant: a novel bio- and eco-compatible anti-Candida agent Biofilm Biosurfactant Vaginal microbiota Lactobacilli Candida Biofilm |
| title | Vaginal Lactobacillus gasseri biosurfactant: a novel bio- and eco-compatible anti-Candida agent |
| title_full | Vaginal Lactobacillus gasseri biosurfactant: a novel bio- and eco-compatible anti-Candida agent |
| title_fullStr | Vaginal Lactobacillus gasseri biosurfactant: a novel bio- and eco-compatible anti-Candida agent |
| title_full_unstemmed | Vaginal Lactobacillus gasseri biosurfactant: a novel bio- and eco-compatible anti-Candida agent |
| title_short | Vaginal Lactobacillus gasseri biosurfactant: a novel bio- and eco-compatible anti-Candida agent |
| title_sort | vaginal lactobacillus gasseri biosurfactant a novel bio and eco compatible anti candida agent |
| topic | Biosurfactant Vaginal microbiota Lactobacilli Candida Biofilm |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590207525000474 |
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