Short-Term Probiotic Administration Increases Fecal-Anti Candida Activity in Healthy Subjects

Massimiliano De Angelis; Carolina Scagnolari; Alessandra Oliva; Eugenio Nelson Cavallari; Luigi Celani; Letizia Santinelli; Giuseppe Pietro Innocenti; Cristian Borrazzo; Giancarlo Ceccarelli; Vincenzo Vullo; Gabriella d'Ettorre

doi:10.3390/microorganisms7060162

Short-Term Probiotic Administration Increases Fecal-Anti Candida Activity in Healthy Subjects

Microorganisms. 2019 Jun 3;7(6):162. doi: 10.3390/microorganisms7060162.

Affiliations

¹ Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, University of Rome-Sapienza, Rome 00185, Italy. massimiliano.deangelis@yahoo.com.
² Department of Experimental Medicine- Virology section, University of Rome-Sapienza, Rome 00185, Italy. carolina.scagnolari@uniroma1.it.
³ Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, University of Rome-Sapienza, Rome 00185, Italy. alessandra.oliva@uniroma1.it.
⁴ Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, University of Rome-Sapienza, Rome 00185, Italy. eugenionelson.cavallari@uniroma1.it.
⁵ Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, University of Rome-Sapienza, Rome 00185, Italy. luigi.celani@uniroma1.it.
⁶ Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, University of Rome-Sapienza, Rome 00185, Italy. letizia.santinelli@uniroma1.it.
⁷ Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, University of Rome-Sapienza, Rome 00185, Italy. giuseppepietro.innocenti@uniroma1.it.
⁸ Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, University of Rome-Sapienza, Rome 00185, Italy. cristian.borrazzo@uniroma1.it.
⁹ Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, University of Rome-Sapienza, Rome 00185, Italy. giancarlo.ceccarelli@uniroma1.it.
¹⁰ Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, University of Rome-Sapienza, Rome 00185, Italy. vincenzo.vullo@uniroma1.it.
¹¹ Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, University of Rome-Sapienza, Rome 00185, Italy. gabriella.dettorre@uniroma1.it.

Abstract

Background: Candida albicans' ability to evade host immune responses represents a serious threat for vulnerable patients.

Objectives: To investigate if (1) feces from healthy subjects exert anti-Candida activity; (2) fecal anti-Candida activity is modified by probiotic administration and (3) different probiotic differently modulate anti-Candida activity.

Patients and methods: Feces from healthy donors were analyzed before and after seven days of dietary supplementation with two different probiotic formulations (VSL#3^®; Vivomixx^®). Candida albicans was cultured with decreasing concentrations of diluted feces, obtained before and after the treatment period. The relationship between anti-Candida activity of feces, interferon-α, anti-interferon-α antibodies and the expression of MxA, ISG15 and IFNAR1 was also evaluated.

Results: Feces obtained prior to probiotic intake and feces collected after supplementation with VSL#3^® did not affect Candida albicans growth. On the contrary, a 3log₁₀ inhibition of Candida development was observed after Vivomixx^® intake. Interferon-α played a role in the inhibition of Candida growth.

Conclusion: Fecal anti-Candida activity was not observed prior to probiotic supplementation. Seven days of administration of Vivomixx^® increased fecal anti-Candida activity, the same effect was not observed after intake of VSL#3^®. The probiotic-induced anti-Candida activity seems to be related to an increased local production and release of interferon-α. Clinical trials are needed to determine if a short pretreatment with specific probiotic formulations may increase anti-Candida defenses in patients at risk.

Keywords: Candida; VSL#3®; Vivomixx®; fecal water; probiotics.