Effect of postbiotics on biofilm formation and gene expression in Candida spp. isolates from patients with recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis
Cell-free supernatants from Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus and Lactobacillus acidophilus inhibited Candida spp. biofilm formation by approximately 50% in vitro.
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What the study showed
Cell-free supernatants (CFSs) from Lc. rhamnosus DM-UFMG 63 and L. acidophilus NCFM SD 5221 at ~200 µg/mL protein significantly reduced biofilm formation (p<0.01). This phenotypic inhibition correlated with downregulation of biofilm-associated genes (ALS3, HWP1, EFG1, TEC1, UME6) and upregulation of the transcriptional repressor NRG1.
How it was done
In vitro study using 40 Candida spp. isolates from RVVC patients; anti-biofilm activity assessed by XTT assay and gene expression measured by qPCR.
Risk of bias
The study is entirely in vitro; no animal model or clinical trial data are available. The abstract does not specify Candida species distribution, full dose-response curves, or inter-isolate variability.
What this study does NOT prove
The study does not prove clinical efficacy, safety, or superiority over standard antifungal treatment in patients with recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis.
In clinical practice
These findings do not support clinical use of postbiotics for RVVC. In vitro results require pre-clinical and clinical validation before any therapeutic application.
Limitations
The study is entirely in vitro; no animal model or clinical trial data are available. The abstract does not specify Candida species distribution, full dose-response curves, or inter-isolate variability.
Technical appendix
Version history
- 1.0 · 2026-08-24 — Auto-generated under Evidence Standard v1.0
Paid access: structured summary from public metadata; consult the original study at the source.