In Vivo Efficacy of Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus L8020 in a Mouse Model of Oral Candidiasis

Probiotic Properties of Lactic Acid Bacteria Newly Isolated from Algerian Raw Cow's Milk

This study aims to screen new LAB from Algerian cow's milk to assess their probiotic properties. Molecular identification and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry methods were used to identify the LAB isolates. The probiotic potential of isolates was determined with in vitro tests of survival to gastrointestinal conditions (pH 2, 0.3% pepsin, 0.5% bile salts, 0.1% trypsin, and 0.1% pancreatic amylase) and antimicrobial and antioxidant activities. Eight isolates were identified as Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (100%) and one isolate as Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus (95.75%). The MALDI-TOF MS analysis of the isolates confirms that the strains belong to the group of lactobacilli bacteria, particularly Lactiplantibacillus plantarum. The high survival rate reflects a good strain tolerance to the in vitro host simulated gastrointestinal conditions. All bacteria exhibit an antibacterial activity strain with inhibition zone diameters ranging from 4.9 mm against Aspergillus niger ATCC 106404 to 17.47 mm against Candida albicans ATCC 10231. The antioxidant activity with the highest DPPH scavenging activity (92.15%) was obtained with the LbN09 strain. In light of these results, some of the strains isolated from raw milk of the local Algerian breed cows show promising probiotic properties, giving them a possible use in preserving food from microbial spoilage and oxidation during storage.

Effect of postbiotic-toothpaste on salivary levels of IgA in 6- to 12-year-old children: Study protocol for a randomized triple-blind placebo-controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Children in mixed dentition are highly at risk for dental caries, which is a major health issue worldwide. Despite their effect in controlling dental caries, using probiotics can be challenging. Therefore, it has been advised to use their inanimate forms, called postbiotics. We hypothesize that postbiotics can enhance the oral immunity.

METHODS

The aim of this triple-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial is to investigate the effect of postbiotic-toothpaste (Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. animalis) on salivary levels of Immunoglobulin A (IgA) and pH in children. Using comparing two means formula to calculate the sample size, for this trial 80 healthy 6- to 12-year-old children during mixed dentition with no cavitated dental caries will be selected by convenience sampling method and randomly allocated to two groups, postbiotic-toothpaste or placebo-toothpaste. Saliva samples will be gathered at baseline and four weeks after the intervention. The level of salivary IgA will be determined by ELISA and salivary pH will be measured using a pH meter. Data will be compared within and between groups using independent t-test and paired t-test, in case of normality, with a p < 0.05 as statistically significant.

DISCUSSION

If postbiotics-toothpaste prove to be effective in improving the oral immunity, they can be used to prevent dental caries and other oral diseases. The result of this study can help researchers who are working on the immunomodulatory effects of postbiotics in children.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRCT), IRCT20191016045128N2. Registered on 7 March 2022.

Current scenario of the search for new antifungal agents to treat Candida auris infections: An integrative review

Candida auris emerges as an important causative agent of fungal infections, with worrisome mortality rates, mainly in immunocompromised individuals. This scenario is worsened by the limited availability of antifungal drugs and the increasing development of resistance to them. Due to the relevance of C. auris infections to public health, several studies aimed to discover new antifungal compounds capable of overcoming this fungus. Nonetheless, these information are decentralized, precluding the understandment of the current status of the search for new anti-C. auris compounds. Thus, this integrative review aimed to summarize information regarding anti-C. auris compounds reported in literature. After using predefined selection criteria, 71 articles were included in this review, and data from a total of 101 substances were extracted. Most of the studies tested synthetic substances, including several azoles. Moreover, drug repurposing emerges as a suitable strategy to discover new anti-C. auris agents. Few studies, however, assessed the mechanism of action and the in vivo antifungal activity of the compounds. Therefore, more studies must be performed to evaluate the usefulness of these substances as anti-C. auris therapies.