Elucidating the impact of probiotics on the fungal microbiome: Mechanisms of interkingdom interactions

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

Interactions between bacteria and fungi are ubiquitous in nature, yet very little is known about the mechanisms involved. One environment where these interkingdom interactions are crucial for homeostasis in healthy humans is the vaginal microbial flora. A decline in abundance of bacteria that normally dominate the vaginal microbiome can lead to overgrowth of fungi such as Candida albicans, and this occurs in ~75% of healthy women at least once in their lifetime. This imbalance is associated with significant economic costs and has a negative impact on quality of life. The annual expenditure on non-prescription antifungals for this condition exceeds $270 million in the US alone, with homeopathic drug sales exceeding $400 million. Disruption of homeostasis in the vaginal microbiome can arise from normal physiological changes that accompany pregnancy, or from the use of antibiotics, uncontrolled diabetes, compromised immune function, oral contraceptives, and host genetic susceptibility towards fungal pathogens. The associated symptoms are attributable not only to fungal overgrowth, but also to excessive host immune responses. Probiotics, including Lactobacillus species normally present in the vaginal microbiome, have emerged as a promising strategy to promote balance in the vaginal microbiome, though the mechanisms involved remain enigmatic. This work will uncover the mechanisms by which probiotics support microbial homeostasis through a partnership between a leading academic researcher and Lallemand Health Solutions. Lallemand is a pioneer in probiotics, with a major program dedicated to women's health. Through this partnership, this research will assess the capacity of Lallemand probiotic species to impair the capacity of C. albicans to exploit changes in the host microbiome, and will determine the mechanisms by which they support maintenance of healthy human vaginal microbiota. This research will allow Lallemand to select the most suitable probiotics for future nutritional programs, and is poised to lead to new market opportunities. Ultimately, this program has potential to stimulate economic growth in Canada and to improve the quality of life of women in Canada and globally.