Bacillus coagulans LMG S-24828 Impairs Candida Virulence and Protects Vaginal Epithelial Cells against Candida Infection In Vitro

Probiotics are living microbes that provide benefits to the host. The growing data on health promotion, following probiotics administration, increased interest among researchers and pharmaceutical companies. Infections of the lower genital tract in females, caused by a wide range of pathogens, represent one of the main areas for the use of probiotics and postbiotics. Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) affects 75% of women of reproductive age at least once during their lifetime, with 5-8% developing the recurrent form (RVVC). The disease is triggered by the overgrowth of <i>Candida</i> on the vaginal mucosa. Here, in order to establish its probiotic potential in the context of VVC, we evaluated the anti-fungal effects of the spore-producing <i>Bacillus coagulans</i> LMG S-24828 against <i>C. albicans</i> and <i>C. parapsilosis</i> as well as its beneficial effects in counteracting <i>Candida</i> vaginal infection in vitro. Our results show that both live <i>B. coagulans</i> and its Cell-Free Supernatant (CFS) exerted antifungal activity against both fungi. Moreover, live <i>B. coagulans</i> reduced hyphal formation, inhibited <i>C. albicans</i> adhesion to vaginal epithelial cells, showed co-aggregation capacity, and exerted a protective effect on vaginal epithelial cells infected with <i>C. albicans</i>. These data suggest that <i>B. coagulans</i> LMG S-24828 may provide benefits in the context of <i>Candida</i> vaginal infections.