Probiotic bacteria for prophylaxis and therapy of candidiasis.

A good deal of data support a role for probiotic intestinal bacteria in the prophylaxis and therapy of candidiasis. Candida spp. are highly infectious eukaryotes that can colonize and infect humans and other warm-blooded mammals, worldwide. Although most humans manifest antibody- and cell-mediated immune responses to Candida antigens a large percentage of the human population is colonized with Candida spp. in their alimentary and vaginal tracts. The bacterial flora plays a very important probiotic role in the prophylaxis of candidiasis by suppressing the growth of Candida spp. on mucosal and cutaneous surfaces; however, the specific bacteria and the mechanisms they use to inhibit Candida spp. and candidiasis are still poorly understood. The increased incidence of Candida infections, their increasing resistance to antifungal antibiotics and the fact that vaccines to protect against candidiasis are not yet available (and may not work in immunodeficient, Candida-susceptible, patients) provides a strong impetus for new research efforts to explore the use of probiotic, anti- Candida intestinal bacteria for the prophylaxis and therapy of candidiasis.