Biotherapeutic effects of Bifidobacterium spp. on orogastric and systemic candidiasis in immunodeficient mice

Two commercially available Bifidobacterium spp. (Bifidobacterium infantis and Bifidobacterium lactis) were compared for their capacities to protect immunodeficient bg/bg-nu/nuand bg/bg-nu/+mice from orogastric and lethal candidiasis. Both Bifidobacterium spp. prolonged the survival of Candida albicans-colonized adult and neonatal bg/bg-nu/numice. The bifidobacteria affected the production of antibodies to C. albicans, inhibited disseminated candidiasis, suppressed weight loss associated with C. albicans infection, inhibited the growth of C. albicans in the alimentary tract, inhibited systemic candidiasis of endogenous origin, and decreased the severity of gastric candidiasis in both mouse strains. B. infantis inhibited systemic candidiasis of endogenous origin better than B. lactis; however, B. lactis was significantly more effective at inhibiting C. albicans colonization of the alimentary tract, suppressing gastric candidiasis, and protecting bg/bg-nu/numice from lethal candidiasis than B. infantis. These results show that Bifidobacterium spp. can protect immunodeficient mice from candidiasis but different species manifest quantitative and qualitative differences in their probiotic and biotherapeutic effects.