Cheese supplemented with probiotics reduced the Candida levels in denture wearers-RCT.

OBJECTIVES: The access to probiotics should be facilitated in order to encourage their usage. We evaluated the effect of consumption of two experimental probiotic-containing cheeses on the oral colonization of Candida in denture wearers. METHODS: Sixty denture wearers harboring oral Candida were randomly allocated in groups who received cheese supplemented with Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM (T1) or Lactobacillus rhamnosus Lr-32 (T2), daily for 8 weeks, and a control group (C) who received a control cheese. Oral samples were obtained through a mouthwash, and Candida levels were determined (CFU/mL) at baseline and after the 8-week experimental period. RESULTS: At baseline, the mean levels of Candida spp. (log CFU/mL) were similar among the groups. However, the mean levels of Candida were significantly reduced in groups T1 and T2 but not in C (Tukey, p<.05). The reduction in Candida oral levels occurred independently on the colonizing Candida species, participant age, and use of bi- or unimaxillary dentures. CONCLUSIONS: Daily consumption of cheese supplemented with probiotics, with either L. acidophilus NCFM or L. rhamnosus Lr-32, was able to reduce the colonization of oral Candida in complete denture wearers, suggesting its potential in reducing the risk of oral candidiasis in this highly susceptible population.

Validity of putative calcium binding loops of photoprotein aequorin.

Three peptides containing the putative Ca2+ binding loops, I, II and III, respectively, of a photoprotein, aequorin, from jellyfish Aequorea victoria were synthesized by a solid-phase procedure. The peptides bound Ca2+ with dissociation constants of 10(-3) to 10(-4) M, providing evidence for the assumption that Ca2+ binding loops are actually responsible for the binding of Ca2+. When the highly conserved 6th glycine residue in the 12-residue loops was replaced by arginine, no large effect was observed on Ca2+ binding. Exposure to a hydrophobic environment and the binding of Ca2+ brought about conformational changes to the peptides.