Nomadic Lactobacilli as Cell Factory for Anticandidal Therapy

Linette Shoby Paul¹Hamitha Chinganadi Hameed¹Leela K V²Ashu Sharma³Jintae Lee⁴Moshe Shemesh⁵Satish Kumar Rajasekharan^1*

• ¹SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai, India
• ²SRM Institute of Science and Technology (Deemed to be University) SRM Medical College Hospital and Research Centre, Kanchipuram, India
• ³University at Buffalo, Buffalo, United States
• ⁴Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan-si, Republic of Korea
• ⁵Agricultural Research Organization Volcani Institute, Rishon LeTsiyon, Israel

Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) is an infection caused by Candida albicans that presents an escalating threat to humans. Lactobacilli play a critical role in maintaining microbiome balance in the gut and vagina as well as limiting fungal colonization. Certain Lactobacilli, classified as nomadic groups is gaining immense popularity in antifungal defense due to its unique morphological adaptations. One significant adaptation is the V-shaped cell chaining observed under low pH conditions governed by the LuxS-mediated quorum-sensing system. This structural adaptation potentiates altered secondary metabolite secretion. These geometric forms are not solely survival responses but reflect a structurally coordinated strategy that enhances both antibiofilm and antihyphal activities. In this perspective, we argue that morphology-driven transitions identify nomadic Lactobacilli as a promising frontier in probiotic therapy. By shifting from conventional probiotic formulations to structured microbial interventions, we propose the development of novel sustainable therapeutics for anticandidal therapy.