Antifungal activity of clinical <i>Lactobacillus</i> strains against <i>Candida albicans</i> biofilms: identification of potential probiotic candidates to prevent oral candidiasis Dennis RossoniRodnei Pimentel de BarrosPatrícia de AlvarengaJanaina Araújo de Camargo RibeiroFelipe dos Santos VellosoMarisol Burgwyn FuchsBeth MylonakisEleftherios Olavo Cardoso JorgeAntonio Campos JunqueiraJuliana 2018 <p>This study isolated <i>Lactobacillus</i> strains from caries-free subjects and evaluated the inhibitory effects directly on three strains of <i>C. albicans</i>, two clinical strains and one reference strain<i>.</i> Thirty <i>Lactobacillus</i> strains were isolated and evaluated for antimicrobial activity against <i>in vitro C. albicans</i> biofilms. <i>L. paracasei</i> 28.4, <i>L. rhamnosus</i> 5.2 and <i>L. fermentum</i> 20.4 isolates exhibited the most significant inhibitory activity against <i>C. albicans</i>. Co-incubation between these microorganisms resulted in deterrence of biofilm development and retardation of hyphal formation. The hindrance of biofilm development was characterized by the downregulated expression of <i>C. albicans</i> biofilm-specific genes (<i>ALS3</i>, <i>HWP1</i>, <i>EFG1</i> and <i>CPH1</i>). <i>L. paracasei</i> 28.4, <i>L. rhamnosus</i> 5.2 and <i>L. fermentum</i> 20.4 demonstrated the ability to exert antifungal activity through the inhibition of <i>C. albicans</i> biofilms.</p>