MATERIALS AND METHODS: Single species C. albicans biofilms and mixed species biofilms containing C. albicans and S. mutans at 1:3 and 1:10 ratios were constructed in 6-well microtiter plates. After 24 hours of incubation, the density of resuspended biofilm cells was determined as CFU/ml and used to compare the growth of C. albicans in single species and mixed species biofilms.
RESULTS: The CFU/ml of C. albicans in mixed-species biofilms was found to be higher than that in single-species biofilms.
CONCLUSION: S. mutans promotes the growth of C. albicans in a co-inhabited biofilm.