The effect of the probiotic consortia on SARS-CoV-2 infection in ferrets and on human immune cell response in vitro.

2022-06
iScience 25(6)

PubMed: 35634575
DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.104445

Study Design

Population: ferrets and a human monocyte-derived macrophage (Mf) and dendritic cell (DC) model
Methods: tested the effect of two probiotic consortia, OL-1 and OL-2, against SARS-CoV-2 in ferrets and assessed their effect on cytokine production and transcriptome in a human monocyte-derived macrophage (Mf) and dendritic cell (DC) model

Probiotics have been suggested as one solution to counter detrimental health effects by SARS-CoV-2; however, data so far is scarce. We tested the effect of two probiotic consortia, OL-1 and OL-2, against SARS-CoV-2 in ferrets and assessed their effect on cytokine production and transcriptome in a human monocyte-derived macrophage (Mf) and dendritic cell (DC) model. The results showed that the consortia significantly reduced the viral load, modulated immune response, and regulated viral receptor expression in ferrets compared to placebo. In the human Mf and DC model, OL-1 and OL-2-induced cytokine production and genes related to SARS-CoV-2 antiviral immunity. The study results indicate that probiotic stimulation of the ferret immune system leads to improved antiviral immunity against SARS-COV-2, and the genes and cytokines associated with anti-SARS-CoV-2 immunity are stimulated in human immune cells in vitro. The effect of the consortia against SARS-CoV-2 warrants further investigations in human clinical trials.

Research Insights

Supplement	Dose	Health Outcome	Effect Type	Effect Size	Source
Bifidobacterium lactis SD-5219	—	Modulated Immune Response	Beneficial	Moderate	View source The results showed that the consortia significantly reduced the viral load, modulated immune response, and regulated viral receptor expression in ferrets compared to placebo.
Bifidobacterium lactis SD-5219	—	Reduced Viral Load	Beneficial	Moderate	View source The results showed that the consortia significantly reduced the viral load, modulated immune response, and regulated viral receptor expression in ferrets compared to placebo.