Probiotics/Prebiotics in Viral Respiratory Infections: Implication for Emerging Pathogens

Zahra Heidari; Amir Tajbakhsh; Seyed M Gheibihayat; Afagh Moattari; Vahid Razban; Aydin Berenjian; Amir Savardashtaki; Manica Negahdaripour

doi:10.2174/1872208315666210419103742

Probiotics/Prebiotics in Viral Respiratory Infections: Implication for Emerging Pathogens

Recent Pat Biotechnol. 2021 Oct 4;15(2):112-136. doi: 10.2174/1872208315666210419103742.

Authors

Zahra Heidari¹, Amir Tajbakhsh², Seyed M Gheibihayat³, Afagh Moattari⁴, Vahid Razban¹, Aydin Berenjian⁵, Amir Savardashtaki⁶, Manica Negahdaripour²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Molecular Medicine, School of Advanced Medical Sciences and Technologies, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
² Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
³ Department of Medical Biotechnology, School of Medicine, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran.
⁴ Department of Parasitology and Mycology, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
⁵ School of Engineering, Faculty of Science and Engineering, The University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand.
⁶ Epilepsy Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.

PMID: 33874878
DOI: 10.2174/1872208315666210419103742

Abstract

Background: Viral respiratory infections could result in perturbation of the gut microbiota due to a probable cross-talk between lungs and gut microbiota. This can affect pulmonary health and the gastrointestinal system.

Objective: This review aimed to discuss the impact of probiotics/prebiotics and supplements on the prevention and treatment of respiratory infections, especially emerging pathogens.

Methods: The data were searched in PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, Google Patents, and The Lens-Patent using keywords of probiotics and viral respiratory infections in the title, abstract, and keywords.

Results: Probiotics consumption could decrease the susceptibility to viral respiratory infections, such as COVID-19 and simultaneously enhance vaccine efficiency in infectious disease prevention through the immune system enhancement. Probiotics improve the gut microbiota and the immune system via regulating the innate system response and production of anti-inflammatory cytokines. Moreover, treatment with probiotics contributes to intestinal homeostasis restitution under antibiotic pressure and decreasing the risk of secondary infections due to viral respiratory infections. Probiotics present varied performances in different conditions; thus, promoting their efficacy through combining with supplements (prebiotics, postbiotics, nutraceuticals, berberine, curcumin, lactoferrin, minerals, and vitamins) is important. Several supplements reported to enhance the probiotics' efficacy and their mechanisms as well as probiotics- related patents are summarized in this review. Using nanotechnology and microencapsulation techniques can also improve probiotics' efficiency.

Conclusion: Given the global challenge of COVID-19, probiotic/prebiotic and following nutritional guidelines should be regarded seriously. Additionally, their role as an adjuvant in vaccination for immune response augmentation needs attention.

Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; gut microbiome; lung infection; microbiota; nutraceutical.; prebiotics; probiotics.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Adjuvants, Immunologic
COVID-19 / immunology
COVID-19 / microbiology
COVID-19 / prevention & control
COVID-19 Drug Treatment
Dietary Supplements
Gastrointestinal Microbiome
Humans
Prebiotics*
Probiotics*
Respiratory Tract Infections / drug therapy*
Respiratory Tract Infections / immunology
Respiratory Tract Infections / microbiology
Respiratory Tract Infections / prevention & control*
SARS-CoV-2

Substances

Adjuvants, Immunologic
Prebiotics