Modulation of mucosal antiviral immune response by immunobiotic lactic acid bacteria - Part II: the respiratory mucosa

Abstract

Viruses are the most important cause of severe mucosal infections worldwide especially in high risk populations such as in infants, young children, elderly and immunocompromised hosts. Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are technologically and commercially important and have various beneficial effects on human health. Several studies have demonstrated that certain LAB strains can exert their beneficial effect on the host through their immunomudulatory activity. These strains, termed immunobiotics, have been used for the development of probiotic foods with the ability to stimulate mucosal antiviral immunity. In this review we examine the current scientific literature concerning the advances in our understanding of how probiotic microorganisms are able to modulate respiratory viral immunity and affect the outcome of viral diseases. Moreover, this review explores the recent advances of our laboratories regarding the cellular and molecular interactions between immunobiotics and hosts cells and how this interaction modulate the resistance against respiratory viral infections. Research from the last decade demonstrates that immunobiotic LAB represent a promising resource for the development of prevention strategies against viral infections that could be effective tools for medical application.