Probiotic yogurt molecules may calm inflammatory storm seen in COVID patients

By Will Chu

- Last updated on GMT

The research, led by Orit Malka (R)​, a Ph.D. student in the laboratory of Prof. Raz Jelinek (L) the Vice President and Dean for Research & Development at BGU, was published in Microbiome. ©BGU
The research, led by Orit Malka (R)​, a Ph.D. student in the laboratory of Prof. Raz Jelinek (L) the Vice President and Dean for Research & Development at BGU, was published in Microbiome. ©BGU

Related tags Yoghurt Kefir tryptophol acetate

Molecules isolated from probiotic-packed yogurt could prove to be ideal drug candidates that address a range of inflammatory conditions that include the immune response seen in COVID-19 patients.

Writing in the journal Microbiome, ​researchers successfully isolated molecules secreted by a yeast contained in kefir yoghurt that has proved efficacious against the causative agent of cholera.

Further research highlighted the molecules’ anti-inflammatory effect in tackling the so-called "cytokine storm" – the extreme immune response responsible for the deaths of so many COVID-19 patients.

Commenting on the molecule’s apparent ability to restore balance to the immune system, Professor Raz Jelinek, the Vice President and Dean for Research & Development at Ben-Gurion University (BGU) said, “Our research illuminates for the first time a mechanism by which milk fermented probiotics can protect against pathogenic infections and aid the immune system.

"These results are notable since this is the first demonstration that virulence of human pathogenic bacteria can be mitigated by molecules secreted in probiotic milk products, such as yogurt or kefir,"​ he adds.

“Following promising results in animal models, we look forward to administering these drug candidates to humans, for example to patients who are experiencing a cytokine storm due to COVID-19 infection, or people suffering from acute inflammatory bowel pathologies, such as Crohn's disease."

Tryptophol acetate

The molecule in question, tryptophol acetate is secreted by the fungus Kluyveromyces marxianus, ​which is predominantly found in probiotic milk-fermented microorganism mixtures such as yogurt and kefir.

The team believes the study is the first report of its production by a yeast and particularly its role as a signalling molecule, having previously been found in plants and algae.

They suggest that tryptophol acetate’s anti-bacterial effect involves disrupting communication among the bacterial cells and interfering in biofilm assembly, which play roles in cholera’s progression.

"In a reality where antibiotic-resistant bacteria are becoming an imminent threat, the novel molecules discovered by BGU scientists pave a completely new path for fighting bacterial infections by disrupting cell-cell communications in pathogenic bacteria,”​ said Josh Peleg, CEO of BGN Technologies, BGU's technology transfer company.

“Moreover, the dramatic anti-inflammatory activities of the molecules may open new avenues for therapeutics and scientifically proven probiotic food products.

"Years of breakthrough research have now reached a validation point that led to the establishment of a biopharma company for the further development and clinical evaluation of this exciting new technology that can potentially revolutionise the treatment of bacterial infections as well as inflammatory conditions."

Cell–cell communication

Led by Orit Malka​, a Ph.D. student in Prof Jelinek’s laboratory, the team suggested in its conclusion the existence of a as yet-unrecognised mechanism for cross-kingdom inhibition of pathogenic bacteria cell-cell communication in a probiotic microorganism mixture.

“Tryptophol acetate was shown to disrupt quorum sensing (cell–cell communication) pathways of the human gut pathogen V. cholerae,” ​the team wrote.

“Cross-kingdom interference in quorum sensing may play important roles in enabling microorganism coexistence in multi-population environments, such as probiotic foods and the gut microbiome.

“This discovery may account for anti-virulence properties of the human microbiome and could aid elucidating health benefits of probiotic products against bacterially associated diseases.”

Source: Microbiome

Published online: doi.org/10.1186/s40168-021-01027-8

“Cross-kingdom inhibition of bacterial virulence and communication by probiotic yeast metabolites.”

Authors: Orit Malka et al.

Related news

Show more

Related products

show more

Whitepaper: Discover a new era in postbiotics

Whitepaper: Discover a new era in postbiotics

Content provided by DSM Nutritional Products | 28-Nov-2023 | White Paper

Postbiotic ingredients are set to open up a world of opportunities across the human health and nutrition industry, fueled by developing science demonstrating...

Related suppliers

Follow us

Products

View more

Webinars