Table 2.
Microbiota-based therapeutic studies
| Organism | Disease | Treatment | Description of effects | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rat | HLA-B27 transgenic rats (colitis model) | Inulin and FOS | Decreased severity of intestinal inflammation (FOS treatment resulted in less disease severity than inulin) | 135 |
| Rat | T1D (BB-DP rat model) | Lactobacillus johnsonii | Administration of L. johnsonii isolated from BB-diabetes- resistant rats resulted in decreased incidence of T1D and reduced levels of IFNγ and inducible nitric oxide synthase in BB-diabetes-prone rats | 92 |
| Mouse | T1D (spontaneous development in NOD mice) | VSL#3 (probiotic compound: containing Bifidobacteria, Lactobacilli, and Streptococci species). | Reduced insulitis and decreased beta cell destruction | 124 |
| Mouse | HDM-driven model of allergic airway inflammation | Diet supplemented with 30% pectin | Increased concentrations of SCFAs and decreased allergic inflammation in the lungs of murine HDM model of airway inflammation | 46 |
| Mouse | OVA-alum-driven model of airway inflammation | scGOS/lcFOS, and scGOS/lcFOS + pAOS | Suppressed airway inflammation and hyperresponsiveness | 134 |
| Mouse | CMA model | scGOS/lcFOS + Bifidobacterium breve | Increased serum galectin-9 and galectin-9 expression by intestinal epithelial cells. Also, reduced acute allergic skin reaction and mast cell degranulation | 137 |
| Rat | T1D (STZ model) | Lactobacillus gasseri engineered to secrete GLP-1(1-37) | GLP-1(1-37) secreted by L. gasseri stimulated rat intestinal epithelial cells to become glucose-responsive insulin-secreting cells. Resulted in increased insulin levels and glucose tolerance in diabetic rats | 125 |
| Mouse | IBD (IL-10-deficient colitis model) | Lactobacillus plantarum | Prior to SPF flora exposure, treatment of GF IL-10 deficient mice with L. plantarum and continued L. plantarum therapy attenuated colitis | 122 |
| Mouse | IBD (DSS-induced colitis model) | Lactobacillus rhamnosus, L. plantarum, Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus lactis, Bifidobacterium lactis, Bifidobacterium bifidum, Bifidobacterium adolescentis, Bifidobacterium infantis | Mice receiving the probiotic mixture for 7 days prior to DSS induction of colitis showed reduced mucosal inflammation and damage compared to controls that did not receive the therapy | 123 |
| Mouse | IBD (IL-10-deficient and DSS-induced colitis models) | Lactobacillus salivarius | Oral treatment with L. salivarius did not attenuate colitis symptoms in IL-10-deficient or DSS-treated mice | 132 |
| Mouse | OVA-alum-driven model of airway inflammation | Bifidobacterium longum | Protected against airway inflammation in OVA-sensitized mice and blocked induction of OVA-specific IgE | 66 |
| Mouse | OVA-alum-driven model of airway inflammation | Lactobacillus reuteri, L. salivarius | L. reuteri decreased airway hyperresponsiveness. L. salivarius had no effect | 64 |
| Human | Eczema | Lactobacillus rhamnosus and L. reuteri | After 6 weeks of probiotic therapy, 56% of children (aged 1–13 years) experienced improved eczema, while only 15% of placebo controls reported improved symptoms | 127 |
| Human | UC | Enema solution containing L. reuteri | Improved mucosal inflammation and decreased inflammatory cytokines in children with UC | 128 |
| Human | AR | L. johnsonii + levocetirizine | Compared with patients receiving levocetirizine only, L. johnsonii + levocetirizine improved AR symptoms including increased IFNγ and IL-10 and decreased IL-4 concentrations, and improved FVC and FEV1 spirometry measurements in a 24-week, two-phase crossover treatment program | 141 |
| Human | Pollen allergy | B. longum | Reduced ocular symptom scores during exposure to Japanese cedar pollen | 142 |
| Human | Peanut allergy | L. rhamnosus + peanut oral immunotherapy | Subjects (82.1%) receiving combination peanut oral immunotherapy + L. rhamnosus achieved possible sustained unresponsiveness to peanut 2–5 weeks after discontinuation of treatment compared to only 3.6% receiving placebo | 126 |
| Human | AD, recurrent wheeze, allergic urticaria | scGOS + lcFOS | Prebiotic group had significantly lower incidences of allergic manifestations | 56 |
| Human | AD | scGOS/lcFOS + B. breve (Immunofortis®) | Increased galectin-9 expression and reduced AD in infants with IgE-mediated eczema 12 weeks posttreatment | 137 |
| Human | Asthma | scGOS/lcFOS + B. breve (Immunofortis) | Decreased prevalence of frequent wheezing and usage of asthma medications in children with AD after 1 year follow- up evaluation | 139 |
| Human | Asthma, eczema, allergic rhinoconjunctivitis | L. reuteri | Oral supplementation with L. reuteri ATCC 55730 in the last month of gestation through the first year of life is not associated with lower prevalence of allergic disease at 7 years of age | 130 |
| Human | UC | Escherichia coli Nissle (Mutaflor®) | Mutaflor® is as effective at preventing relapses as the established mesalazine therapy in patients with UC. Patients (36.4%) receiving Mutaflor for 12 months experienced relapses compared to 33.9% in the mesalazine group | 129 |
| Human | UC | Inulin-oligofructose (Synergy® 1) + B. longum | Reduced chronic inflammatory markers of UC (TNFα and IL-1α) | 140 |
Abbreviations: HLA, human leukocyte antigen; FOS, fructooligosaccharide; T1D, type 1 diabetes; BB-DP, bio-breeding diabetes-prone; NOD, non-obese diabetic; IFN, interferon; IL, interleukin; OVA, ovalbumin; alum, potassium aluminum sulfate; SCFA, short-chain fatty acid; DSS, dextran sulfate sodium; scGOS, short-chain galactooligosaccharide; lcFOS, long-chain fructooligosaccharide; pAOS, pectin-derived acidic oligosaccharide; CMA, cow’s milk allergy; GLP, glucagon-like peptide; UC, ulcerative colitis; STZ, streptozotocin; SPF, specific pathogen-free; GF, germ-free; AD, atopic dermatitis; AR, allergic rhinitis; HDM, house dust mite; IBD, inflammatory bowel disease; FVC, forced expiratory vital capacity; FEV1, forced expiratory volume in 1 second; ATCC, American Type Culture Collection; Ig, immunoglobulin.