Probiotics: how a healthy intestinal microbiota helps to combat acute viral respiratory infections, similar to covid-19

Abstract

Objective: To address the antiviral and immunological benefits of using probiotics to combat acute viral respiratory infections, such as those caused by the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Bibliographic Review: As of April 2, 2020, SARS-CoV-2, which causes acute viral respiratory infections, was already a pandemic with a worldwide confirmed number of 900,306 cases in 206 countries, with a total death toll of 45,693. Due to the lack of vaccines and treatments available to date, the use of alternatives such as probiotics is a viable strategy based on proven positive results. Probiotics are modulators of the host's immune system, having antiviral action for interfering with fixation, invasion and even inhibition of viral replication. In vitro results also revealed that metabolic products of the N4 strain of Lactobacillus plantarum showed significant anti-TGEV activity, a member of the Coronaviruses. Final considerations: Although there are still no data on the effect of probiotics in patients with COVID-19, studies on the effects of probiotics on infections caused by other Upper respiratory tract infection (URI) causing viruses suggest a potential beneficial effect on the health of the population in the midst of a pandemic.