Intranasal Bifidobacterium longum protects against viral-induced lung inflammation and injury in a murine model of lethal influenza infection

Background: Prophylactic strategies are urgently needed for prevention of severe inflammatory responses to respiratory viral infections.

Bacterial-host interactions may modify the immune response to viral infections.

Methods: We examined the contribution of Intranasal administration of two different Bifidobacterium longum strains or its isolated cell wall in controlling viral induced inflammation using a murine model of influenza infection.

We monitored mortality and morbidity over a 10-day period and viral load, differential broncho alveolar lavage (BAL) fluid inflammatory cell counts, Lung tissue histology, BAL and serum cytokines, markers of vascular damage and cell death were quantified.

Findings: Intranasal administration of Bifidobacterium longum35624® or its isolated cell wall prior to virus inoculation significantly reduced viral load within the lungs and significantly improved survival.

Reduced viral load was associated with reduced lung injury as suggested by cell death and vascular leakage markers, a shift from neutrophil to macrophage recruitment, reduced inflammatory cytokine levels (including IL-6), reduced type 1 and 2 interferon levels, but increased levels of interferon-λ and surfactant protein D.

These protective effects were maintained when the bifidobacterial cell wall preparation was administered 24 h after viral inoculation.

The protective effects were also observed for the Bifidobacterium longumPB-VIR™ strain.

Interpretation: Exposure to these bifidobacterial strains protect against the inflammatory sequelae and damage associated with uncontrolled viral replication within the lung.

Funding: This work has been funded, in part, by a research grant from GlaxoSmithKline, PrecisionBiotics Group Ltd., Swiss National Science Foundation grants (project numbers CRSII3_154488, 310030_144219, 310030_127356 and 310030_144219) and Christine Kühne - Center for Allergy Research and Education (CK-CARE).

Keywords: Influenza; Interferon; Prevention; Probiotic.