Effects of a honeybee lactic acid bacterial microbiome on human nasal symptoms, commensals, and biomarkers

• Published in: International forum of allergy & rhinology Vol. 6; no. 9; pp. 956 - 963
• Main Authors: Mårtensson, Anders, Greiff, Lennart, Lamei, Sepideh S., Lindstedt, Malin, Olofsson, Tobias C., Vasquez, Alejandra, Cervin, Anders
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.09.2016; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Administration, Intranasal; Adult; Animals; Bacteria; Bacteria - isolation & purification; bacterial interference; bacteriology; Bees - microbiology; bifidobacteria; Biomarkers; Clinical Medicine; Cross-Over Studies; Cytokines; Cytokines - immunology; Double-Blind Method; Ear diseases; Female; Humans; Klinisk medicin; lactobacillus; Lungmedicin och allergi; Male; Medical and Health Sciences; Medicin och hälsovetenskap; Microbiota; Nasal Lavage Fluid - immunology; Nasal Lavage Fluid - microbiology; paranasal sinuses; probiotics; Respiratory Medicine and Allergy; SNOT-22; therapeutics; Young Adult; SNOT-22; bacteriology; bifidobacteria; therapeutics; lactobacillus; paranasal sinuses; bacterial interference; probiotics
• ISSN: 2042-6976; 2042-6984; 2042-6984
• DOI: 10.1002/alr.21762

Background Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) can restore commensal microbiomes and prevent infections. Arguably, nasal administrations of LAB may therefore be beneficial in chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). Previous studies have examined effects of topical/nasal LAB in children with secretory otitis media, but little is as yet known about their effects on the human nasal airway. The aim of this pilot study was to examine effects on nasal symptoms and commensal bacteria in healthy subjects of nasal administration of a honeybee LAB microbiome; ie, a mixture of 9 Lactobacillus spp. and 4 Bifidobacterium spp. obtained from the honeybee Apis mellifera. Furthermore, we aimed to assess whether or not the honeybee LAB produced a local inflammatory response. Methods Twenty‐two healthy subjects received a single administration of honeybee LAB in a sham‐controlled, double‐blinded, and crossover design. Using questionnaires, microbiological methods, and nasal lavages, they were assessed regarding symptoms, changes to commensal bacteria, and inflammatory products in nasal lavage fluids. Results The honeybee LAB did not produce any symptoms or other untoward effects. No changes were observed of commensal bacteria by the honeybee LAB, and no inflammatory response was detected (compared to sham); ie, unaffected nasal lavage fluid levels of monocyte chemoattractant protein‐1 (MCP‐1), interleukin‐8 (IL‐8), monokine induced by interferon‐γ (MIG), interleukin‐15 (IL‐15), epidermal growth factor (EGF), eotaxin, interferon gamma‐induced protein‐10 (IP‐10), and interleukin‐1 receptor antagonist (IL‐1RA). Conclusion A single human nasal administration of a honeybee LAB microbiome is well tolerated. Specifically, it does not affect commensal bacteria and does not produce an inflammatory response.