Publications by authors named "Tim Henkens"
Development of a live biotherapeutic throat spray with lactobacilli targeting respiratory viral infections.
Microb Biotechnol
January 2023
Article Synopsis
- Respiratory viruses like influenza and coronaviruses infect the body through the upper respiratory tract, where the resident microbiome plays a protective role.
- The study explores the use of a throat spray containing live lactobacilli probiotics as a potential prevention and treatment method for these viral infections, focusing on their antiviral and immunostimulatory properties.
- Three specific strains of lactobacilli were selected and showed promise by significantly reducing the effects of various respiratory viruses in lab models, while also maintaining their effectiveness when formulated into a throat spray for human testing.
Primary care urgently needs treatments for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients because current options are limited, while these patients who do not require hospitalization encompass more than 90% of the people infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Here, we evaluated a throat spray containing three strains with broad antiviral properties in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Before the availability of vaccines, 78 eligible COVID-19 patients were randomized to verum ( = 41) and placebo ( = 37) within 96 h of a positive PCR-based SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis, and a per-protocol analysis was performed.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSelective targeting of skin pathobionts and inflammation with topically applied lactobacilli.
Cell Rep Med
February 2022
Article Synopsis
- Tailored skin microbiome modulation with probiotics, specifically lactobacilli, shows promise in treating acne while being traditionally undervalued in skin health.
- Specific strains of nomadic lactobacilli are selected and microencapsulated for topical use, demonstrating effectiveness in reducing inflammation and lesions in patients with mild-to-moderate acne during a pilot study.
- After 8 weeks of daily application, results indicate a lasting improvement in skin condition, including a decrease in harmful bacteria and a temporary shift in the skin microbiome, suggesting potential immunomodulatory benefits.
Article Synopsis
- * The study tested three specific strains of Lactobacillus in a vaginal gel on 20 women with acute VVC over four weeks, observing their microbiome through various scientific methods.
- * Results showed that 45% of women treated with the probiotic gel did not need additional medication, and their fungal levels were comparable to those treated with fluconazole, suggesting probiotic lactobacilli may be effective without harming beneficial vaginal bacteria as azoles do.
The use of 3 selected lactobacillary strains in vaginal probiotic gel for the treatment of acute Candida vaginitis: a proof-of-concept study.
Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis
August 2020
In vitro studies suggest that certain probiotic bacterial strains have potential activity against opportunistic infections such as Candida. There are few in vivo trials using probiotics as a single treatment for acute Candida vulvovaginitis (CV). In this open-label, proof-of-concept study, selected Lactobacillus strains were tested in women with acute Candida vaginitis.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIncreasing knowledge about the human microbiome has led to a growing awareness of the potential of applying probiotics to improve our health. The pharmaceutical industry shows an emerging interest in pharmaceutical formulations containing these beneficial microbes, the so-called pharmabiotics. An important manufacturing step is the drying of the probiotics, as this can increase the stability and shelf life of the finished pharmabiotic product.
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