CONICET | Buscador de Institutos y Recursos Humanos

The humoral immune response is essential for host defence against bacterial pathogens. After exposure to a new pathogen, the respiratory tract can generate both systemic and mucosal antibody response. The resulting production of antigen-specific IgG and IgA, acts in concert to help clear the invading pathogen and to reduce subsequent colonization of respiratory tissues. In the last few years scientific studies have demonstrated that lactic acid bacteria (LAB) can increase immunity in mucosal sites distant from the gastrointestinal tract such as the respiratory mucosa. The objective of this review is to examine the current scientific literature dealing with the use of LAB strains to prevent respiratory infections. In particular, we have focused on the work of our laboratory that has studied the capacity of probiotic and recombinant LAB to improve the adaptive humoral immune response against Streptococcus pneumoniae. Our studies demonstrate that some LAB strains can improve the humoral immune response against S. pneumoniae, an effect that depends on the dose and on the period of administration. Moreover, our laboratory demonstrated that the protective effect of LAB can be increased if antigens of the respiratory pathogen are expressed in these bacteria. Consequently, LAB have proved to be a promising tool for the development of effective vaccines for the prevention of respiratory infections.Streptococcus pneumoniae. Our studies demonstrate that some LAB strains can improve the humoral immune response against S. pneumoniae, an effect that depends on the dose and on the period of administration. Moreover, our laboratory demonstrated that the protective effect of LAB can be increased if antigens of the respiratory pathogen are expressed in these bacteria. Consequently, LAB have proved to be a promising tool for the development of effective vaccines for the prevention of respiratory infections.