Immunobiome, Joint Strain Research Published in SCI-Level International Journal Paper

Immunobiome, a company specializing in microbiome drug development, announced on the 25th that research results related to the anti-inflammatory effects of the probiotic consortium MPRO have been published in the SCI-level international journal 'Nutrients (IF 5.9)'. MPRO is a probiotic consortium composed of three strains: HY7712, HY8002, and HY2782.

The study, conducted jointly by Immunobiome, Professor Shin Hyuk Lim's team from the Department of Life Sciences at Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), and the probiotic specialist company hy, was published under the title "Probiotic Consortium Confers Synergistic Anti-Inflammatory Effects in Inflammatory Disorders."

The company explained that when developing probiotic products, it is essential to consider ▲the superiority of using a consortium over single strains ▲the scientific basis for the consortium combination ▲the scientific rationale for selecting the consortium. These are the most critical issues in probiotic product development. Through about three years of joint research, Immunobiome, the POSTECH research team, and hy have identified the scientific basis for developing probiotic products using a consortium and published an excellent paper.

This study is characterized by a detailed analysis of the immune response-inducing properties of each strain. The POSTECH research team conducted the study by orally administering MPRO and the single strains HY7712, HY8002, and HY2782 to germ-free and disease mouse models, then comparing and analyzing immune response-inducing characteristics and gut microbiome similarity. Through this, they demonstrated the excellent immune effects of the consortium MPRO, which has immune-enhancing, hypersensitivity-suppressing, and immune-balancing functions. In particular, MPRO showed superior anti-inflammatory effects compared to single strains, such as inducing regulatory T cells and suppressing inflammatory cytokine expression.

The research team confirmed that administering MPRO to germ-free models resulted in, compared to the control group, ▲an increase in dendritic cells capable of inducing regulatory T cells in the gut ▲an increase in anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 secretion ▲a decrease in inflammatory cytokines IFN-γ and IL-4 secretion.

In the atopic dermatitis model, they confirmed superior effects in suppressing infiltration of inflammatory cells into tissues and reducing inflammatory cytokines compared to the control group. They also observed that the gut microbiome composition became similar to that of healthy mice. In the inflammatory bowel disease model, effects such as alleviation of weight loss, recovery of colon length, and reduction of inflammatory cytokine IFN-γ secretion were observed compared to the control group. They also discovered that changes in the gut microbiota could induce an increase in beneficial gut bacteria (microbiome).

The two companies are currently continuing collaborative activities in various areas such as strain selection, cultivation, and functional evaluation. An Immunobiome official stated, "Through systematic research, we scientifically proved that the consortium MPRO has superior effects in improving atopic dermatitis and inflammatory bowel disease compared to single strains," adding, "Going forward, we will actively utilize Immunobiome’s microbiome therapeutic development technology and hy’s excellent microbial strains and production capabilities to maximize synergy in the development of probiotic-based therapeutics and functional foods."

Meanwhile, Immunobiome signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with hy in 2021 for the development of probiotic-based health functional foods and live biotherapeutic products (LBP). They are particularly strengthening cooperation systems for the development and sales of premium probiotics based on scientific evidence. Based on this, the two companies plan to accelerate the development of probiotic-based functional foods and LBPs.