Reports on Pediococcus Findings from National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention Provide New Insights (Pediococcus pentosaceus MIANGUAN2 Alleviates Influenza Virus Infection by Modulating Gut Microbiota and...).

A recent study conducted by the National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention in Beijing, China, explored the effects of oral administration of Pediococcus pentosaceus MIANGUAN2 (MIANGUAN2) on influenza infection in mice. The results showed that MIANGUAN2 improved weight loss, lung index, lung pathology, and decreased lung viral load in the infected mice. Additionally, MIANGUAN2-treated mice exhibited lower levels of proinflammatory cytokines and higher production of anti-inflammatory cytokines in the lung. The study suggests that MIANGUAN2 may alleviate influenza infection by modulating the gut microbiota and enhancing the production of short-chain fatty acids. [Extracted from the article]