sIgA-Biotic Complexes for Heat-Stable Infant Immune Protection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current infant formulas lack functional secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) due to heat treatment, and there are limited means to prevent or treat viral infections, particularly in the respiratory tract, with existing compositions not indicating the effectiveness of sIgA-biotic complexes in preventing or treating viral infections.

Innovation Solution

A composition comprising sIgA-biotic complexes, where the biotic is a Bifidobacterium or Lactobacillus, is used to promote immune defense against viral infections by inducing a plasmacytoid dendritic cell and regulatory T cell response via the gut-lung axis, optimizing immune protection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If heat treatment is applied to ensure microbiological safety of infant formulas, then microbial contamination is reduced, but functional sIgA is degraded and lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemicrobiological safetyVSAvoidfunctional sIgA integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies low pasteurization temperature (e.g., 63°C for 30 minutes) instead of high-temperature sterilization to preserve sIgA functionality while still ensuring microbiological safety. This parameter change in heat treatment conditions resolves the contradiction between safety and functional integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs sIgA complexation with probiotics before heat treatment, creating a protective complex that shields sIgA from degradation. This preliminary action ensures sIgA functionality is maintained through the heat treatment process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If sIgA is complexed with probiotics to enhance immune protection, then immune defense against viral infections is improved, but the complexity of the composition increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimmune protection efficacyVSAvoidcomposition complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges sIgA with probiotics to form sIgA-biotic complexes, combining two functional components into a single integrated structure. This merging enhances immune protection while simplifying the overall composition by creating a unified functional unit rather than separate components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If conventional heat treatment is used to ensure safety, then microbial contamination is prevented, but sIgA functionality is lost leaving infants vulnerable to viral infections

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemicrobiological safetyVSAvoidviral infection risk
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the heat treatment parameters from high-temperature sterilization to low-temperature pasteurization, maintaining microbiological safety while preserving sIgA functionality to protect against viral infections.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs sIgA-probiotic complexation before heat treatment to create a protective structure that maintains sIgA functionality through the thermal process, thereby preventing viral infection risk while ensuring safety.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The sIgA-biotic complexes enhance immune defense, reducing the risk of concurrent bacterial infections and long-term complications from viral respiratory infections by promoting a context-specific, dose-duration regulated immune response.

Implementation Method 1

specific binding of sIgA to pathogens (Fab mediated) to mediate immune exclusion and pathogen neutralization

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSpecific binding: Absorption (physical)

Implementation Method 2

sIgA can also bind to commensal bacteria and probiotics (non-specific binding)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectNon-specific binding: Absorption (physical)

Implementation Method 3

sIgA-bacteria complexes may translocate from the maternal gastrointestinal tract to milk via the entero-mammary link

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTranslocation:

Data Source

PatentEP4451918B1Secretory iga-biotic complexes and uses thereof
Publication Date: 2026.02.25 SOCIETE DES PRODUITS NESTLE SA
  • EP4451918B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1C
  • EP4451918B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2C
  • EP4451918B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3C

AI summary

The present invention relates to complexes between secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) and biotic including probiotics, their components and/or inanimate preparations of said beneficial bacteria and/or postbiotics to promote controlled immune responses to prevent and/or treat viral infections in a mammal.