Topical Lactic Acid Bacterium Composition for Respiratory Immune Priming

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Solution Overview

Problem

There is a need for prophylactic and therapeutic agents effective against viral infectious diseases, particularly those caused by variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, and existing treatments lack efficacy and effectiveness as approved pharmaceutical products.

Innovation Solution

Topical administration of lactic acid bacteria, such as Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis JCM5805, to enhance prophylactic and immunostimulatory effects by inducing interferon production and activating plasmacytoid dendritic cells in the respiratory tract.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If lactic acid bacteria are administered orally for physiological activities, then intestinal effects are achieved, but topical administration effects for pharmaceutical use are unknown and lack efficacy

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprophylactic effectVSAvoidadministration route effectiveness
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The invention segments the administration route from oral (intestinal) to topical (mucosal surfaces including respiratory tract), targeting specific anatomical locations where the bacteria can directly interact with the immune system and viral entry points, thereby achieving reliable prophylactic effects without relying on oral administration pathways

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If existing antibody medicines are used for COVID-19 treatment, then some therapeutic effect is achieved, but there are no approved prophylactic pharmaceutical products and efficacy against variants is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveeffectiveness against variantsVSAvoidprophylactic efficacy
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention applies preliminary action by administering lactic acid bacteria topically before viral infection occurs, priming the immune system through interferon production and dendritic cell activation at mucosal surfaces, thereby creating prophylactic protection that is adaptable to various viral variants before exposure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Power

If lactic acid bacteria are used for oral intake, then physiological activities in intestines are achieved, but immunostimulatory effect by topical administration is unknown

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimmunostimulatory effectVSAvoidunknown topical administration effects
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The invention transitions from the one-dimensional oral/intestinal pathway to multiple dimensional topical administration routes (nasal, respiratory mucosa, other mucosal surfaces), unlocking new immunostimulatory effects through interferon production and dendritic cell activation that were inaccessible through oral administration alone

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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

Enhances prophylactic and immunostimulatory effects against viral infectious diseases, including COVID-19 and influenza, by increasing interferon production and activating dendritic cells, thereby reducing disease severity and viral load.

Implementation Method 1

topical administration of lactic acid bacterium can induce an interferon production by plasmacytoid dendritic cells in an upper and/or lower respiratory tract

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectInterferon production:

Implementation Method 2

topical administration of lactic acid bacterium can elicit an immunostimulatory effect

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectImmunostimulatory effect:

Data Source

PatentEP4628087A1Pharmaceutical composition for topical administration
Publication Date: 2025.10.08 KIRIN HOLDINGS KK
  • EP4628087A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4628087A1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP4628087A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a novel pharmaceutical composition for topical administration and a novel immunostimulating composition for topical administration. The present invention provides a pharmaceutical composition for topical administration and an immunostimulating composition for topical administration, the composition comprising a lactic acid bacterium as an active ingredient. The lactic acid bacterium that is the active ingredient in the present invention is preferably Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis. The present invention is advantageous because topical administration (especially intranasal administration) can enhance the prophylactic and immunostimulatory effects of lactic acid bacterium, an active ingredient, on infectious diseases.