Community Probiotics can Increase Immunity Amidst Pandemic

By Adi Permana

Editor Adi Permana

BANDUNG, itb.ac.id–ITB Alumni Association (IAITB) held a webinar entitled "Improving Immunity in a Pandemic Period with Community Probiotics", Friday (9/7/2021). Sidrotun Naim was the moderator, and three speakers were attended the event, namely Dr.(cand) dr. Farid Lusno, M.Kes., Dr. Sulfahri, Msi., and Basuki Rokhmad.

Farid opened his presentation with the known facts about the life of bacteria in producing antibiotics. "The funny thing is, antibiotics were created to kill bacteria, but it turns out that the ones that actually produce the most antibiotics are bacteria," he said.

Immunity, defined by antibodies, is divided into innate and acquired. Innate immunity is inherited and carried from birth through the mother's placental blood. In contrast, natural immunity is obtained from the formation of antibodies resulting from the symbiosis of the human body with bacteria stimulating the body's cells to secrete certain hormones. One example of bacteria exposed to the human body is through tahnik and nabeez (infused water).

An imbalance in the number of bacteria in the body can cause various problems. Starting from depression, heart disease, autism to autoimmune disease. One manifestation of the fulfillment of bacterial microflora for the body is Fecal Microbiota Therapy (FMT).

Probiotics, Prebiotics and Defense Mechanisms against SARS-CoV2

According to research results, foods that significantly increase immunity are honey and herbs, which are sources of enzymes and active compounds, organic and non-GMO foods, and probiotics. The active compounds in herbs can be broken down into smaller ones with the help of bacteria so that the body can absorb the nutrients more easily. The combination of the three with advanced fermentation becomes "Community Probiotics".

Sulfahri said that the metabolite compounds produced by Community Probiotics could be candidates for SARS-CoV2 therapy based on the molecular docking test. These metabolites comprise; Dibuthyl phthalate, Purpurin, 4-Methoxycinnamic acid, Cyclo(phenylalalnyl-prolyl), Linolenic acid ethyl ester, and so on.

It is also known that the molecular weight of these compounds is mostly less than 500 g/mol, although some are less.

The key to inhibiting SARS-CoV2 amplification in the human body lies on the surface and inside the cell.
First, blocking the binding of the SARS-CoV2 spike protein to the ACE-2 receptor on the lung and gastrointestinal surfaces. The binding inhibition occurs because the binding power of the Community Probiotic metabolite compound to the ACE-2 receptor is greater than the binding of protein S.

Then if the S protein can bind to ACE-2 and release its RNA in the cell, the incoming viral RNA binds to Dibutyl phthalate to not replicate. The key proteins for inhibiting RNA amplification are 3CL-protease and COVID-19 Polymerase. The active compounds that bind to two key viral replication proteins are Digalactosyl diglyceride, Purpurin, Trigalactosyl diglyceride, Kaemferol, and Quercetin.

The binding affinity between the active compound of Community Probiotics and the SARS-CoV2 replicator protein is very low (which means it binds very strongly) compared to Remdesivir and Chloroquine, which are common antivirals used to inhibit the replication of this virus.

In addition to inhibiting the replication of SARS-CoV2, the active compound of Community Probiotics can also balance the body's immune system due to the body's immune response to SARS-CoV2, which is over-reactive less reactive.

Community Probiotics

According to Wang et al. (2018), at least more than 1000 species of bacteria live in the human stomach. If the human gut is given a product that predominantly consists of a single strain and several strains of bacteria, the composition of the existing bacteria is disturbed to cause various types of problems, including decreased immunity.

"We found that in BIOSYAFA there were 148 active compounds and about 20 bacterial strains," said Basuki.

With the main focus on meeting the number of 19 million bacterial strains in the body reaping long-term improvements, taking medication is no longer necessary to be healthy. The combination of probiotics and prebiotics with nano-herbs and probiotics gives the best results for increasing immunity, especially during this pandemic.

Reporter: Najma Shafiya (Postharvest Technology 2020)
Translator: Billy Akbar Prabowo (Metallurgical Engineering 2020)