Evaluation of Lactococcus lactis carrying active For t 2 protein in immunotherapy for Forcipomyia taiwana allergy in mice

Background: Forcipomyia taiwana (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) allergy is Taiwan's most prevalent biting insect allergy. Our previous studies identified and cloned major F. taiwana allergens For t 2 and determined its strong immunogenicity to human fibroblasts. This study investigated whether oral...

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Main Authors: Mey-Fann Lee, PhD, Yi-Hsing Chen, MD, PhD, Chu-Hui Chiang, PhD, Chi-Sheng Wu, MS, Nancy M. Wang, PhD
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-07-01
Series:World Allergy Organization Journal
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S193945512500050X
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author Mey-Fann Lee, PhD
Yi-Hsing Chen, MD, PhD
Chu-Hui Chiang, PhD
Chi-Sheng Wu, MS
Nancy M. Wang, PhD
author_facet Mey-Fann Lee, PhD
Yi-Hsing Chen, MD, PhD
Chu-Hui Chiang, PhD
Chi-Sheng Wu, MS
Nancy M. Wang, PhD
author_sort Mey-Fann Lee, PhD
collection DOAJ
description Background: Forcipomyia taiwana (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) allergy is Taiwan's most prevalent biting insect allergy. Our previous studies identified and cloned major F. taiwana allergens For t 2 and determined its strong immunogenicity to human fibroblasts. This study investigated whether oral administration of food-grade Lactococcus lactis containing For t 2 ameliorated midge-allergic symptoms in a mouse model. Methods: BALB/c mice, divided into viable, sonicated, and autoclaved groups, were fed with L. lactis-For t 2 5 times weekly for 4 weeks. Immune molecules related to allergies in serum were analyzed and 16S rRNA profiles of fecal samples were compared. Results: The results revealed administration of L. lactis-For t 2 significantly decreased the level of total IgE and ameliorated midge allergen-challenge-induced scratch bouts found in the viable and sonicated groups, but not the autoclaved group. The sonicated group showed a significant reduction in IL-4, IL-13, IL-17, MCP-1, and TNF-α levels. Its effect was comparable to that of the viable group and was even more pronounced in reducing IL-9 expression. Further, we performed a comprehensive analysis of 16S rRNA profiles corresponding to fecal samples. Clostridiaceae and Clostridium were the dominant family and genus in the autoclaved group, whereas Duncaniella and Kineothrix were the dominant genus in the sonicated and viable groups, respectively. Conclusions: The results imply that mucosal allergen-specific immunotherapy of L. lactis For t 2 is a better cost-effective alternative to conventional subcutaneous allergen-specific immunotherapy. This study shows that non-viable L. lactis-derived For t 2 active protein may be a promising therapeutic for treating midge allergy.
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spelling doaj-art-a7fbd2aeb0384c17863ded65e9c5f13b2025-06-25T04:50:59ZengElsevierWorld Allergy Organization Journal1939-45512025-07-01187101073Evaluation of Lactococcus lactis carrying active For t 2 protein in immunotherapy for Forcipomyia taiwana allergy in miceMey-Fann Lee, PhD0Yi-Hsing Chen, MD, PhD1Chu-Hui Chiang, PhD2Chi-Sheng Wu, MS3Nancy M. Wang, PhD4Department of Medical Research, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung, TaiwanDivision of Allergy, Immunology and Rheumatology, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung, TaiwanDepartment of Plant Medicine, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Pingtung, TaiwanDepartment of Medical Research, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung, TaiwanDepartment of Biology, National Changhua University of Education, Changhua, Taiwan; Corresponding author. Department of Biology, National Changhua University of Education, No. 1 Jin-der Road, Changhua, 50050, Taiwan.Background: Forcipomyia taiwana (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) allergy is Taiwan's most prevalent biting insect allergy. Our previous studies identified and cloned major F. taiwana allergens For t 2 and determined its strong immunogenicity to human fibroblasts. This study investigated whether oral administration of food-grade Lactococcus lactis containing For t 2 ameliorated midge-allergic symptoms in a mouse model. Methods: BALB/c mice, divided into viable, sonicated, and autoclaved groups, were fed with L. lactis-For t 2 5 times weekly for 4 weeks. Immune molecules related to allergies in serum were analyzed and 16S rRNA profiles of fecal samples were compared. Results: The results revealed administration of L. lactis-For t 2 significantly decreased the level of total IgE and ameliorated midge allergen-challenge-induced scratch bouts found in the viable and sonicated groups, but not the autoclaved group. The sonicated group showed a significant reduction in IL-4, IL-13, IL-17, MCP-1, and TNF-α levels. Its effect was comparable to that of the viable group and was even more pronounced in reducing IL-9 expression. Further, we performed a comprehensive analysis of 16S rRNA profiles corresponding to fecal samples. Clostridiaceae and Clostridium were the dominant family and genus in the autoclaved group, whereas Duncaniella and Kineothrix were the dominant genus in the sonicated and viable groups, respectively. Conclusions: The results imply that mucosal allergen-specific immunotherapy of L. lactis For t 2 is a better cost-effective alternative to conventional subcutaneous allergen-specific immunotherapy. This study shows that non-viable L. lactis-derived For t 2 active protein may be a promising therapeutic for treating midge allergy.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S193945512500050XCeratopogonidaeLactococcus lactisSonicationImmunotherapy
spellingShingle Mey-Fann Lee, PhD
Yi-Hsing Chen, MD, PhD
Chu-Hui Chiang, PhD
Chi-Sheng Wu, MS
Nancy M. Wang, PhD
Evaluation of Lactococcus lactis carrying active For t 2 protein in immunotherapy for Forcipomyia taiwana allergy in mice
World Allergy Organization Journal
Ceratopogonidae
Lactococcus lactis
Sonication
Immunotherapy
title Evaluation of Lactococcus lactis carrying active For t 2 protein in immunotherapy for Forcipomyia taiwana allergy in mice
title_full Evaluation of Lactococcus lactis carrying active For t 2 protein in immunotherapy for Forcipomyia taiwana allergy in mice
title_fullStr Evaluation of Lactococcus lactis carrying active For t 2 protein in immunotherapy for Forcipomyia taiwana allergy in mice
title_full_unstemmed Evaluation of Lactococcus lactis carrying active For t 2 protein in immunotherapy for Forcipomyia taiwana allergy in mice
title_short Evaluation of Lactococcus lactis carrying active For t 2 protein in immunotherapy for Forcipomyia taiwana allergy in mice
title_sort evaluation of lactococcus lactis carrying active for t 2 protein in immunotherapy for forcipomyia taiwana allergy in mice
topic Ceratopogonidae
Lactococcus lactis
Sonication
Immunotherapy
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S193945512500050X
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