Modified pectin (MP) is a bioactive complex polysaccharide that is broken down into smaller fragments of units and used as an oral dietary supplement for cell proliferation. MP is safe and non-toxic with promising therapeutic properties with regard to targeting galectin-3 (GAL-3) toward the prevention and inhibition of viral infections through the modulation of the immune response and anti-inflammatory cytokine effects. This effect of MP as a GAL-3 antagonism, which has shown benefits in preclinical and clinical models, may be of relevance to the progression of the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) in coronavirus disease 2019 patients. The outbreak of emerging infectious diseases continues to pose a threat to human health. Further to the circulation of multiple variants of SARS-CoV-2, an effective and alternative therapeutic approach to combat it has become pertinent. The use of MP as a GAL-3 inhibitor could serve as an antiviral agent blocking against the SARS-CoV-2-binding spike protein. This review highlights the potential effects of MP in viral infections, its proposed role as a GAL-3 inhibitor, and the associated function concerning a SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Intestinal bacteria utilize the constituent of ingested food for their metabolic activities making the gut microbiota a target in the modification of functional foods. This study examines the effect of modified citrus pectin and encapsulated probiotic, Lactobacillus acidophilus ATCC 4356 on colon lactobacilli microbiota in healthy Balb/c mice. Mice were orally administered once daily with modified citrus pectin alginate probiotic, alginate calcium probiotic, modified citrus pectin and water for 28 days. Faecal lactobacilli count were determined using automated colony counter Doc-It  imaging station. The number of faecal lactobacilli in the modified citrus pectin alginate probiotic-treated mice significantly increased at day 7, 14 and 28 [7.99 ± 0.22, 8.32 ± 0.08 and 8.36 ± 0.23 (log 10 cfu/g) respectively]. A little or no increase in the faecal lactobacilli count was noted in the modified citrus pectin-treated mice. Modified citrus pectin alginate combined with live probiotic, Lactobacillus acidophilus ATCC 4356 supplements can be used as probiotic therapy to improve the intestinal lactobacilli microbiota in healthy host.

The complexity of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)’s pathophysiology is such that microbial dysbiosis in the lung and gastrointestinal (GI) microbiota may be involved in its pathogenic process. GI microbiota dysbiosis has been associated with respiratory disorders, including COVID-19, as well as sporadic colorectal cancer (CRC) through imbalanced microbiota and compromised immune response. It is pertinent to understand the possible role of probiotics in stabilizing the microbial environment and maintaining the integrity of the respiratory and GI tracts in SARS-CoV-2 induced dysbiosis and colorectal carcinogenesis. The long-term implication of SARS-CoV-2 in GI dysbiosis via microbiota-gut-lung cross-talk could increase the risk of new CRC diagnosis or worsen the condition of previously diagnosed individuals. Recent knowledge shows that the immune-modulatory response to probiotics is shifting the beneficial use of probiotics towards the treatment of various diseases. In this review, we highlight the potential impact of probiotics on SARS-CoV-2 infection associated with CRC through microbiota imbalance in COVID-19 patients.

BackgroundInfluenza is an acute respiratory disease that continues to cause global epidemics and pandemics in human with significant mortality and morbidity.ObjectivesThis study was designed to identify the circulating influenza virus in Ibadan, Nigeria during the 2006/2007 season.MethodsThroat swab samples were collected from patients presenting with acute respiratory tract infection at the Out-Patient Departments of major hospitals in Ibadan over a period of seven months from November 2006 to May 2007. Isolation of influenza virus was performed using Madin-Darby Canine Kidney cell line and 10 days old chicken embryonated egg. Isolates was identified by haemagglutination and haemagglutination-inhibition assays using selected CDC Influenza reference antisera (A, B, subtype H1 and H3).ResultsOut of 128 patients tested, 21(16.4%) yielded positive for virus isolation. Identification of the isolates showed that 19(14.8%) were positive for influenza virus out of which 11(8.6%) and 8(6.2%) were influenza A and B viruses respectively. Influenza A virus 6(4.7%) were subtype H1; 4(3.1%) were co-subtype H1 and H3; and 1(0.8%) was not inhibited by subtype H1 and H3.ConclusionThe circulation of influenza virus A and B in this study is important to contributing knowledge and data to influenza epidemiology and surveillance in Nigeria.

Pectin is a polysaccharide that has been recently gaining attention because it is renewable, inexpensive, biocompatible, degradable, non-toxic, non-polluting, and has mechanical integrity. The recent extraction techniques and modification to the structural property of pectin have led to the modified pectin whose chemical and surface functional groups yield galacturonic acid and galactose contents which are primarily responsible for its improved and better use in biomedical applications including drug delivery and thus producing high-value products. Major attention on modified pectin has been focused on the aspect of its bioactive functionalities that opposes cancer development. Nevertheless, modified pectin can be combined with a wide range of biopolymers with unique characteristics and activities which thus enhances its application in different areas. This has enabled the current applications of modified pectin through different approaches in addition to the prominent anti-cancer functional capabilities, which were reviewed. Furthermore, this paper highlights the potential of modified pectin as a delivery system of bioactive substances, its synergistic and prebiotic effects, gut microbiota effect and antiviral properties amongst other roles applicable in the biomedical and pharmaceutical industries.

Background: For a probiotic to be viable it needs to be preserved at a recommended minimum level of 6-7 log 10 cfu/g in the product being consumed, as suggested by the International Dairy Federation. Different biopolymer matrices have been used for encapsulation of probiotic; however, loss of viability is still a challenge. Materials and Methods: Modified citrus pectin-alginate microbeads containing Lactobacillus acidophilus ATCC 4356 was developed. Efficiency of the microbeads was evaluated in simulated conditions of the gastrointestinal tract and in Balb/c mice induced with colon tumor. Genomic identification of faecal lactobacilli samples from treated mice was also performed. Results: The Modified citrus pectin-alginate probiotic microbeads significantly enhanced the viability of Lactobacillus acidophilus ATCC 4356 compared to the control (p< 0.05) both in vitro and in vivo. Exposure of the modified citrus pectin-alginate microbeads to 3 hours of simulated gastric juice resulted in 82.7% survival of L. acidophilus ATCC 4356. Also, the number of faecal lactobacilli in the modified citrus pectin-alginate probiotic treated mice increased by 10.2% after 28 days. Conclusion: Modified citrus pectin-alginate is a novel effective means of oral delivery of bacterial cells and bioactive compounds. Modified citrus pectin-alginate can be used in probiotic therapy which may improve the prevention of colon cancer.

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Background/aim: Impaired lymphatic function is associated with pathological conditions. The presence of placental lymphatics is still under debate. This study evaluates the placental podoplanin expression in normotensive and preeclamptic women with and without HIV. Materials and methods: Normotensive (n = 60) and preeclamptic (n = 120) pregnant women were stratified into early and late onset preeclampsia and further divided by HIV status. Immunostaining was performed using the podoplanin antibody prior to the morphometric image analysis. Results: Podoplanin was immunolocalized in a reticular-like stroma complex within the exchange and conducting villi. The immunoexpression of podoplanin was significantly upregulated in the exchange villi (P = 0.001) irrespective of the pregnancy type and HIV status. Based on pregnancy type, podoplanin was downregulated in early onset preeclampsia (15.33 ± 4.27%) compared to late onset preeclampsia in the exchange villi (17.85 ± 4.74%; P = 0.04). Podoplanin was upregulated in HIV+ vs. HIV-cases regardless of pregnancy and villi type. Irrespective of pregnancy type, podoplanin immunoexpression within exchange villi was different (P = 0.008) between the HIV+ and HIV-groups. Conclusion: Placental fluid homeostasis is maintained by a podoplanin reticular-like complex within conducting and exchange villi, being upregulated in HIV-positive pregnancies.