COVID-19 Vaccine Adjuvant Potentials of Nichi Glucan Dietary Supplement From Japan

Mucosal, Innate, Adaptive and Trained Immunity boosting of Beta-Glucans, published in Human Vaccines and Immunotherapeutics

TOKYO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--ß- glucan produced by AFO-202 strain of black yeast Aureobasidium Pullulans (Nichi Glucan), having immune enhancement potentials through all major pathways, has been recommended worth clinical studies for validation as a vaccine adjuvant in COVID-19 (https://doi.org/10.1080/21645515.2021.1880210). Pathogens entering through nasal or oral route are tackled by mucosal immunity and antibodies in saliva and once inside the body by innate and adaptive immune systems and the trained immunity (TRIM). Nichi Glucan may have beneficial effects through all the above, describes the scientific publication journal associated with the International Society of Vaccines.

Nichi Glucan as vaccine adjuvant: Adjuvants are agents that supplement vaccines by enhancing or stabilizing them. Nichi glucan with immunomodulating potential is considered more advantageous as it’s vaccine adjuvant efficacy against Avian influenza (H5N1, H5N2) have been reported (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21532325/), has a safety track record of consumption as a food supplement in Japan since 1996 and beneficial effects in general health documented in human studies described below.

• Immune enhancement and balancing benefits in studies in cancer patients, young adults and elderly healthy volunteers (https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2020.01548)
• Coagulopathy related to COVID-19, could be tackled in populations at high-risk for blood clotting disorders; Thrombosis (https://doi.org/10.1186/s12959-020-00239-6)
• Balancing of blood sugar and cholesterol potential may reduce mortality in SARS-CoV-2 patients; Journal of Diabetes & Metabolic Disorders (https://doi.org/10.1007/s40200-020-00664-4).
• Beta glucans in Trained immunity is reported to be more robust as they act on bone marrow which produces blood components and immune cells.

Earlier, associates of GN Corporation were granted a patent on Influenza Neutralizing Antibody to identify vulnerable population for vaccine administration, accomplished in collaboration with Dr. Yoshikazu Kurosawa, a monoclonal antibody researcher, recognized by Prof. Susumu Tonegawa in his Nobel prize for medicine – lecture in 1987 (https://www.nobelprize.org/uploads/2018/06/tonegawa-lecture.pdf).

Human beings lack an ability to advantageously mutate their DNA or RNA unlike viruses; therefore, left with the only option of boosting their immune system for protection from evolving new pathogens and mutating viruses. Fungi having contributed significantly to human health yielding antimicrobial agents such as Penicillin and many anti-cancer agents, further research on this black yeast looks very promising said Dr. Gene Kurosawa, a co-author. Clinical studies on prebiotic potentials of Nichi Glucan to solve gut dysbiosis by balancing gut microbiota are underway.