1Vietnam National Children’s Hospital, Hanoi, Vietnam 2Spobiotic Research Center, ANABIO R&D Ltd., Hanoi, Vietnam ³LiveSpo Pharma Ltd., Hanoi, Vietnam ⁴ VNU University of Science, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, Vietnam
Le Thi Hoa1, Tran Thanh Tu1, Phung Thi Bich Thuy1, Tran Minh Dien1, Bui Thi Huyen2, Le Thi Hong Hanh1, Do Thu Huong1, Nguyen Hoa Anh³, Pham Dinh Tung⁴, Nguyen Thi Van Anh2
1Vietnam National Children’s Hospital, Hanoi, Vietnam
2Spobiotic Research Center, ANABIO R&D Ltd., Hanoi, Vietnam
³LiveSpo Pharma Ltd., Hanoi, Vietnam
⁴ VNU University of Science, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, Vietnam
Acute respiratory tract infections (ARTIs), including upper (URTI) and lower (LRTI) respiratory tract infections, are major causes of morbidity and antibiotic use in children. Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), often accompanied by bacterial co-infections, contributes substantially to disease severity. Novel mucosal-targeted strategies are needed to reduce disease burden and antimicrobial use. Randomized controlled trials evaluated the efficacy of nasal-spray Bacillus spore probiotics in children with RSV-associated URTI and LRTI (pneumonia). Clinical outcomes were assessed alongside mechanistic sub-clinical endpoints, including viral and bacterial loads, pro-inflammatory cytokines, mucosal immunity, and nasal microbiota composition. As results, probiotic treatment significantly improved clinical symptoms, reduced the duration of oxygen therapy by approximately two days (in LRTI), and shortened overall treatment duration by 1–2 days, along with a reduction in antibiotic use by approximately one day compared with standard care. These effects were associated with a rapid reduction in pathogen burden, with marked decreases in RSV viral load and key bacterial pathogens (e.g., Haemophilus influenzae, Streptococcus pneumoniae) within three days. At the immunological level, treatment significantly reduced pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α) while increasing secretory IgA levels. Microbiome analysis further demonstrated restoration of nasal microbial balance, characterized by increased beneficial taxa (e.g., Corynebacterium, Bacillus) and decreased pathogenic genera (e.g., Streptococcus, Haemophilus, Moraxella). In conclusion, nasal Bacillus spore probiotics provide a safe and effective adjunctive approach for pediatric RSV-associated respiratory infections. Clinical benefits are mediated through coordinated reduction of viral–bacterial load, attenuation of inflammation, and restoration of nasal microbiota. This microbiome-targeted strategy represents a promising non-antibiotic intervention to improve outcomes and reduce antibiotic use in pediatric ARTIs.
Nguyen Thi Van Anh, PhD, is a biomedical researcher and scientific consultant specializing in molecular microbiology, immunology, and clinical research on probiotic interventions. She obtained her PhD in Molecular Biology from Tohoku University, Japan, in 2004, and was awarded the title of Associate Professor in 2012. She has more than 20 years of experience in academic and translational research, including positions as lecturer at VNU University of Science, Vietnam National University. She is currently the Director of the Spobiotic Research Center at ANABIO R&D and serves as a scientific advisor for probiotic product development and clinical trials. Her current research focuses on microbiome-based probiotic therapies to reduce antibiotic overuse, along with randomized clinical trials evaluating Bacillus spore probiotics across gastrointestinal, respiratory, and gynecological conditions. Dr. Van Anh has published more than 48 scientific papers in peer-reviewed journals, including EMBO, Communications Medicine, Vaccine, and Scientific Reports, and holds 8 patents related to probiotic formulations and molecular diagnostic kits.
Full name: Nguyen Thi Van Anh
Contact number: +84 989 087 784
Email: vananhbiolab@gmail.com
Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com.vn/citations?user=vGON3E0AAAAJ&hl=en
Website: https://anabio.com.vn/vi/home/
Session name/number: Antimicrobial resistance and treatment
Category: Oral presentation