Developing a probiotic to help treat asthma by inducing tolerance to allergens
Official title: A Novel IL-35 Expressing Probiotic Platform for Inducing Allergen Specific Tolerance
Funded at Virtici, LLC · NIH-10662445 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a new probiotic called VTC-L35 that aims to help people with asthma feel better by teaching their bodies to handle certain allergens that make them sick, offering a friendlier way to manage asthma without just relying on regular medications.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Virtici, LLC NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | May 1, 2020 |
| Project end | June 30, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2023 |
| Award (this year) | $978,755 |
| NIH project number | 5R44AI152646-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-10662445 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals diagnosed with asthma who have specific allergen sensitivities, particularly to house dust mites.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have asthma or those whose asthma is not triggered by specific allergens may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on creating a new probiotic platform, VTC-L35, designed to help patients with asthma by inducing tolerance to specific allergens that trigger their symptoms. The approach involves using a modified strain of Lactococcus lactis that expresses IL-35, which has shown promise in reducing inflammation in preclinical models. By administering this probiotic orally, the goal is to help patients manage their asthma more effectively without relying solely on traditional immunosuppressive treatments. This could lead to a more personalized and sustainable approach to asthma management.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide a novel treatment option that helps asthma patients tolerate their specific allergens, potentially reducing the frequency and severity of asthma attacks.
How similar studies have gone: While the approach of using probiotics for asthma treatment is relatively novel, preliminary studies have shown promise in similar immunomodulatory strategies.
Where this research is happening
-
Virtici, LLC
Seattle, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Fanger, Neil a — Virtici, LLC
- Study coordinator: Fanger, Neil a
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.