Microbiota and the Response to Vaccines Against Respiratory Virus

Abstract

This mini review describes the role of gut and lung microbiota during respiratory viral infection and discusses the implication of the microbiota composition on the immune responses generated by the vaccines designed to protect against these pathogens. This is a growing field and recent evidence supports that the composition and function of the microbiota can modulate the immune response of vaccination against respiratory viruses such as influenza and SARS-CoV-2. Recent studies have highlighted that molecules derived from the microbiome can have systemic effects, acting in distant organs. These molecules are recognized by the immune cells from the host and can trigger or modulate different responses, interfering with vaccination protection. Modulating the microbiota composition has been suggested as an approach to achieving more efficient protective immune responses. Studies in humans have reported associations between a better vaccine response and specific bacterial taxa. These associations vary among different vaccine strategies and are likely to be context-dependent. The use of prebiotics and probiotics in conjunction with vaccination demonstrated that bacterial components could act as adjuvants. Future microbiota-based interventions may potentially improve and optimize the responses of respiratory virus vaccines.

Keywords: immune response; microbiota; respiratory virus; vaccine; virus.

Figure 1

Schematic view of the microbiome-immunity relationship in the context of vaccination. Recent studies demonstrate that there is an association between microbiota and vaccine responses. Gut microbiome composition can be modulated through dietary intake and other environmental factors such as the use of antibiotics or probiotic consumption. With the discovery that abundance of specific bacterial taxa is correlated with increased immune responses after vaccination, therapeutic strategies using pre- or probiotics in combination with vaccination could represent an effective alternative to increase vaccine responses. Created with BioRender.com.