<i>Staphylococcus epidermidis</i> Controls Opportunistic Pathogens in the Nose, Could It Help to Regulate SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) Infection?

<i>Staphylococcus epidermidis</i> is more abundant in the anterior nares than internal parts of the nose, but its relative abundance changes along with age; it is more abundant in adolescents than in children and adults. Various studies have shown that <i>S. epidermidis</i> i...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Silvestre Ortega-Peña, Sandra Rodríguez-Martínez, Mario E. Cancino-Diaz, Juan C. Cancino-Diaz
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2022-02-01
Series:Life
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/12/3/341
Description
Summary:<i>Staphylococcus epidermidis</i> is more abundant in the anterior nares than internal parts of the nose, but its relative abundance changes along with age; it is more abundant in adolescents than in children and adults. Various studies have shown that <i>S. epidermidis</i> is the guardian of the nasal cavity because it prevents the colonization and infection of respiratory pathogens (bacteria and viruses) through the secretion of antimicrobial molecules and inhibitors of biofilm formation, occupying the space of the membrane mucosa and through the stimulation of the host’s innate and adaptive immunity. There is a strong relationship between the low number of <i>S. epidermidis</i> in the nasal cavity and the increased risk of serious respiratory infections. The direct application of <i>S. epidermidis</i> into the nasal cavity could be an effective therapeutic strategy to prevent respiratory infections and to restore nasal cavity homeostasis. This review shows the mechanisms that <i>S. epidermidis</i> uses to eliminate respiratory pathogens from the nasal cavity, also <i>S. epidermidis</i> is proposed to be used as a probiotic to prevent the development of COVID-19 because <i>S. epidermidis</i> induces the production of interferon type I and III and decreases the expression of the entry receptors of SARS-CoV-2 (ACE2 and TMPRSS2) in the nasal epithelial cells.
ISSN:2075-1729