In these days of distress a new ray of hope emerged with recent research which confirmed that by taking curd in diet, we may bring down fatality rate in COVID-19.

New Delhi (ABC Live India): India is facing one of the deadly attacks of COVID-19 pandemic now a day, the numbers of deaths is increasing day by day in these days of distress a new ray of hope emerged with recent research which confirmed that by taking curd in diet, we may bring down fatality rate in COVID-19.

It is beyond today scientific understanding that why Coronavirus causes mild symptoms in most of people, but proves fatal for others. The Health investigations of COVID-19 patients confirmed that the majority of the COVID-19 deaths were caused by a disturbed immune response to the infection in the lungs of the patients, rather by the virus itself.

The health reports of COVID-19 patients who lost their lives also confirmed that their blood was crowded with high levels of immune system proteins called cytokines. (Cytokine Storm).

What is Cytokine Storm

Cytokine Storm is process where human immune system starts to attack its own cells and tissues instead of the virus (Coronavirus), the meaning thereby that the cell communication of human Immune system does not work during Cytokine Storm.

How Curd can mitigate Cytokine Storms in COVID-19

Curd is a fermented probiotic dairy drink. Molecules in this fermented probiotic drink proved to ease cytokine storm which is the major cause of Covid-19 death. In India Curd is an integral part of tradition Indian diet and has lost its relevance in urban India, facing the worst attack of COVID-19.

A recent study from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) found that isolated molecules from probiotic-rich dairy products(Curd) could have potential as novel drug candidates for fighting against pathogenic bacteria and treating inflammatory diseases, including the cytokine storm related to Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Findings from the study were published in the peer-reviewed publication Microbiome. Probiotics are considered beneficial bacteria found in fermented foods like kefir and yogurt. Previous research suggests that probiotics may also support the immune system, improve the diversity and balance of microbial populations in the gut and possibly protect humans from harmful bacterial infections.

A study from Monash University in Melbourne identified two molecules in the gut microbiome, which houses probiotic bacteria that may play a role in treating severe COVID-19 and asthma attacks.

In this recent study, researchers from BGU isolated molecules from predominant yeast in probiotic-rich kefir. These molecules significantly reduced virulence of the bacteria that causes cholera.

According to the investigators, the anti-bacterial effect of the kefir-secreted molecules centered on their ability to disrupt bacterial cell communication and interfered in assembly of bacterial aggregates. They added that the achievement of blocking cell communication with these molecules among bacterial cells represents a promising and potentially effective approach to combating antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

A follow-up study found that the isolated molecules also exhibited anti-inflammatory properties when tested in several different pathological conditions and diseases. In one case, the molecules accelerated the healing of mice that were undergoing a “cytokine storm,” a potentially lethal immune response involved in COVID-19 and another conditions. The molecules isolated from the probiotic yogurt eliminated the cytokine storm and also improved immune system function. The investigators believe that these isolated molecules could thus be used as novel drug candidates for inflammatory conditions.

Professor Raz Jelinek, a corresponding study author, said in a statement that the findings from this study are notable, given that they are the first to demonstrate that molecules secreted in probiotic dairy products can reduce human pathogenic bacteria virulence.

"In fact, our research illuminates for the first time a mechanism by which milk fermented probiotics can protect against pathogenic infections and aid the immune system,” Jelinek said. “Following promising results in animal models, we look forward to administering these drug candidates to humans, for example to patients who are experiencing a cytokine storm due to COVID-19 infection, or people suffering from acute inflammatory bowel pathologies, such as Crohn's disease."

"In a reality where antibiotic-resistant bacteria are becoming an imminent threat, the novel molecules discovered by BGU scientists pave a completely new path for fighting bacterial infections by disrupting cell-cell communications in pathogenic bacteria,” added Josh Peleg, chief executive officer of BGN Technologies. “Moreover, the dramatic anti-inflammatory activities of the molecules may open new avenues for therapeutics and scientifically proven probiotic food products."