Biofilm/QS – Focus on Serratiopeptidase – Part 3

Friends:

In these past two articles, we explored biofilms and the unique, fascinating, and relatively less-known form of its communication intelligence called “quorum sensing.”

Why not discuss ingredients and leave this background science behind?

The reason is that many “ingredients” go beyond typical ingredient description when positioning their features and how it relates and interacts with the microbiome, oral health, and the biofilm challenge. 

We are just scratching the surface of our understanding, which is awesomely complex!

Once when one somewhat better appreciates how things connect, then interrelationships and therapeutic and health strategies are better understood–this is a sequential process, and the biofilm structure and its microbial communication are not random.

From Joe Cohen in “Self-Hacked,” for some review:

“When many bacteria gather in one place, enough to form a “quorum” as in the number of members needed to vote on an issue in parliamentary procedure, they can communicate with one another via chemical messages, or “quorum sensing” (QS).

Quorum sensing allows the bacteria to work en masse (as though together they made up one organism) to change their behavior and adapt to their present environment.

QS operates as “strength in numbers” for the bacteria to expand their territory, construct biofilm shields, defend against antimicrobial agents, and make necessary changes to improve their survival. 

However, aside from bacterial biofilms, there are viral ones. The difference is that the bacteria will make their own and the viral biofilm recruits materials from the host cells.

From a newsletter from the Pasteur Institute:

“Like the formation of biofilms in bacteria and viruses, a collection of viruses has formed. This viral accumulation may support the virus in chronic infection. Despite the similarities between bacterial and viral biofilms, they have differences, one of the important differences being that the matrix of normal biofilm formation is mainly made by the microbe itself, while the matrix of viral assemblies is produced by the infected cell.”

   

The objective against deleterious microbes ( i.e., bacteria, viruses, and some yeasts) is to  “jam” these communication signals, and thus, it becomes harder to form biofilms and survive.”

Also, some compounds will not directly destroy certain microbes but can disrupt the biofilm, such as cyanobacteria, spirulina/chlorella.  the polyols include xylitol and green-lipped mussel with its omega-3 anti-inflammatory capacity(especially good for stiff joints), serratiopeptidase, etc.

A number of natural compounds are good for jamming signals or disrupting biofilms to the point the underlying infection, or bacterial mass, is more susceptible to our immune system and therapeutics ( to be discussed more in detail next issue).

There are some exotic hybrid amino acids, such as Acyl homoserine lactone, and some natural compound superstars, such as Serratiopeptidase, which I will focus on for the remainder of this article.–
 
Serratiopeptidase is a proteolytic enzyme derived from silkworms ( from the friendly bacterium Serratia-E15) or can be synthesized through fermentation protocols,
 
It is a very available bulk ingredient or as a dietary supplement.

Serratiopeptidase: An Integrated View of Multifaceted Therapeutic Enzyme
Charu Sharma, 1 Niraj Kumar Jha, 2 M. F. Nagoor Meeran

“Serratiopeptidase is a proteolytic enzyme with immense applications in therapeutic areas,

which have been validated by several in vitro, in vivo, clinical studies, and through anecdotal evidence.

These applications are attributable to their versatile properties, including anti-inflammatory,

anti-biofilm, potent disruptor, analgesic, anti-endemic, and fibrinolytic effects.

The significant impact of serratiopeptidase reported needs to be backed by more scientific data.

This review encompasses the therapeutic applications of serratiopeptidase based on available in vitro, in vivo,

and clinical studies. We found some strong evidence regarding the efficacy of serratiopeptidase”.

 “Serratiopeptidase, A Serine Protease Anti-Inflammatory, Fibrinolytic, and Mucolytic Drug, Can Be a Useful Adjuvant for the Management in COVID-19

Charu Sharma, 1 Niraj Kumar Jha, 2 M. F. Nagoor Meeran, 3 Chandragouda R. Patil, 4 Sameer N. Goyal, 5 and Shreesh Ojha 3,

The management of COVID-19 has continued to rely on drugs repurposed based on their pharmacological effects, including antiviral, antibiotic, anti-inflammatory, and or immunomodulatory, along with the availability of numerous vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 in the past few months (Fan et al.–2020). 
 
“Repurposing of drugs has gained enormous attention over identifying novel drug candidates due to known safety, potency, and multi-targeted pharmacological action as an immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial, fibrinolytic ( dangerous, spontaneous clotting) agent.” 
 
Serratiopeptidase Doses, Safety, and Adverse Effects

SEPD ( serratiopeptidase)  is generally well tolerated, with few exceptions of rare adverse effects. It is available alone or in combination with anti-inflammatory agents as a tablet, mostly as enteric-coated tablets or capsules. SEPD is distributed to the tissues and bioavailable in plasma and lymph following binding to alpha-2-macroglobulin in the blood, thus devoid of allergenicity and retains its enzymatic activity at the systemic and cellular level within 1 h.

In most human studies, the usual doses of SEPD range from 10 to 60 mg/day in divided doses, with the most preferred dose of 10 mg thrice daily on an empty stomach. Usually, it is used for 2–4 weeks, depending on the aim of therapy and outcome.
 
 The dose of 10 mg equals 20,000 units of enzyme activity. 
 
Therefore, many researchers and medical experts cite that 10 mg thrice daily could be examined as an adjuvant for COVID-19. 
 
Using SEPD can be virtuously justified, being safe and effective and devoid of side effects that commonly develop with conventional mucolytics that may cause sedation, euphoria, gastrointestinal disturbances, respiratory irritation, and constipation, probably due to the absence of any interaction with receptors. 
 
In my personal approach to nutritional and supplement protection,  taking into account the constant, silent battle of adverse biofilm challenge and subclinical inflammation and unwanted spontaneous clotting risk from resiual spike  protein since I did have a mild bout of a Covid variant (and  who knows when  next one will hit next?), I now include a minimal dose for some extra protection with SEPD on an empty stomach no more than several times per week–but that’s me, and you would decide how to use it based on your knowledge and, best yet, a discussion with your professional health provider.
 
In my next sequel article, I will discuss other easily available and potent natural blockers of QS and biofilms and additional attention concerning dental and periodontic health against oral biofilms.