Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41138036›Full record

ArticleInfectious diseases and therapy2025

Efficacy of Lactococcus lactis Strain Plasma in Patients with Mild COVID-19: A Multicenter, Double-Blinded, Randomized-Controlled Trial (PLATEAU Study).

Kazuko Yamamoto, Tsuyoshi Inoue, Takaya Ikeda, Toyomitsu Sawai, Yosuke Nagayoshi, Koji Hashiguchi, Yoji Futsuki, Yuichi Matsubara, Yosuke Harada, Nobuyuki Ashizawa and 19 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Infectious diseases and therapy, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Effects ofTropical medicine and infectious disease · 2026
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

29 authors.

Kazuko YamamotoDepartment of Respiratory Medicine, Nagasaki University Hospital, Nagasaki, Nagasaki, Japan. kazukomd@cs.u-ryukyu.ac.jp.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1357-1676
Tsuyoshi InoueDepartment of Physiology of Visceral Function and Body Fluid, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki, Nagasaki, Japan.
Takaya IkedaDepartment of Respiratory Medicine, Nagasakikita Tokushukai Hospital, Nishisonogi-Gun, Nagasaki, Japan.
Toyomitsu SawaiDepartment of Respiratory Medicine, Nagasaki Harbor Medical Center, Nagasaki, Nagasaki, Japan.
Yosuke NagayoshiDepartment of Respiratory Medicine, Kouseikai Hospital, Nagasaki, Nagasaki, Japan.
Koji HashiguchiDepartment of Respiratory Medicine, Japanese Red Cross Nagasaki Genbaku Hospital, Nagasaki, Nagasaki, Japan.
Yoji FutsukiDepartment of Respiratory Medicine, Saiseikai Nagasaki Hospital, Nagasaki, Nagasaki, Japan.
Yuichi MatsubaraJuko Memorial Nagasaki Hospital, Nagasaki, Nagasaki, Japan.
Yosuke HaradaDepartment of Respiratory Medicine, Nagasaki Harbor Medical Center, Nagasaki, Nagasaki, Japan.
Nobuyuki AshizawaDepartment of Respiratory Medicine, Nagasaki University Hospital, Nagasaki, Nagasaki, Japan.
Susumu FukahoriDepartment of Respiratory Medicine, Nagasaki University Hospital, Nagasaki, Nagasaki, Japan.
Naoki IwanagaDepartment of Respiratory Medicine, Nagasaki University Hospital, Nagasaki, Nagasaki, Japan.
Takahiro TakazonoDepartment of Respiratory Medicine, Nagasaki University Hospital, Nagasaki, Nagasaki, Japan.
Takashi KidoDepartment of Respiratory Medicine, Nagasaki University Hospital, Nagasaki, Nagasaki, Japan.
Hiroshi IshimotoDepartment of Respiratory Medicine, Nagasaki University Hospital, Nagasaki, Nagasaki, Japan.
Naoki HosogayaDepartment of Respiratory Medicine, Nagasaki University Hospital, Nagasaki, Nagasaki, Japan.
Noriho SakamotoDepartment of Respiratory Medicine, Nagasaki University Hospital, Nagasaki, Nagasaki, Japan.
Masato TashiroInfection Control and Education Center, Nagasaki University Hospital, Nagasaki, Nagasaki, Japan.
Takeshi TanakaInfection Control and Education Center, Nagasaki University Hospital, Nagasaki, Nagasaki, Japan.
Chizu FukushimaClinical Research Center, Nagasaki University Hospital, Nagasaki, Nagasaki, Japan.
Kenta JounaiInstitute of Health Sciences, Kirin Holdings, Co., Ltd., Fujisawa, Kanagawa, Japan.
Ryohei TsujiInstitute of Health Sciences, Kirin Holdings, Co., Ltd., Fujisawa, Kanagawa, Japan.
Daisuke FujiwaraInstitute of Health Sciences, Kirin Holdings, Co., Ltd., Fujisawa, Kanagawa, Japan.
Kenji OtaDepartment of Laboratory Medicine, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki, Nagasaki, Japan.
Kosuke KosaiDepartment of Laboratory Medicine, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki, Nagasaki, Japan.
Akitsugu FurumotoInfectious Diseases Experts Training Center, Nagasaki University Hospital, Nagasaki, Nagasaki, Japan.
Katsunori YanagiharaDepartment of Laboratory Medicine, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki, Nagasaki, Japan.
Koichi IzumikawaInfection Control and Education Center, Nagasaki University Hospital, Nagasaki, Nagasaki, Japan.
Hiroshi MukaeDepartment of Respiratory Medicine, Nagasaki University Hospital, Nagasaki, Nagasaki, Japan.

Funding

Kirin Holdings Co., Ltd. H21003539
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionCoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), is still an ongoing public health threat. COVID-19 can be accompanied by prolonged symptoms, known as "long COVID", however, no pharmaceutical treatments are currently available for these symptoms. Lactococcus lactis strain Plasma (LC-Plasma; Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis JCM 5805) directly activates human plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) and triggers antiviral immune responses. We hypothesized that LC-Plasma reduced SARS-CoV-2 viral load and eased symptoms in patients with mild COVID-19.

methodsThis PLATEAU study enrolled 100 patients with mild COVID-19 during Omicron BA.1 endemic, who were randomized into the LC-Plasma or placebo group in a 1:1 ratio and were observed for 14 days. The primary endpoint was change in total score of eight subjective symptoms (fatigue, anorexia, headache, cough, shortness of breath, chest pain, smell, and taste disturbance). Secondary endpoints included each symptom, SARS-CoV-2 viral load, and pDCs.

resultsThe primary endpoint did not show between-group differences. However, the proportion of patients without smell and taste disturbances was significantly higher in the LC-Plasma group on day 13 (p = 0.030). The LC-Plasma group showed a significantly earlier decrease in SARS-CoV-2 viral load on day 4 (p < 0.001) and an increase in pDCs on day 8 (p = 0.0498). Mild adverse events, such as diarrhea, cough-variant asthma, and urticaria, occurred in three (5.9%) patients in the LC-Plasma group.

conclusionsThe intake of LC-Plasma in patients with mild COVID-19 activates pDC, decreases SARS-CoV-2 viral load earlier, and may improve smell and taste disorders more quickly. LC-Plasma could be a safe, inexpensive, and easily accessible tool for the treatment of mild COVID-19.

trial registrationjRCTs071210097.

Indexed as

COVID-19LC-PlasmaPlasmacytoid dendritic cellSARS-CoV-2Smell disturbanceTaste disturbance

Identifiers

PMID41138036
PMCPMC12602773

What Socratic holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.