□National Institute of Biological Resources (NIBR) announced on 29 September that cell-free supernatant of Lactobacillus plantarum (“NIBR 97”) isolated from Kimchi has the potential to serve as natural antiviral agents, highly effective in preventing influenza.

◦ The findings are the result of the recent study conducted by NIBR since April 2020 amid the spread of coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19). NIBR researchers isolated the lactic acid bacteria, NIBR 97 from Kimchi cabbage in 2017 and experimented cell-free supernatant of NIBR 97 to confirm its potential for natural disinfectants in response to COVID-19.

□ NIBR researchers have confirmed that the cell-free supernatant has exhibited significant antiviral activities against HIV-based lentivirus and the human influenza virus subtype H3N2 (A/H3N2), destroying most of the HIV virus and reducing at least 99.5% of A/H3N2.

◦ The research findings were published in Pharmaceuticals, an international, peer-reviewed journal of medical chemistry on 23 September 2020.

□ The study has suggested the cell-free supernatant from NIBR 97 could replace chemical disinfectants, which are flammable and can be harmful if not properly handled, with natural substances.

◦ NIBR transferred its patented culture technology on NIBR 97 to Celltec Co. in March 2019. Celltec then provided its culture supernatant to GreenBio Co. and NP Korea Corp. to develop non-alcoholic liquid detergent. The pre-marketed detergent has proved its antibacterial activity by killing up to 99.99% of murine hepatitis virus and low pathogenic avian influenza viruses.

◦ The manufacturer of the detergent has applied for the product safety test conducted by FDA authorized institution. Once it receives approval, the product will go on sale in the US market. As for the Korean market, the product will be assessed by Ministry of Food and Drug Safety and Ministry of Environment for market approval.

□ “As the demand for alcohol-based disinfectants has highly increased during COVID-19, our research has opened up the potential of safer alternative disinfectants by confirming antiviral activities of supernatant from the lactic acid bacteria”, said Bae Yeon Jae, president of NIBR. “We will continue our efforts to identify Korean biological resources with the potential to be commercialized to support Korean bio-industry.”

Appendixes

A. The accepted manuscript.