Human health care

Our research on IgY applications for human health focus on the areas oral care, gastrointestinal care, and upper respiratory care.

Thanks to decades of research on maternal immunity mechanism, IRIG has successfully developed many patented IgY applications against different pathogens in human and animals.

Priority Areas

IgY for oral care

Dental plaque contains the bacterium Streptococcus mutans, which is the main causative agent of tooth decay. IgY against the enzyme called glucosyltransferase (GTase) interfere with S. mutans’ ability to cause dental caries. Anti-Gtase IgY antibodies can be added to functional foods such as candy, gum, or mouth wash liquids to prevent tooth decay.

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Gum disease, or periodontitis, is an infection of the tissues that surround and support your teeth. Caused by bacteria, the disease leads to inflammation of the gums, receding gums and, ultimately, tooth loss. In Japan, about 80% of those over age 40 are said to have gum disease. Gum disease is caused by infectious bacteria, one of which is Porphyromonas gingivalis. To prevent periodontitis, IgY that target the gingipains produced by P. gingivalis have proven effective.

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IgY for gastrointestinal health

90% of patients with gastritis or gastric ulcers are also infected with Helicobacter pylori. The bacterium is also involved in gastric cancer. H. pylori survives in stomach acid because it uses an enzyme called urease to metabolize urea into carbon dioxide and ammonia. This reaction neutralizes the gastric acid in its vicinity.

Secreted urease also helps the bacterium adhere to the mucus layer of the stomach. IRIG has developed specific IgY against this urease and shown that they could significantly reduce the H. pylori load in stomachs of animals and humans.

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Worldwide, rotavirus is the leading single etiologic agent of severe diarrhea among infants and young children during the first five years of life. It is responsible for over 500,000 deaths in infants and young children, mostly in developing countries, each year. Rotaviruses have also been implicated as in outbreaks of diarrhea in nursing homes and among immunodeficient adults.

Conventional treatment for rotavirus diarrhea is non-specific, largely symptomatic and involves fluid and electrolyte replacement and nutrition maintenance. Current vaccine regimens suffer from variable degrees of efficacy and high costs. Our research has identified specific IgY to support the therapy of rotavirus infections in humans and animals.

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IgY for the respiratory tract

Influenza, commonly known as “the flu”, is one of the most important emerging and reemerging infectious diseases. It causes high morbidity and mortality in communities (epidemic) and worldwide (pandemic). Babies, elderly people, people with comorbid illness health problems, immuno-compromised patients, pregnant women, and certain ethnic groups face the highest risks.

Annual vaccination and anti-influenza drugs are the most important preventive and therapeutic measures, respectively. Their effects are limited due to the changes in serotypes, poor applicability to high-risk patients, and the appearance of drug-resistant strains. IRIG staff are working on applying anti-influenza IgY to tablets, gums, sprays, etc. that may help reduce the risk of catching influenza.

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Further research

Candida albicans is part of the indigenous microbial flora of the gastrointestinal tract, mucocutaneous membranes, and oral cavity in healthy humans. Although C. albicans rarely causes infections in healthy humans, patients under chemotherapy for cancer, immunosuppressive therapy, or prolonged antibiotic therapy can suffer from mucosal, cutaneous, or systemic candidiasis. Research on anti-Candida IgY shows promising results.

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How to prevent metabolic syndrome?

  • Control overweight and obesity (weight loss)
  • Increase physical activities
  • Healthy eating plan (eating less fat and calories)
  • Reduce blood TG by mean of drugs (most anti-obesity drugs have side effects)

Specific IgY (LP) has broad reactivity against lipase from different sources.

Like anti-obesity Orlistat, Specific IgY (LP) has specific inhibition activity against lipase from human and animals. By this inhibition activity, Specific IgY (LP) reduces adsorption of fat in foods into blood.

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Related publications

Near infrared photo-bacterialflora modulation technology realized controlling periodontitis


Title: Near infrared photo-bacterialflora modulation technology realized controlling periodontitis: modulation of disease-associated dysbiosis in oral microbiota using near infrared photo antibacterial targeting therapy (NIR-PAT2) Date: 2026 Journal: Journal of Translational Medicine Link: s12967-026-08336-2.pdf (igy-research.com)

Lactobacillus and their positive effects on the gastritis host


Title: Postbiotics Lactobacillus and their positive effects on the host. Date: December 2021 Conference: The 27th Vietnam national conference of gastroenterology, in Hanoi, Vietnam. Download: H65H65 2021.12 EN

Near Infrared Photo-Antimicrobial Targeting Therapy for Candida


Title: Near Infrared Photo-Antimicrobial Targeting Therapy for Candida albicans Date: 2020 Journal: Advanced Therapeutics. DOI: 10.1002/adtp.202000221 Link: Adv.-Therap.-2020-2000221-Sato.pdf (igy-research.com)

Synergistic effect of anti-H.pylori urease IgY and Lactobacillus.


Title: Synergistic effect of anti-Helicobacter pylori urease immunoglobulin Y from egg yolk of immunized hens and Lactobacillus johnsonii No.1088 to inhibit the growth of Helicobacter pylori in vitro and in vivo. Data: 2019 Journal: Vaccine 37 (2019) 3106-3112 Link: Synergistic effect of anti-Helicobacter pylori urease immunoglobulin Y from egg yolk of immunized hens and Lactobacillus johnsonii No.1088…

Evaluation of lozenges containing IgY against P.gingivalis in periodontitis patients


Title: Evaluation of lozenges containing egg yolk antibody against Porphyromonas gingivalis gingipains as an adjunct to conventional nonsurgical therapy in periodontitis patients: A randomized controlled clinical trial. Date: 2018 Journal: Journal of Periodontology, 25 July 2018: Evaluation of lozenges containing egg yolk antibody against Porphyromonas gingivalis gingipains as an adjunct to conventional non‐surgical therapy in periodontitis…

Evaluation of anti-P.gingivalis IgY to supplement patients with periodontitis


Title: Evaluation of egg yolk antibody against P.gingivalis gingipains as an adjunct to nonsurgical therapy in periodontitis patients. Date: December 2017 Conference: The Japanese Society of Periodontology, Diamond Anniversary Meeting in Kyoto Download:H64 2017.12 EN

IgY for Prophylaxis and Treatment of Rotavirus Diarrhea in Human and Animal


Title: Chicken Egg Yolk Antibodies (IgY) for Prophylaxis and Treatment of Rotavirus Diarrhea in Human and Animal Neonates: A Concise Review. Date: 2017 Journal: Korean Society for Food Science of Animal Resources, 2017, 37(1); 1-9 Link: JAKO201711656579331.pdf (koreascience.or.kr)

Anti-H.pylori IgY: mechanism in controlling H.pylori infection in human


Title: Anti-H.pylori urease IgY: effective mechanism and application in controlling H.pylori infection in human. Date: July 2016 Conference: Congress of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition in Can Tho, Vietnam Download:H63 2016.7 EN

Evaluation of anti-H.pylori IgY with gastritis


Title: Evaluation of a health food supplement containing anti-H.pylori urease IgY antibody on patients with chronic gastritis in Hanoi, Vietnam. Date: June 2016 Conference: The 22nd Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society for Helicobacter Research Download:H62 2016.6a EN

Study on anti-H.pylori IgY: passive protection against H.pylori infection in mouse


Title: Study on anti-Helicobacter pylori urease IgY: in vitro pepsin resistance and passive protection against H.pylori infection in mouse model.   Date: June 2016 Conference: The 22nd Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society for Helicobacter Research (2016/6) Download:H61 2016.6b EN

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IRIG: Immunology Research Institute, Gifu - Japan