Biotec BetaGlucans’ work on beta-glucan activity has its roots in discoveries made at the University of Tromsø, Norway, and Biotec Pharmacon’s early work developing a portfolio of beta-1,3/1,6-glucan products that have been sold worldwide in the animal health and consumer markets.

The company has closely collaborated with leading research groups in Norway, Europe and the United States of America, executing projects that have revealed novel insights for the mode of action and potential uses of beta-glucans[1-7]. During the last 25 years, beta-1,3/1,6-glucan has been introduced as a feed additive to improve health and performance of farmed shrimp, fish, pigs, chicken, laying hens and calves, and of horses and pet animals[8–17].

In recent years, awareness of and general research into the immune system-boosting potential of beta-glucans has increased within biomedical and clinical research communities.

Building upon the foundation it laid in animal health and consumer products, Biotec BetaGlucans has invested major resources in R&D to better understand how beta-1,3/1,6-glucan’s modulation of immune mechanisms can be used to treat or prevent immune-related disorders and diseases. As a result, the company has developed a soluble beta-1,3/1,6-glucan (SBG), which is the active ingredient in Woulgan Bioactive Beta-Glucan Gel, an advanced wound healing product.


References
  1. Preus HR, Aass AM, Hansen BF, Moe B, Gjermo P. A randomized, single-blind, parallel-group clinical study to evaluate the effect of soluble beta-1,3/1,6-glucan on experimental gingivitis in man. J Clin Periodontol2008;35(3):236–41.
  2. Lehne G, Haneberg B, Gaustad P, et al. Oral administration of a new soluble branched beta-1,3-D-glucan is well tolerated and can lead to increased salivary concentrations of immunoglobulin A in healthy volunteers. Clin Exp Immunol2006;143(1):65–9.
  3. Breivik T, Opstad PK, Engstad R, et al. Soluble beta-1,3/1,6-glucan from yeast inhibits experimental periodontal disease in Wistar rats. J Clin Periodontol 2005;32:347–3.
  4. Ragupathi G, Yeung KS, Leung PC, et al. Evaluation of widely consumed botanicals as immunological adjuvants. Vaccine2008;26(37):4860–5.
  5. Harnack U, Eckert K, Fichtner I, Pecher G. Oral administration of a soluble 1-3, 1-6 beta-glucan during prophylactic survivin peptide vaccination diminishes growth of a B cell lymphoma in mice. Int Immunopharmacol2009;9(11):1298–303.
  6. Harnack U, Eckert K, Fichtner I, Pecher G. Comparison of the effect of orally administered soluble beta-(1-3),(1-6)-D-glucan and of G-CSF on the recovery of murine hematopoiesis. In Vivo 2010;24(1):59–63.
  7. Harnack U, Johnen H, Pecher G. IL-1 receptor antagonist anakinra enhances tumour growth inhibition in mice receiving peptide vaccination and beta-(1-3),(1-6)-D-glucan. Anticancer Res 2010;30(10):3959–65.
  8. Robertsen B, Rørstad G, Engstad R, Raa J. Enhancement of non-specific disease resistance in Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., by a glucan from Saccharomyces cerevisiae cell walls. J Fish Dis 1990; 13: 391–400.
  9. Jorgensen JB, Robertsen B. Yeast beta-glucan stimulates respiratory burst activity of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) macrophages. Dev Comp Immunol 1995; 19: 43–57.
  10. Supamattaya K, Pongmaneerat J, Klowklieng T. The effect of beta-glucan (MacroGard®) on growth performance, immune response and disease resistance in black tiger shrimp, Penaeus monodon Fabricius. J Sci Technol 2000; 22: 677–88.
  11. Decuypere J, Dierick N, Boddez S. The potentials for immunostimulatory substances (beta-1,3/1,6 glucans) in pig nutrition. J Anim Feed Sci 1998; 7: 259–65.
  12. Krakowski L, Krzyzanowski J, Wrona Z, Siwicki AK. The effect of nonspecific immunostimulation of pregnant mares with 1,3/1,6 glucan and levamisole on the immunoglobulin levels in colostrum, selected indices of nonspecific cellular and humoral immunity in foals in neonatal and postnatal period. Vet Immunol Immunopathol1999; 68: 1–11.
  13. Engstad RE, Riesen G. Beta-glucan as immunostimulant: biological effects, recognition and structural aspects. In: Schubert R, Flachowsky G, Jahreis G, Bitsch R, eds. Vitaminen und Zusatzstoffe in der Ernährung von Mensch und Tier. Jena, Germany: Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena; 2001. 443–6.
  14. Goddeeris BM. Effect of beta-glucans on an ETEC infection in piglets. Vet Immunol Immunopathol 2009; 128: 60–6.
  15. Stuyven E, Verdonck F, Van Hoek I, Daminet S, Duchateau L, Remon JP, et al. Oral administration of beta-1,3/1,6-glucan to dogs temporally changes total and antigen-specific IgA and IgM. Clin Vaccine Immunol 2010; 17: 281–5.
  16. Vetvicka V, Vannucci L, Sima P. The effects of beta-glucan on fish immunity. N Am J Med Sci 2013; 5: 580–8.
  17. Meena DK, Das P, Kumar S, Mandal SC, Prosty SK, Singh SK, et al. Beta-glucan: an ideal immunostimulant in aquaculture (a review). Fish Physiol Biochem 2013; 39: 431–57.