Bifidobacterium in the treatment of inflammatory disease

Abstract

A strain of Bifidobacterium isolated from resected and washed human gastrointestinal tract is significantly immunomodulatory following oral consumption in humans. The strain is useful in the prophylaxis and/or treatment of undesirable inflammatroy activity, especially gastrointestinal inflammatory activity such as inflammatory bowel disease or irritable bowel syndrome. The inflammatory activity may also be due to cancer.

Description

[0001] This invention relates to probiotic Bifidobacterium strains which have various applications in foodstuffs and in medicine. More particularly, the invention relates to probiotic strains of bifidobacteria which are capable of beneficially modifying and consequently alleviating observable symptoms in inflammatory disease.[0002] Consumers are becoming increasingly aware of matters which may be necessary for maintenance of their environment, health and nutrition. In response, scientific research has focussed upon the roles that diet, stress, and modem medical practices (e.g. antibiotics and radiotherapy) may play in threatening human health. In particular, population dynamics shifting towards older societies are increasing the incidence of illnesses which may be caused by deficient or compromised microflora such as gastrointestinal tract (GIT) infections, constipation, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), inflammatory bowel disease (EBD)--Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, food al...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

0077] The consumption of Bifidobacterium longum infantis by SCID mice was also examined. While this experiment significantly attenuated inflammatory activity, mice consuming Bifidobacterium longum infantis retained solid stools while control mice suffered from diarrhoea. This anti-diarrhoeal effect could be related to the anti-inflammatory activity of this invention, possibly mediated via cAMP modulation.

0078] It is unknown whether intact bacteria are required to exert an anti-inflammatory effect or if individual active components of the invention can be utilised alone. Proinflammatory components of certain bacterial strains have been identified. The proinflammatory effects of gram-negative bacteria are mediated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). LPS alone induces a proinflammatory network, partially due to LPS binding to the CD14 receptor on monocytes. It is assumed that components of probiotic bacteria possess anti-inflammatory activity, due to the effects of the whole cell. Upon isolation of these components, pharmaceutical grade manipulation is anticipated.

Problems solved by technology

While a number of probiotic bacteria of human origin are now being exploited commercially (e.g., L. acidophilus LA-1), many consumers, consumer organisations, and members of the scientific community are sceptical of such products and their publicised probiotic claims.

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