Compositions and methods for inhibiting pathogenic growth

Abstract

The invention includes methods and compositions for treating an animal to inhibit the incidence and growth of E. coli O157:H7 and other pathogenic bacteria. The treatment method comprises administering a therapeutically effective amount of Lactobacillus acidophilus or one or a combination of a number of other probiotic bacteria to an animal. An alternative treatment method comprises administering a therapeutically effective amount of a lactic acid producing bacterium such as Lactobacillus acidophilus in combination with a lactate utilizing bacterium such as Propionibacterium freudenreichii.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a Divisional Application of U.S. patent application Ser. No.10 / 288,487 filed Nov. 6, 2002. Said application Ser. No. 10 / 288,487 is a Continuation Application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 273,141 filed Oct. 18, 2002. Further, said application Ser. No. 10 / 288,487 claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60 / 319,054 filed Jan. 8, 2002 and Ser. No. 60 / 319,587 filed Oct. 1, 2002, all applications incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates to compositions and methods for inhibiting pathogenic growth. More specifically, the invention relates to compositions and methods for inhibiting pathogenic growth through the use of lactic acid producing microorganisms both alone and in combination with lactate utilizing microorganisms. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Ingestion of pathogens, especially bacterial pathogens, but including v...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008] Since pathogens are known to populate many distinct areas of animals' digestive tracts, it has been found to be most beneficial to supply and potentiate those organisms that occur naturally in those areas and which are effective for inhibiting pathogenic growth throughout the digestive tract, such as the rumen, small intestine, and large intestine. The present invention identifies such naturally occurring organisms suitable for serving this purpose and demonstrates methods for enhancing their populations and efficacy. The microorganisms in the formulations and methods of the present inventions may individually and collectively produce compounds that inhibit the growth of pathogens in the gastrointestinal tract (“GIT”) of animals. By inhibiting the growth of the pathogens, the methods and compounds of the invention provide a reduced likelihood of contaminated food products resulting from treated animals.

Problems solved by technology

Ingestion of pathogens, especially bacterial pathogens, but including viruses and other disease causing microorganisms, is a common problem in most animals.

For animals that are immunosuppressed or malnourished, even just the effects of diarrhea can be fatal.

Pathogens are often transferred between animals where poor hygiene conditions exist, and sometimes communicability cannot be prevented even when great care is taken.

The most common solution to this problem has been to provide antibiotics to the animals; however, this solution is not only costly, but it also can result in the generation of antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria.

Extreme health risks result when humans consume pathogens in contaminated food products such as sprouts, lettuce, meat products, unpasteurized milk and juice, and sewage-contaminated water, for example.

The problem is particularly prevalent in the beef and dairy industry.

Meat can become contaminated during slaughter, and pathogenic organisms can be mixed into large quantities of meat when it is ground.

When humans eat meat, especially ground beef, that has not been cooked sufficiently to kill any pathogens present in the beef, serious and life-threatening infections can result.

This is a difficult problem to solve because contaminated meat often looks and smells perfectly normal.

Furthermore, the number of pathogenic organisms needed to cause disease is extremely small, thus making detection extraordinarily difficult.

These toxins can cause severe distress in the small intestine, often resulting in damage to the intestinal lining and resulting in extreme cases of diarrhea.