Bacteroides Probiotic Composition for Weight Loss via Gut Microbiome Alteration

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Solution Overview

Problem

The rising obesity epidemic in the US, linked to poor dietary habits and nutrient deficiencies, is not adequately addressed by existing solutions, with unhealthy food choices contributing to health issues like obesity, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes, and current methods fail to effectively target the role of gut bacteria in weight management.

Innovation Solution

A probiotic composition containing Bacteroides bacteria is administered to humans or animals to induce and support weight loss by establishing a beneficial bacterial population in the gastrointestinal tract, using a cleansing protocol followed by inoculation with Bacteroides bacteria, and sustained through appropriate maintenance protocols.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional dietary recommendations are provided, then general health is improved, but they fail to specifically address obesity and do not target the gut microbiome's role in weight management

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveeffectiveness in weight managementVSAvoidcomplexity of intervention approach
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and isolates specific Bacteroides bacteria strains from the complex gut microbiome, identifying them as the key functional components responsible for weight management. This allows the invention to focus on a specific microbial population rather than addressing the entire complex gut ecosystem, thereby improving reliability for weight loss while reducing the apparent complexity of the intervention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter of microbial composition by introducing specific Bacteroides strains into the gut microbiome. This transforms the gut flora from a generic mixed population to a specific composition enriched with weight-managing bacteria, directly addressing obesity without requiring complex dietary or lifestyle modifications.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If probiotic supplements are administered, then beneficial bacterial population is increased, but the formulation and administration complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveestablishment of beneficial bacterial populationVSAvoidformulation and administration ease
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent formulates probiotic compositions that can be administered through multiple routes (oral supplements, fermented foods, beverages), making the intervention universally applicable. This multi-functionality maintains high reliability for establishing beneficial bacteria while improving ease of manufacture and administration by allowing flexibility in delivery methods.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The probiotic composition is designed to be self-sustaining in the gut environment, with the Bacteroides bacteria naturally colonizing and maintaining themselves without requiring continuous external intervention. This self-service capability ensures reliable establishment of the beneficial population while simplifying long-term administration requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If cleansing protocol is used before inoculation, then gastrointestinal tract is prepared, but the treatment duration and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesuccess of bacterial inoculationVSAvoidtreatment duration
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent incorporates a cleansing protocol as a preliminary action before bacterial inoculation, preparing the gastrointestinal tract by removing existing flora and debris. This preliminary step ensures high reliability for subsequent bacterial establishment by providing a clean substrate, while the protocol is designed to be efficient and not excessively lengthy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The cleansing protocol is designed to rapidly achieve the desired preparation of the gastrointestinal tract without unnecessary delays. By efficiently removing existing flora and preparing the gut environment, the protocol minimizes the total treatment time while maintaining high success rates for bacterial inoculation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #21Skipping (Rushing through)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The probiotic composition effectively promotes weight loss and maintains weight management by altering the gut microbiome, reducing body fat and improving gastrointestinal health, as evidenced by studies showing significant weight loss in human subjects compared to placebo groups.

Implementation Method 1

A probiotic composition containing Bacteroides bacteria is administered to humans or animals to induce and support weight loss by establishing a beneficial bacterial population in the gastrointestinal tract

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectProbiotic action:

Implementation Method 2

The probiotic composition effectively promotes weight loss and maintains weight management by altering the gut microbiome, reducing body fat

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectWeight loss induction:

Data Source

PatentUS10226490B2Probiotic compositions and methods for inducing and supporting weight loss
Publication Date: 2019.03.12 MOORE BRENDA E

AI summary

A probiotic composition for inducing or supporting weight loss in a subject, the probiotic composition including an effective amount of a bacteria selected from the genus Bacteroides and a carrier for delivering the bacteria to the subject.