Bromelain Anti-Adherence Formulation for Diarrhea Treatment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current treatments for diarrhea in humans and swine often lead to the proliferation of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, necessitating a solution that prevents pathogenic bacteria adherence without killing them, effective against various diarrhea-causing pathogens, and safe for use in humans and animals.

Innovation Solution

An oral veterinary formulation comprising bromelain, lecithin, citric acid, and EDTA, which prevents pathogenic bacteria from adhering to the gastrointestinal tract, blocking invasion and secretory pathways without targeting or killing the microbes, thus not contributing to antibiotic resistance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If antibiotics are used to treat diarrhea, then diarrhea symptoms are reduced, but antibiotic-resistant bacteria proliferate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvediarrhea treatment effectivenessVSAvoidantibiotic-resistant bacteria proliferation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of killing bacteria with antibiotics, the invention uses bromelain to prevent pathogenic bacteria from adhering to the intestinal lining. This inverted approach targets the adherence mechanism rather than attempting to eliminate the bacteria, thereby treating diarrhea without selecting for antibiotic-resistant strains

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

Bromelain acts as an intermediary substance that blocks the interaction between pathogenic bacteria and intestinal receptors. The enzyme interferes with the adherence process by binding to bacterial surface proteins or intestinal receptors, preventing the harmful bacteria-intestine interaction without directly killing the bacteria

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If conventional anti-diarrhea drugs target bacterial toxins or inflammatory mediators, then diarrhea symptoms are alleviated, but the underlying pathogenic bacteria remain

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvediarrhea symptom reliefVSAvoidpersistence of pathogenic bacteria
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention applies preliminary action by preventing bacterial adherence in the first place, before the bacteria can establish infection and produce toxins. By blocking the initial attachment step, the pathway to pathogenesis is interrupted upstream, eliminating both symptoms and bacterial persistence

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If a broad-spectrum anti-diarrhea solution is developed, then effectiveness against multiple pathogens is improved, but complexity of the treatment increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveeffectiveness against multiple pathogensVSAvoidtreatment formulation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Bromelain exhibits universal anti-adherence activity against diverse pathogens including bacteria, viruses, and parasites. This single enzyme preparation blocks adherence mechanisms common to multiple pathogen types, providing broad-spectrum protection without requiring complex combination therapies or multiple specialized agents

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

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 formulation significantly reduces diarrhea incidence, severity, and antibiotic use in swine, while improving gut health and feed intake, and is effective against a broad spectrum of diarrhea-causing pathogens, including bacteria, viruses, and parasites.

Implementation Method 1

it merely prevents pathogenic bacteria from adhering to the lining of the gastrointestinal tract

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdherence blocking:

Implementation Method 2

an emulsifier comprising lecithin in an amount effective to improve the solubility of said bromelain in water

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEmulsification: Emulsion

Implementation Method 3

further comprises citric acid

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectChelation:

Implementation Method 4

comprising bromelain, lecithin, citric acid, and EDTA

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectChelation:

Data Source

PatentEP3193629B1Anti-diarrhea formulation which avoids antimicrobial resistance
Publication Date: 2023.01.25 ANATARA LIFESCI LTD
  • EP3193629B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3193629B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3193629B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An oral formulation of bromelain effective to treat and prevent diarrhea caused by pathogenic microbes. This formulation does not kill pathogenic microbes, and thus does not facilitate the proliferation of anti-microbial resistant organisms. The invention entails formulating an aqueous oral suspension of bromelain, Blanose sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, citric acid anhydrous, Epikuron 135F lecithin oil and ethylenedinitrilotetraacetic acid, disodium salt dihydrate ("EDTA").