Enterococcus-Based Prophylactic Agent for Pneumococcal Infection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current countermeasures for Streptococcus pneumoniae infections, including vaccines and antimicrobial agents, are inadequate due to antimicrobial resistance and suboptimal vaccination rates, necessitating a novel approach for prevention and treatment.
Innovation Solution
A prophylactic and therapeutic agent comprising a bacterium from the genus Enterococcus, specifically Lactococcus such as Enterococcus faecalis EF-2001, which can be administered orally to prevent and treat Streptococcus pneumoniae infections, either in viable or killed form, with dosages ranging from 1×10^8 to 1×10^11 CFU/kg body weight.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If antimicrobial agents are used to treat Streptococcus pneumoniae infection, then treatment effectiveness is reduced, but antimicrobial resistance develops
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs lactic acid bacteria (probiotics) to convert the harmful effect of antimicrobial resistance into a beneficial therapeutic approach. By using live or killed lactic acid bacteria as prophylactic or therapeutic agents, the invention provides an alternative that does not contribute to resistance development while effectively preventing or treating Streptococcus pneumoniae infections
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter of treatment from chemical antimicrobial agents to biological probiotic agents. This parameter change allows the system to maintain treatment effectiveness while eliminating the harmful side effect of resistance development by using a different mode of action (probiotic competition and immune modulation versus direct bacterial killing)
2Reliability
If Streptococcus pneumoniae vaccine is administered to elderly patients, then prevention coverage is improved, but vaccination rates remain suboptimal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes lactic acid bacteria that can be administered orally in the form of food or supplements, making the prevention approach more accessible and easier to comply with compared to vaccine administration. The probiotic approach can be integrated into daily routines through food products, reducing barriers to compliance while maintaining prevention effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The lactic acid bacteria agent serves multiple functions: it can be used both as a prophylactic measure and as a therapeutic treatment, and can be administered through various routes including oral administration via food or supplements. This multi-functionality increases ease of operation and compliance compared to specialized vaccine programs
Data Source
AI summary
Provide is a novel prophylactic and/or therapeutic agent for Streptococcus pneumoniae infection. It was found that a bacterium belonging to the genus Enterococcus can prevent and/or treat Streptococcus pneumoniae infection. The prophylactic and/or therapeutic agent for Streptococcus pneumoniae infection, comprises a bacterium belonging to the genus Enterococcus. Also provided are: a medicine for prevention and/or treatment of Streptococcus pneumoniae infection, comprising a bacterium belonging to the genus Enterococcus; and a food for prevention and/or treatment of Streptococcus pneumoniae infection, comprising a bacterium belonging to the genus Enterococcus.