GOS Pre-conditioning Lactobacillus Strains for Gut Survival
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for manufacturing probiotic Lactobacillus strains do not effectively enhance their survival and activity in the gastrointestinal tract, limiting their health benefits for promoting a healthy microbiota and immune function.
Innovation Solution
A method involving pre-conditioning Lactobacillus strains with galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) during cultivation, followed by administration with GOS in the final product, to improve their survival and metabolic activity in the gut.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional manufacturing methods are used for probiotic Lactobacillus strains, then production is simple and standardized, but survival and activity in the gastrointestinal tract are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-conditioning the Lactobacillus strains with GOS during the manufacturing process. The strains are cultivated in a growth medium containing GOS before final product formulation, which prepares them in advance to better survive and thrive in the gastrointestinal tract. This preliminary exposure to GOS enhances their adaptability and metabolic activity without requiring complex changes to the overall manufacturing workflow.
2Productivity
If Lactobacillus strains are cultivated without GOS pre-conditioning, then manufacturing is easier and faster, but probiotic effects in the gastrointestinal tract are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the cultivation conditions - specifically, the composition of the growth medium is changed to include GOS. This parameter change (adding GOS to the medium) enhances the probiotic effects of the Lactobacillus strains by improving their survival and metabolic activity in the gastrointestinal tract, while maintaining a relatively simple and scalable manufacturing process.
3Reliability
If GOS is added to the final product with pre-conditioned strains, then survival and metabolic activity in the gut are significantly boosted, but manufacturing and formulation become more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies merging by combining two functions into one integrated process: the Lactobacillus strains are pre-conditioned with GOS during cultivation, and then GOS is added to the final product formulation. This merging of the pre-conditioning step with the existing manufacturing workflow enhances metabolic activity in the gastrointestinal tract without requiring entirely separate or complex additional processes. The GOS serves dual purposes as both a cultivation medium component and a final product ingredient.
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
This approach significantly boosts the probiotic effects by increasing the survival and metabolic activity of Lactobacillus strains in the gastrointestinal tract, promoting a healthy microbiota and enhancing immune functions.
Implementation Method 1
The manufacturing procedure of probiotic lactic acid producing bacteria is typically standardized and involves a step of fermenting the bacteria in a growth medium comprising a carbohydrate source
Data Source
AI summary
The invention herein relates generally to enhancing the survival and activity of probiotic Lactobacillus strains in mammals. Lactobacillus strain comprising a LacS transporter sequence having a sequence identity of at least 70% to SEQ ID NO: 1, and/or comprising a GH42 B-gal sequence, wherein the Lactobacillus strain is not a Lactobacillus reuteri strain. The invention comprises methods for cultivating and manufacturing probiotic Lactobacillus strains, and products containing such strains. In more detail the GC present invention relates to a composition comprising probiotic Lactobacillus strains, obtained by a step of growing the bacteria in a medium comprising galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) (“pre-conditioning”), and administering said pre-conditioned bacteria together with GOS in the final product. The inventors have found that such method induces a boost in the beneficial effects of the probiotic bacteria, such as survival in the gastrointestinal tract.