Histamine-Degrading Probiotic Composition for Clostridial Disease Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

There is a need for effective treatments and preventive measures against clostridial dermatitis and clostridial enteric disease, particularly in turkeys, and for reducing histamine overproduction in farm production animals, companion animals, aquaculture, and humans, which can cause inflammatory and behavioral conditions.

Innovation Solution

A probiotic composition containing histamine-degrading bacteria, including Brevibacterium aureum, Brevibacterium sediminis, and/or Brevibacterium epidermidis, is administered to control histamine production and treat or prevent conditions associated with histamine overproduction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If probiotic composition with histamine-degrading bacteria is administered, then histamine levels are reduced and feeding efficiency is improved, but the complexity of the treatment protocol increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefeeding efficiencyVSAvoidtreatment protocol complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The probiotic composition utilizes the natural histamine-degrading capability of Brevibacterium species already present in the animal's gut microbiota. The bacteria perform self-service by metabolizing histamine through their inherent enzymatic pathways (histaminase, diamine oxidase), eliminating the need for external intervention beyond administering the probiotic supplement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The Brevibacterium probiotic acts as an intermediary organism that mediates between the harmful histamine produced by Clostridium species and the animal's physiological systems. The probiotic bacteria consume histamine as a substrate, converting it to less harmful metabolites, thereby protecting the animal from histamine-induced inflammation and behavioral issues.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If histamine-degrading probiotics are used to treat clostridial diseases, then treatment effectiveness is improved, but the cost of medication increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetreatment effectivenessVSAvoidmedication cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The invention utilizes readily available, inexpensive Brevibacterium species that can be cultured and administered as probiotics. These bacteria are naturally occurring, non-pathogenic strains that can be produced at low cost through standard fermentation processes, making the treatment economically viable for large-scale animal production.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The treatment approach shifts from expensive conventional medications to a cost-effective probiotic intervention by changing the therapeutic parameter from chemical drugs to biological agents. The Brevibacterium probiotics can be administered in various forms (live cells, spores, or enzyme preparations), allowing optimization of cost-effectiveness based on specific application needs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If conventional deep litter systems are used in turkey farms, then production efficiency is maintained, but incidence of clostridial dermatitis increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction efficiencyVSAvoidclostridial dermatitis incidence
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention converts the harmful deep litter environment into a beneficial one by introducing Brevibacterium probiotics that thrive in litter conditions. These probiotics colonize the litter and competitively inhibit Clostridium species, transforming the previously harmful substrate into a protective microbial ecosystem that reduces disease incidence while maintaining production efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The Brevibacterium probiotic provides multiple functions simultaneously: it degrades histamine, competes with pathogenic Clostridium species for resources and attachment sites, produces antimicrobial substances, and maintains litter quality. This multi-functionality allows a single intervention to address multiple aspects of clostridial disease prevention while preserving the deep litter system's productivity benefits.

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 probiotic composition effectively reduces histamine levels, alleviating symptoms of clostridial dermatitis and enteric disease, improving feeding efficiency, and promoting gut health in subjects.

Implementation Method 1

histamine-degrading bacteria, wherein the bacteria comprise Brevibacterium aureum, Brevibacterium sediminis, and/or Brevibacterium epidermidis

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEnzymatic degradation: Enzyme

Data Source

PatentEP4081229B1Control of histamine to increase feeding efficiency and treat or prevent preventing and/or treating clostridial dermatitis and/or clostridial enteric disease using brevibacterium aureum, brevibacterium sediminis, and/or brevibacterium epidermidis
Publication Date: 2026.02.25 IOWA STATE UNIV RES FOUND INC
  • EP4081229B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4081229B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4081229B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to use of probiotic compositions and/or histamine degrading enzymes for the control of histamine in a farm production animal, companion animal, aquaculture, or a human, to reduce or eliminate the incidence of necrotizing enterocolitis and/or related inflammatory conditions in the gastrointestinal tract or skin, and behavioral conditions. The invention also relates to the probiotic compositions and/or histamine degrading enzymes.