Inhaled Lactobacillus Composition for Respiratory Microbiome Modulation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current microbiome therapeutics are lacking for lung diseases such as bronchopulmonary dysplasia, cystic fibrosis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and the role of the respiratory microbiome in these conditions is not well understood, particularly in newborn infants.

Innovation Solution

A pharmaceutical composition comprising a bacterial population of Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus acidophilus, and Lactobacillus rhamnosus, which can be viable or heat-killed, is administered via nasal spray or nebulizer to modulate the respiratory microbiome and reduce inflammation in lung diseases.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If traditional microbiological approaches are used to analyze bacterial species, then the analysis is restricted to species that are readily cultured, but this limits the identification of species that cannot be easily cultured

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebacterial species identification accuracyVSAvoidrange of detectable bacterial species
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces traditional mechanical microbiological culturing methods with molecular biology techniques (16S rRNA gene sequencing) to identify bacterial species. This substitution enables detection of bacteria that cannot be cultured using conventional methods, thereby expanding the range of detectable species while maintaining identification accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If no microbiome therapeutics are developed, then the understanding of respiratory microbiome role in lung diseases remains limited, but this leaves patients without targeted microbiome-based treatments

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveunderstanding of microbiome roleVSAvoidavailability of microbiome therapeutics
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary characterization of the respiratory microbiome in healthy individuals and patients with lung diseases to establish baseline understanding. This preliminary research enables the subsequent development of targeted microbiome therapeutics by identifying specific microbial signatures associated with disease states, thereby facilitating future therapeutic development.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Loss of time

If the respiratory microbiome is not established early in newborns, then the direction of causality between airway injury and respiratory colonization remains unsettled, but this delays understanding of disease pathogenesis

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetime to establish causalityVSAvoidearly respiratory microbiome detection
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses molecular sequencing techniques to detect and characterize the respiratory microbiome in newborn infants, replacing traditional culture-based methods that are insufficient for detecting early microbial colonization. This enables timely detection and characterization of the microbiome establishment process, allowing researchers to determine causality between airway injury and respiratory colonization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentEP3609512B1Inhaled respiratory probiotics for lung diseases of infancy, childhood and adulthood
Publication Date: 2025.10.22 THE UAB RESEARCH FOUNDATION INC
  • EP3609512B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP3609512B1 patent drawingFigure 1B~1D
  • EP3609512B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

The respiratory microbiomes of neonates and those with bronchopulmonary disease have been characterized. Provided are probiotic compositions, which can include at least one living bacterial strain and at least one killed bacterial strain, that can comprise a combination of Lactobacilli species, 5 that when delivered to the bronchi or lungs of a patient can provide a reduction in the symptoms of a bronchopulmonary disease.