Lactic Acid Bacteria for Oxalic Acid Decomposition
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for preventing urinary calculi formation, particularly calcium oxalate calculi, lack effective pharmaceutical agents, and existing bacteria with oxalic acid degradation abilities do not sufficiently address the high recurrence rates and prevalence of these calculi.
Innovation Solution
Isolation and development of Lactobacillus species, such as Lactobacillus gasseri and Lactobacillus amylovorus strains with significantly enhanced oxalic acid degradation rates, capable of degrading 50% or more of oxalic acid in a culture medium, for use in compositions and methods to treat and prevent urinary calculi, anemia, and osteoporosis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional lactic acid bacteria with oxalic acid degradation ability are used, then some oxalic acid degradation occurs, but the degradation rate is insufficient to effectively prevent calcium oxalate calculi formation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by selecting and culturing specific Lactobacillus strains (L. gasseri and L. amylovorus) under optimized conditions to achieve significantly higher oxalic acid degradation rates. The invention identifies strains that can degrade 50% or more of oxalic acid, representing a substantial improvement over conventional strains through selective breeding and cultural parameter optimization.
2Reliability
If no pharmaceutical agents are used for prevention, then existing treatment methods remain limited to elimination promotion, but this fails to address the high recurrence rate of urinary calculi
Solution Approach 1:
The invention employs lactic acid bacteria that naturally possess oxalic acid degradation capability as a self-service mechanism for calculi prevention. These bacteria, when administered, automatically degrade oxalic acid in the urinary tract without requiring external pharmaceutical intervention, thereby providing continuous prevention against calculi formation and recurrence.
3Reliability
If water intake and dietary habit improvements are used for prevention, then some calculi formation can be prevented, but these methods are insufficient for high-risk cases and do not address hyperoxaluria specifically
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces lactic acid bacteria as an intermediary agent that specifically targets and degrades oxalic acid in the urinary tract. This intermediary mechanism complements general prevention methods (water intake and dietary changes) by providing specific biochemical intervention against hyperoxaluria, thereby extending prevention coverage to high-risk cases.
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 high oxalic acid-degrading Lactobacillus strains effectively reduce urinary oxalate levels, providing a preventive and therapeutic approach to urinary calculi, anemia, and osteoporosis by suppressing oxalic acid absorption, as demonstrated in animal models.
Implementation Method 1
lactic acid bacteria that have an oxalic acid degradation rate of 50% or more when cultured at 37°C for 72 hours in a culture medium containing 10 mM oxalic acid
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The present invention provides lactic acid bacteria having oxalic acid-degrading activity several times higher than those of conventionally known lactic acid bacteria having an oxalic acid-degrading activity, and uses thereof. Lactic acid bacteria capable of degrading a large amount of oxalic acid were screened from 132 strains of Lactobacillus lactic acid bacteria that have been independently isolated from feces and gastric juices of human adults. As a result, lactic acid bacteria having an oxalic acid degradation rate of 50% or more when cultured at 37°C for 72 hours in a culture medium containing 10 mM oxalic acid at pH 6.5 at the start of culture were discovered.