Lactic Acid Bacteria Strains Suppressing Volatile Sulfur Compounds
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current oral health solutions lack bacteria that effectively suppress volatile sulfur compound production, are non-cariogenic, and do not contribute to infective endocarditis, while also providing adhesiveness to tooth surfaces and inhibitory effects on bad breath-causing pathogens.
Innovation Solution
Development of lactic acid bacteria strains such as Lactobacillus crispatus, Lactobacillus fermentum, Lactobacillus gasseri, and Streptococcus mitis that do not produce volatile sulfur compounds or water-insoluble glucan, exhibit strong adhesiveness, and inhibit growth of periodontal pathogens, thereby preventing caries and infective endocarditis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If lactic acid bacteria are used to suppress VSC production and inhibit periodontal pathogens, then bad breath prevention and periodontal health are improved, but some lactic acid bacteria strains may produce cariogenic effects or cause infective endocarditis
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by selecting specific lactic acid bacteria strains (Lactobacillus crispatus, Lactobacillus fermentum, Lactobacillus gasseri, and Streptococcus mitis) that possess particular physiological characteristics - namely, they do not produce VSC, do not produce water-insoluble glucan, and exhibit specific adhesiveness properties. This strain selection based on physiological parameters resolves the contradiction by identifying bacteria that are effective against periodontal pathogens while being safe regarding caries and endocarditis risks
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potential harm of lactic acid bacteria (cariogenicity and endocarditis risk) into benefit by selecting strains that specifically lack these harmful properties while retaining the beneficial effects of VSC suppression and pathogen inhibition. The harmful potential is transformed into a safety advantage through careful strain selection
2Reliability
If bacteria with strong adhesiveness to tooth surfaces are selected, then colonization and therapeutic effect are improved, but cariogenicity may increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating between types of adhesiveness - selecting bacteria that exhibit strong adhesiveness to tooth surfaces (beneficial for colonization and therapy) while lacking the ability to produce water-insoluble glucan (harmful for caries). The specific strains chosen (particularly Lactobacillus crispatus, Lactobacillus fermentum, and Lactobacillus gasseri) demonstrate this localized differentiation in adhesive properties
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the adhesive parameter profile of selected bacteria to achieve strong tooth surface adhesion without glucan production. The selected strains exhibit specific adhesion characteristics that allow beneficial colonization while avoiding cariogenic mechanisms
3Productivity
If broad-spectrum antibacterial activity is enhanced to inhibit more pathogens, then periodontal disease treatment is improved, but risk of causing endocarditis may increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by selecting strains with specific antibacterial activity profiles - strong inhibition of periodontal pathogens and VSC-producing bacteria, but without the virulence factors that cause endocarditis. The selected lactic acid bacteria strains demonstrate this differentiated antibacterial spectrum
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potential harm of broad-spectrum antibacterial activity (endocarditis risk) into benefit by selecting strains that specifically target periodontal pathogens while lacking endocarditis-causing properties. The antibacterial activity is transformed into a selective therapeutic advantage
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a novel lactic acid bacterium strain which is capable of suppressing production of volatile sulfur compounds by oral bacteria, has no cariogenicity and no causative role in infective endocarditis, and is safe in an oral cavity, and provided is an agent for preventing, improving and/or treating oral diseases and discomforts by use of the bacterial strain.An agent for preventing and/or treating an oral disease, containing, as an active ingredient, at least one lactic acid bacterium selected from Lactobacillus crispatus, Lactobacillus fermentum, Lactobacillus gasseri, and Streptococcus mitis and having all of the following properties (1) to (6):(1) having no ability to produce a volatile sulfur compound (VSC);(2) having no ability to produce water-insoluble glucan;(3) having adhesiveness to a tooth surface and/or an oral cell;(4) having a growth inhibitory effect on a bad breath-causing bacterium and/or a periodontal pathogen;(5) having no causative role in infective endocarditis; and(6) having no cariogenicity.