Mannan Oligosaccharides Block Bacterial Attachment in UTI Treatment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are prevalent, especially in women, due to antibiotic-resistant bacteria and the difficulty in treating recurrent infections, with conventional antibiotics affecting immune system functioning and not effectively addressing bacterial attachment to urinary tract cells.

Innovation Solution

The oral administration of yeast-derived mannan oligosaccharides (MOS), derived from yeast cell walls, which bind to bacterial fimbriae, reducing bacterial attachment and alleviating UTI symptoms by administering effective dosages of MOS in various formulations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional antibiotics are used to treat UTIs, then bacterial infection is eliminated, but antibiotic resistance develops and immune system functioning is affected

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinfection eliminationVSAvoidantibiotic resistance and immune system disruption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Mannan oligosaccharides act as an intermediary substance that binds to bacterial fimbriae, preventing bacterial attachment to urinary tract cells without directly killing the bacteria. This mediator approach eliminates the need for antibiotics while still achieving infection control, thereby avoiding antibiotic resistance and immune system disruption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention converts the harmful bacterial fimbriae (which cause attachment and infection) into a beneficial target by using mannan oligosaccharides to specifically bind to them. This converts the bacterial attachment mechanism, which is harmful, into a recognizable target that can be blocked, turning the infection pathway into a preventable process.

Inventive Principle:

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

2Ease of operation

If antibiotics are used to treat recurrent UTIs, then symptoms are relieved, but recurrence continues and treatment effectiveness decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesymptom reliefVSAvoidrecurrence frequency

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

Mannan oligosaccharides are administered before bacterial attachment can occur, preventing the infection process at its earliest stage. By blocking fimbrial attachment in advance, the treatment prevents rather than merely treats symptoms, thereby reducing recurrence frequency and maintaining long-term effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If mannan oligosaccharides are administered to prevent bacterial attachment, then bacterial proliferation is reduced, but treatment mechanism complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebacterial attachment preventionVSAvoidtreatment mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Mannan oligosaccharides naturally occur in yeast cell walls and can be produced through conventional fermentation processes. The substance works through a natural biological mechanism (binding to fimbriae) rather than requiring complex synthetic pathways, thereby achieving reliable bacterial attachment prevention through a relatively simple and naturally occurring substance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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

MOS effectively relieves, prevents, and eliminates UTI symptoms by reducing bacterial attachment and proliferation, offering an alternative to antibiotics that minimizes immune system disruption and addresses recurrent infections.

Implementation Method 1

MOS effectively relieves, prevents, and eliminates UTI symptoms by reducing bacterial attachment

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBinding: Adsorption

Data Source

PatentUS8063026B2Method of palliating lower urinary tract infections by treatment with mannan oligosaccharides

Publication Date: 2011.11.22 KATZ RICHARD

AI summary

Provided herein are methods of using mannan oligosaccharides, to treat, palliate, relieve, prevent and/or eliminate urinary tract infections of humans. A mixture of oligosaccharides derived from yeast cell walls is shown to reduce, eliminate and prevent the symptoms of UTI in patients.