Minimal Microbial Consortium for Food Allergy Prevention

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Solution Overview

Problem

The increasing incidence of food allergies, linked to alterations in intestinal microbiota, necessitates effective compositions to prevent or treat these conditions, as existing solutions fail to adequately address the imbalance of gut bacteria.

Innovation Solution

A pharmaceutical composition comprising a minimal microbial consortium of specific viable gut bacteria, including Clostridium species such as Clostridium ramosum, Clostridium scindens, Clostridium hiranonsis, Clostridium bifermentans, and Clostridium leptum, administered to restore balance and prevent food allergies, potentially delivered through enteric-coated capsules or other forms.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If a broad-spectrum antibiotic treatment is used, then bacterial infections are eliminated, but the intestinal microbiota balance is disrupted leading to food allergies

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebacterial infectionVSAvoidintestinal microbiota balance
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by administering specific Clostridium species (C. ramosum, C. scindens, C. hiranonsis, C. bifermentans, C. leptum, and C. sardiniensis) before or during antibiotic treatment to prevent microbiota disruption. These bacteria are given in advance to establish a protective microbial foundation that maintains intestinal balance even when broad-spectrum antibiotics are used to eliminate harmful bacteria.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses specific Clostridium species as intermediary organisms that mediate between antibiotic treatment and intestinal health. These bacteria serve as a bridge, allowing antibiotic therapy to eliminate pathogens while the Clostridium species maintain microbiota balance and prevent food allergy development through their immunomodulatory effects.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If the intestinal microbiota is altered through C-section births or diet, then delivery or nutritional needs are met, but food allergy risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedelivery method or dietVSAvoidfood allergy risk
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by administering specific Clostridium species to infants born via C-section or with altered microbiota before they develop food allergies. This pre-treatment establishes a beneficial microbial foundation that compensates for the lack of natural vaginal delivery microbiota transfer or dietary microbiota establishment, thereby preventing food allergy development.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the harmful effect of altered microbiota (from C-section or diet) into a benefit by introducing specific Clostridium species that actively counteract the negative effects. These bacteria transform the compromised microbiota state into a protective configuration that promotes oral tolerance and prevents food allergies.

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

3Reliability

If existing probiotic compositions are used, then general gut health is supported, but specific food allergy prevention is inadequate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegut health supportVSAvoidfood allergy prevention efficacy
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by dividing the probiotic approach into a specific consortium of six Clostridium species rather than using general probiotic mixtures. Each species (C. ramosum, C. scindens, C. hiranonsis, C. bifermentans, C. leptum, and C. sardiniensis) is selected for its specific immunomodulatory properties, creating a segmented, targeted formulation that addresses food allergy prevention with precision rather than relying on broad-spectrum gut health support.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by tailoring the probiotic composition specifically for food allergy prevention rather than general gut health. The selected Clostridium species have specific functions related to oral tolerance induction and immune modulation, providing localized, targeted quality for food allergy prevention rather than uniform general support.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3370748B1Therapeutic microbiota for the treatment and/or prevention of food allergy
Publication Date: 2022.06.08 CHILDRENS MEDICAL CENT CORP
  • EP3370748B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3370748B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3370748B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Disclosed are methods and compositions for the prevention and treatment of food allergy. In particular, described herein are microbial consortia, including minimal microbial consortia, that can prevent and/or cure food allergy. In certain embodiments, the consortia comprise certain members of the taxa Clostridiales and/or Bacteroidetes.