Microbial Lysozyme Stabilizes Gut Microbiota in IBS and IBD
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current treatments for Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) are inadequate in stabilizing healthy microbiota and suppressing bacterial pathogens in the gastrointestinal tract, leading to persistent inflammation and complications.
Innovation Solution
Microbial lysozymes from fungal sources, specifically from glycosyl hydrolyase families GH24 and GH25, are used to stabilize healthy microbiota, suppress bacterial pathogens, and reduce inflammation by administering compositions containing these enzymes, which have enhanced lysozyme activity against pathogens like Lactobacillus johnsonii and other harmful bacteria.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If hen egg white lysozyme is used, then it is naturally abundant and commercially available, but it cannot cleave N,6-O-diacetylmuramic acid in Staphylococcus aureus cell walls and thus cannot lyse this important human pathogen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the amino acid sequence of lysozyme to alter its substrate specificity. The engineered lysozyme variants have modified active site residues that enable them to cleave N,6-O-diacetylmuramic acid in Staphylococcus aureus cell walls, while maintaining production feasibility through microbial expression systems
2Reliability
If microbial lysozymes from GH24 and GH25 families are used, then they have enhanced lysozyme activity against pathogens, but they require complex microbial expression systems for production
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service by utilizing the microbial lysozyme production system's own cellular machinery to synthesize and secrete the therapeutic lysozyme. The microbial hosts (such as E. coli or yeast) naturally provide the folding, post-translational modification, and secretion pathways needed to produce functional lysozyme, eliminating the need for complex external production infrastructure
3Ease of manufacture
If current treatments for IBS and IBD are used, then they are already available clinically, but they are inadequate in stabilizing healthy microbiota and suppressing bacterial pathogens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies intermediary by using engineered lysozyme as a mediator that selectively targets pathogenic bacteria while sparing commensal microbiota. The lysozyme acts as an intermediate agent that bridges the gap between immune system function and pathogen control, providing targeted antimicrobial activity that stabilizes the microbiome without requiring complete microbiota transplantation or broad-spectrum antibiotics
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 use of microbial lysozymes effectively stabilizes the gut microbiome, reduces inflammation, and alleviates symptoms of IBS and IBD, while also promoting weight gain and improving glucose dysregulation associated with obesity.
Implementation Method 1
The enzyme causes the hydrolysis of bacterial cell walls by cleaving the glycosidic bonds of peptidoglycan
Implementation Method 2
After having their cell walls weakened by lysozyme action, bacterial cells lyse as a result of unbalanced osmotic pressure
Implementation Method 3
In addition, lysozyme can degrade extracellular peptidoglycan into soluble fragments, which seems to limit inflammation
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to microbial lysozyme, compositions comprising such and uses thereof.