Probiotic Strains Producing Butyrate for Colon Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for delivering butyrate for metabolic and immune disorders are undesirable due to the rancid smell, requirement of multiple capsules, and rapid absorption in the upper gastrointestinal tract, which limits effective dosing and site-specific action in the colon.
Innovation Solution
Development of novel probiotic bacterial strains that produce short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) like butyrate, specifically isolated strains such as Agathobacter rectalis, Anaerostipes caccae, and Roseburia faecis, which are lyophilized and formulated with cryoprotectants like sucrose and sodium glutamate to ensure viability and delivery to the colon for endogenous production.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If oral butyrate supplements are used, then butyrate can be delivered to the gastrointestinal tract, but the rancid smell and rapid absorption in the upper gastrointestinal tract make this approach undesirable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses probiotic bacterial strains as intermediaries that produce butyrate endogenously in the colon. Instead of directly administering butyrate (which has rancid smell and absorbs rapidly in the upper GI tract), live bacteria are delivered that ferment dietary fiber in the colon to produce butyrate locally at the site of action, eliminating the harmful characteristics of direct supplementation
Solution Approach 2:
The probiotic bacteria serve themselves by utilizing dietary fiber as substrate to produce butyrate autonomously in the colon. The bacteria carry their own metabolic machinery to convert available fiber into butyrate, eliminating the need for external butyrate supplementation and its associated problems
2Quantity of substance
If multiple capsules are used to deliver an effective dose of butyrate, then adequate dosing can be achieved, but the requirement of multiple capsules reduces ease of operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple beneficial functions into a single probiotic capsule: the bacteria provide continuous butyrate production, colonize the gut to restore microbiota balance, and utilize dietary fiber already present in the diet. This single combined approach replaces the need for multiple separate butyrate capsules, improving ease of operation while maintaining effective dosing
3Speed
If butyrate is administered directly, then immediate availability is achieved, but rapid absorption in the upper gastrointestinal tract prevents site-specific action in the colon
Solution Approach 1:
The probiotic bacteria act as living intermediaries that are delivered to the colon and produce butyrate directly at the target site. The bacteria navigate through the gastrointestinal tract and establish colonization in the colon, where they continuously produce butyrate locally, ensuring both availability and site-specific action without the harmful effects of upper GI absorption
Solution Approach 2:
The bacteria autonomously produce butyrate in the colon using dietary fiber as substrate, ensuring continuous local availability at the site of action. This self-producing capability eliminates the problem of rapid upper GI absorption because the butyrate is generated directly where it is needed, on-demand
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 probiotic strains effectively increase butyrate levels in the colon, providing health benefits for metabolic, immune, and intestinal disorders by maintaining gut health, reducing inflammation, and regulating glucose and weight levels.
Implementation Method 1
The gut microbiota ferments non-absorbable dietary fiber and produces short chain fatty acids (SCFA)
Implementation Method 2
the bacteria is lyophilized
Implementation Method 3
formulated with cryoprotectants like sucrose and sodium glutamate to ensure viability
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein are probiotic bacterial strains or species that produce short chain fatty acids (SCFA), such as butyrate, and compositions comprising the same. The bacterial strains or compositions prepared thereby are used in preparing food, supplements, compositions, and other consumables to provide health benefits, including therapeutic applications, for a variety of disorders, including metabolic, immune, intestinal, and inflammatory disorders. Thus, also disclosed herein are methods of treating a subject suffering from a disorder, such as a metabolic disorder, an immune disorder, an intestinal disorder, or an inflammatory disorder with a composition comprising the probiotic bacterial strains or species disclosed herein. Uses of a bacterial strain or species and a composition comprising them provided in a nutritional product or medicament to improve health or prevent or treat a variety of disorders in a subject are also disclosed.