Probiotic Formulation for Gastrointestinal Mannitol Modulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current probiotics are ineffective in treating or preventing certain disease conditions, particularly those originating or exacerbated in the gastrointestinal system, due to shifts in the gut microbiome composition caused by environmental exposures to chemicals, leading to imbalanced microbial populations and poor health outcomes.
Innovation Solution
A probiotic formulation comprising a mixture of viable microorganisms such as Pediococcus acidilactici, Leuconostoc mesenteroides, and Lactobacillus reuteri, along with other species, designed to modulate gastrointestinal mannitol production, siderophore production, and maintain physiological pH, thereby restoring metabolic pathways and improving gut health.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional probiotics are used, then general microbial supplementation is provided, but they remain ineffective in treating specific gastrointestinal disease conditions caused by microbiome shifts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the probiotic formulation into distinct functional modules: (1) specific bacterial strains selected for their ability to produce mannitol and modulate pH, (2) prebiotic components that selectively feed these strains, and (3) delivery mechanisms ensuring survival to the gastrointestinal tract. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function, resolving the contradiction between general supplementation and targeted effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes key parameters of the probiotic formulation: selecting strains with specific metabolic capabilities (mannitol production, pH modulation), optimizing the ratio of probiotics to prebiotics, and controlling the delivery conditions to maintain viability. These parameter changes transform conventional probiotics into a targeted therapy for specific gastrointestinal conditions.
2Reliability
If the gut microbiome is exposed to environmental chemicals and antibiotics, then selective pressure favors resistant pathogenic organisms, but this leads to loss of critical functionality and poor health
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful effect of chemical and antibiotic exposure into a beneficial opportunity by selecting probiotic strains that are specifically adapted to withstand these exposures while producing mannitol and modulating pH. The prebiotic components are also selected to resist degradation by these chemicals, transforming the harsh environment into a selective advantage for the formulated probiotics.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by pre-treating the probiotic strains with sublethal concentrations of antibiotics and chemicals during cultivation, thereby pre-adapting them to resist these harmful factors. This preliminary exposure equips the strains with enhanced resistance mechanisms before they encounter the full stressor in the gastrointestinal tract.
3Reliability
If probiotics are designed to modulate gastrointestinal mannitol and maintain pH, then metabolic pathways are restored, but this requires specific strain selection and formulation complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent achieves multi-functionality by selecting probiotic strains that simultaneously perform multiple functions: producing mannitol, modulating pH, and resisting antibiotics and chemicals. This reduces formulation complexity because a single strain or small combination can replace what would otherwise require multiple separate components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the functions of probiotic supplementation, prebiotic feeding, and protective delivery into a single integrated formulation. The probiotic strains are co-cultured with their specific prebiotics, creating a synergistic unit that maintains simplicity while achieving complex metabolic restoration.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are probiotic formulations. The formulations of the present disclosure comprise microorganisms of the species Pediococcus acidilactici and Leuconostoc mesenteroides. The formulations of the present disclosure can be used to prevent or treat gastrointestinal disease conditions, notably gastrointestinal diseases associated with low gastrointestinal mannitol or infection of the gastrointestinal system by pathogenic organismsC.