Purified Bacterial Compositions for Preventing C. Difficile Recurrence

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current treatments for Clostridium difficile infections, such as antibiotics and fecal microbiota transplantation, are inadequate in preventing recurrence and face challenges with donor selection and logistical concerns, while existing antibiotics show low efficacy and high recurrence rates.

Innovation Solution

Compositions comprising purified bacterial strains, including Clostridium hathewayi, Blautia hansenii, and others, are administered to restore the gut microbiome and prevent recurrence of C. difficile infections.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If antibiotics are used to treat C. difficile infection, then initial treatment response is achieved, but disease recurrence occurs in up to 30% of patients

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetreatment effectivenessVSAvoiddisease recurrence prevention

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by administering probiotic bacteria to restore the gut microbiome before C. difficile can re-establish itself. This preventive approach addresses the root cause of recurrence by repopulating the gut with beneficial bacteria that compete with C. difficile for resources and prevent its overgrowth, thereby preventing disease recurrence while maintaining initial treatment response.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If fecal microbiota transplantation is used to restore gut microbiome, then C. difficile recurrence is reduced, but donor selection and logistical challenges arise

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverecurrence preventionVSAvoidlogistical complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the extraction principle by isolating and purifying specific beneficial bacterial strains from complex fecal microbiota. Instead of using whole fecal transplants that require complex donor screening and logistics, the invention extracts and uses only the essential probiotic strains that provide therapeutic benefit, thereby maintaining recurrence prevention efficacy while eliminating donor selection and logistical challenges.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies copying by creating standardized, purified preparations of beneficial bacterial strains that replicate the therapeutic effects of fecal microbiota transplantation. These standardized probiotic products serve as simplified copies of the complex fecal transplant, providing the same protective effect against C. difficile recurrence without the logistical burden of donor matching and fecal processing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

3Reliability

If narrow-spectrum antibiotics like fidaxomicin are used, then microbiome repopulation is enabled and recurrence is reduced, but treatment cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverecurrence preventionVSAvoidtreatment cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies this principle by using cost-effective probiotic bacteria that can be administered as single-use or short-duration treatments to prevent recurrence. These probiotic preparations are inexpensive compared to narrow-spectrum antibiotics like fidaxomicin, yet provide effective recurrence prevention by restoring the gut microbiome through affordable, accessible probiotic supplementation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Data Source

PatentUS20260034183A1Treatment of clostridium difficile infection

Publication Date: 2026.02.05 VEDANTA BIOSCIENCES INC

AI summary

Provided herein are compositions and methods for the treatment or prevention of pathogenic infections.