Stress-Evolved Probiotics for Lipid Absorption Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
The global obesity epidemic remains unaddressed despite existing treatments, with a need for effective interventions to prevent and treat overweight and obesity, particularly given the rise in childhood obesity and associated health disorders.
Innovation Solution
Development of probiotic compositions with modified energy metabolisms, specifically probiotic bacteria subjected to stress-based directed evolution to enhance lipid metabolism, which are administered to regulate body weight by reducing lipid absorption in the gastrointestinal tract.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional probiotics are used, then general gut health is maintained, but lipid absorption regulation and weight management are not effectively achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by subjecting probiotic bacteria to stress-based directed evolution to modify their metabolic parameters. Specifically, the bacteria are evolved to enhance lipid metabolism capabilities, including increased lipase production and improved ability to utilize lipids as energy sources. This transforms conventional probiotics into metabolically adapted strains that can effectively regulate lipid absorption and support weight management while maintaining gut health functions.
2Reliability
If probiotic bacteria are subjected to stress-based directed evolution to enhance lipid metabolism, then weight management efficacy is improved, but the complexity of the production process increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing stress-based directed evolution of probiotic bacteria during the production phase, before the product reaches the consumer. The bacteria are pre-adapted to high lipid environments and selected for enhanced lipid metabolism capabilities during manufacturing. This preliminary metabolic programming ensures that the weight management function is built into the product itself, eliminating the need for complex external intervention systems or additional devices during use.
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 compositions effectively inhibit lipid absorption, leading to weight management and reduction, as demonstrated by studies showing reduced weight gain and weight loss in animal models when combined with dietary changes.
Implementation Method 1
developing probiotic bacteria that utilize lipids as a source of energy by subjecting the isolated bacteria to a stress-based directed evolution
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to probiotics and probiotic compositions having modified energy metabolisms (e.g., modifying, metabolizing, or storing energy molecules, e.g., lipids, before the energy molecules are absorbed by a host subject), and thus modulating the absorption of the energy molecules by the host subject. The present disclosure also relates to methods of making such probiotics and probiotic compositions. The present disclosure further relates to methods of regulating (e.g., maintaining or reducing) body weight in a subject (e.g., a subject having a healthy BMI, a subject having an overweight BMI, a subject having an obese BMI), using the probiotics and probiotic compositions disclosed herein.