Patent Application
20230190709
Many diseases, disorders, or conditions including, but not limited to, Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), Parkinson’s Disease (PD), Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), Rheumatoid arthritis, hypertension, heart failure, diabetes, abnormal heart rhythm, Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), fatty liver disease, depression, epilepsy, Bipolar Disorder, anxiety, Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Autoimmune Diseases, Obesity, Acute Pancreatitis (AP), Eye Diseases including Retinal Ischemia/Reperfusion (I/R) Injury, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), Mood Disorders, Migraine and Cluster Headache, Eating disorders, Anorexia, Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis, Endocrine Tumor and Vagal Paragangliomas, Heartburn, Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO), Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Celiac Disease, Chronic Constipation, Kidney Diseases, Infertility including Endometriosis, Aging, and blood vessel diseases are suspected to be associated with improper functioning of the Vagus nerve. Currently, there are no effective treatments to improve and/or treat the overall health, well-being, and functionality of the Vagus nerve, and by extension Vagus nerve associated diseases, disorders, and conditions (e.g. including any diseases of organs that are connected to the Vagus Nerve), and finding new drugs or treatment methods is a priority.
The present disclosure provides an insight that compositions (e.g. microbiome compositions) and methods as described herein may be used to treat diseases, disorders, or conditions (e.g. associated with the Vagus nerve (e.g. a neurodegenerative disease, disorder, or condition (e.g. AD, PD, ALS, autism spectrum disorders, epilepsy, Bipolar Disorder, etc.), Rheumatoid arthritis, hypertension, heart failure, diabetes, abnormal heart rhythm, IBD, fatty liver disease, depression, anxiety, PTSD, MS, Autoimmune Diseases, Obesity, AP, Eye Diseases including Retinal Ischemia/Reperfusion (I/R) Injury, COPD, Mood Disorders, Migraine and Cluster Headache, Eating disorders, Anorexia, Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis, Endocrine Tumor and Vagal Paragangliomas, Heartburn, GERD, SIBO, IBS, Celiac Disease, Chronic Constipation, Kidney Diseases, Infertility including Endometriosis, Aging, blood vessel diseases etc., including any diseases of organs that are connected to the Vagus Nerve)) in a subject (e.g. a mammal (e.g. human, mice, etc.)). Furthermore, the present disclosure identifies that compositions (e.g. microbiome compositions) and methods as described herein may be used to treat and/or improve the health of one of more components of the Vagus nerve itself (e.g. prevent, improve, and/or repair nerve cell damage, nerve fiber damage, nerve ending damage), and improve its overall functionality (e.g. improve signal strength transmitted) in a subject, thereby providing improved communication between the brain and various anatomical/internal parts (e.g. organs, tissues, etc.) of the subject. Moreover, the present disclosure appreciates that compositions (e.g. microbiome compositions) and methods as described herein may be used to treat and/or improve the health and overall functionality of any organs, tissues, and/or other internal parts of a subject. Among other things, the present disclosure describes technologies that can be used to treat, prevent, and/or reduce the risk of a disease, disorder, or condition (e.g. associated with the Vagus nerve). In some embodiments, the present disclosure describes compositions and methods to evaluate the effects of administering such compositions (e.g. microbiome compositions as described herein) to a subject and/or to identify or characterize effects and/or modulation of levels of metabolites or a metabolome in a subject upon administration of such compositions. In some embodiments, the metabolites that may be modulated may be associated with certain diseases, disorders, or conditions. In some embodiments, such technologies can be useful to discern metabolite-level differences in a particular subject (e.g., patient) or population (e.g. before and after administration of disclosed compositions). Accordingly, the present disclosure also provides technologies that can be useful to identify and/or assess the nature and effect of disclosed compositions in specific subjects (e.g., patients) and/or populations and thus provide subject-specific information on how to treat a disease, disorder, or condition (e.g. of the nervous system) in an individual subject or individual population. For example, in some embodiments, technologies provided herein can be useful to identify subject-specific compositions, based on the metabolome in subject-specific samples, and treat and/or prevent a disease, disorder, or condition (e.g. associated with the Vagus nerve) by administering disclosed compositions (e.g. subject-specific compositions) (e.g. to modulate subject’s metabolome). Thus, technologies described herein may be useful as therapeutics and tools for reducing the risk of certain diseases, disorders, or conditions (e.g. associated with the Vagus nerve), and for treating and/or preventing such diseases, disorders, or conditions.
The present disclosure appreciates the insight that compositions described herein (e.g. microbiome compositions) directly influence the end-to-end functioning of systems involving the Vagus nerve. Prior technologies have been limited to treating only a part of such systems, e.g., dysfunctions associated with a particular organ. The present disclosure recognizes that such technologies, while beneficial, are triaging only a portion of the overall issues. The present disclosure, therefore, provides compositions and methods directed to improving function along the entirety of a Vagus nerve axis, including, e.g., the functions of the brain, Vagus nerve, and one or more connected organs.
In some embodiments, compositions as described herein improve mitochondrial, lysosomal, proteasomal, and/or peroxisomal functions of underlying cells of all four major components of the Vagus nerve (see Vagus nerve associated Diseases, Disorders, and Conditions section (i.e. (i) one or more organs, (ii) nerve endings, (iii) nerve fibers, and (iv) brain)). Furthermore, in some embodiments, compositions as described herein improve other pathways associated with these or in these components that curtail inflammation and properly modulate immunity. In some embodiments, these effects result in comprehensive performance improvement across this system, for example, including but not limited to, healthier connected organs, better sensing and improved delivery at the nerve end, improved quality of the signals as they travel thru the Vagus nerve in either direction, and reduced overall inflammation including that of the Vagus nerve and neuro inflammation, along with restored and/or improved brain functionality.
Among other things, the present disclosure provides a method of treating, reducing the risk, improving, or preventing a Vagus nerve-associated disease, disorder, or condition. In some embodiments, a method comprises administering to a subject in need thereof a composition comprising one or more microbial strains, components thereof, or metabolites thereof. In some embodiments, a method comprises administering to a subject a composition comprising one or more metabolites. In some embodiments, a Vagus nerve-associated disease, disorder, or condition is Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), Parkinson’s Disease (PD), Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), autism spectrum disorders, Rheumatoid arthritis, hypertension, heart failure, diabetes, abnormal heart rhythm, Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), fatty liver disease, depression, epilepsy, Bipolar Disorder, anxiety, Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Autoimmune Diseases, Obesity, Acute Pancreatitis (AP), Eye Diseases including Retinal Ischemia/Reperfusion (I/R) Injury, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), Mood Disorders, Migraine and Cluster Headache, Eating disorders, Anorexia, Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis, Endocrine Tumor and Vagal Paragangliomas, Heartburn, Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO), Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Celiac Disease, Chronic Constipation, Kidney Diseases, Infertility including Endometriosis, Aging, or blood vessel diseases.
In some embodiments, a method comprises treating, reducing the risk, improving, or preventing one or more of nerve cell damage, nerve ending damage, nerve fiber damage, brain damage, Vagus nerve-associated organ damage, or a combination thereof.
In some embodiments, a subject is an animal. In some embodiments, a subject is a mammal, e.g., a mammal that experiences or is susceptible to a disease, disorder, or condition as described herein. In some embodiments, an animal is a vertebrate, e.g., a mammal, such as a non-human primate, (particularly a higher primate), a sheep, a dog, a rodent (e.g. a mouse or rat), a guinea pig, a goat, a pig, a cat, a rabbit, or a cow. In some embodiments, an animal is a non-mammal animal, such as a chicken, an amphibian, a reptile, or an invertebrate. In some embodiments, a subject is a human.
In some embodiments, a subject is suffering from or susceptible to one or more Vagus Nerve associated diseases, disorders, or conditions as described herein. In some embodiments, a subject displays one or more symptoms of one or more Vagus Nerve associated diseases, disorders, or conditions. In some embodiments, a subject has been diagnosed with one or more Vagus Nerve associated diseases, disorders, or conditions as described herein. In some embodiments, a subject is receiving or has received certain therapy to diagnose and/or to treat one or more Vagus Nerve associated diseases, disorders, or conditions.
In some embodiments, one or more microbial strains are from an animal microbiome. In some embodiments, one or more microbial strains are from a mammalian microbiome. In some embodiments, one or more microbial strains are from a human microbiome. In some embodiments, a human microbiome is a microbiome of the subject. In some embodiments, a human microbiome is administered to maintain or modulate the microbiome of a subject.
In some embodiments, one or more components or metabolites (e.g. of the one or more microbial strains) are selected from Appendix 1, Appendix 3, or Appendix 4. In some embodiments, metabolites can be from one or more microbial strains. In some embodiments, metabolites can be from a source that is not a microbial strain, e.g., synthetically generated. In some embodiments, one or more metabolites (e.g. of the one or more microbial strains) is or comprises a bile acid. In some embodiments, one or more metabolites (e.g. of the one or more microbial strains) is or comprises Tauroursodeoxycholic acid. In some embodiments, one or more components or metabolites is Butyrylcamitine, Theobromine, p-Hydroxyphenylpyruvic acid, Propionic acid, Picolinic acid, 2-Hydroxy-4methylvaleric acid, N6-Acetylysine, Urocanic acid, N5-Ethylglutamine, Trigonelline, Stachydrine, Ectoine, 5-Hydroxylysine, Arginine (arg), Cholic acid, 2-(4-Hydroxyphenyl)propionic acid, N-Acetyltryptophan, Hydroxyproline, Argininosuccinic acid, Glutamic acid (Glu), Sarcosine, 5-Methoxyindoleacetic acid, Indole-3-lactic acid, Isovalerylalanine, N-Acetylleucine, 1-Methylhistidine, N-Acetylephenylalanine, Proline (Pro), or any combination thereof. In some embodiments, one or more components or metabolites is 4-Hydroxyphenylpyruvic, Ectoine, Gramine, N-Acetyl-L-phenylalanine, Nepsilon-Acetyl-L-lysine, Stachydrine, Trigonelline, 3-Ureidopropionic acid, Theobromine, Hippuric acid, Imidazolepropionic acid, NG-Methyl-L-arginine, trans-Urocanic Acid, N-Acetyl-L-leucine, Sarcosine, Isobutyrylcamitine, b-Hydroxyisovaleric acid, L-Theanine/N5-Ethylglutamine, 5-Hydroxylysine, Phenaceturic acid, betaine, hydroxyproline, Picolinic acid, 2-Aminoadipic acid, Glycerophosphocholine, carnitine, Glycerol 3-phosphate, Argininosuccinic acid, creatine, Terephthalic acid, Homocitrulline, Mucic acid, Homocysteinesulfinic acid, Trimethyllysine, Spermidine, Glyoxylic acid, XA0013 C6H6O4S, 3-Indoxylsulfuric acid, Nicotinamide, N-Formylglycine, Ureidoglycolate, N-Methylproline, Glucaric acid, Butyrylcamitine, Methionine sulfoxide, Carboxymethyllysine, Glycolic acid, Phenaceturic acid, Diethanolamine, Phosphorylcholine, Guanidinosuccinic acid, N-Acetylhistidine, Glyceric acid, S-Methylmethionine, Cysteine glutathione disulfide, Kynurenine, N-Acetylphenylalanine, Threonic acid, Malic acid, 7,8-Dihydrobiopterin, Homovanillic acid, Taurocholic acid, 5-Methoxyindoleacetic acid, butyrate, b-Hydroxyisovaleric acid, 2-Oxoglutaric acid, N-Acetyltryptophan, Thiaproline, Hypotaurine, Cholic acid, Acetoacetic acid, Ethanolamine, Guanidoacetic acid, S-Sulfocysteine, Myristic acid C14:0 XA0027, or any combination thereof.
In some embodiments, one or more microbial strains are or comprise Gluconacetobacter hansenii, Terrisporobacter glycolicus, Coprococcus sp., Lactobacillus plantarum, Clostridium butyricum, Paenibacillus sp., Veillonella sp., Bifidobacterium sp., Bacillus subtilis, Acidaminococcus sp., or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, one or more microbial strains are or comprise Gluconacetobacter hanseni, Terrisporobacter glycolicus, Coprococcus sp., Lactobacillus plantarum, Veillonella sp., Bifidobacterium sp., or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, one or more microbial strains are or comprise Gluconacetobacter hanseni, Terrisporobacter glycolicus, Coprococcus catus, Lactobacillus plantarum, Veillonella atypica, Bifidobacterium breve, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, one or more microbial strains is or comprises Bacillus subtilis.
In some embodiments, a composition comprises two or more microbial strains. In some embodiments, a composition comprises five or more microbial strains. In some embodiments, a composition comprises ten or more microbial strains.
In some embodiments, a composition is administered topically, orally, subcutaneously, intravenously, intramuscularly, intracerebrally, intrathecally, rectally, opthalmically, intravitreally, or suprachoroidally. In some embodiments, a composition is administered orally. In some embodiments, a composition is administered intracerebrally.
In some embodiments, a composition is formulated as a syrup, a liquid, a tablet, a troche, a gummy, a capsule, a powder, a gel, a film, an injection, or an eye drop.
In some embodiments, each microbial strain of one or more microbial strains is present in a composition at a concentration from 101 to 1015 CFU. In some embodiments, each microbial strain of one or more microbial strains is present in a composition at a concentration of at least 106 CFU. In some embodiments, each microbial strain of one or more microbial strains in a composition comprises 101 colony forming units (CFUs) to 1020 CFU. In some embodiments, each microbial strain of one or more microbial strains in a composition comprises 101 colony forming units (CFUs) to 1015 CFU. In some embodiments, each microbial strain of one or more microbial strains in a composition comprises 106 CFU to 1015 CFUs. In some embodiments, each microbial strain of one or more microbial strains in a composition comprises about 101 CFU to 1015 CFU, or about 102 CFU to 1014 CFU, or about 103 CFU to 1013 CFU, or about 104 CFU to 1013 CFU, or about 105 CFU to 1012 CFU, or about 106 CFU to 1011 CFU, or about 107 CFU to 1010 CFU, or about 108 CFU to 109 CFU, or about 105 CFU to 1010 CFU, or about 108 CFU to 1012 CFU. In some embodiments, each microbial strain of one or more microbial strains in a composition comprises at least about 101, 5 × 101, 102, 5 × 102, 103, 5 × 103, 104, 5 × 104, 105, 5 × 105, 106, 5 × 106, 107, 5 × 107, 108, 5 × 108, 109, 5 × 109, 1010, 5 × 1010, 1011, 5 × 1011, 1012, or more CFUs. In some embodiments, each of one or more microbial strains in a composition comprises at most about 1015, 5 × 1014, 1014, 5 × 1013, 1013, 5 × 1012, 1012, 5 × 1011, 1011, 5 × 1010, 1010, 5 × 109, 109, 5 × 108, 108, or less CFUs. In some embodiments, each microbial strain of one or more microbial strains in a composition comprises same number of CFUs. In some embodiments, some microbial strains of one or more microbial strains in a composition comprises a different number of CFUs.
The present disclosure provides, among other things, a composition for use in treating a Vagus nerve-associated disease, disorder, or condition comprising one or more microbial strains, components thereof, or metabolites thereof. In some embodiments, a composition, as described herein, comprises one or more metabolites (e.g. derived from sources other than microbial strains (e.g. synthetically derived)), wherein the composition is for treating a Vagus nerve-associated disease, disorder, or condition.
The present disclosure provides a composition comprising one or more microbial strains selected from Gluconacetobacter hansenii, Terrisporobacter glycolicus, Coprococcus sp., Lactobacillus plantarum, Clostridium butyricum, Paenibacillus sp., Veillonella sp., Bifidobacterium sp., Bacillus subtilis, Acidaminococcus sp., or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, a composition comprises one or more microbial strains selected from Gluconacetobacter hanseni, Terrisporobacter glycolicus, Coprococcus sp., Lactobacillus plantarum, Veillonella atypica, Bifidobacterium sp., or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, a composition comprises a microbial strain. In some embodiments, a microbial strain is Bacillus subtilis. In some embodiments, a composition comprises at least two microbial strains selected from a group consisting of Gluconacetobacter hansenii, Terrisporobacter glycolicus, Coprococcus sp., Lactobacillus plantarum, Clostridium butyricum, Paenibacillus sp., Veillonella sp., Bifidobacterium sp., Bacillus subtilis, Acidaminococcus sp., or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, a composition comprises at least two microbial strains selected from a group consisting of Gluconacetobacter hanseni, Terrisporobacter glycolicus, Coprococcus sp., Lactobacillus plantarum, Veillonella atypica, Bifidobacterium sp., or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, a composition comprises at least five microbial strains selected from a group consisting of Gluconacetobacter hansenii, Terrisporobacter glycolicus, Coprococcus sp., Lactobacillus plantarum, Clostridium butyricum, Paenibacillus sp., Veillonella sp., Bifidobacterium sp., Bacillus subtilis, Acidaminococcus sp., or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, a composition comprises at least five microbial strains selected from a group consisting of Gluconacetobacter hanseni, Terrisporobacter glycolicus, Coprococcus sp., Lactobacillus plantarum, Veillonella atypica, Bifidobacterium sp., or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, a composition comprises or consists of Gluconacetobacter hansenii, Terrisporobacter glycolicus, Coprococcus sp., Lactobacillus plantarum, Clostridium butyricum, Paenibacillus sp., Veillonella sp., Bifidobacterium sp., Bacillus subtilis, Acidaminococcus sp.. In some embodiments, a composition comprises or consists of Gluconacetobacter hanseni, Terrisporobacter glycolicus, Coprococcus sp., Lactobacillus plantarum, Veillonella atypica, Bifidobacterium sp..
In some embodiments, a composition, as described herein, comprises one or more metabolites (e.g. derived from sources other than microbial strains (e.g. synthetically derived)), wherein the composition is for treating a Vagus Nerve-associated disease, disorder, or condition.
In some embodiments, a composition is for topical, oral, subcutaneous, intravenous, intramuscular, intracerebral, intrathecal, rectal, opthalmical, intravitreal, or suprachoroidal administration. In some embodiments, a composition is for oral administration. In some embodiments, a composition is for intracerebral administration.
The present disclosure provides that a composition as described herein is for use in modulating one or more metabolites in a subject.
The present disclosure provides that a composition as described herein is for use in modulating one or more features in a subject. In some embodiments, one or more features is or comprises: (i) level of cell viability; (ii) level or activity of a nucleic acid or protein, or form thereof; (iii) mitochondrial function; (iv) peroxisomal function; (v) ATP levels; (vi) proteasomal function; (vii) lysosomal function; (viii) oxidative stress; (ix) inflammation; (x) neuronal damage (e.g. with beta amyloids, tangles, etc.); (xi) nerve fiber damage; (xii) nerve ending damage; or (xiii) brain damage.
The present disclosure provides that a composition as described herein is for use in characterizing an ability of one more microbial strains to modulate one or more metabolites in a subject.
The present disclosure provides that a use of a composition as described herein is for treating or ameliorating a disease, disorder, or condition in a subject, wherein a disease, disorder, or condition is associated with one or more metabolites. The present disclosure further provides that a composition as described herein is for use in treating or preventing or ameliorating a Vagus Nerve-associated disease, disorder, or condition, comprising one or more components or metabolites, which can be selected from Appendix 1, Appendix 3, or Appendix 4. In some embodiments, a use of a composition as described herein is for treating or ameliorating a disease, disorder, or condition associated with the Vagus Nerve as described herein. In some embodiments, a disease, disorder, or condition is AD, PD, ALS, autism spectrum disorders, Rheumatoid arthritis, hypertension, heart failure, diabetes, abnormal heart rhythm, IBD, fatty liver disease, depression, epilepsy, Bipolar Disorder, anxiety, PTSD, MS, Autoimmune Diseases, Obesity, AP, Eye Diseases including Retinal Ischemia/Reperfusion (I/R) Injury, COPD, Mood Disorders, Migraine and Cluster Headache, Eating disorders, Anorexia, Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis, Endocrine Tumor and Vagal Paragangliomas, Heartburn, GERD, SIBO, IBS, Celiac Disease, Chronic Constipation, Kidney Diseases, Infertility including Endometriosis, Aging, or blood vessel diseases. In some embodiments, a use comprises treating, reducing the risk, improving, or preventing one or more of nerve cell damage, nerve ending damage, nerve fiber damage, brain damage, Vagus nerve-associated organ damage, or a combination thereof.
The present disclosure provides a method of screening a microbial strain, comprising contacting a microbial strain to a culture comprising nerve cells or neuronal cell lines that model a Vagus nerve-associated disease, disorder, or condition, and determining whether a microbial strain altered a feature of a culture, wherein a feature is associated with a Vagus nerve-associated disease, disorder, or condition.
In some embodiments, a step of determining comprises comparing a feature before and after performance of the step of contacting. In some embodiments, a step of determining comprises comparing a feature after the step of contacting with a comparable reference.
In some embodiments, a comparable reference is a historical reference. In some embodiments, a comparable reference is a negative control reference. In some embodiments, a comparable reference is a positive control reference.
In some embodiments, a feature is a level of cell viability. In some embodiments, a feature is level or activity of a nucleic acid or protein, or form thereof. In some embodiments, a feature is or comprises one or more of mitochondrial function, peroxisomal function, proteasomal function, or lysosomal function. In some embodiments, a feature is or comprises inflammation. In some embodiments, a feature is or comprises ATP levels. In some embodiments, a feature is or comprises one or more of cellular damage (e.g. nerve cell). In some embodiments, a feature is or comprises one or more of neuronal damage (e.g. with beta amyloids, tangles, etc.), nerve fiber damage, nerve ending damage, or brain damage. In some embodiments, a feature is or comprises oxidative stress.
In some embodiments, a microbial strain altered one or more features of a culture. In some embodiments, one or more features is associated with a Vagus nerve-associated disease, disorder, or condition, as described herein. In some embodiments, one or more features is or comprises (i) level of cell viability; (ii) level or activity of a nucleic acid or protein, or form thereof; (iii) mitochondrial function; (iv) peroxisomal function; (v) ATP levels; (vi) proteasomal function; (vii) lysosomal function; (viii) oxidative stress; (ix) inflammation; (x) neuronal damage (e.g. with beta amyloids, tangles, etc.); (xi) nerve fiber damage; (xii) nerve ending damage; or (xiii) brain damage.
The present disclosure provides a method comprising administering to a subject in need thereof a composition comprising one or more microbial strains, components thereof, or metabolites thereof. In some embodiments, the present disclosure provides a method comprising administering to a subject in need thereof a composition comprising one or more components or metabolites. In some embodiments, metabolites can be from one or more microbial strains. In some embodiments, metabolites can be from a source that is not a microbial strain, e.g., synthetically generated.
In some embodiments, a microbial strain or a metabolite altered a feature of the subject. In some embodiments, a feature is a level of cell viability. In some embodiments, a feature is level or activity of a nucleic acid or protein, or form thereof. In some embodiments, a feature is or comprises one or more of mitochondrial function, peroxisomal function, proteasomal function, or lysosomal function. In some embodiments, a feature is or comprises inflammation. In some embodiments, a feature is or comprises ATP levels. In some embodiments, a feature is or comprises one or more of cellular damage (e.g. nerve cell). In some embodiments, a feature is or comprises one or more of neuronal damage (e.g. with beta amyloids, tangles, etc.), nerve fiber damage, nerve ending damage, or brain damage. In some embodiments, a feature is or comprises oxidative stress.
In some embodiments, a microbial strain may alter one or more features of a subject. In some embodiments, one or more features is or comprises (i) level of cell viability; (ii) level or activity of a nucleic acid or protein, or form thereof; (iii) mitochondrial function; (iv) peroxisomal function; (v) ATP levels; (vi) proteasomal function; (vii) lysosomal function; (viii) oxidative stress; (ix) inflammation; (x) neuronal damage (e.g. with beta amyloids, tangles, etc.); (xi) nerve fiber damage; (xii) nerve ending damage; or (xiii) brain damage.
In some embodiments, a feature is associated with a Vagus nerve-associated disease, disorder, or condition.
The present disclosure provides a method of characterizing a microbial strain, comprising adding a microbial strain to a culture comprising nerve cells or neuronal cell lines that model a Vagus nerve-associated disease, disorder, or condition, and determining whether a microbial strain affects levels of one or more features of nerve cells or neuronal cell lines, wherein one or more features are associated with a Vagus nerve-associated disease, disorder, or condition.
The present disclosure provides a method of manufacturing a pharmaceutical treatment comprising characterizing one or more microbial strains, components, or metabolites thereof comprising the steps of adding one or more microbial strains to a culture comprising nerve cells or neuronal cell lines that model a Vagus nerve-associated disease, disorder, or condition, and determining whether one or more microbial strains affect levels of one or more features of nerve cells or neuronal cell lines, wherein one or more features are associated with a Vagus nerve-associated disease, disorder, or condition.
The present disclosure provides a method of manufacturing a pharmaceutical treatment comprising adding one or more microbial strains, components, or metabolites (e.g. metabolites derived from different sources (e.g. from microbial strains, synthetically etc.)) thereof, to a syrup, a liquid, a tablet, a troche, a gummy, a capsule, a powder, a gel, a film, an injection, or an eye drop.
The present disclosure provides a method of assessing a microbial strain for an ability to affect one or more features of a culture, comprising adding a microbial strain to a culture comprising nerve cells or neuronal cell lines that model a Vagus nerve-associated disease, disorder, or condition, and determining whether a microbial strain affects levels of one or more features of nerve cells or neuronal cell lines, wherein one or more features are associated with a Vagus nerve-associated disease, disorder, or condition.
In some embodiments, a method further comprises before adding a microbial strain to the culture, determining levels of one or more features of nerve cells or neuronal cell lines in a culture, after adding a microbial strain to a culture, determining levels of the same one or more features of nerve cells or neuronal cell lines in a culture, and comparing levels of one or more features determined before adding a microbial strain with levels of one or more features determined after adding a microbial strain.
In some embodiments, one or more features includes: ((i) level of cell viability; (ii) level or activity of a nucleic acid or protein, or form thereof; (iii) mitochondrial function; (iv) peroxisomal function; (v) ATP levels; (vi) proteasomal function; (vii) lysosomal function; (viii) oxidative stress; (ix) inflammation; (x) neuronal damage (e.g. with beta amyloids, tangles, etc.); (xi) nerve fiber damage; (xii) nerve ending damage; (xiii) brain damage; or (xiv) a combination thereof.
The present disclosure provides that a composition as described herein is for use in treating or preventing a Vagus nerve-associated disease, disorder, or condition, comprising one or more microbial strains, components thereof, or metabolites thereof. In some embodiments, a composition, as described herein, is for use in treating or preventing a Vagus Nerve-associated disease, disorder, or condition, comprising one or more metabolites (e.g. derived from sources other than microbial strains (e.g. synthetically derived)).
The present disclosure provides that a composition as described herein is for use in treating or preventing a Vagus nerve-associated disease, disorder, or condition, comprising one or more microbial strains, components thereof, or metabolites thereof, wherein one or more components or metabolites (e.g. of a one or more microbial strains) are selected from Appendix 1, Appendix 3, or Appendix 4. The present disclosure further provides that a composition as described herein is for use in treating or preventing a Vagus Nerve-associated disease, disorder, or condition, comprising one or more components or metabolites, which can be selected from Appendix 1, Appendix 3, or Appendix 4.
In some embodiments, metabolites can be from one or more microbial strains. In some embodiments, metabolites can be from a source that is not a microbial strain, e.g., synthetically generated. In some embodiments, one or more components or metabolites (e.g. of one or more microbial strains) is a bile acid. In some embodiments, one or more components or metabolites (e.g. of one or more microbial strains) is Tauroursodeoxycholic acid. In some embodiments, one or more components or metabolites is Butyrylcamitine, Theobromine, p-Hydroxyphenylpyruvic acid, Propionic acid, Picolinic acid, 2-Hydroxy-4methylvaleric acid, N6-Acetylysine, Urocanic acid, N5-Ethylglutamine, Trigonelline, Stachydrine, Ectoine, 5-Hydroxylysine, Arginine (arg), Cholic acid, 2-(4-Hydroxyphenyl)propionic acid, N-Acetyltryptophan, Hydroxyproline, Argininosuccinic acid, Glutamic acid (Glu), Sarcosine, 5-Methoxyindoleacetic acid, Indole-3-lactic acid, Isovalerylalanine, N-Acetylleucine, 1-Methylhistidine, N-Acetylephenylalanine, Proline (Pro), or any combination thereof. In some embodiments, one or more components or metabolites is 4-Hydroxyphenylpyruvic, Ectoine, Gramine, N-Acetyl-L-phenylalanine, Nepsilon-Acetyl-L-lysine, Stachydrine, Trigonelline, 3-Ureidopropionic acid, Theobromine, Hippuric acid, Imidazolepropionic acid, NG-Methyl-L-arginine, trans-Urocanic Acid, N-Acetyl-L-leucine, Sarcosine, Isobutyrylcamitine, b-Hydroxyisovaleric acid, L-Theanine/N5-Ethylglutamine, 5-Hydroxylysine, Phenaceturic acid, betaine, hydroxyproline, Picolinic acid, 2-Aminoadipic acid, Glycerophosphocholine, carnitine, Glycerol 3-phosphate, Argininosuccinic acid, creatine, Terephthalic acid, Homocitrulline, Mucic acid, Homocysteinesulfinic acid, Trimethyllysine, Spermidine, Glyoxylic acid, XA0013 C6H6O4S, 3-Indoxylsulfuric acid, Nicotinamide, N-Formylglycine, Ureidoglycolate, N-Methylproline, Glucaric acid, Butyrylcamitine, Methionine sulfoxide, Carboxymethyllysine, Glycolic acid, Phenaceturic acid, Diethanolamine, Phosphorylcholine, Guanidinosuccinic acid, N-Acetylhistidine, Glyceric acid, S-Methylmethionine, Cysteine glutathione disulfide, Kynurenine, N-Acetylphenylalanine, Threonic acid, Malic acid, 7,8-Dihydrobiopterin, Homovanillic acid, Taurocholic acid, 5-Methoxyindoleacetic acid, butyrate, b-Hydroxyisovaleric acid, 2-Oxoglutaric acid, N-Acetyltryptophan, Thiaproline, Hypotaurine, Cholic acid, Acetoacetic acid, Ethanolamine, Guanidoacetic acid, S-Sulfocysteine, Myristic acid C14:0 XA0027, or any combination thereof.
In some embodiments, a composition as described herein is for use in treating or preventing a Vagus nerve-associated disease, disorder, or condition, comprising one or more microbial strains, components thereof, or metabolites thereof. In some embodiments, a composition as described herein is for use in treating, reducing the risk, improving, or preventing one or more of nerve cell damage, nerve ending damage, nerve fiber damage, brain damage, Vagus nerve-associated organ damage, or a combination thereof.
In some embodiments, a composition comprises one or more microbial strains selected from Gluconacetobacter hansenii, Terrisporobacter glycolicus, Coprococcus sp., Lactobacillus plantarum, Clostridium butyricum, Paenibacillus sp., Veillonella sp., Bifidobacterium sp., Bacillus subtilis, Acidaminococcus sp., or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, a composition as described herein is for use as described herein and comprises one or more microbial strains selected from Gluconacetobacter hanseni, Terrisporobacter glycolicus, Coprococcus sp., Lactobacillus plantarum, Veillonella atypica, Bifidobacterium sp., or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, a composition as described herein is for use as described herein and comprises a microbial strain. In some embodiments, a composition as described herein is for use as described herein and comprises a microbial strain is Bacillus subtilis.. In some embodiments, a composition as described herein is for use as described herein and comprises at least two microbial strains selected from a group consisting of Gluconacetobacter hansenii, Terrisporobacter glycolicus, Coprococcus sp., Lactobacillus plantarum, Clostridium butyricum, Paenibacillus sp., Veillonella sp., Bifidobacterium sp., Bacillus subtilis, Acidaminococcus sp., or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, a composition as described herein is for use as described herein and comprises at least two microbial strains selected from a group consisting of Gluconacetobacter hanseni, Terrisporobacter glycolicus, Coprococcus sp., Lactobacillus plantarum, Veillonella atypica, Bifidobacterium sp., or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, a composition as described herein is for use as described herein and comprises at least five microbial strains selected from a group consisting of Gluconacetobacter hansenii, Terrisporobacter glycolicus, Coprococcus sp., Lactobacillus plantarum, Clostridium butyricum, Paenibacillus sp., Veillonella sp., Bifidobacterium sp., Bacillus subtilis, Acidaminococcus sp., or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, a composition as described herein is for use as described herein and comprises at least five microbial strains selected from a group consisting of Gluconacetobacter hanseni, Terrisporobacter glycolicus, Coprococcus sp., Lactobacillus plantarum, Veillonella atypica, Bifidobacterium sp., or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, a composition as described herein is for use as described herein and comprises or consists of Gluconacetobacter hansenii, Terrisporobacter glycolicus, Coprococcus sp., Lactobacillus plantarum, Clostridium butyricum, Paenibacillus sp., Veillonella sp., Bifidobacterium sp., Bacillus subtilis, Acidaminococcus sp.. In some embodiments, a composition as described herein is for use as described herein and comprises or consists of Gluconacetobacter hanseni, Terrisporobacter glycolicus, Coprococcus sp., Lactobacillus plantarum, Veillonella atypica, Bifidobacterium.
The present disclosure provides an injection comprising a composition as described herein.
The present disclosure provides a food supplement comprising a composition as described herein.
The present disclosure provides a kit comprising a composition as described herein for use in treating or preventing a Vagus nerve-associated disease, disorder, or condition.
These, and other aspects encompassed by the present disclosure, are described in more detail below and in the claims.
The scope of the present invention is defined by the claims appended hereto and is not limited by certain embodiments described herein. Those skilled in the art, reading the present specification, will be aware of various modifications that may be equivalent to such described embodiments, or otherwise within the scope of the claims. In general, terms used herein are in accordance with their understood meaning in the art, unless clearly indicated otherwise. Explicit definitions of certain terms are provided below; meanings of these and other terms in particular instances throughout this specification will be clear to those skilled in the art from context.
Use of ordinal terms such as “first,” “second,” “third,” etc., in the claims to modify a claim element does not by itself connote any priority, precedence, or order of one claim element over another or the temporal order in which acts of a method are performed, but are used merely as labels to distinguish one claim element having a certain name from another element having a same name (but for use of the ordinal term) to distinguish the claim elements.
The articles “a” and “an,” as used herein, should be understood to include the plural referents unless clearly indicated to the contrary. Claims or descriptions that include “or” between one or more members of a group are considered satisfied if one, more than one, or all of the group members are present in, employed in, or otherwise relevant to a given product or process unless indicated to the contrary or otherwise evident from the context. In some embodiments, exactly one member of a group is present in, employed in, or otherwise relevant to a given product or process. In some embodiments, more than one, or all group members are present in, employed in, or otherwise relevant to a given product or process. It is to be understood that the invention encompasses all variations, combinations, and permutations in which one or more limitations, elements, clauses, descriptive terms, etc., from one or more of the listed claims is introduced into another claim dependent on the same base claim (or, as relevant, any other claim) unless otherwise indicated or unless it would be evident to one of ordinary skill in the art that a contradiction or inconsistency would arise. Where elements are presented as lists (e.g., in Markush group or similar format), it is to be understood that each subgroup of the elements is also disclosed, and any element(s) can be removed from the group. It should be understood that, in general, where embodiments or aspects are referred to as “comprising” particular elements, features, etc., certain embodiments or aspects “consist,” or “consist essentially of,” such elements, features, etc. For purposes of simplicity, those embodiments have not in every case been specifically set forth in so many words herein. It should also be understood that any embodiment or aspect can be explicitly excluded from the claims, regardless of whether the specific exclusion is recited in the specification.
Administration: As used herein, the term “administration” typically refers to the administration of a composition to a subject or system to achieve delivery of an agent to the subject or system. In some embodiments, the agent is, or is included in, the composition; in some embodiments, the agent is generated through metabolism of the composition or one or more components thereof. Those of ordinary skill in the art will be aware of a variety of routes that may, in appropriate circumstances, be utilized for administration to a subject, for example a human. For example, in some embodiments, administration may be ocular, oral, parenteral, topical, etc. In some particular embodiments, administration may be bronchial (e.g., by bronchial instillation), buccal, dermal (which may be or comprise, for example, one or more of topical to the dermis, intradermal, interdermal, transdermal, etc.), enteral, intra-arterial, intradermal, intragastric, intramedullary, intramuscular, intranasal, intraperitoneal, intrathecal, intravenous, intraventricular, within a specific organ (e. g. intrahepatic), mucosal, nasal, oral, rectal, subcutaneous, sublingual, topical, tracheal (e.g., by intratracheal instillation), vaginal, vitreal, etc. In many embodiments provided by the present disclosure, administration is oral administration. In some embodiments, administration may involve only a single dose. In some embodiments, administration may involve application of a fixed number of doses. In some embodiments, administration may involve dosing that is intermittent (e.g., a plurality of doses separated in time) and/or periodic (e.g., individual doses separated by a common period of time) dosing. In some embodiments, administration may involve continuous dosing (e.g., perfusion) for at least a selected period of time. Administration of cells can be by any appropriate route that results in delivery to a desired location in a subject where at least a portion of the delivered cells or components of the cells remain viable. A period of viability of cells after administration to a subject can be as short as a few hours, e.g., twenty-four hours, to a few days, to as long as several years, i.e., long-term engraftment. In some embodiments, administration comprises delivery of a bacterial extract or preparation comprising one or more bacterial metabolites and/or byproducts but lacking fully viable bacterial cells.
Analog: As used herein, the term “analog” refers to a substance that shares one or more particular structural features, elements, components, or moieties with a reference substance. Typically, an “analog” shows significant structural similarity with the reference substance, for example sharing a core or consensus structure, but also differs in certain discrete ways. In some embodiments, an analog is a substance that can be generated from the reference substance, e.g., by chemical manipulation of the reference substance. In some embodiments, an analog is a substance that can be generated through performance of a synthetic process substantially similar to (e.g., sharing a plurality of steps with) one that generates the reference substance. In some embodiments, an analog is or can be generated through performance of a synthetic process different from that used to generate the reference substance.
Approximately: As applied to one or more values of interest, includes to a value that is similar to a stated reference value. In certain embodiments, the term “approximately” or “about” refers to a range of values that fall within ±10% (greater than or less than) of the stated reference value unless otherwise stated or otherwise evident from the context (except where such number would exceed 100% of a possible value).
Comparable: As used herein, the term “comparable” refers to two or more agents, entities, situations, sets of conditions, subjects, etc., that may not be identical to one another but that are sufficiently similar to permit comparison therebetween so that one skilled in the art will appreciate that conclusions may reasonably be drawn based on differences or similarities observed. In some embodiments, comparable sets of conditions, circumstances, individuals, or populations are characterized by a plurality of substantially identical features and one or a small number of varied features. Those of ordinary skill in the art will understand, in context, what degree of identity is required in any given circumstance for two or more such agents, entities, situations, sets of conditions, etc. to be considered comparable. For example, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that sets of circumstances, individuals, or populations are comparable to one another when characterized by a sufficient number and type of substantially identical features to warrant a reasonable conclusion that differences in results obtained or phenomena observed under or with different sets of circumstances, individuals, or populations are caused by or indicative of the variation in those features that are varied.
Conservative: As used herein, refers to instances when describing a conservative amino acid substitution, including a substitution of an amino acid residue by another amino acid residue having a side chain R group with similar chemical properties (e.g., charge or hydrophobicity). In general, a conservative amino acid substitution will not substantially change the functional properties of interest of a protein, for example, the ability of a receptor to bind to a ligand. Examples of groups of amino acids that have side chains with similar chemical properties include: aliphatic side chains such as glycine (Gly, G), alanine (Ala, A), valine (Val, V), leucine (Leu, L), and isoleucine (Ile, I); aliphatic-hydroxyl side chains such as serine (Ser, S) and threonine (Thr, T); amide-containing side chains such as asparagine (Asn, N) and glutamine (Gln, Q); aromatic side chains such as phenylalanine (Phe, F), tyrosine (Tyr, Y), and tryptophan (Trp, W); basic side chains such as lysine (Lys, K), arginine (Arg, R), and histidine (His, H); acidic side chains such as aspartic acid (Asp, D) and glutamic acid (Glu, E); and sulfur-containing side chains such as cysteine (Cys, C) and methionine (Met, M). Conservative amino acids substitution groups include, for example, valine/leucine/isoleucine (Val/Leu/Ile, V/L/I), phenylalanine/tyrosine (Phe/Tyr, F/Y), lysine/arginine (Lys/Arg, K/R), alanine/valine (Ala/Val, A/V), glutamate/aspartate (Glu/Asp, E/D), and asparagine/glutamine (Asn/Gln, N/Q). In some embodiments, a conservative amino acid substitution can be a substitution of any native residue in a protein with alanine, as used in, for example, alanine scanning mutagenesis. In some embodiments, a conservative substitution is made that has a positive value in the PAM250 log-likelihood matrix disclosed in Gonnet, G.H. et al., 1992, Science 256:1443-1445, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. In some embodiments, a substitution is a moderately conservative substitution wherein the substitution has a nonnegative value in the PAM250 log-likelihood matrix.
Control: As used herein, refers to the art-understood meaning of a “control” being a standard against which results are compared. Typically, controls are used to augment integrity in experiments by isolating variables in order to make a conclusion about such variables. In some embodiments, a control is a reaction or assay that is performed simultaneously with a test reaction or assay to provide a comparator. A “control” also includes a “control animal.” A “control animal” may have a modification as described herein, a modification that is different as described herein, or no modification (i.e., a wild-type animal). In one experiment, a “test” (i.e., a variable being tested) is applied. In a second experiment, the “control,” the variable being tested is not applied. In some embodiments, a control is a historical control (i.e., of a test or assay performed previously, or an amount or result that is previously known). In some embodiments, a control is or comprises a printed or otherwise saved record. A control may be a positive control or a negative control.
Determining, measuring, evaluating, assessing, assaying and analyzing: Determining, measuring, evaluating, assessing, assaying and analyzing are used interchangeably herein to refer to any form of measurement, and include determining if an element is present or not. These terms include both quantitative and/or qualitative determinations. Assaying may be relative or absolute. “Assaying for the presence of” can be determining the amount of something present and/or determining whether or not it is present or absent.
Dosage form: Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the term “dosage form” may be used to refer to a physically discrete unit of an agent (e.g., a therapeutic agent) for administration to a subject. Typically, each such unit contains a predetermined quantity of agent. In some embodiments, such quantity is a unit dosage amount (or a whole fraction thereof) appropriate for administration in accordance with a dosing regimen that has been determined to correlate with a desired or beneficial outcome when administered to a relevant population (i.e., with a therapeutic dosing regimen). Those of ordinary skill in the art appreciate that the total amount of a therapeutic composition or agent administered to a particular subject is determined by one or more attending physicians and may involve administration of multiple dosage forms.
Dosing regimen: Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the term “dosing regimen” may be used to refer to a set of unit doses (typically more than one) that are administered individually to a subject, typically separated by periods of time. In some embodiments, a given agent has a recommended dosing regimen, which may involve one or more doses. In some embodiments, a dosing regimen comprises a plurality of doses each of which is separated in time from other doses. In some embodiments, individual doses are separated from one another by a time period of the same length; in some embodiments, a dosing regimen comprises a plurality of doses and at least two different time periods separating individual doses. In some embodiments, all doses within a dosing regimen are of the same unit dose amount. In some embodiments, different doses within a dosing regimen are of different amounts. In some embodiments, a dosing regimen comprises a first dose in a first dose amount, followed by one or more additional doses in a second dose amount different from the first dose amount. In some embodiments, a dosing regimen comprises a first dose in a first dose amount, followed by one or more additional doses in a second dose amount same as the first dose amount. In some embodiments, a dosing regimen is correlated with a desired or beneficial outcome when administered across a relevant population.
Engineered: In general, the term “engineered” refers to the aspect of having been manipulated by the hand of man. For example, a cell or organism is considered to be “engineered” if it has been manipulated so that its genetic information is altered (e.g., new genetic material not previously present has been introduced, for example by transformation, mating, somatic hybridization, transfection, transduction, or other mechanism, or previously present genetic material is altered or removed, for example by substitution or deletion mutation, or by mating protocols). As is common practice and is understood by those in the art, progeny of an engineered polynucleotide or cell are typically still referred to as “engineered” even though the actual manipulation was performed on a prior entity.
Excipient: As used herein, refers to an inactive (e.g., non-therapeutic) agent that may be included in a pharmaceutical composition, for example to provide or contribute to a desired consistency or stabilizing effect. In some embodiments, suitable pharmaceutical excipients may include, for example, starch, glucose, lactose, sucrose, gelatin, malt, rice, flour, chalk, silica gel, sodium stearate, glycerol monostearate, talc, sodium chloride, dried skim milk, glycerol, propylene, glycol, water, ethanol and the like.
Functional: As used herein, a “functional” biological molecule is a biological molecule in a form in which it exhibits a property and/or activity by which it is characterized. A biological molecule may have two functions (i.e., bifunctional) or many functions (i.e., multifunctional).
Gene: As used herein, refers to a DNA sequence in a chromosome that codes for a product (e.g., an RNA product and/or a polypeptide product). In some embodiments, a gene includes coding sequence (i.e., sequence that encodes a particular product). In some embodiments, a gene includes non-coding sequence. In some particular embodiments, a gene may include both coding (e.g., exonic) and non-coding (e.g., intronic) sequence. In some embodiments, a gene may include one or more regulatory sequences (e.g., promoters, enhancers, etc.) and/or intron sequences that, for example, may control or impact one or more aspects of gene expression (e.g., cell-type-specific expression, inducible expression, etc.). For the purpose of clarity, we note that, as used in the present disclosure, the term “gene” generally refers to a portion of a nucleic acid that encodes a polypeptide or fragment thereof; the term may optionally encompass regulatory sequences, as will be clear from context to those of ordinary skill in the art. This definition is not intended to exclude application of the term “gene” to non-protein-coding expression units but rather to clarify that, in most cases, the term as used in this document refers to a polypeptide-coding nucleic acid.
Improve, increase, enhance, inhibit or reduce: As used herein, the terms “improve,” “increase,” “enhance,” “inhibit,” “reduce,” or grammatical equivalents thereof, indicate values that are relative to a baseline or other reference measurement. In some embodiments, a value is statistically significantly difference that a baseline or other reference measurement. In some embodiments, an appropriate reference measurement may be or comprise a measurement in a particular system (e.g., in a single individual) under otherwise comparable conditions absent presence of (e.g., prior to and/or after) a particular agent or treatment, or in presence of an appropriate comparable reference agent. In some embodiments, an appropriate reference measurement may be or comprise a measurement in comparable system known or expected to respond in a particular way, in presence of the relevant agent or treatment. In some embodiments, an appropriate reference is a negative reference; in some embodiments, an appropriate reference is a positive reference.
Isolated: As used herein, refers to a substance and/or entity that has been (1) separated from at least some of the components with which it was associated when initially produced (whether in nature and/or in an experimental setting), and/or (2) designed, produced, prepared, and/or manufactured by the hand of man. In some embodiments, an isolated substance or entity may be enriched; in some embodiments, an isolated substance or entity may be pure. In some embodiments, isolated substances and/or entities may be separated from about 10%, about 20%, about 30%, about 40%, about 50%, about 60%, about 70%, about 80%, about 90%, about 91%, about 92%, about 93%, about 94%, about 95%, about 96%, about 97%, about 98%, about 99%, or more than about 99% of the other components with which they were initially associated. In some embodiments, isolated agents are about 80%, about 85%, about 90%, about 91%, about 92%, about 93%, about 94%, about 95%, about 96%, about 97%, about 98%, about 99%, or more than about 99% pure. As used herein, a substance is “pure” if it is substantially free of other components. In some embodiments, as will be understood by those skilled in the art, a substance may still be considered “enriched”, “isolated” or even “pure”, after having been combined with certain other components such as, for example, one or more carriers or excipients (e.g., buffer, solvent, water, etc.); in such embodiments, percent isolation or purity of the substance is calculated without including such carriers or excipients. Those skilled in the art are aware of a variety of technologies for isolating (e.g., enriching or purifying) substances or agents (e.g., using one or more of fractionation, extraction, precipitation, or other separation).
Level: As used herein, the term “level” refers to a scale of amount or quantity of a substance (e.g., a metabolite). In some embodiments, a level can be simply the presence or absence of a substance. A level of a substance may be represented in multiple ways or formats. For example, in some embodiments, a level may be represented as a percentage (%), a measure of weight (e.g., mg, µg, ng, etc.), a measure of concentration (e.g., mg/mL, µg/mL, ng/mL, etc.), a measure of volume (e.g., mL, µL, nL, etc.), in % change, etc.
Metabolite: As used herein, the term “metabolite” refers to a substance (e.g., a small molecule, macromolecule, organic compound, or inorganic compound) made or used during metabolism. Metabolism is generally understood as a process by which a substance (e.g., food, drug, chemical, cell, or tissue) is chemically broken down. In some embodiments, a metabolite is an end product. In some embodiments, a metabolite is an intermediate. Exemplary metabolites are provided herein, e.g., in Appendix 1-1, 1-3, 3, and 4. Exemplary metabolic pathways are provided herein, e.g., in Appendix 1-2.
Pharmaceutical composition: As used herein, the term “pharmaceutical composition” refers to a composition in which an active agent is formulated together with one or more pharmaceutically acceptable carriers. In some embodiments, the active agent is present in unit dose amount appropriate for administration in a therapeutic regimen that shows a statistically significant probability of achieving a predetermined therapeutic effect when administered to a relevant population. In some embodiments, a pharmaceutical composition may be specially formulated for administration in solid or liquid form, including those adapted for the following: ophthalmic administration, intravitreal administration, suprachoroidal administration, oral administration, subcutaneous administration, intravenous administration, intramuscular administration, intracerebral administration, intrathecal administration, for example, drenches (aqueous or non-aqueous solutions or suspensions), tablets, e.g., those targeted for buccal, sublingual, and systemic absorption, boluses, powders, granules, pastes for application to the tongue, capsules, powders, etc. In some embodiments, an active agent may be or comprise a cell or population of cells (e.g., a culture, for example of an Ellagitannin-Enzyme-Synthesizing (EES) microbe); in some embodiments, an active agent may be or comprise an extract or component of a cell or population (e.g., culture) of cells. In some embodiments, an active agent may be or comprise an isolated, purified, or pure compound. In some embodiments, an active agent may have been synthesized in vitro (e.g., via chemical and/or enzymatic synthesis). In some embodiments, an active agent may be or comprise a natural product (whether isolated from its natural source or synthesized in vitro).
Pharmaceutically acceptable: As used herein, the term “pharmaceutically acceptable” which, for example, may be used in reference to a carrier, diluent, or excipient used to formulate a pharmaceutical composition as disclosed herein, means that the carrier, diluent, or excipient is compatible with the other ingredients of the composition and not deleterious to the recipient thereof.
Pharmaceutically acceptable carrier: As used herein, the term “pharmaceutically acceptable carrier” means a pharmaceutically-acceptable material, composition or vehicle, such as a liquid or solid filler, diluent, excipient, or solvent encapsulating material, involved in carrying or transporting the subject compound from one organ, or portion of the body, to another organ, or portion of the body. Each carrier must be is “acceptable” in the sense of being compatible with the other ingredients of the formulation and not injurious to the subject (e.g., patient). Some examples of materials which can serve as pharmaceutically-acceptable carriers include: sugars, such as lactose, glucose and sucrose; starches, such as corn starch and potato starch; cellulose, and its derivatives, such as sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose and cellulose acetate; powdered tragacanth; malt; gelatin; talc; excipients, such as cocoa butter and suppository waxes; oils, such as peanut oil, cottonseed oil, safflower oil, sesame oil, olive oil, corn oil and soybean oil; glycols, such as propylene glycol; polyols, such as glycerin, sorbitol, mannitol and polyethylene glycol; esters, such as ethyl oleate and ethyl laurate; agar; buffering agents, such as magnesium hydroxide and aluminum hydroxide; alginic acid; pyrogen-free water; isotonic saline; Ringer’s solution; ethyl alcohol; pH buffered solutions; polyesters, polycarbonates and/or polyanhydrides; and other non-toxic compatible substances employed in pharmaceutical formulations.
Prebiotic: As used herein, a “prebiotic” refers to an ingredient that allows or promotes specific changes, both in the composition and/or activity in the gastrointestinal microbiota that may (or may not) confer benefits upon the host. In some embodiments, a prebiotic can include one or more of the following: the prebiotic comprises a pome extract, berry extract and walnut extract.
Prevention: The term “prevention”, as used herein, refers to a delay of onset, and/or reduction in frequency and/or severity of one or more symptoms of a particular disease, disorder or condition. In some embodiments, prevention is assessed on a population basis such that an agent is considered to “prevent” a particular disease, disorder or condition if a statistically significant decrease in the development, frequency, and/or intensity of one or more symptoms of the disease, disorder or condition is observed in a population susceptible to the disease, disorder, or condition. In some embodiments, prevention may be considered complete, for example, when onset of a disease, disorder or condition has been delayed for a predefined period of time.
Reference: As used herein describes a standard or control relative to which a comparison is performed. For example, in some embodiments, an agent, animal, individual, population, sample, sequence or value of interest is compared with a reference or control agent, animal, individual, population, sample, sequence or value. In some embodiments, a reference or control is tested and/or determined substantially simultaneously with the testing or determination of interest. In some embodiments, a reference or control is a historical reference or control, optionally embodied in a tangible medium. Typically, as would be understood by those skilled in the art, a reference or control is determined or characterized under comparable conditions or circumstances to those under assessment. Those skilled in the art will appreciate when sufficient similarities are present to justify reliance on and/or comparison to a particular possible reference or control. In some embodiments, a reference is a negative control reference; in some embodiments, a reference is a positive control reference.
Risk: As will be understood from context, “risk” of a disease, disorder, and/or condition refers to a likelihood that a particular individual will develop the disease, disorder, and/or condition. In some embodiments, risk is expressed as a percentage. In some embodiments, risk is from 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, or up to 100%. In some embodiments risk is expressed as a risk relative to a risk associated with a reference sample or group of reference samples. In some embodiments, a reference sample or group of reference samples have a known risk of a disease, disorder, condition and/or event. In some embodiments a reference sample or group of reference samples are from individuals comparable to a particular individual. In some embodiments, relative risk is 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, or more.
Sample: As used herein, the term “sample” typically refers to an aliquot of material obtained or derived from a source of interest. In some embodiments, a source of interest is a biological or environmental source. In some embodiments, a source of interest may be or comprise a cell or an organism, such as a microbe, a plant, or an animal (e.g., a human). In some embodiments, a source of interest is or comprises biological tissue or fluid. In some embodiments, a biological tissue or fluid may be or comprise amniotic fluid, aqueous humor, ascites, bile, bone marrow, blood, breast milk, cerebrospinal fluid, cerumen, chyle, chime, ejaculate, endolymph, exudate, feces, gastric acid, gastric juice, lymph, mucus, pericardial fluid, perilymph, peritoneal fluid, pleural fluid, pus, rheum, saliva, sebum, semen, serum, smegma, sputum, synovial fluid, sweat, tears, urine, vaginal secretions, vitreous humour, vomit, plasma, mucous, digestive fluid, stool, and/or combinations or component(s) thereof. In some embodiments, a biological fluid may be or comprise an intracellular fluid, an extracellular fluid, an intravascular fluid (blood plasma), an interstitial fluid, a lymphatic fluid, and/or a transcellular fluid. In some embodiments, a biological fluid may be or comprise a plant exudate. In some embodiments, a biological tissue or sample may be obtained, for example, by aspirate, biopsy (e.g., fine needle or tissue biopsy), swab (e.g., oral, nasal, skin, or vaginal swab), scraping, surgery, washing or lavage (e.g., bronchioalveolar, ductal, nasal, ocular, oral, uterine, vaginal, or other washing or lavage). In some embodiments, a biological sample is or comprises cells obtained from an individual. In some embodiments, a sample is a “primary sample” obtained directly from a source of interest by any appropriate means. In some embodiments, as will be clear from context, the term “sample” refers to a preparation that is obtained by processing (e.g., by removing one or more components of and/or by adding one or more agents to) a primary sample. For example, filtering using a semi-permeable membrane. Such a “processed sample” may comprise, for example nucleic acids or proteins extracted from a sample or obtained by subjecting a primary sample to one or more techniques such as amplification or reverse transcription of nucleic acid, isolation and/or purification of certain components, etc.
Small molecule: As used herein, the term “small molecule” refers to small organic or inorganic molecules of molecular weight below about 3,000 Daltons. In general, small molecules may have a molecular weight of less than 3,000 Daltons (Da). Small molecules can be, e.g., from at least about 100 Da to about 3,000 Da (e.g., between about 100 to about 3,000 Da, about 100 to about 2500 Da, about 100 to about 2,000 Da, about 100 to about 1,750 Da, about 100 to about 1,500 Da, about 100 to about 1,250 Da, about 100 to about 1,000 Da, about 100 to about 750 Da, about 100 to about 500 Da, about 200 to about 1500, about 500 to about 1000, about 300 to about 1000 Da, or about 100 to about 250 Da).
Subject: As used herein, the term “subject” refers to an individual to which a provided treatment is administered. In some embodiments, a subject is animal. In some embodiments, a subject is a mammal, e.g., a mammal that experiences or is susceptible to a disease, disorder, or condition as described herein. In some embodiments, an animal is a vertebrate, e.g., a mammal, such as a non-human primate, (particularly a higher primate), a sheep, a dog, a rodent (e.g. a mouse or rat), a guinea pig, a goat, a pig, a cat, a rabbit, or a cow. In some embodiments, an animal is a non-mammal animal, such as a chicken, an amphibian, a reptile, or an invertebrate model C. elegans. In some embodiments, a subject is a human. In some embodiments, a subject is suffering from or susceptible to one or more diseases, disorders or conditions as described herein. In some embodiments, a subject displays one or more symptoms of a one or more diseases, disorders or conditions as described herein. In some embodiments, a subject has been diagnosed with one or more diseases, disorders or conditions as described herein. In some embodiments, the subject is receiving or has received certain therapy to diagnose and/or to treat a disease, disorder, or condition. In another embodiment, the subject is an experimental animal or animal substitute as a disease model.
Substantially: As used herein, refers to the qualitative condition of exhibiting total or near-total extent or degree of a characteristic or property of interest. One of ordinary skill in the biological arts will understand that biological and chemical phenomena rarely, if ever, go to completion and/or proceed to completeness or achieve or avoid an absolute result. The term “substantially” is therefore used herein to capture the potential lack of completeness inherent in many biological and chemical phenomena.
Therapeutic regimen: A “therapeutic regimen”, as that term is used herein, refers to a dosing regimen whose administration across a relevant population may be correlated with a desired or beneficial therapeutic outcome.
Therapeutically effective amount: As used herein, is meant an amount that produces the desired effect for which it is administered. In some embodiments, the term refers to an amount that is sufficient, when administered to a population suffering from or susceptible to a disease, disorder, and/or condition in accordance with a therapeutic dosing regimen, to treat the disease, disorder, and/or condition. In some embodiments, a therapeutically effective amount is one that reduces the incidence and/or severity of, and/or delays onset of, one or more symptoms of the disease, disorder, and/or condition. Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the term “therapeutically effective amount” does not in fact require successful treatment be achieved in a particular individual. Rather, a therapeutically effective amount may be that amount that provides a particular desired pharmacological response in a significant number of subjects when administered to subjects (e.g., patients) in need of such treatment. In some embodiments, reference to a therapeutically effective amount may be a reference to an amount as measured in one or more specific tissues (e.g., a tissue affected by the disease, disorder or condition) or fluids (e.g., blood, saliva, serum, sweat, tears, urine, etc.). Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that, in some embodiments, a therapeutically effective amount of a particular agent or therapy may be formulated and/or administered in a single dose. In some embodiments, a therapeutically effective agent may be formulated and/or administered in a plurality of doses, for example, as part of a dosing regimen.
Treatment: As used herein, the term “treatment” (also “treat” or “treating”) refers to any administration of a therapy that partially or completely alleviates, ameliorates, relives, inhibits, delays onset of, reduces severity of, and/or reduces incidence of one or more symptoms, features, and/or causes of a particular disease, disorder, and/or condition. In some embodiments, such treatment may be of a subject who does not exhibit signs of the relevant disease, disorder and/or condition and/or of a subject who exhibits only early signs of the disease, disorder, and/or condition. Alternatively, or additionally, such treatment may be of a subject who exhibits one or more established signs of the relevant disease, disorder and/or condition. In some embodiments, treatment may be of a subject who has been diagnosed as suffering from the relevant disease, disorder, and/or condition. In some embodiments, treatment may be of a subject known to have one or more susceptibility factors that are statistically correlated with increased risk of development of the relevant disease, disorder, and/or condition.
Vagus Nerve, a key element of the autonomic nervous system and the 10th cranial nerve modulates, inter alia, the brain-gut axis (i.e. the bidirectional interactions between the brain and the gut; see
As the Vagus nerve is a conduit connecting organs to the brain and carry signals between them, the end to end process between various such connected organs and the brain via the Vagus nerve, performs sub-optimally if one or more of this system’s major components (i) one or more organs, (ii) nerve endings, (iii) nerve fibers, and (iv) brain are not performing as expected. Any one or more of these four major components could be partially compromised (i.e. not functioning as expected, dysfunctional, or sub-performing), examples including but not limited to:
i. One or more compromised organs could provide misinformation to its local Vagus nerve endings, which is then subsequently communicated to the brain via the nerve fibers.
ii. Damaged nerve endings could provide faulty signals even if the nerve fibers were working fine. For example, chronic exposure to toxins could cause such damage.
iii. Compromised/damaged nerve fibers, for example cells making-up the Vagus nerve fibers could have one or more of sub-optimal mitochondrial, lysosomal, proteasomal, and peroxisomal functions. In some embodiments, compromised/damaged nerve fibers, for example cells making-up the Vagus nerve fibers could have one or more cellular components, such as Golgi bodies, ribosomes, etc. that are sub-optimal. Such diminished cellular functionality could also result in distorted signal delivery as described above, even if the nerve endings, respective connected organs, and the brain were fine. Chronic inflammation of the nerve fibers is another factor that could damage the underlying cells resulting in distorted signaling. Furthermore, sustained misfiring or the distorted control signals sent by the brain could also compromise the nerve fibers.
iv. A compromised brain such as with faulty Vagus nerve ending, or with beta amyloids, tangles, or other neuronal damage could also misinterpret the received signals or provide inappropriate regulating signals to the connected organs. For example, misfired signal from brain to an organ could play a role in cytokines storm. In another case, one or more metabolites from bad microbes are able to cross the Blood-Brain Barrier (BBB) resulting in chronic neuronal inflammation. Furthermore, sustained or frequent distorted signals received by the brain via Vagus nerve could also increase neuro inflammation and/or possibly result in cognitive impairment.
Such sub-optimal system will manifest among others as reduced signaling efficacy of the Vagus nerve expressed in terms of the signal characteristics such as frequency, amplitude, phase, duration, polarization, and shape of the signal. Other characteristics include the strength of the signal such as energy delivered, power delivered etc. Some of the examples include:
In short, the signal travelling along the Vagus nerve could be distorted at the origin, along the way through the nerve fibers, or at the receiver. Thus, such distorted signal will result in actions that are at best sub-optimal, or at worst damaging if sustained over time.
Any of the above could lead to chronic inflammation; neuronal, Vagus nerve, or at one or more organs connected to the Vagus Nerve, and sub-optimal immunity control, thus further adversely impacting the functioning of various organs including all four major system components described above. This condition then manifests as various diseases and form a vicious cycle.
Signals traveling via the Vagus nerve report to the brain to expect certain corresponding composition of the blood. A sub-quality signal of any form could create an expectation that may be mismatched or miss what should have been reported.
The present disclosure provides systems and methods comprising certain microbes and their metabolites that may work in a way to improve the functioning of one or more major components of the system described herein (e.g. Vagus nerve system):
These functionality enhancements of the major components across several dimensions provide an improved end to end process. This results in overall healthier components that among other advantages have improved modulation of inflammation and immunity at the organ level, healthier cell level functionality, healthier Vagus nerve, reduced Vagus nerve inflammation, and reduced neuro inflammation thus forming a virtuous cycle.
The present disclosure provides systems and methods for assessing, characterizing, and identifying one or more microbial strains of a microbiome (e.g. to improve the functioning of one or more major components of Vagus nerve system described herein). For example, the present disclosure provides systems and methods for assessing, characterizing, and identifying one or more microbial strains of a microbiome that have one or more abilities. Such systems and methods can be useful for assessing, characterizing, and identifying one or more microbial strains that affect the health of humans, livestock, and/or pets. In some embodiments, one or more microbial strains affect the health of humans, livestock, and/or pets by modulating their respective metabolomes, cell viability, ATP levels, one or more other parameters or features (e.g. of an organ of a subject), or a combination thereof to prevent, treat, or reduce the risk of suffering from a disease, disorder, or condition (e.g. associated with Vagus nerve) as disclosed herein. For example, technologies described herein may result in modulating the metabolome, improve cell viability, increase ATP levels, modulate one or more other parameters or features (e.g. level of cell viability, level or activity of a nucleic acid or protein, or form thereof, mitochondrial function, peroxisomal function, ATP levels, proteasomal function, lysosomal function, oxidative stress, inflammation, neuronal damage (e.g. with beta amyloids, tangles, etc.), nerve fiber damage, nerve ending damage, brain damage, etc.), or a combination thereof of the subject that results in a decrease in production of toxic components and/or components that suggest or are a marker for cellular damage (e.g. neuronal cellular damage (e.g. increased blood levels of neurofilament light protein (NF-L)) in a subject (e.g. in blood of a subject).
The present disclosure also provides systems and methods for manufacturing a pharmaceutical composition that comprise assessing, characterizing, and identifying one or more microbial strains of a microbiome.
In some embodiments, assessing, characterizing, and identifying one or more microbial strains from a microbiome of a snake, lizard, fish, or bird. In some embodiments, assessing, characterizing, and identifying one or more microbial strains from a mammalian microbiome. A mammalian microbiome can be a canine, a feline, an equine, a bovine, an ovine, a caprine, or a porcine microbiome. In some embodiments, a microbiome used in a system or method described herein may prevent or treat a disease or condition.
A microbiome can be isolated from any system or tissue of an organism that supports microbial growth. For example, a microbiome can be a cutaneous microbiome, an oral microbiome, a nasal microbiome, a gastrointestinal microbiome, a brain microbiome, a pulmonary microbiome, or a urogenital microbiome. A list of exemplary microbial strains found in a gastrointestinal microbiome is included below in Table 1. A microbiome sample can be obtained by various ways. For example, a cutaneous, oral, nasal, pulmonary, or urogenital microbiome sample could be obtained using a swab or tissue scrapping. In some embodiments, a gastrointestinal microbiome could be sampled from feces. A cutaneous microbiome, an oral microbiome, a nasal microbiome, a gastrointestinal microbiome, a brain microbiome, a pulmonary microbiome, or a urogenital microbiome sample could be obtained via a biopsy.
In some embodiments, a microbiome is a microbiome of a healthy individual or an individual who does not suffer from or is not at risk of developing a particular disease or disorder. In some embodiments, a microbiome is a microbiome of an individual that suffers from or is at risk of developing a particular disease, disorder, or condition. In some embodiments, a microbiome is a microbiome of an individual who is known to suffer from a particular disease, disorder, or condition. In some embodiments, a human microbiome is a microbiome of a human with an unknown risk for one or more diseases, disorders, or conditions.
In some embodiments, a microbiome is a reference microbiome. A reference microbiome can be a microbiome of a healthy individual or an individual who does not suffer from or is not at risk of developing a particular disease, disorder, or condition. In some instances, a reference microbiome may be from the same individual as a microbiome to be assessed or characterized, but was obtained at a different time. In some instances, a reference microbiome may be from the same individual as a microbiome to be assessed or characterized, but was obtained from a different system or tissue.
In some embodiments, an individual microbial strain or a combination of microbial strains may be assessed, characterized, or identified in a different relative amount than such strain or strains are found in a microbiome. For example, the effect of modulation of a cell or organism in response to a single strain may be assessed, characterized, or identified using in vitro methods (e.g. mammalian cells) or in vivo methods using mammals (e.g. mice, humans, etc.) as described herein. In some embodiments, for example, the effect of modulation of a cell or organism to treat, prevent, or reduce the risk on a disease, disorder, or condition (e.g. a Vagus nerve-associated disease, disorder, or condition as described herein) may be assessed, characterized, or identified using in vitro methods (e.g. mammalian cells) or in vivo methods using mammals (e.g. mice, humans, etc.) as described herein. In some embodiments, for example, the effect of modulation of a cell or organism to treat, prevent, or reduce the risk on a disease, disorder, or condition (e.g. a Vagus nerve-associated disease, disorder, or condition as described herein) by modulating one or more metabolites of the cell or organism, one or features or parameters (e.g. level of cell viability, level or activity of a nucleic acid or protein, or form thereof, mitochondrial function, peroxisomal function, ATP levels, proteasomal function, lysosomal function, oxidative stress, inflammation, neuronal damage (e.g. with beta amyloids, tangles, etc.), nerve fiber damage, nerve ending damage, brain damage, etc.) of the cell or organism, or a combination thereof may be assessed, characterized, or identified using in vitro methods (e.g. mammalian cells) or in vivo methods using mammals (e.g. mice, humans, etc.) as described herein. As another example, the effect of modulation (e.g. of levels of one or more metabolites) of a cell or organism to treat, prevent, or reduce the risk on a disease, disorder, or condition, as described herein, in response to two microbial strains may be assessed, characterized, or identified together using methods described herein.
An extract, component, or compound of a microbial strain may also be assessed, characterized, or identified using methods described herein. In some cases, an extract, component, or compound of a microbial strain that has been determined to treat, prevent, or reduce the risk on a disease, disorder, or condition, as described herein, in an organism (e.g. mammal) may be assessed, characterized, or identified. Assessing, characterizing or identifying an extract, component, or compound of a microbial strain that treats, prevents, or reduces the risk on a disease, disorder, or condition in an organism (e.g. mammal) may provide additional information about potential biomarkers, targets, or protective agents in a microbiome.
A variety of technologies can be used to prepare extracts of microbial strains, and/or to isolate extracts, components, or compounds therefrom, or to process (e.g., to isolate and/or purify one or more components or compounds from). To give but a few examples, such technologies may include, for example, one or more of organic extraction, vacuum concentration, chromatography, and so on.
The present disclosure provides the insight that compositions (e.g. microbiome compositions) as described herein can be used to treat, prevent, and/or reduce the risk of a disease, disorder, or condition of an organism (e.g. a mammal (e.g. a human)) by contacting the composition(s) (e.g., feeding the compositions to, administering to) with an organism. In some embodiments, an organism may suffer from or be at risk of suffering from a disease, disorder, or condition (e.g. mammalian disease, disorder, or condition). To determine whether one or more compositions treats, prevents, or reduces the risk of a disease, disorder, or condition (e.g. a Vagus nerve-associated disease, disorder, or condition), levels of one or more metabolites can be observed, measured, or assessed in samples that have been contacted with the one or more compositions. For example, levels of the one or more metabolites can be observed, measured, or assessed in samples at different times (e.g. before administration of composition, after administration of composition, during administration of composition, etc.). To determine whether one or more compositions treats, prevents, or reduces the risk of a disease, disorder, or condition (e.g. a Vagus nerve-associated disease, disorder, or condition), one or more features or parameters may be observed, measured, or assessed in samples that have been contacted with the one or more compositions. For example, one or more features or parameters may be observed, measured, or assessed in samples at different times (e.g. before administration of composition, after administration of composition, during administration of composition, etc.).
In some embodiments, methods described herein utilize a first sample and a second sample. In some embodiments, a first sample is a reference sample. In some embodiments, a reference sample can be a sample obtained from a subject who is contacted with (e.g., administered or fed) a composition, e.g., CT10 composition, CT6 composition, or CT6m composition. In some embodiments, a reference sample can be a sample obtained from a subject who is contacted with (e.g., administered or fed) a composition, e.g., CT10 composition, CT6 composition, or CT6m composition, at a first time point. In some embodiments, a reference sample can be a sample obtained from a subject prior to being contacted with (e.g., administered or fed) a composition, e.g., CT10 composition, CT6 composition, or CT6m composition. In some embodiments, a reference sample can be a sample obtained from a healthy individual. In some embodiments, a reference sample can be a sample obtained from an individual who is suffering from or may have a risk for a disease, disorder, or condition (e.g. Vagus nerve-associated disease, disorder, or condition). In some embodiments, a reference sample is a control sample. In some embodiments, a reference sample is a negative control sample. In some embodiments, a reference sample is a positive control sample. In some embodiments, a reference sample may be a historic reference (e.g. value across control samples). In some embodiments, a reference sample may be from a printed publication (e.g. a text book, a journal, etc.).
In some embodiments, a second sample can be a test sample. In some embodiments, a test sample may be a sample obtained from a subject who is contacted with (e.g., administered or fed) a composition, e.g., CT10 composition, CT6 composition, or CT6m composition. In some instances, a subject (e.g. patient or population) may be suffering from or at risk of a disease, disorder, or condition (e.g. a Vagus nerve-associated disease, disorder, or condition). In some instances, a subject (e.g. patient or population) may have an unknown risk for one or more diseases, disorders, or conditions as described herein. In some embodiments, a test can be a sample obtained from a subject who is contacted with (e.g., administered or fed) a composition, e.g., CT10 composition, CT6 composition, or CT6m composition, at a second time point.
In some embodiments, methods described herein comprise comparing one or more metabolite levels (e.g. a metabolome), or one or more parameters or features (e.g. level of cell viability, level or activity of a nucleic acid or protein, or form thereof, mitochondrial function, peroxisomal function, ATP levels, proteasomal function, lysosomal function, oxidative stress, inflammation, neuronal damage (e.g. with beta amyloids, tangles, etc.), nerve fiber damage, nerve ending damage, brain damage, etc.) obtained from a test sample with one or more metabolite levels (e.g. a metabolome), or one or more parameters or features (e.g. level of cell viability, level or activity of a nucleic acid or protein, or form thereof, mitochondrial function, peroxisomal function, ATP levels, proteasomal function, lysosomal function, oxidative stress, inflammation, neuronal damage (e.g. with beta amyloids, tangles, etc.), nerve fiber damage, nerve ending damage, brain damage, etc.) obtained from a reference sample. In some embodiments, by comparing one or more metabolite levels, parameters, or features obtained from a test sample with one or more metabolite levels, parameters, or features obtained from a reference sample, a composition described herein can be assessed, characterized or identified as being useful for treating, preventing, or reducing the risk of suffering from a disease, disorder, or condition (e.g. a Vagus nerve-associated disease, disorder, or condition) as described herein. In some embodiments, by comparing one or more metabolite levels, parameters, or features obtained from a test sample with one or more metabolite levels, parameters, or features obtained from a reference sample, it can be determined that a composition as disclosed herein increases the severity or incidence of a disease, disorder, or condition phenotype. In some embodiments, by comparing one or more metabolite levels, parameters, or features obtained from a test sample with one or more metabolite levels, parameters, or features obtained from a reference sample, it can be determined that a composition as disclosed herein decreases the severity or incidence of a disease, disorder, or condition phenotype. In some embodiments, by comparing one or more metabolite levels, parameters, or features obtained from a test sample with one or more metabolite levels, parameters, or features obtained from a reference sample, it can be determined that a composition as disclosed herein has no effect on the severity or incidence of a disease, disorder, or condition phenotype. In some embodiments, by comparing one or more metabolite levels, parameters, or features obtained from a test sample with one or more metabolite levels, parameters, or features obtained from a reference sample, it can be determined that a composition as disclosed herein prevents a disease, disorder, or condition phenotype.
The present disclosure also provides the recognition that compositions and methods provided herein can be used to monitor progression of a disease, disorder, or condition (e.g. a Vagus nerve-associated disease, disorder, or condition) in an individual. For example, if metabolite levels, parameters or features (e.g. level of cell viability, level or activity of a nucleic acid or protein, or form thereof, mitochondrial function, peroxisomal function, ATP levels, proteasomal function, lysosomal function, oxidative stress, inflammation, neuronal damage (e.g. with beta amyloids, tangles, etc.), nerve fiber damage, nerve ending damage, brain damage, etc.) determined to increase the severity of a disease, disorder, or condition decrease in relative amount, it may indicate that the disease, disorder, or condition is being attenuated, e.g., by treatment or immune response.
The present disclosure also provides the insight that compositions and methods provided herein can be used to tailor treatments (e.g., therapies, nutraceuticals, and/or probiotics) to an individual patient. In some embodiments, compositions and methods provided herein can provide “personalized” therapy. In some cases, metabolite levels, features or parameters (e.g. level of cell viability, level or activity of a nucleic acid or protein, or form thereof, mitochondrial function, peroxisomal function, ATP levels, proteasomal function, lysosomal function, oxidative stress, inflammation, neuronal damage (e.g. with beta amyloids, tangles, etc.), nerve fiber damage, nerve ending damage, brain damage, etc.) within an individual can be assessed, characterized, or identified to determine if they have a disease, disorder, or condition. Based on the results, the individual can be treated with one or more compositions to adjust the metabolite levels (i.e., their metabolome), features or parameters. In some instances, this will affect the disease, disorder, or condition the individual is suffering from or at risk of developing. For example, if an individual is determined to have a relatively low amount of one or more metabolite levels that have been determined to decrease the severity of a disease, disorder, or condition, administration of the one or more compositions that have been determined to decrease the severity of a disease, disorder, or condition to the individual (or an extract, component, or compound thereof) may attenuate the severity of the individual’s disease or condition.
The present disclosure provides the insight that compositions and methods provided herein can be used recursively to treat, prevent, or ameliorate a disease, disorder, or condition. In some embodiments, for example, one or more compositions disclosed herein may be administered (e.g. fed, injected, etc.) to a subject after determining the effect of one or more compositions on subject’s metabolite levels, or after determining the effect of one or more compositions on subject’s features or parameters (e.g. level of cell viability, level or activity of a nucleic acid or protein, or form thereof, mitochondrial function, peroxisomal function, ATP levels, proteasomal function, lysosomal function, oxidative stress, inflammation, neuronal damage (e.g. with beta amyloids, tangles, etc.), nerve fiber damage, nerve ending damage, brain damage, etc.). In some embodiments, a composition may be administered once. In some embodiments, a composition may be administered more than once. In some embodiments, a composition may be administered daily, weekly, biweekly, monthly, bimonthly, etc. In each of these instances, levels of one or more metabolites, or changes in features or parameters may be monitored. In some embodiments, levels of one or more metabolites (e.g. metabolome) or changes in features or parameters may be monitored before administration of a composition. In some embodiments, levels of one or more metabolites (e.g. metabolome) or changes in features or parameters may be monitored after administration of a composition.
Provided herein are compositions comprising individual microbial strains or combinations of microbial strains, metabolites thereof, extracts thereof, or components thereof. In some embodiments, a composition comprises individual microbial strains or combinations of microbial strains from a mammalian microbiome, metabolites thereof, extracts thereof, and/or components thereof, which have been assessed, identified, characterized or assayed using methods as described herein. In some embodiments, a composition provided herein comprises one or more, two or more, three or more, four or more, five or more, six or more, seven or more, eight or more, nine or more, or ten or more microbial strains from a mammalian microbiome, extracts thereof, metabolites thereof, and/or components thereof, which have been assessed, identified, characterized or assayed using methods as described herein.
Provided herein are also compositions comprising one or more components or metabolites. In some embodiments, components or metabolites in compositions herein are from a source that is not a microbial strain, e.g., synthetically generated. In some embodiments, components or metabolites in a composition may have been identified from a microbial strain, but are independent from a microbial strain and are not produced by a microbial strain, e.g., they can be synthetically generated.
In some embodiments, a composition provided herein comprises two or more, three or more, four or more, five or more, six or more, seven or more, eight or more, nine or more, or ten or more microbial strains listed in Table 1 below.
Bacteroides pectinophilus
Exiguobacterium mexicanum
Acetobacter sp
Faecalibacterium prausnitzii
Acetobacterium tundrae
Faecalitalea cylindroides
Achromobacter aegrifaciens
Finegoldia magna
Achromobacter insuavis
Flavonifractor plautii
Achromobacter piechaudii
Flintibacter butyricus
Achromobacter xylosoxidans
Fusicatenibacter saccharivorans
Acidaminococcus fermentans
Fusobacterium gonidiaformans
Acidaminococcus intestini
Fusobacterium mortiferum
Acinetobacter baumannii
Fusobacterium nucleatum
Acinetobacter junii
Fusobacterium ulcerans
Actinomyces sp.
Fusobacterium varium
Agathobacter rectalis
Gardnerella vaginalis
Agathobaculum butyriciproducens
Gemella haemolysans
Aggregatibacter segnis
Gemella sanguinis
Akkermansia muciniphila
Gemmiger formicilis
Alistipes finegoldii
Gluconacetobacter sp
Alistipes indistinctus
Gluconobacter sp
Alistipes onderdonkii
Gordonibacter pamelaeae
Alistipes putredinis
Granulicatella adiacens
Alistipes shahii
Grimontia hollisae
Allisonella histaminiformans
Haemophilus parainfluenzae
Anaerobaculum hydrogeniformans
Harryflintia acetispora
Anaerococcus hydrogenalis
Helicobacter bilis
Anaerococcus octavius
Helicobacter bizzozeronii
Anaerococcus prevotii
Helicobacter canadensis
Anaerococcus tetradius
Helicobacter cinaedi
Anaerococcus vaginalis
Helicobacter pullorum
Anaerofilum agile
Helicobacter pylori
Anaerofustis stercorihominis
Helicobacter winghamensis
Anaerosporobacter mobilis
Holdemanella biformis
Anaerostipes caccae
Holdemania filiformis
Anaerostipes hadrus
Holdemania massiliensis
Anaerostipes rhamnosivorans
Hungatella effluvii
Anaerotruncus colihominis
Hungatella hathewayi
Anaerovorax odorimutans
Intestinimonas butyriciproducens
Arcobacter butzleri
Kineothrix alysoides
Asaccharobacter celatus
Kingella oralis
Atopobium parvulum
Klebsiella pneumoniae
Atopobium vaginae
Klebsiella pneumoniae subsp. ozaenae
Bacillus cereus
Klebsiella pneumoniae subsp. pneumoniae
Bacillus coagulans
Klebsiella pneumoniae subsp. rhinoscleromatis
Bacillus licheniformis
Klebsiella quasipneumoniae subsp. quasipneumoniae
Bacillus pseudomycoides
Klebsiella singaporensis
Bacillus sonorensis
Klebsiella variicola
Bacillus toyonensis
Lachnobacterium bovis
Bacillus wiedmannii
Lachnospira multipara
Bacteroides caccae
Lachnospira pectinoschiza
Bacteroides cellulosilyticus
Lactobacillus acidophilus
Bacteroides clarus
Lactobacillus amylolyticus
Bacteroides coprocola
Lactobacillus amylovorus
Bacteroides coprophilus
Lactobacillus antri
Bacteroides dorei
Lactobacillus brevis subsp. Gravesensis
Bacteroides eggerthii
Lactobacillus buchneri
Bacteroides faecis
Lactobacillus casei
Bacteroides finegoldii
Lactobacillus coryniformis subsp. Coryniformis
Bacteroides fluxus
Lactobacillus crispatus
Bacteroides fragilis
Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. Bulgaricus
Bacteroides intestinalis
Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. indicus
Bacteroides massiliensis
Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. Lactis
Bacteroides nordii
Lactobacillus fermentum
Bacteroides oleiciplenus
Lactobacillus fructivorans
Bacteroides ovatus
Lactobacillus gasseri
Bacteroides plebeius
Lactobacillus helveticus
Bacteroides salanitronis
Lactobacillus hilgardii
Bacteroides salyersiae
Lactobacillus iners
Bacteroides stercoris
Lactobacillus jensenii
Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron
Lactobacillus johnsonii
Bacteroides uniformis
Lactobacillus mucosae
Bacteroides vulgatus
Lactobacillus oris
Bacteroides xylanisolvens
Lactobacillus paracasei
Bacteroides xylanolyticus
Lactobacillus paracasei subsp. tolerans
Barnesiella intestinihominis
Lactobacillus pentosus
Bartonella clarridgeiae
Lactobacillus plantarum subsp. plantarum
Bartonella quintana str. Toulouse
Lactobacillus reuteri
Bifidobacterium adolescentis
Lactobacillus rhamnosus
Bifidobacterium angulatum
Lactobacillus rogosae
Bifidobacterium animalis
Lactobacillus ruminis
Bifidobacterium bifidum
Lactobacillus salivarius
Bifidobacterium breve
Lactobacillus ultunensis
Bifidobacterium catenulatum
Lactobacillus vaginalis
Bifidobacterium coryneforme
Lactococcus formosensis
Bifidobacterium dentium
Lactococcus garvieae
Bifidobacterium faecale
Lactococcus lactis subsp. Cremoris
Bifidobacterium gallicum
Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis
Bifidobacterium longum
Lactonifactor longoviformis
Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis
Laribacter hongkongensis
Bifidobacterium longum subsp. longum
Lautropia mirabilis
Bifidobacterium longum subsp. suis
Leptotrichia buccalis
Bifidobacterium pseudocatenulatum
Leptotrichia hofstadii
Bifidobacterium pseudolongum
Leuconostoc lactis
Bifidobacterium stercoris
Leuconostoc mesenteroides subsp. Cremoris
Bilophila wadsworthia
Listeria grayi
Bittarella massiliensis
Listeria monocytogenes
Blautia coccoides
Longicatena caecimuris
Blautia faecis
Marvinbryantia formatexigens
Blautia glucerasea
Megamonas funiformis
Blautia hansenii
Megamonas rupellensis
Blautia hydrogenotrophica
Megasphaera elsdenii
Blautia luti
Megasphaera indica
Blautia obeum
Megasphaera micronuciformis
Blautia producta
Megasphaera paucivorans
Blautia schinkii
Methanobrevibacter smithii
Blautia stercoris
Methanomassiliicoccus luminyensis
Blautia wexlerae
Methanosphaera stadtmanae
Bradyrhizobium japonicum
Methylobacterium radiotolerans
Burkholderia ambifaria
Mitsuokella jalaludinii
Burkholderia cenocepacia
Mitsuokella multacida
Burkholderia glumae
Mobiluncus mulieris
Burkholderia multivorans
Mogibacterium timidum
Burkholderia plantarii
Mogibacterium vescum
Butyricicoccus faecihominis
Moraxella catarrhalis
Butyricicoccus pullicaecorum
Morganella morganii subsp. morganii
Butyricimonas faecihominis
Murdochiella asaccharolytica
Butyricimonas paravirosa
Mycobacterium abscessus
Butyricimonas virosa
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Butyrivibrio crossotus
Mycoplasma hominis
Campylobacter coli
Neisseria cinerea
Campylobacter concisus
Neisseria flavescens
Campylobacter curvus
Neisseria macacae
Campylobacter gracilis
Neisseria mucosa
Campylobacter hominis
Neisseria sicca
Campylobacter jejuni subsp. Jejuni
Neisseria subflava
Campylobacter showae
Nitrobacter hamburgensis
Campylobacter upsaliensis
Nitrobacter winogradskyi
Candidatus Dorea massiliensis
Odoribacter laneus
Candidatus Stoquefichus massiliensis
Odoribacter splanchnicus
Capnocytophaga gingivalis
Olsenella profusa
Capnocytophaga sputigena
Olsenella scatoligenes
Cardiobacterium hominis
Olsenella uli
Catenibacterium mitsuokai
Oribacterium sinus
Catonella morbi
Oscillibacter ruminantium
Cedecea lapagei
Oscillibacter valericigenes
Citrobacter amalonaticus
Oscillospira guilliermondii
Citrobacter freundii
Oxalobacter formigenes
Citrobacter koseri
Paenibacillus jamilae
Citrobacter youngae
Paenibacillus kribbensis
Clostridium acetobutryicum
Paenibacillus riograndensis
Clostridium aerotolerans
Paeniclostridium sordellii
Clostridium aldenense
Parabacteroides distasonis
Clostridium aminophilum
Parabacteroides goldsteinii
Clostridium aminovalericum
Parabacteroides gordonii
Clostridium amygdalinum
Parabacteroides johnsonii
Clostridium asparagiforme
Parabacteroides merdae
Clostridium baratii
Paraprevotella clara
Clostridium bartlettii
Paraprevotella xylaniphila
Clostridium beijerinckii
Parasutterella excrementihominis
Clostridium bifermentans
Parasutterella secunda
Clostridium bolteae
Parvimonas micra
Clostridium butyricum
Pediococcus acidilactici
Clostridium celerecrescens
Pediococcus pentosaceus
Clostridium cf. saccharolyticum
Peptoniphilus duerdenii
Clostridium citroniae
Peptoniphilus grossensis
Clostridium clariflavum
Peptoniphilus harei
Clostridium clostridioforme
Peptoniphilus indolicus
Clostridium cocleatum
Peptostreptococcus anaerobius
Clostridium colinum
Phascolarctobacterium faecium
Clostridium difficile
Phascolarctobacterium succinatutens
Clostridium glycyrrhizinilyticum
Porphyromonas asaccharolytica
Clostridium hathewayi
Porphyromonas endodontalis
Clostridium herbivorans
Porphyromonas gingivalis
Clostridium hiranonis
Prevotella bivia
Clostridium hylemonae
Prevotella buccae
Clostridium innocuum
Prevotella copri
Clostridium lactatifermentans
Prevotella disiens
Clostridium lavalense
Prevotella marshii
Clostridium leptum
Prevotella melaninogenica
Clostridium methoxybenzovorans
Prevotella nigrescens
Clostridium methylpentosum
Prevotella pallens
Clostridium nexile
Prevotella salivae
Clostridium orbiscindens
Prevotella stercorea
Clostridium oroticum
Prevotella tannerae
Clostridium perfringens
Prevotella timonensis
Clostridium polysaccharolyticum
Propionibacterium acnes
Clostridium propionicum
Propionibacterium avidum
Clostridium ramosum
Propionibacterium namnetense
Clostridium rectum
Proteus mirabilis
Clostridium saccharogumia
Proteus penneri
Clostridium saccharolyticum
Providencia alcalifaciens
Clostridium sardiniense
Providencia rettgeri
Clostridium saudii
Providencia rustigianii
Clostridium scindens
Providencia stuartii
Clostridium sordellii
Pseudoflavonifractor capillosus
Clostridium sphenoides
Ralstonia sp.
Clostridium spiroforme
Robinsoniella peoriensis
Clostridium sporogenes
Roseburia cecicola
Clostridium sticklandii
Roseburia faecis
Clostridium straminisolvens
Roseburia hominis
Clostridium symbiosum
Roseburia intestinalis
Clostridium tertium
Roseburia inulinivorans
Clostridium thermocellum
Rothia dentocariosa
Clostridium xylanolyticum
Ruminococcus albus
Clostridium xylanovorans
Ruminococcus bromii
Collinsella aerofaciens
Ruminococcus callidus
Collinsella intestinalis
Ruminococcus faecis
Collinsella stercoris
Ruminococcus gnavus
Collinsella tanakaei
Ruminococcus lactaris
Coprobacillus cateniformis
Ruminococcus obeum
Coprobacter fastidiosus
Ruminococcus torques
Coprococcus catus
Ruthenibacterium lactatiformans
Coprococcus comes
Sarcina ventriculi
Coprococcus eutactus
Sellimonas intestinalis
Corynebacterium ammoniagenes
Senegalimassilia anaerobia
Corynebacterium matruchotii
Shigella boydii
Corynebacterium pseudogenitalium
Shigella dysenteriae
Corynebacterium tuberculostearicum
Shigella flexneri
Deinococcus radiodurans
Shigella sonnei
Dermabacter hominis
Slackia faecicanis
Desulfotomaculum guttoideum
Slackia isoflavoniconvertens
Desulfovibrio legallis
Slackia piriformis
Desulfovibrio piger
Solobacterium moorei
Dialister invisus
Staphylococcus caprae
Dialister microaerophilus
Staphylococcus epidermidis
Dialister succinatiphilus
Staphylococcus hominis subsp. Hominis
Dielma fastidiosa
Staphylococcus lugdunensis
Dorea formicigenerans
Staphylococcus warneri
Dorea longicatena
Streptococcus agalactiae
Dysgonomonas mossii
Streptococcus anginosus
Edwardsiella tarda
Streptococcus anginosus subsp. whileyi
Eggerthella lenta
Streptococcus australis
Eggerthella sinensis
Streptococcus bovis
Eikenella corrodens
Streptococcus constellatus subsp. constellatus
Eisenbergiella tayi
Streptococcus equinus
Enhydrobacter aerosaccus
Streptococcus gallolyticus subsp. pasteuri
Enterobacter aerogenes
Streptococcus gallolyticus subsp. pasteurianus
Enterobacter asburiae
Streptococcus gordonii
Enterobacter cancerogenus
Streptococcus gordonii str. Challis
Enterobacter cloacae
Streptococcus infantarius
Enterobacter hormaechei
Streptococcus infantarius subsp. coli
Enterobacter kobei
Streptococcus infantarius subsp. Infantarius
Enterobacter ludwigii
Streptococcus infantis
Enterobacter xiangfangensis
Streptococcus lactarius
Enterococcus asini
Streptococcus lutetiensis
Enterococcus avium
Streptococcus mutans
Enterococcus casseliflavus
Streptococcus parasanguinis
Enterococcus durans
Streptococcus pasteurianus
Enterococcus faecalis
Streptococcus pleomorphus
Enterococcus faecium
Streptococcus rubneri
Enterococcus gallinarum
Streptococcus salivarius
Enterococcus hirae
Streptococcus salivarius subsp. salivarius
Enterococcus mundtii
Streptococcus sanguinis
Enterococcus raffinosus
Streptococcus thermophilus
Enterococcus raffinosus
Streptococcus vestibularis
Erysipelotrichaceae bacterium
Subdoligranulum variabile
Escherichia albertii
Succinatimonas hippei
Escherichia coli
Sutterella parvirubra
Escherichia fergusonii
Sutterella stercoricanis
Eubacterium biforme
Sutterella wadsworthensis
Eubacterium callanderi
Terrisporobacter glycolicus
Eubacterium contortum
Turicibacter sanguinis
Eubacterium cylindroides
Ureaplasma parvum
Eubacterium desmolans
Vagococcus penaei
Eubacterium dolichum
Varibaculum cambriense
Eubacterium eligens
Veillonella sp.
Eubacterium hadrum
Veillonella dispar
Eubacterium hallii
Veillonella parvula
Eubacterium infirmum
Veillonella rogosae
Eubacterium limosum
Veillonella tobetsuensis
Eubacterium oxidoreducens
Vibrio cholerae
Eubacterium ramulus
Vibrio furnissii
Eubacterium rectale
Vibrio mimicus
Eubacterium ruminantium
Victivallis vadensis
Eubacterium saburreum
Weissella cibaria
Eubacterium siraeum
Weissella confusa
Eubacterium sulci
Weissella paramesenteroides
Eubacterium tortuosum
Xenorhabdus nematophila
Eubacterium ventriosum
Yersinia enterocolitica subsp. Palearctica
Eubacterium xylanophilum
Yersinia pseudotuberculosis
Eubacterium yurii subsp. Margaretiae
In some embodiments, a composition provided herein comprises Gluconacetobacter hansenii, Terrisporobacter glycolicus, Coprococcus sp., Lactobacillus plantarum, Clostridium butyricum, Paenibacillus sp., Veillonella sp., Bifidobacterium sp., Bacillus subtilis, Acidaminococcus sp., or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, a composition comprises at least two of, at least three of, at least four of, at least five of, at least six of, at least seven of, at least eight of, at least nine of, or all of Gluconacetobacter hansenii, Terrisporobacter glycolicus, Coprococcus sp., Lactobacillus plantarum, Clostridium butyricum, Paenibacillus sp., Veillonella sp., Bifidobacterium sp., Bacillus subtilis, and Acidaminococcus sp. In some embodiments, for example, a composition comprises all of Gluconacetobacter hansenii, Terrisporobacter glycolicus, Coprococcus sp., Lactobacillus plantarum, Clostridium butyricum, Paenibacillus sp., Veillonella sp., Bifidobacterium sp., Bacillus subtilis, and Acidaminococcus sp., and may be referred to by different names, including but not limited to, CT10 composition, CT10 cocktail, and so forth.
In some embodiments, a composition provided herein comprises Gluconacetobacter hanseni, Terrisporobacter glycolicus, Coprococcus sp., Lactobacillus plantarum, Veillonella sp., Bifidobacterium sp., or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, a composition comprises at least two of, at least three of, at least four of, at least five of, or all of Gluconacetobacter hanseni, Terrisporobacter glycolicus, Coprococcus sp., Lactobacillus plantarum, Veillonella sp., and Bifidobacterium sp.. In some embodiments, for example, a composition comprises all of Gluconacetobacter hanseni, Terrisporobacter glycolicus, Coprococcus sp., Lactobacillus plantarum, Veillonella sp., and Bifidobacterium sp. and may be referred to by different names, including but not limited to, CT6 composition, CT6 cocktail, and so forth. In some embodiments, a composition provided herein comprises Gluconacetobacter hanseni, Terrisporobacter glycolicus, Coprococcus catus, Lactobacillus plantarum, Veillonella atypica, Bifidobacterium breve, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, a composition comprises at least two of, at least three of, at least four of, at least five of, or all of Gluconacetobacter hanseni, Terrisporobacter glycolicus, Coprococcus catus, Lactobacillus plantarum, Veillonella atypica, and Bifidobacterium breve. In some embodiments, for example, a composition comprises all of Gluconacetobacter hanseni, Terrisporobacter glycolicus, Coprococcus catus, Lactobacillus plantarum, Veillonella atypica, and Bifidobacterium breve and may be referred to by different names, including but not limited to, CT6 composition, CT6 cocktail, and so forth.
In some embodiments, a composition provided herein comprises one or more, two or more, three or more, four or more, five or more, six or more, seven or more, eight or more, nine or more, or ten or more metabolites. Metabolites which may be assessed, identified, characterized, or assayed and/or comprised in compositions as disclosed herein, include those listed for example in the Appendices submitted herewith (e.g. Appendix 1-1, 1-2, 1-3, 2, 3, or 4).
In some embodiments, a metabolite may be Butyrylcamitine, Theobromine, p-Hydroxyphenylpyruvic acid, Propionic acid, Picolinic acid, 2-Hydroxy-4methylvaleric acid, N6-Acetylysine, Urocanic acid, N5-Ethylglutamine, Trigonelline, Stachydrine, Ectoine, 5-Hydroxylysine, Arginine (arg), Cholic acid, 2-(4-Hydroxyphenyl)propionic acid, N-Acetyltryptophan, Hydroxyproline, Argininosuccinic acid, Glutamic acid (Glu), Sarcosine, 5-Methoxyindoleacetic acid, Indole-3-lactic acid, Isovalerylalanine, N-Acetylleucine, 1-Methylhistidine, N-Acetylephenylalanine, Proline (Pro), or any combination thereof.
In some embodiments, a metabolite may be 4-Hydroxyphenylpyruvic, Ectoine, Gramine, N-Acetyl-L-phenylalanine, Nepsilon-Acetyl-L-lysine, Stachydrine, Trigonelline, 3-Ureidopropionic acid, Theobromine, Hippuric acid, Imidazolepropionic acid, NG-Methyl-L-arginine, trans-Urocanic Acid, N-Acetyl-L-leucine, Sarcosine, Isobutyrylcamitine, b-Hydroxyisovaleric acid, L-Theanine/N5-Ethylglutamine, 5-Hydroxylysine, Phenaceturic acid, betaine, hydroxyproline, Picolinic acid, 2-Aminoadipic acid, Glycerophosphocholine, carnitine, Glycerol 3-phosphate, Argininosuccinic acid, creatine, Terephthalic acid, Homocitrulline, Mucic acid, Homocysteinesulfinic acid, Trimethyllysine, Spermidine, Glyoxylic acid, XA0013 C6H6O4S, 3-Indoxylsulfuric acid, Nicotinamide, N-Formylglycine, Ureidoglycolate, N-Methylproline, Glucaric acid, Butyrylcarnitine, Methionine sulfoxide, Carboxymethyllysine, Glycolic acid, Phenaceturic acid, Diethanolamine, Phosphorylcholine, Guanidinosuccinic acid, N-Acetylhistidine, Glyceric acid, S-Methylmethionine, Cysteine glutathione disulfide, Kynurenine, N-Acetylphenylalanine, Threonic acid, Malic acid, 7,8-Dihydrobiopterin, Homovanillic acid, Taurocholic acid, 5-Methoxyindoleacetic acid, butyrate, b-Hydroxyisovaleric acid, 2-Oxoglutaric acid, N-Acetyltryptophan, Thiaproline, Hypotaurine, Cholic acid, Acetoacetic acid, Ethanolamine, Guanidoacetic acid, S-Sulfocysteine, Myristic acid C14:0 XA0027, or any combination thereof.
In some embodiments, an individual microbial strain or combinations of microbial strains from a mammalian microbiome that have been killed (e.g., heat killed). Alternatively, in some embodiments, an individual microbial strain or combinations of microbial strains from a mammalian microbiome may include cells that are viable or alive.
In some embodiments, one or more microbial strains comprise a viable or living individual microbial strain or combinations of microbial strains, e.g., from a mammalian microbiome.
In some embodiments, one or more microbial strains comprise a viable or living individual microbial strain or combinations of microbial strains, e.g., from a mammalian microbiome, as described herein comprises and/or is formulated through use of one or more cell cultures and/or supernatants or pellets thereof, and/or a powder formed therefrom.
In some embodiments, compositions for use in accordance with the present disclosure are pharmaceutical compositions, e.g., for administration (e.g., topical, oral, subcutaneous, intravenous, intramuscular, intracerebral, intrathecal, rectal (e.g. rectal intubation), opthalmical, intravitreal, or suprachoroidal administration) to a mammal (e.g., a human). Pharmaceutical compositions typically include an active agent (e.g., individual microbial strains or combinations of microbial strains from a mammalian microbiome, extracts thereof, and/or components thereof), and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. Certain exemplary pharmaceutically acceptable carriers include, for instance saline, solvents, dispersion media, coatings, antibacterial and antifungal agents, isotonic and absorption delaying agents, and the like, compatible with pharmaceutical administration.
In some embodiments, a pharmaceutical composition for use in accordance with the present disclosure may include and/or may be administered in conjunction with, one or more supplementary active compounds; in certain embodiments, such supplementary active agents can include ginger, curcumin, probiotics (e.g, probiotic strains of one or more of the following genera: Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, Saccharomyces, Enterococcus, Streptococcus, Pediococcus, Leuconostoc, Bacillus, and/or Escherichia coli (see Fijan, Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2014 May; 11(5): 4745-4767, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety); prebiotics (non-digestible food ingredients that help support growth of probiotic bacteria, e.g., fructans such as fructooligosaccharides (FOS) and inulins, galactans such as galactooligosaccharides (GOS), dietary fibers such as resistant starch, pectin, beta-glucans, and xylooligosaccharides (Hutkins et al., Curr Opin Biotechnol. 2016 Feb; 37: 1-7, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety) and combinations thereof.
In some embodiments, a prebiotic comprises a fructooligosaccharide, an inulin, an isomaltooligosaccharide, a lactilol, a lactosucrose, a lactulose, a soy oligosaccharide, a transgalactooligosaccharide, a xylooligosaccharide, seaweed, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, a prebiotic comprises seaweed. In some embodiments, a prebiotic comprises a pome extract, berry extract and walnut extract.
In some embodiments, a probiotic composition can be formulated for oral administration. In some embodiments, a probiotic composition can be a food, a beverage, a feed composition, or a nutritional supplement. In some embodiments, an ellagitannin composition, an enzymatic composition, or both can be a liquid, syrup, tablet, troche, gummy, capsule, powder, gel, or film. In some embodiments, a probiotic composition is an enteric-coated formulation.
In some embodiments, a probiotic comprises a prebiotic. In some embodiments, a prebiotic comprises a fructooligosaccharide, an inulin, an isomaltooligosaccharide, a lactilol, a lactosucrose, a lactulose, a soy oligosaccharide, a transgalactooligosaccharide, a xylooligosaccharide, seaweed, a pome extract, berry extract and walnut extract. or a combination thereof.
Pharmaceutical compositions are typically formulated to be compatible with its intended route of administration. Examples of routes of administration include topical, oral, subcutaneous, intravenous, intramuscular, intracerebral, intrathecal, rectal, (e.g. rectal intubation), ophthalmic, intravitreal, or suprachoroidal administration. Methods of formulating suitable pharmaceutical compositions are known in the art, see, e.g., Remington: The Science and Practice of Pharmacy, 21st ed., 2005; and the books in the series Drugs and the Pharmaceutical Sciences: a Series of Textbooks and Monographs (Dekker, NY), which is incorporated in its entirety by reference herein. Oral compositions generally include an inert diluent or an edible carrier (e.g. pharmaceutically acceptable diluent, pharmaceutically acceptable carrier). To give but a few examples, in some embodiments, an oral formulation may be or comprise a syrup, a liquid, a tablet, a troche, a gummy, a capsule, e.g., gelatin capsules, a powder, a gel, a film, etc. Similarly, ocular compositions (e.g. for ophthalmic, intravitreal, or suprachoroidal administration) may include an inert diluent or carrier (e.g. pharmaceutically acceptable diluent, pharmaceutically acceptable carrier), various additives such as viscosity enhancers, permeations enhancers, cyclodextrins, etc. Examples of viscosity enhancers include hydroxy methyl cellulose, hydroxy ethyl cellulose, sodium carboxy methyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose and polyalcohol. Example of permeation enhancers include chelating agents, preservatives, surface active agents, bile salts, Benzalkonium chloride, polyoxyethylene glycol ethers (lauryl, stearyl and oleyl), ethylenediaminetetra acetic acid sodium salt, sodium taurocholate, saponins and cremophor EL, etc. For example, in some embodiments ocular formulations may be or comprise suspensions, emulsions (e.g. water-in-oil or oil-in water), nanocarriers, (e.g. nanoparticles, nanosuspensions, liposomes, nanomicelles, dendrimers, etc.) ointments, gels, eye drops, etc. Cerebral compositions (e.g. for intracerebral or intrathecal administration) may include an inert diluent or carrier, and/or additives. In some embodiments, cerebral compositions are free of preservatives. In some embodiments, cerebral compositions are sterile.
In some embodiments, pharmaceutically compatible binding agents, and/or adjuvant materials can be included as part of a pharmaceutical composition. In some particular embodiments, a pharmaceutical composition can contain, e.g., any one or more of the following inactive ingredients, or compounds of a similar nature: a binder such as microcrystalline cellulose, gum tragacanth or gelatin; an excipient such as starch or lactose, a disintegrating agent such as alginic acid, Primogel, or corn starch; a lubricant such as magnesium stearate or Sterotes; a glidant such as colloidal silicon dioxide; a sweetening agent such as sucrose or saccharin; or a flavoring agent such as peppermint, methyl salicylate, or orange flavoring. In some embodiments, the compositions can be taken as-is or sprinkled onto or mixed into a food or liquid (such as water). In some embodiments, a composition that may be administered to mammals as described herein may be or comprise an ingestible item (e.g., a food or drink) that comprises (e.g., is supplemented) with an individual microbial strain or combinations of microbial strains from a mammalian microbiome, extracts thereof, and/or components thereof.
In some embodiments, a food can be or comprise one or more of bars, candies, baked goods, cereals, salty snacks, pastas, chocolates, and other solid foods, as well as liquid or semi-solid foods including yogurt, soups and stews, and beverages such as smoothies, shakes, juices, and other carbonated or non-carbonated beverages. In some embodiments, foods are prepared by a subject by mixing in individual microbial strains or combinations of microbial strains from a mammalian microbiome, extracts thereof, and/or components thereof.
Compositions can be included in a kit, container, pack, or dispenser, together with instructions for administration or for use in a method described herein.
Those skilled in the art, reading the present disclosure, will appreciate that, in some embodiments, a composition (e.g., a pharmaceutical composition) as described herein may be or comprise one or more cells, tissues, or organisms (e.g., plant or microbe cells, tissues, or organisms) that produce (e.g., have produced, and/or are producing) a relevant compound.
Those skilled in the art will appreciate that, in some embodiments, technologies for preparing compositions and/or preparations, and/or for preparing (and particularly for preparing pharmaceutical compositions) may include one or more steps of assessing or characterizing a compound, preparation, or composition, e.g., as part of quality control. In some embodiments, if an assayed material does not meet pre-determined specifications for the relevant assessment, it is discarded. In some embodiments, if such assayed material does meet the pre-determined specifications, then it continues to be processed as described herein.
In some embodiments, a pharmaceutical composition provided herein can promote the colonization of an individual microbial strain or combinations of microbial strains from a mammalian microbiome, particularly microbial strain(s) that have been identified, characterized, or assessed as decreasing the severity or incidence of a mammalian disease, disorder, or condition, in a mammal suffering from or at risk of the mammalian disease, disorder, or condition. In some embodiments, a pharmaceutical composition provided herein can attenuate the colonization of an individual microbial strain or combinations of microbial strains from a mammalian microbiome, particularly microbial strain(s) that have been identified, characterized, or assessed as increasing the severity or incidence of a mammalian disease, disorder, or condition, in a mammal suffering from or at risk of the mammalian disease, disorder, or condition (e.g. a Vagus nerve-associated disease, disorder, or condition). In some embodiments, a pharmaceutical composition provided herein can promote the colonization of an individual microbial strain or combinations of microbial strains from a mammalian microbiome, particularly microbial strain(s) that have been identified, characterized, or assessed as not affecting the severity or incidence of the mammalian disease, disorder, or condition but have been identified, characterized, or assessed as being capable of outcompeting one or more microbial strains that have been identified, characterized, or assessed as increasing the severity or incidence of a mammalian disease, disorder or condition, in a mammal suffering from or at risk of the mammalian disease, disorder, or condition.
In some embodiments, each of the one or more microbial strains in a composition comprises 101 colony forming units (CFUs) to 1020 CFU. In some embodiments, each of the one or more microbial strains in a composition comprises 101 colony forming units (CFUs) to 1015 CFU. In some embodiments, each of the one or more microbial strains in a composition comprises 106 CFU to 1015 CFUs. In some embodiments, each of the one or more microbial strains in a composition comprises about 101 CFU to 1015 CFU, or about 102 CFU to 1014 CFU, or about 103 CFU to 1013 CFU, or about 104 CFU to 1011 CFU, or about 105 CFU to 1012 CFU, or about 106 CFU to 1011 CFU, or about 107 CFU to 1010 CFU, or about 108 CFU to 109 CFU, or about 105 CFU to 1010 CFU, or about 108 CFU to 1012 CFU. In some embodiments, each of the one or more microbial strains in a composition comprises at least about 101, 5 × 101, 102, 5 × 102, 103, 5 × 103, 104, 5 × 104, 105, 5 × 105, 106, 5 × 106, 107 ,5 × 107, 101, 5 × 108, 109,5 × 109, 1010, 5 × 1010, 1011, 5 × 1011, 1012, or more CFUs. In some embodiments, each of the one or more microbial strains in a composition comprises at most about 1015, 5 × 1014, 1014, 5 × 1013, 1013, 5 × 1012, 1012, 5 × 1011, 1011, 5 × 1010, 1010, 5 × 109, 109, 5 × 108, 108, or less CFUs. In some embodiments, each of the one or more microbial strains in a composition comprises the same number of CFUs. In some embodiments, some of the one or more microbial strains in a composition comprises a different number of CFUs.
In some embodiments, a composition comprises a total of 101 CFU to 1020 CFUs. In some embodiments, a composition comprises a total of 106 CFU to 1015 of CFUs. In some embodiments, a composition can include about 101 CFU to 1020 CFU, or about 105 CFU to 1015 CFU, or about 105 CFU to 1012 CFU, about 105 CFU to 1010 CFU, or about 108 CFU to 1012 CFU of one or more microbial strains. In some embodiments, a composition can include about 101 CFU to 1015 CFU, or about 102 CFU to 1014 CFU, or about 103 CFU to 1011 CFU, or about 104 CFU to 1011 CFU, or about 105 CFU to 1012 CFU, or about 106 CFU to 1011 CFU, or about 107 CFU to 1010 CFU, or about 108 CFU to 109 CFU, or about 105 CFU to 1010 CFU, or about 108 CFU to 1012 CFU of one or more microbial strains. In some embodiments, a composition can include at least 101, 5 × 101, 102, 5 × 102, 103, 5 × 101, 104, 5 × 104, 105, 5 × 105, 106, 5 × 106, 107 5 × 107, 108, 5 × 108, 109, 5 × 109, 1010, 5 × 1010, 1011, 5 × 1011, 1012, or more CFUs of one or more microbial strains. In some embodiments, a composition can include at most 1015, 5 × 1014, 1014, 5 × 1013, 1013, 5 × 1012, 1012, 5 × 1011, 1011, 5 × 1010, 1010, 5 × 109, 109, 5 × 108, 108, or less CFUs of one or more microbial strains.
In some embodiments, a pharmaceutical composition is tailored to a specific mammal (e.g., a specific human, e.g., a patient) based on that mammal’s (e.g., human’s) microbiome. In some embodiments, a pharmaceutical composition is specific for a microbiome of an individual mammal (e.g., human). In some embodiments, a pharmaceutical composition is specific for microbiomes of a population of mammals (e.g., humans). Populations of mammals can include, but are not limited to: families, mammals in the same regional location (e.g., neighborhood, city, state, or country), mammals with the same disease or condition, mammals of a particular age or age range, mammals that consume a particular diet (e.g., food, food source, or caloric intake).
The present disclosure recognizes that compositions described herein can be useful in the treatment of subjects. Methods provided by the present disclosure include methods for the treatment of certain diseases, disorders and conditions. In some embodiments, relevant diseases, disorders and conditions may be or include a Vagus nerve-associated disease, disorder, or condition. In some embodiments, a Vagus nerve-associated disease, disorder, or condition may be AD, PD, ALS, autism spectrum disorders, Rheumatoid arthritis, hypertension, heart failure, diabetes, abnormal heart rhythm, IBD, fatty liver disease, depression, epilepsy, Bipolar Disorder, anxiety, PTSD, MS, Autoimmune Diseases, Obesity, AP, Eye Diseases including Retinal IschemialReperfusion (I/R) Injury, COPD, Mood Disorders, Migraine and Cluster Headache, Eating disorders, Anorexia, Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis, Endocrine Tumor and Vagal Paragangliomas, Heartburn, GERD, SIBO, IBS, Celiac Disease, Chronic Constipation, Kidney Diseases, Infertility including Endometriosis, Aging, blood vessel diseases etc..
Generally, methods of treatment provided by the present disclosure involve administering a therapeutically effective amount of a composition as described herein alone or in combination with other compositions and/or treatments to a subject who is in need of, or who has been determined to be in need of, such treatment.
In some embodiments, methods of treatment provided herein are prophylactic or preventative, e.g., may be administered to subjects prior to display of significant symptoms and/or to exposure to a particular expected inducement that is associated with Vagus nerve-associated diseases, disorders, or conditions described herein. In some embodiments, methods of treatment provided herein are therapeutic, e.g., may be administered to subjects after development of significant symptoms associated with Vagus nerve-associated diseases, disorders, or conditions.
In some embodiments, provided methods of treatment are administered to a subject that is a mammal, e.g., a mammal that experiences a disease, disorder, or condition as described herein; in some embodiments, a subject is a human or non-human veterinary subject, e.g., an ape, cat dog, monkey, or pig.
In many embodiments, treatment involves ameliorating at least one symptom of a disease, disorder, or condition associated with Vagus nerve-associated diseases, disorders, or conditions. In some embodiments, a method of treatment can be prophylactic.
In some embodiments, the methods can include administration of a therapeutically effective amount of compositions disclosed herein before, during (e.g., concurrently with), or after administration of a treatment that is expected to be associated with Vagus nerve-associated diseases, disorders, or conditions.
In some embodiments, subjects who receive treatment as described herein may be receiving and/or may have received other treatment (e.g., pharmacological treatment/therapy, surgical, etc.), for example that may be intended to treat one or more symptoms or features of a disease disorder or condition as described herein (e.g. Vagus nerve-associated diseases, disorders, or conditions), so that provided compositions are administered in combination with such other therapy (i.e. treatment) to treat the relevant disease, disorder, or condition.
In some embodiments, the compositions described herein can be administered in a form containing one or more pharmaceutically acceptable carriers. Suitable carriers have been described previously and vary with the desired form and mode of administration of a composition. For example, pharmaceutically acceptable carriers can include diluents or excipients such as fillers, binders, wetting agents, disintegrators, surface-active agents, glidants, and lubricants. Typically, a carrier may be a solid (including powder), liquid, or any combination thereof. Each carrier is preferably “acceptable” in the sense of being compatible with other ingredients in the composition and not injurious to a subject. A carrier can be biologically acceptable and inert (e.g., it permits the composition to maintain viability of the biological material until delivered to the appropriate site).
Tablets, pills, capsules, troches and the like can contain any of the following ingredients, or compounds of a similar nature: a binder such as microcrystalline cellulose, gum tragacanth or gelatin; an excipient such as starch or lactose, a disintegrating agent such as alginic acid, primogel, or corn starch; a lubricant such as magnesium stearate or sterotes; a glidant such as colloidal silicon dioxide; a sweetening agent such as sucrose or saccharin; or a flavoring agent such as peppermint, methyl salicylate, orange flavoring, or other suitable flavorings. These are for purposes of example only and are not intended to be limiting.
Oral compositions can include an inert diluent or an edible carrier. For purposes of oral therapeutic administration, an active compound can be incorporated with excipients and used in the form of tablets, lozenges, pastilles, troches, or capsules, e.g., gelatin capsules. Oral compositions can also be prepared by combining a composition of the present disclosure with a food. In some embodiments, microbes (e.g. one or more microbial strains) can be formulated in a food item. Some non-limiting examples of food items to be used with the methods and compositions described herein include: popsicles, cheeses, creams, chocolates, milk, meat, drinks, pickled vegetables, kefir, miso, sauerkraut, etc. In other embodiments, food items can be juices, refreshing beverages, tea beverages, drink preparations, jelly beverages, and functional beverages; alcoholic beverages such as beers; carbohydrate-containing foods such as rice food products, noodles, breads, and pastas; paste products such as fish, hams, sausages, paste products of seafood; retort pouch products such as curries, food dressed with a thick starchy sauce, and Chinese soups; soups; dairy products such as milk, dairy beverages, ice creams, and yogurts; fermented products such as fermented soybean pastes, fermented beverages, and pickles; bean products; various confectionery products including biscuits, cookies, and the like, candies, chewing gums, gummies, cold desserts including jellies, cream caramels, and frozen desserts; instant foods such as instant soups and instant soy-bean soups; and the like. It is preferred that food preparations not require cooking after admixture with microbial strain(s) to avoid killing any microbes. In one embodiment a food used for administration is chilled, for example, iced flavored water. In certain embodiments, the food item is not a potentially allergenic food item (e.g., not soy, wheat, peanut, tree nuts, dairy, eggs, shellfish or fish). Pharmaceutically compatible binding agents, and/or adjuvant materials can be included as part of the composition.
Ocular formulations (e.g. for ophthalmic, intravitreal, or suprachoroidal administration) can include an inert diluent or a carrier. For purposes of ocular therapeutic administration, an active compound can be incorporated with excipients and used in the form of suspensions, emulsions (e.g. water-in-oil or oil-in water), nanocarriers, (e.g. nanoparticles, nanosuspensions, liposomes, nanomicelles, dendrimers, etc.) ointments, gels, eye drops, etc. In some embodiments, administration of such formulations is topical (e.g. eye drops). In some embodiments, administration of such formulations is via injection (e.g. intravitreal, suprachoroidal, etc.).
Cerebral formulations (e.g. for intracerebral or intrathecal administration) can include an inert diluent or a carrier. For purposes of cerebral therapeutic administration, an active compound can be incorporated with excipients and used in the form of suspensions, emulsions (e.g. water-in-oil or oil-in water), nanocarriers, (e.g. nanoparticles, nanosuspensions, liposomes, nanomicelles, dendrimers, etc.) ointments, gels, etc. In some embodiments, administration of such formulations is topical (e.g. ointments). In some embodiments, administration of such formulations is via injection (e.g. intracerebral, intrathecal, etc.).
In some such embodiments, a composition described herein is administered to a subject according to a dosing regimen that achieves population of the subject’s microbiome with administered cells. In some embodiments, a composition is administered to a subject in a single dose. In some embodiments, a composition is administered to a subject in a plurality of doses. In some embodiments, a dose of a composition is administered to a subject twice a day, daily, weekly, or monthly.
In some embodiments, each of the one or more microbial strains in a dose comprises 101 to 1015 colony forming units (CFUs). In some embodiments, each of the one or more microbial strains in a dose comprises 106 to 1015 CFUs. In some embodiments, each of the one or more microbial strains in a dose comprises the same number of CFUs. In some embodiments, some of the one or more microbial strains in a dose comprises a different number of CFUs.
In some embodiments, a dose of one or more microbial strains comprises a total of 106 to 1015 CFUs. In some embodiments, a dose of one or more microbial strains comprises a total of 107 to 1015 CFUs. In some embodiments, a dose of one or more microbial strains comprises 5-200 billion CFUs. In some embodiments, a dose of one or more microbial strains comprises 5-50 billion CFUs. In some embodiments, a dose of one or more microbial strains comprises 5-20 billion CFUs. In some embodiments, a dose of one or more microbial strains comprises 50-100 billion CFUs. In some embodiments, a dose of one or more microbial strains comprises 100-200 billion CFUs.
In some embodiments, efficacy can be assessed by measuring the degree of oxidative stress of cells in a biological sample prior to and following administration of a composition as described herein. The degree of oxidative stress of cells can be assessed by, for example, measuring the expression of oxidative stress biomarkers, such as reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, or lipid, protein, and nucleic acid damage levels, or by determining the ratio of oxidized to reduced forms of one or more biomarkers. High levels of oxidative stress can be cytotoxic, so the degree of oxidative stress can be measured by assessing the concentration of intracellular proteins present in the systemic circulation from inflamed or lysed cells (e.g. nerve cells).
In-depth details of the purpose, mouse model used, studies performed, and the results of these Examples are listed in Appendix 5 filed herewith.
This Example provides an in vivo evaluation of the effect of specific metabolites in cytokine production in human monocytes.
Study: THP-1 monocyte cell line was purchased from ATCC and cultured in RPMI-1640 media supplemented with 10% heat-inactivated Fetal Bovine Serum (FBS), and 0.05 mM 2-Mercaptoethanol. The cells were maintained at 37° C. in 5% CO2 incubators. All experiments were carried out using only passage 3-7 cells. For 6-well plates, cells were seeded at a density of 1×105 cells/mL with a total volume of 3 mL (300,000 cells total). 10 micromole of each metabolite was added to 2 wells. For the control wells, Phosphate Buffered Saline (PBS) with solvent control were added. After 6 hours of incubation at 37° C. and 5% CO2, one of the two wells for each metabolite was treated with 1 µg/mL of Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in water. In the other well, water with no LPS was added. Control wells were also treated with either water containing LPS or no LPS. After 16 hours of LPS treatment, approximately 800 µL of conditioned media was collected from each well using a 1 mL syringe and filtered using a 0.22-micron PES syringe filter. Cytokine levels were assessed in the conditioned media using the Mouse Cytokine/Chemokine 31-Plex Discovery Assay (Eve Technologies, Calgary, AB, Canada)
Results:
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It is to be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various alterations, modifications, and improvements to the present disclosure will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Such alterations, modifications, and improvements are intended to be part of the present disclosure, and are intended to be within the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the foregoing description and drawing are by way of example only and any invention described in the present disclosure if further described in detail by the claims that follow.
Those skilled in the art will appreciate typical standards of deviation or error attributable to values obtained in assays or other processes as described herein. The publications, websites and other reference materials referenced herein to describe the background of the invention and to provide additional detail regarding its practice, including those listed in the above References section, are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties.
It is to be understood that while embodiments of the invention have been described in conjunction with the detailed description thereof, the foregoing description is intended to illustrate and not limit the scope of the invention, which is defined by the scope of the appended claims. Other aspects, advantages, and modifications are within the scope of the following claims.
Those skilled in the art will recognize, or be able to ascertain using no more than routine experimentation, many equivalents to the specific embodiments of the invention described herein. The scope of the present invention is not intended to be limited to the above Description, but rather is as set forth in the following claims:
† Metabolites which have been already known about pathway information were listed up. They included metaboites which were not detected in this study.
†Molecular ions with positive and negative charge are measured in Cation and Anion Mode, respectively
‡Predicted mass value was calculated as mono-valent ion.
†Molecular ions with positive and negative charge are measured in Cation and Anion Mode, respectively
‡Predicted mass value was calculated as mono-valent ion.
† Molecular ions with positive and negative charge are measured in Cation and Anion Mode, respectively
‡ Predicted mass value was calculated as mono-valent ion.
† Molecular ions with positive and negative charge are measured in Cation and Anion Mode, respectively
‡ Predicted mass value was calculated as mono-valent ion.
† Molecular ions with positive and negative charge are measured in Cation and Anion Mode, respectively
‡ Predicted mass value was calculated as mono-valent ion.
†Putative metabolites which were assigned on the basis of m/z and MT is HMT standard compound library.
¶The ratio is of computed by using averaged detection values. The latter was used as denominator.
||The p-value is computed by Welch’s t-test (*<0.05,**<0.01,***<0.001)
† Putative metabolites which were assigned on the basis ofm/zand MT in HMT standaid compound library.
†Putativemetabolites which were assigned on the basis of m/z and MT inHMT standard compound library.
¶The ratio isofcomputedby using averagedd etectionvalues. Thelatterwasused asdenominator.
II The p-value is competed by Welch′st-test(*<0.05,**<0.01,***<0.001)
† metabolites which were assigned on the basis of m/z and MT in HMT standard compound library.
¶ The ratio is of computed by using averaged detetion values. The latter was used as denominator.
∥ The p-value is computed by Welch’s t-test. (*<0.05, **<0.01, ***<0.001)
¶The ratio is of computed by using averaged detection values. The latter was used as denominator.
∥ The p-value is computed by Welch’s t-test. (*<0.05, **<0.01, ***<0.001)
¶The ratio is of computed by using averaged detection values. The latter was used as denominator
|| The p-value is computed by Welch’s t-test. (*<0.05, **<0.01,***<0.001)
The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Pat. Application Nos. 63/285,383, filed Dec. 2, 2021, and 63/330,149, filed Apr. 12, 2022, each of which are hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63330149 | Apr 2022 | US | |
| 63285383 | Dec 2021 | US |
