Depleting oxygen in the gut

This invention uses membrane vesicles from bacteria to deplete oxygen in the gut, preventing the growth of harmful bacteria and improving colon health, particularly in conditions like colitis.

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Source: Author:JK_kyoto. Adobe Stock file # 801639063

Background

A healthy gut is anaerobic. This anaerobic state is maintained through a partnership between symbiotic anaerobic bacteria and intestinal epithelial cells. Intestinal epithelial cells use bacterial metabolites to respire, preventing oxygen from diffusing into the gut. Aging, diet, and antibiotics can damage the host/bacterial symbiosis causing oxygen to leak into the gut. Oxidation of the gut causes blooms of pathobionts and inflammation as observed in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Technology Overview

Dr. Kim Lewis’ research team at Northeastern University has developed an approach to address gut inflammation. Using membrane vesicles derived from microorganisms to remove oxygen in the gut, the researchers prevented undesirable microbial blooms. Membrane vesicle supplementation in mouse chow improves disease outcomes in models of colitis in mice. Membrane vesicles are safe and can be derived from bacteria that are Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) and are approved, marketed probiotics.

Benefits

Use of membrane‑bound vesicles to deplete oxygen in the gut
Reduction of Enterobacteriaceae and other pathobiont levels in the gut
Improving the environment for gut commensals
Increased production of beneficial short‑chain fatty acids

Applications

Treatment of inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, celiac disease
Prophylactic for inflammatory bowel disease
Synergistic with other treatments for gut inflammation
Improve ingrafment of anaerobic probiotics
Diminish low‑grade inflammation