Probiotic Treatment for Clostridium Difficile Infection

This technology is the administration of probiotic bacterial strains with increased expression of a Clostridium difficile attachment protein. These strains, when administered in animal models challenged with high doses of a virulent C. difficile strain prevented death.
 

Background

Clostridium difficile is the leading cause of healthcare-associated diarrheas worldwide. Clostridium difficile has been associated with increased mortality and relapsing diseases in the past fifteen years. There is currently no treatment for C. difficile outside of antibiotics. Consumers are becoming more educated and health conscious. The US probiotics market was estimated to be $97.5 million in 2000 and the annual growth rate is estimated to be 7 percent. Consumers are purchasing more dietary supplements to prevent diseases. These are all major factors for growth in the probiotics market.
 

Applications

• Therapeutics for Clostridium difficile
• Could be a new marketed medication for C difficile treatment
• Could potentially be offered in current probiotic supplements for prevention of C difficile
• Can serve as a vaccine platform with the potential to develop COVID-19 therapeutics

Advantages

• Recombinant probiotic strains were shown to be safe in animal studies
• Probiotics may be considered a better alternative to antibody treatment to replenish healthy bacteria in the gut and prevent C difficile infection
• Probiotics may be considered a natural approach to taking medication

Status: issued U.S. patent #10,583,186

COVID, COVID-19, COVID19, Coronavirus