Agent for the anti-adhesion of skin pathogenic flora

Abstract

Bacterial agents for preparing compositions which are for cosmetic, pharmaceutical or veterinary use and which are intended to stabilize and/or regulate the cutaneous ecosystem of mammals. These bacterial agents are extracts of a bacterium, or a bacterium and are selected for their adhesion to skin cells and anti-adhesion to pathogens of the cutaneous system. The invention also relates to compositions containing such agents.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of preparing compositions for cosmetic, pharmaceutical or veterinary use and which are intended to be administered to humans or to animals for the therapeutic or prophylactic purpose of stabilizing and/or regulating the pathogenic flora of the cutaneous system, which comprises associating a bacterial agent with the composition, the agent being an extract of a bacterium, or a bacterium, selected for its properties of adhesion to skin cells and its anti-adhesive properties with respect to pathogens of the cutaneous system.  
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  which further comprises providing the agent in the composition in an amount of at least 10×10 6  cfu/g.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the bacterial agent is selected from the species of Lactobacillus, Micrococcus or Bifidobacterium.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the bacterial agent is  Lactobacillus johnsonii  CNCM I-1225,  Micrococcus varians  CNCM I-1586,  Micrococcus varians  CNCM I-1587 or  Bifidobacterium lactis  ATCC 27536.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the bacterium is in a viable, semi-active or deactivated form.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the bacterium is deactivated by a heat treatment at 90° C. for 2 hours.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the bacterial agent is present in a lyophilized form that contains from 10 8  to 10 11  cfu/g.  
     
     
         8 . A composition for cosmetic, pharmaceutical or veterinary use and which contains at least one bacterial agent capable of stabilizing and/or of regulating the pathogenic flora of the cutaneous system, with the bacterial agent being an extract of a bacterium, or a bacterium, and is selected for its properties of adhesion to skin cells and its anti-adhesive properties to pathogens of the cutaneous system.  
     
     
         9 . The composition of  claim 8 , in which the bacterial agent is a species of Lactobacillus, Micrococcus or Bifidobacterium.  
     
     
         10 . The composition of  claim 8 , wherein the bacterial agent is  Lactobacillus johnsonii  CNCM I-1225,  Micrococcus varians  CNCM I-1586,  Micrococcus varians  CNCM I-1587 or  Bifidobacterium lactis  ATCC 27536.  
     
     
         11 . The composition of  claim 8 , wherein the agent is present in the composition in an amount of at least 10×10 6  cfu/g.  
     
     
         12 . The composition of  claim 8 , wherein the bacterium is in a viable, semi-active or deactivated form.  
     
     
         13 . The composition of  claim 12 , wherein the bacterial agent is present in a lyophilized form that contains from 10 8  to 10 11 cfu/g.  
     
     
         14 . The composition of  claim 12 , in which the bacterium is deactivated by heat treatment at 90° C. for 2 hours.  
     
     
         15 . The composition of  claim 12 , which contains up to 10% by weight of the bacterial agent with respect to the total weight of the composition.  
     
     
         16 . The composition of  claim 12 , which contains approximately 0.05 to 5% by weight of the bacterial agent with respect to the total weight of the composition.  
     
     
         17 . A method for the treatment or prophylaxis of skin disorders which comprises administering to a subject in need of such treatment or prophylaxis a composition according to  claim 8 .  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the skin disorder is one or more of: 
 infectious complications such as superinfected atopic dermatitis, impetigo-based eczema, ulcers, wounds, bums, superinfected inflammatory acne,  
 dermatitises such as impetigo, superficial folliculitis,  
 seborrhoeic dermatitises, pityriasis versicolor,  
 dermatophytoses,  
 candidiases,  
 those linked to therapies with antibiotics or to antimycotic agents,  
 those caused by hormonal dysregulation, or  
 dandruff.  
 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the composition is applied to sensitive skin or greasy skin.  
     
     
         20 . A veterinary composition comprising a composition according to  claim 8 , intended for the treatment or for the prevention of dysfunctions linked to staphylococcal, streptococcal and mycotic infections in animals.