Alteration of microbial populations in the gastrointestinal tract

Abstract

Method of enhancing a resident population of microorganism in a selected site of the gastrointestinal tract of an animal, the method comprising providing to the animal a selected modified or unmodified resistant startch or mixtures thereof in combination with one or more probiotic microogranisms such that upon ingestion the starch passes through the gastrointestinal tract substantially unutilized until it reaches the selected site where it is utilised by the resident and/or the probiotic microogranisms thereof causing an increase in number and/or activity of the microogranisms.

1 . A method of enhancing a resident population of microorganism in a selected site of the gastrointestinal tract of an animal. the method comprising providing to the animal a selected modified or unmodified resistant starch or mixtures thereof in combination with one or more probiotic microorganisms such that upon ingestion the starch passes through the gastrointestinal tract substantially unutilized until it reaches the selected site where it is utilised by the resident and/or the probiotic microorganisms thereof causing an increase in number and/or activity of the microorganisms. 
     
     
         2 . A method of suppressing an undesired resident population of microorganism in a selected site of the gastrointestinal tract of an animal. the method comprising providing to the animal a modified or unmodified resistant starch or mixtures thereof in combination with one or more probiotic microorganisms such that upon ingestion the starch passes through the gastrointestinal tract substantially unutilized until it reaches the selected site where it is utilised by another resident and/or the probiotic microorganisms causing an increase in number and/or activity of the other microorganisms and suppressing the growth and/or activity of the undesired microorganism. 
     
     
         3 . A method of reducing the incidence colorectal cancer or colonic atrophy in an animal, the method comprising providing to the animal one or more short chain fatty acid (SCFA) producing probiotic microorganisms and a carrier which will function to transport the one or more probiotic microorganisms to the large bowel or other regions of the gastrointestinal tract. the carrier comprising a modified or unmodified resistant starch or mixtures thereof, which carrier acts as a growth or maintenance medium for microorganisms in the large bowel or other regions of the gastrointestinal tract so as to enhance SCFA production by probiotic and/or resident microorganisms in the gastrointestinal tract of the animal. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 3  wherein the SCFA is butyrate and the probiotic and/or microorganisms in the gastrointestinal tract are  Cl. butyricum  and/or  Eubacterium.    
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 3  wherein the resistant starch is selected from high amylose starches and modified forms thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 5  wherein the high amylose starch includes maize starch having an amylose content of 50% w/w or more. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 6  wherein the maize starch having an amylose content of 80% w/w or more. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 5  wherein the high amylose starch includes rice or wheat starch having an amylose content of 27% w/w or more. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 5  wherein the high amylose starch includes particular granular size ranges of starches having an amylose content of 50% or more with enhanced resistant starch content. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 5  wherein the high amylose starch from plants selected from the group consisting of maize, barley, wheat, rice, legumes. bananas, potatoes, and modified forms thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to any one of  claims 5  to  10  wherein the resistant starch is modified chemically, enzymatically, and/or physically. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 10  wherein the chemical modification is by etherification, esterification, or acidification. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 11  wherein the physical modification is by crystallisation. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to any one of  claims 5  to  10  wherein the modified resistant starch is selected from the group consisting of hydroxypropylated starch. acetylated starch, octenyl succinated starch, carboxymethylated starch. and succinated starch. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to any one of  claims 1  to  14  wherein the growth and/or activity of the resident microorganisms is increased. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to any one of  claims 1  or  14  wherein the growth and/or activity of the probiotic microorganisms is increased. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to any one of  claims 15  or  16  wherein the selected site is the small intestine. stomach. or large bowel. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 2  wherein the undesired resident microorganism is a microbial pathogen. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 18  wherein the resistant starch acts as a carrier which will function to transport the one or more probiotic microorganisms to the selected site of the gastrointestinal tract. and which carrier acts as a growth or maintenance medium for the non-pathogenic microorganisms in the selected site of the gastrointestinal tract to an extent sufficient to suppress growth and/or activity of the microbial pathogen. 
     
     
         20 . An improved probiotic composition comprising one or more probiotic microorganisms and a carrier which will function to transport the one or more probiotic microorganisms to the large bowel or other regions of the gastrointestinal tract. the carrier comprising modified or unmodified resistant starch or mixtures thereof to which the probiotic microorganisms are bound in a manner so as to protect the microorganisms during passage to the large bowel or other regions of the gastrointestinal tract. which carrier acts as a growth or maintenance medium for microorganisms in the large bowel or other regions of the gastrointestinal tract. 
     
     
         21 . The improved probiotic composition according to  claim 20  wherein the probiotic microorganisms are bound irreversibly to the resistant starch. 
     
     
         22 . The improved probiotic composition according to  claim 20  wherein the high amylose starch includes maize starch having an amylose content of 50% w/w or more. 
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 22  wherein the high amylose starch includes maize starch having an amylose content of 50% w/w or more. 
     
     
         24 . The improved probiotic composition according to  claim 20  wherein the high amylose starch includes rice or wheat starch having an amylose content of 27% w/w or more. 
     
     
         25 . The improved probiotic composition according to  claim 20  wherein the high amylose starch includes a particular granular size ranges of starches having an amylose content of 50% or more with enhanced resistant starch content. 
     
     
         26 . The improved probiotic composition according to  claim 20  wherein the high amylose starch is derived from plants selected from the group consisting of maize, barley, wheat, rice, legumes, bananas, potatoes, or modified forms thereof. 
     
     
         27 . The improved probiotic composition according to  claim 20  wherein the resistant starch is modified chemically, enzymatically, and/or physically. 
     
     
         28 . The method according to any one of  claims 20  to  27  wherein the resistant starch is modified chemically. enzymatically, and/or physically. 
     
     
         29 . The method according to  claim 28  wherein the chemical modification is by etherification. esterification. or acidification. 
     
     
         30 . The improved probiotic composition according to  claim 20  wherein the modified resistant starch is selected from the group consisting of hydroxypropylated starch, acetylated starch, octenyl succinated starch, carboxymethylated starch, and succinated starch. 
     
     
         31 . An improved method of providing probiotic microorganisms to the gastrointestinal tract of an animal, the improved method comprising administering to the animal the improved probiotic composition according to  claim 20 . 
     
     
         32 . An improved method of providing probiotic microorganisms to the gastrointestinal tract of an animal, the improved method comprising administering to the animal the improved probiotic composition according to any one of  claims 20  to  31 .