Lactid acid bacteria as priobiotic strains and compositions containing same

Abstract

Useful probiotics have been selected among lactic acid bacteria strains of the genus L. acidophilus, L. crispatus, L. gasseri, L. helveticus and L. jensenii for their ability to kill urogenital and/or gastrointestinal pathogens and their ability to inhibit internalization of urogenital and/or gastrointestinal pathogens within urogenital and/or gastrointestinal epithelial cells in humans. Probiotic compositions comprise at least one of the said lactic acid bacteria strains in combination with a suitable delivery system, such as a food product or a beverage, a food or beverage compositions, a food or beverage supplement or adjuvant.

1 . Method for establishing, maintaining or restoring a healthy urogenital flora and environment in females or a healthy gastrointestinal flora or environment in humans throughout life, which comprises administering thereto a probiotic composition comprising an effective amount of at least one probiotic strain of the genus  L. acidophilus, L. crispatus, L. gasseri, L. helveticus  and  L. jensenii  selected for their ability to kill urogenital and/or gastrointestinal pathogens and their ability to inhibit internalization of urogenital and/or gastrointestinal pathogens within urogenital an/or gastrointestinal epithelial cells in combination with a suitable delivery system. 
   
   
       2 . Method for preventing or inhibiting adhesion, colonization and/or growth of pathogens in the urogenital tract of females or in the gastrointestinal tract of humans, which comprises administering thereto a probiotic composition comprising an effective amount of at least one probiotic strain of the genus  L. acidophilus, L. crispatus, L. gasseri, L. helveticus  and  L. jensenii  selected for their ability to kill urogenital and/or gastrointestinal pathogens and their ability to inhibit internalization of urogenital and/or gastrointestinal pathogens within urogenital an/or gastrointestinal epithelial cells in combination with a suitable delivery system. 
   
   
       3 . Method for preventing or treating urogenital infections in females or gastrointestinal dysbioses and/or infections in humans, which comprises administering thereto a probiotic composition comprising an effective amount of at least one probiotic strain of the genus  L. acidophilus, L. crispatus, L. gasseri, L. helveticus  and  L. jensenii  selected for their ability to kill urogenital and/or gastrointestinal pathogens and their ability to inhibit internalization of urogenital and/or gastrointestinal pathogens within urogenital an/or gastrointestinal epithelial cells in combination with a suitable delivery system. 
   
   
       4 . Method for modulating a cellular and/or humoral immune response in humans at the vaginal and/or gastrointestinal level, which comprises administering thereto a probiotic composition comprising an effective amount of at least one probiotic strain of the genus  L. acidophilus, L. crispatus, L. gasseri, L. helveticus  and  L. jensenii  selected for their ability to kill urogenital and/or gastrointestinal pathogens and their ability to inhibit internalization of urogenital and/or gastrointestinal pathogens within urogenital an/or gastrointestinal epithelial cells in combination with a suitable delivery system. 
   
   
       5 . Method for inhibiting the inflammatory syndrome, the infectious syndrome as well as neoplasic processes in humans, which comprises administering thereto a probiotic composition comprising an effective amount of at least one probiotic strain of the genus  L. acidophilus, L. crispatus, L. gasseri, L. helveticus  and  L. jensenii  selected for their ability to kill urogenital and/or gastrointestinal pathogens and their ability to inhibit internalization of urogenital and/or gastrointestinal pathogens within urogenital an/or gastrointestinal epithelial cells in combination with a suitable delivery system. 
   
   
       6 . The method according to any of  claims 1  to  5  wherein the lactic acid bacteria strains are selected from the group consisting of  L. crispatus  KS 116.1 (CNCM I-3483),  L. crispatus  KS 119.4 (CNCM I-3484),  L. crispatus  127.1 (CNCM I-3486),  L. gasseri  KS 114.1 (CNCM I-3482),  L. gassed  KS 120.1 (CNCM I-3218),  L. gasseri  KS 123.1 (CNCM I-3485),  L. gasseri  KS 124.3 (CNCM I-3220),  L. helveticus  KS 300 (CNCM I-3360),  L. jensenii  KS 119.1 (CNCM I-3217) and  L. jensenii  KS 121.1 (CNCM I-3219). 
   
   
       7 . The method according to any of  claims 1  to  6  wherein the suitable delivery system further comprises lactic acid bacteria (LAB) growth factors and/or prebiotic ingredients. 
   
   
       8 . The method according to any of  claims 1  to  7  wherein the suitable delivery system is designed for local, namely intra-urethral, vaginal or anal administration. 
   
   
       9 . The method according to any of  claims 1  to  7  wherein the suitable delivery system is designed for oral administration. 
   
   
       10 . The method according to  claim 9  wherein the suitable delivery system is a food product or a beverage, a food or beverage composition, a food or beverage supplement or adjuvant dedicated to human consumption. 
   
   
       11 . A probiotic composition useful for establishing, maintaining or restoring a healthy urogenital flora and environment in females or a healthy gastrointestinal flora or environment in humans throughout life, which comprises administering thereto a probiotic composition comprising an effective amount of at least one probiotic strain of the genus  L. acidophilus, L. crispatus, L. gassed, L. helveticus  and  L. jensenii  selected for their ability to kill urogenital and/or gastrointestinal pathogens and their ability to inhibit internalization of urogenital and/or gastrointestinal pathogens within urogenital an/or gastrointestinal epithelial cells in combination with a suitable delivery system. 
   
   
       12 . A probiotic composition useful for preventing or treating urogenital infections in females or gastrointestinal dysbioses and/or infections in humans, which comprises administering thereto a probiotic composition comprising an effective amount of at least one probiotic strain of the genus  L. acidophilus, L. crispatus, L. gassed, L. helveticus  and  L. jensenii  selected for their ability to kill urogenital and/or gastrointestinal pathogens and their ability to inhibit internalization of urogenital and/or gastrointestinal pathogens within urogenital an/or gastrointestinal epithelial cells in combination with a suitable delivery system. 
   
   
       13 . A probiotic composition useful for preventing or treating urogenital infections in females or gastrointestinal dysbioses and/or infections in humans, which comprises administering thereto a probiotic composition comprising an effective amount of at least one probiotic strain of the genus  L. acidophilus, L. crispatus, L. gassed, L. helveticus  and  L. jensenii  selected for their ability to kill urogenital and/or gastrointestinal pathogens and their ability to inhibit internalization of urogenital and/or gastrointestinal pathogens within urogenital an/or gastrointestinal epithelial cells in combination with a suitable delivery system. 
   
   
       14 . A probiotic composition useful for inhibiting the inflammatory syndrome, the infectious syndrome as well as neoplasic processes in humans, which comprises administering thereto a probiotic composition comprising an effective amount of at least one probiotic strain of the genus  L. acidophilus, L. crispatus, L. gasseri, L. helveticus  and  L. jensenii  selected for their ability to kill urogenital and/or gastrointestinal pathogens and their ability to inhibit internalization of urogenital and/or gastrointestinal pathogens within urogenital an/or gastrointestinal epithelial cells in combination with a suitable delivery system 
   
   
       15 . A probiotic composition according to any of  claims 11  to  14  wherein the lactic acid bacteria strains are selected from the group consisting of  L. crispatus  KS 116.1 (CNCM I-3483),  L. crispatus  KS 119.4 (CNCM I-3484),  L. crispatus  127.1 (CNCM I-3486),  L. gasseri  KS 114.1 (CNCM I-3482),  L. gasseri  KS 120.1 (CNCM I-3218),  L. gasseri  KS 123.1 (CNCM I-3485),  L. gasseri  KS 124.3 (CNCM I-3220),  L. helveticus  KS 300 (CNCM I-3360),  L. jensenii  KS 119.1 (CNCM I-3217) and  L. jensenii  KS 121.1 (CNCM I-3219). 
   
   
       16 . The composition according to any of  claims 11  to  15  wherein the suitable delivery system further comprises lactic acid bacteria (LAB) growth factors and/or prebiotic ingredients. 
   
   
       17 . The composition according to any of  claims 11  to  16  wherein the suitable delivery system is designed for local, namely intra-urethral, vaginal or anal administration. 
   
   
       18 . The method according to any of  claims 11  to  16  wherein the suitable delivery system is designed for oral administration. 
   
   
       19 . The method according to  claim 18  wherein the suitable delivery system is a food product or a beverage, a food or beverage composition, a food or beverage supplement or adjuvant dedicated to human consumption. 
   
   
       20 . The use of at least one lactic bacteria strain of the genus  L. acidophilus, L. crispatus, L. gasseri, L. helveticus  and  L. jensenii  selected for their ability to kill urogenital and/or gastrointestinal pathogens and their ability to inhibit internalization of urogenital and/or gastrointestinal pathogens within urogenital and/or gastrointestinal epithelial cells, for the preparation of a probiotic composition according to any of  claims 11  to  14 . 
   
   
       21 . The use according to  claim 20  wherein lactic acid bacteria strains are selected from the group consisting of  L. crispatus  KS 116.1 (CNCM I-3483),  L. crispatus  KS 119.4 (CNCM I-3484),  L. crispatus  127.1 (CNCM I-3486),  L. gasseri  KS 114.1 (CNCM I-3482),  L. gasseri  KS 120.1 (CNCM I-3218),  L. gasseri  KS 123.1 (CNCM I-3485),  L. gasseri  KS 124.3 (CNCM I-3220),  L. helveticus  KS 300 (CNCM I-3360),  L. jensenii  KS 119.1 (CNCM I-3217) and  L. jensenii  KS 121.1 (CNCM I-3219).