Use of hydrogenotrophic acetogenic strains for preventing or treating digestive disorders

Abstract

A method of modulating the microbial balance of the digestive ecosystem in a mammal comprising administering to a mammal in need thereof a composition comprising at least one nonpathogenic, hydrogenotrophic, acetogenic bacterial strain, along with a pharmaceutical and related methods, are described.

1 - 19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . A method of modulating the microbial balance of the digestive ecosystem in a mammal comprising administering to a mammal in need thereof a composition comprising at least one nonpathogenic, hydrogenotrophic, acetogenic bacterial strain. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein at least one of said nonpathogenic, hydrogenotrophic, actogenic bacterial strain is an autologous strain of said mammal. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein at least one of said nonpathogenic, hydrogenotrophic, acetogenic bacterial strain is viable in the digestive tract. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein at least one of said nonpathogenic, hydrogenotrophic, acetogenic bacterial strain belongs to the  Ruminococcus, Clostridium  or  Streptococcus  genus. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein at least one of said nonpathogenic, hydrogenotrophic, acetogenic bacterial strain belongs to the species  Ruminococcus hydrogenotrophicus.    
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein said mammal is human. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein at least one of said nonpathogenic, hydrogenotrophic, acetogenic bacterial strain is administered in a form which allows it to be active in the colon. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein said composition is administered orally or rectally. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein at least one of said nonpathogenic, hydrogenotrophic, acetogenic bacterial strain is packaged in an anaerobic environment. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein said composition comprises at least one additive which promotes the activity of the at least one strain in the digestive environment. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein said composition also comprises a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. 
     
     
         31 . A pharmaceutical or food composition, comprising at least one nonpathogenic, hydrogenotrophic, acetogenic bacterial strain. 
     
     
         32 . The composition of  claim 31 , wherein at least one of said nonpathogenic, hydrogenotrophic, acetogenic bacterial strain belongs to the  Ruminococcus, Clostridium  or  Streptococcus  genus. 
     
     
         33 . The composition of  claim 32 , wherein at least one of said nonpathogenic, hydrogenotrophic, acetogenic bacterial strain belongs to the species  Ruminococcus hydrogenotrophicus.    
     
     
         34 . The composition of  claim 33 , comprising at least one additive which promotes the activity of the at least one strain in the digestive environment. 
     
     
         35 . A method for specifically monitoring, in the digestive tract of a mammal, a nonpathogenic, hydrogenotrophic, acetogenic bacterial strain administered to said mammal as a way to modulate the microbial balance of the digestive ecosystem of said mammal, comprising the following steps:
 a. defining a nucleotide sequence specific for said nonpathogenic, hydrogenotrophic, acetogenic strain,   b. contacting under hybridizing conditions said nucleic acid probe with total nucleic acid extracted from fecal flora, or with fecal bacteria from said digestive tract; and   c. detecting said hybridizing of said probe with said total nucleic acid.   
     
     
         36 . A method for producing nonpathogenic, hydrogenotrophic, acetogenic bacterial strain comprising the following steps:
 a. growing said strain on a suitable medium, under conditions of strict anaerobiosis, in the presence of a carbon-based substrate and/or of H 2 /CO 2  as energy source;   b. recovering bacterial cells of said strain; and   c. packaging said bacterial cells.   
     
     
         37 . A method for specifically monitoring, in the digestive tract of a mammal, a nonpathogenic hydrogenotrophic, acetogenic bacterial strain administered to said mammal as a way to treat or prevent gastrointestinal disorder in said mammal, comprising the following steps:
 a. defining a nucleotide sequence specific for said nonpathogenic, hydrogenotrophic, acetogenic strain,   b. contacting under hybridizing conditions said nucleic acid probe with total nucleic acid extracted from fecal flora, or with fecal bacteria from said digestive tract; and   c. detecting said hybridizing of said probe with said total nucleic acid.   
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein said gastrointestinal disorder is irritable bowel syndrome or excessive flatulence, meteorism, bloating or abdominal pain caused by gastrointestinal functional disorders.