Probiotic, Lactic Acid-Producing Bacteria and Uses Thereof

Abstract

The present invention discloses compositions and methodologies for the utilization of probiotic organisms in therapeutic compositions. More specifically, the present invention relates to the utilization of one or more species or strains of lactic acid-producing bacteria, preferably strains of Bacillus coagulans , for the control of gastrointestinal tract pathogens, including antibiotic-resistant gastrointestinal tract pathogens, and their associated diseases by both a reduction in the rate of colonization and the severity of the deleterious physiological effects of the colonization of the antibiotic-resistant pathogen.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for reducing gastrointestinal colonization by a pathogenic  Clostridium  bacterium, comprising identifying a mammalian subject having an infection with said pathogenic  Clostridium  bacterium, and orally administering a therapeutically-effective concentration of  Bacillus coagulans  bacteria within a pharmaceutically-acceptable carrier suitable for administration to the gastrointestinal tract of said subject, and further comprising the administration of an antibiotic, wherein the  Bacillus coagulans  bacteria reduce colonization of the pathogenic  Clostridium  bacteria. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the  Clostridium  bacterium is selected from the group consisting of  C. difficile, C. perfringes, C. sporogenes, C. botulinum , and  C. tributrycum.    
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the bacteria are resistant to the antibiotic. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the antibiotic is selected from the group consisting of a macrolide antibiotic, a cephalosporin antibiotic, a penicillin antibiotic, a fluoroquinolone antibiotic, and a vancomycin antibiotic. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the antibiotic is selected from the group consisting of gentamicin, vancomycin, oxacillin, a tetracyclines, nitroflurantoin, chloramphenicol, clindamycin, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxasole, cefaclor, cefadroxil, cefixime, cefprozil, ceftriaxone, cefuroxime, cephalexin, loracarbef, ampicillin, amoxicillin/clavulanate, bacampicillin, cloxicillin, penicillin VK, ciprofloxacin, grepafloxacin, levofloxacin, lomefloxacin, norfloxacin, ofloxacin, sparfloxacin, trovafloxacin, azithromycin, and erythromycin. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the bacteria are in the form of spores. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the  Bacillus coagulans  is  B. coagulans  Hammer strain deposited under ATCC accession number 31284. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein approximately 2.5×10 8  to approximately 1×10 10  viable  Bacillus coagulans  bacteria or spores are administered per day. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said mammalian subject is a human.