Compositions and methods for treating obesity and related disorders by characterizing and restoring mammalian bacterial microbiota

Abstract

The present invention relates to characterizing changes in mammalian intestinal microbiota associated with associated with high-fat and low-fat diets and with diets containing hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC) and related methods for diagnosing, preventing and treating obesity and related conditions such as metabolic syndrome and diabetes mellitus. Therapeutic methods of the invention involve the use of probiotics, and/or prebiotics, and/or narrow spectrum antibiotics/anti-bacterial agents that are capable of restoring healthy mammalian bacterial intestinal microbiota.

1 .- 19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . A method for promoting weight loss or preventing weight gain in a mammal in need thereof comprising administering to the mammal a therapeutically effective amount of a probiotic composition, wherein said probiotic composition stimulates growth or metabolic activity of at least one strain from the taxon selected from the group consisting of  Coprobacillus, Sporacetigenium, Holdemania, Dorea, Blautia, Enterococcus,  Erysipelotrichaceae,  Clostridium cocleatum,  and Peptosteptococcaceae IS (PIS) in the intestinal microbiota of the mammal. 
     
     
         21 . A method for preventing or treating a disease in a mammal in need thereof, wherein the disease is selected from the group consisting of obesity, metabolic syndrome, diabetes mellitus, insulin-deficiency related disorders, insulin-resistance related disorders, glucose intolerance, non-alcoholic fatty liver, abnormal lipid metabolism, and atherosclerosis, said method comprising administering to the mammal a therapeutically effective amount of a probiotic composition, wherein said probiotic composition stimulates growth or metabolic activity of at least one strain from the taxon selected from the group consisting of  Coprobacillus, Sporacetigenium, Holdemania, Dorea, Blautia, Enterococcus,  Erysipelotrichaceae,  Clostridium cocleatum,  and Peptosteptococcaceae IS (PIS) in the intestinal microbiota of the mammal. 
     
     
         22 - 27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . A method for promoting weight loss or preventing weight gain in a mammal in need thereof comprising administering to the mammal (i) a therapeutically effective amount of a narrow spectrum antibiotic or (ii) a therapeutically effective amount of a probiotic composition, wherein said narrow spectrum antibiotic or probiotic composition inhibits growth or metabolic activity of at least one strain from the taxon selected from the group consisting of  Johnsonella, Oscillibacter,  Lachnospiraceae, Ruminococcaceae, and Clostridiales in the intestinal microbiota of the mammal. 
     
     
         29 . A method for preventing or treating a disease in a mammal in need thereof, wherein the disease is selected from the group consisting of obesity, metabolic syndrome, diabetes mellitus, insulin-deficiency related disorders, insulin-resistance related disorders, glucose intolerance, non-alcoholic fatty liver, abnormal lipid metabolism, and atherosclerosis, said method comprising administering to the mammal (i) a therapeutically effective amount of a narrow spectrum antibiotic or (ii) a therapeutically effective amount of a probiotic composition, wherein said narrow spectrum antibiotic or probiotic composition inhibits growth or activity of at least one strain from the taxon selected from the group consisting of  Johnsonella, Oscillibacter,  Lachnospiraceae, Ruminococcaceae, and Clostridiales in the intestinal microbiota of the mammal. 
     
     
         30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the probiotic composition comprises at least one strain from the taxon selected from the group consisting of  Coprobacillus, Sporacetigenium, Holdemania, Dorea, Blautia, Enterococcus,  Erysipelotrichaceae,  Clostridium cocleatum,  and Peptosteptococcaceae IS (PIS). 
     
     
         32 - 119 . (canceled) 
     
     
         120 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the probiotic composition comprises at least one strain from the taxon selected from the group consisting of  Coprobacillus, Sporacetigenium, Holdemania, Blautia, Enterococcus,  Erysipelotrichaceae,  Clostridium cocleatum,  and Peptosteptococcaceae IS (PIS). 
     
     
         121 . The method of  claim 120 , wherein said strain is selected from the group consisting of live bacterial strains, spores and conditionally lethal bacterial strains. 
     
     
         122 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the probiotic composition is administered conjointly with a prebiotic composition which stimulates growth and/or metabolic activity of bacteria contained in the probiotic composition. 
     
     
         123 . The method of  claim 122 , wherein the probiotic and prebiotic compositions are administered in one composition, or simultaneously as two separate compositions, or sequentially. 
     
     
         124 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the probiotic composition is administered orally or rectally. 
     
     
         125 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the probiotic composition is administered in a form of a capsule or in a form of a suppository. 
     
     
         126 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the mammal is human. 
     
     
         127 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the probiotic composition comprises at least one strain from the taxon selected from the group consisting of  Coprobacillus, Sporacetigenium, Holdemania, Dorea, Blautia, Enterococcus,  Erysipelotrichaceae,  Clostridium cocleatum,  and Peptosteptococcaceae IS (PIS). 
     
     
         128 . The method of  claim 127 , wherein said strain is selected from the group consisting of live bacterial strains, spores and conditionally lethal bacterial strains. 
     
     
         129 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the probiotic composition is administered conjointly with a prebiotic composition which stimulates growth and/or metabolic activity of bacteria contained in the probiotic composition. 
     
     
         130 . The method of  claim 129 , wherein the probiotic and prebiotic compositions are administered in one composition, or simultaneously as two separate compositions, or sequentially. 
     
     
         131 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the probiotic composition is administered orally or rectally. 
     
     
         132 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the probiotic composition is administered in a form of a capsule or in a form of a suppository. 
     
     
         133 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the mammal is human.