Compositions of Microbiota and Methods Related Thereto

Abstract

Methods and compositions are provided for treating weight related conditions and metabolic disorders by altering microbiota in a subject. One aspect provides methods and compositions to alter microbiota in a subject by administering to the subject a composition that includes a substantially purified microbiota from phyla such as Bacteroidetes, Proteobacteria, Firmicutes and Verrucomicrobia or orders such as Bacteroidales, Verrucomicrobiales, Clostridiales and Enterobacteriales or genera such as Alistipes, Clostridium, Escherichia , and Akkermansia . Another aspect includes a pharmaceutical composition for altering microbiota that includes a therapeutically effective amount of substantially purified microbiota and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. Yet another aspect includes methods for treating a disorder, such as obesity, in a subject in need of such treatment by changing relative abundance of microbiota in a gastrointestinal tract of the subject without or in addition to a surgical procedure.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for treating a metabolic disorder in a subject in need thereof, comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of bacteria, wherein the bacteria consist essentially of viable  Akkermansia , and wherein said metabolic disorder is selected from the group consisting of obesity, insulin-deficiency related disorders, and insulin-resistance related disorders. 
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said metabolic disorder is obesity. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said  Akkermansia  is orally administered. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said  Akkermansia  is administered one or more times. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said  Akkermansia  is co-administered with one or more prebiotics. 
     
     
         6 . A method for increasing energy expenditure or for promoting weight loss in a subject, comprising administering  Akkermansia  to the subject. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein viable cells of  Akkermansia  are administered to the subject in need thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein said  Akkermansia  is orally administered. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein said  Akkermansia  is administered one or more times. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein said  Akkermansia  is co-administered with another probiotic strain and/or with one or more prebiotics. 
     
     
         11 . A dietary supplement comprising  Akkermansia.