Compositions and methods comprising bacteria for improving behavior in neurodevelopmental disorders

Abstract

Some embodiments include bacterial species for use in treatment of one or more autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and/or schizophrenia symptoms in a subject in need thereof. The bacterial species can include Bacteroides (e.g., B. fragilis, B. thetaiomtaomicron , and/or B. vulgatus ), and/or Enterococcus (e.g., E. faecalis, E. faecium, E. hirae, E. avium, E. durans, E. gallinarum , or E. casseliflavus ). Upon treatment, one or more ASD-related behaviors can be improved in the subject.

1 . A method for improving sensorimotor gating performance in a subject in need thereof, the method comprising:
 selecting a subject having autism spectrum disorder symptoms or schizophrenia symptoms and in need of improving sensorimotor gating performance; and   administering to the subject a probiotic composition comprising an effective amount of one or more  Enterococcus  bacteria,   thereby improving sensorimotor gating performance in the selected subject.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the subject suffers from anxiety, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), schizophrenia, or a gastrointestinal or immunological pathology associated with one or more of the symptoms of ASD. 
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the subject is in need of improving sensorimotor gating and a communication behavior. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the communication behavior in need of improvement comprises at least one of impaired sociability, impaired language comprehension, impaired language production, or impaired communication. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a sole active ingredient of the probiotic composition consists essentially of the one or more  Enterococcus  bacteria. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the probiotic composition is substantially free of bacteria other than the  Enterococcus  bacteria. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more  Enterococcus  bacteria comprises  E. faecalis.    
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein a sole active ingredient of the probiotic composition consists essentially of  E. faecalis.    
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the probiotic composition is substantially free of bacteria other than the  E. faecalis.    
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising administering an effective amount of one or more  Bacteroides  bacteria to the subject. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the one or more  Bacteroides  bacteria comprises  B. thetaiotaomicron, B. vulgatus, B. fragilis , or a mixture thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein a sole active ingredient of the probiotic composition consists essentially of a mixture of one or more  Enterococcus  bacteria and one or more  Bacteroides  bacteria. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the probiotic composition is substantially free of bacteria other than the  Enterococcus  bacteria and  Bacteroides  bacteria. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein a sole active ingredient of the probiotic composition consists essentially of:
 a mixture of  Enterococcus  bacteria and  B. fragilis,      a mixture of  Enterococcus  bacteria and  B. thetaiotaomicron;      a mixture of  Enterococcus  bacteria and  B. vulgatus;      a mixture of  Enterococcus  bacteria,  B. fragilis , and  B. thetaiotaomicron;      a mixture of  Enterococcus  bacteria,  B. fragilis , and  B. vulgatus;      a mixture of  Enterococcus  bacteria,  B. thetaiotaomicron , and  B. vulgatus ; or   a mixture of  Enterococcus  bacteria,  B. fragilis, B. thetaiotaomicron , and  B. vulgatus.      
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein probiotic composition comprising the effective amount of the one or more  Enterococcus  bacteria is administered separately from the effective amount of the one or more  Bacteroides  bacteria. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the probiotic composition is substantially free of bacteria other than  Enterococcus  bacteria,  B. fragilis, B. thetaiotaomicron , and  B. vulgatus.    
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the effective amount of the one or more  Enterococcus  bacteria is effective when administered in combination with a  Bacteroides  bacteria. 
     
     
         19 . A composition comprising:
 an  Enterococcus  bacteria; and   a  Bacteroides  bacteria.   
     
     
         20 . The composition of  claim 19 , wherein the composition is substantially free of bacteria other than  E. faecalis, B. fragilis, B. thetaiotaomicron , and  B. vulgatus.    
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the probiotic composition is free of drugs and antibiotics.