Compositions comprising bacterial strains

Abstract

The invention provides compositions comprising bacterial strains for treating and preventing inflammatory and autoimmune diseases.

1 .- 30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . A method of treating a condition characterized by elevated levels of IL-17 in a subject as compared to a healthy subject, comprising administering to the subject a pharmaceutical composition that comprises at least 1×10 3  CFU/g of a bacteria strain of the species  Eubacterium contortum  with respect to total weight of the pharmaceutical composition; and wherein the bacteria strain comprises a 16S rRNA gene polynucleotide, wherein the 16S rRNA gene polynucleotide comprises a polynucleotide sequence with at least 99% sequence identity to the polynucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:4, as determined by a Smith-Waterman homology search algorithm using an affine gap search with a gap open penalty of 12, a gap extension penalty of 2, and a Blocks Substitution Matrix (BLOSUM) of 62, and wherein the bacteria strain is present in an amount sufficient to reduce the levels of the IL-17 in the subject, thereby treating the condition. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the bacteria strain is lyophilized. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the condition is selected from the group consisting of: uveitis; multiple sclerosis; a cancer; an arthritis; neuromyelitis optica; psoriasis; systemic lupus erythematosus; an inflammatory bowel disease; celiac disease; an asthma; allergic asthma; neutrophilic asthma; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD); scleritis; vasculitis; Behcet's disease; atherosclerosis; atopic dermatitis; emphysema; periodontitis; allergic rhinitis; and allograft rejection. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the condition is uveitis, and wherein the treating comprises reducing retinal damage in uveitis. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the condition is an arthritis. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the arthritis is rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, psoriatic arthritis, spondyloarthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, or juvenile idiopathic arthritis. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the condition is an inflammatory bowel disease, and wherein the inflammatory bowel disease is Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the condition is cancer, wherein the cancer is breast cancer, lung cancer, liver cancer, colon cancer, or ovarian cancer. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the pharmaceutical composition comprises a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient, diluent, or carrier. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the pharmaceutically acceptable excipient, diluent, or carrier comprises a lyoprotectant. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the pharmaceutical composition comprises from about 1×10 6  to about 1×10 11  CFU/g of the bacteria strain with respect to the total weight of the pharmaceutical composition. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the bacteria strain comprises a 16S rRNA gene polynucleotide, wherein the 16S rRNA gene polynucleotide comprises a polynucleotide sequence with at least 99.5% sequence identity to the polynucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:4, as determined by a Smith-Waterman homology search algorithm using an affine gap search with a gap open penalty of 12, a gap extension penalty of 2, and a Blocks Substitution Matrix (BLOSUM) of 62. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the bacteria strain comprises a 16S rRNA gene polynucleotide, wherein the 16S rRNA gene polynucleotide comprises a polynucleotide sequence that is the polynucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:4. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the bacteria strain is strain MRX050 deposited with the NCIMB accession number NCIMB 42689. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the subject has the condition, or has been identified as being at risk of the condition. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising administering an additional therapeutic agent to the subject. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the pharmaceutical composition does not contain an effective amount of any other bacteria strain. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the IL-17 cytokine is selected from the group consisting of: IL-17A, IL-17B, IL-17C, IL-17D, IL-17E, and IL-17F. 
     
     
         49 . A method of treating inflammation characterized by elevated levels of IL-17 in a subject as compared to a healthy subject, comprising administering to the subject a pharmaceutical composition that comprises at least 1×10 6  CFU/g of a bacteria strain of the species  Eubacterium contortum  with respect to total weight of the pharmaceutical composition, wherein the bacteria strain is present in an amount sufficient to reduce the levels of the IL-17 in the subject, thereby treating the inflammation. 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein the subject has a condition selected from the group consisting of: uveitis; multiple sclerosis; a cancer; an arthritis; neuromyelitis optica; psoriasis; systemic lupus erythematosus; an inflammatory bowel disease; celiac disease; an asthma; allergic asthma; neutrophilic asthma; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD); scleritis; vasculitis; Behcet's disease; atherosclerosis; atopic dermatitis; emphysema; periodontitis; allergic rhinitis; and allograft rejection.