Compositions and methods for characterizing a microbiome

Abstract

A system is provided comprising a plurality of C. elegans cultures, where each culture comprises a transgenic C. elegans strain that models a mammalian disease or condition. Methods of using a system, e.g., for characterizing microbial strains of a mammalian microbiome and determining whether such microbial strains affect a mammalian disease or disorder.

1 .- 62 . (canceled) 
     
     
         63 . A composition comprising one or more microbial strains listed in TABLE 8. 
     
     
         64 . The composition of  claim 63 , comprising two or more microbial strains listed in TABLE 8. 
     
     
         65 . The composition of  claim 63 , comprising five or more microbial strains listed in TABLE 8. 
     
     
         66 . The composition of  claim 63 , comprising 10 or more microbial strains listed in TABLE 8. 
     
     
         67 . A composition comprising  Gluconacetobacter hansenii, Terrisporobacter glycolicus, Coprococcus  sp.,  L. plantarum, Clostridium butyricum, Paenibacillus  sp.,  Veillonella  sp.,  Bifidobacterium  sp.,  Bacillus subtilis, Acidaminococcus  sp., or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         68 . The composition of  claim 67 , comprising at least two microbial strains selected from the group consisting of  Gluconacetobacter hansenii, Terrisporobacter glycolicus, Coprococcus  sp.,  L. plantarum, Clostridium butyricum, Paenibacillus  sp.,  Veillonella  sp.,  Bifidobacterium, Bacillus subtilis , and  Acidaminococcus  sp. 
     
     
         69 . The composition of  claim 67 , comprising at least five microbial strains selected from the group consisting of  Gluconacetobacter hansenii, Terrisporobacter glycolicus, Coprococcus  sp.,  L. plantarum, Clostridium butyricum, Paenibacillus  sp.,  Veillonella  sp.,  Bifidobacterium, Bacillus subtilis , and  Acidaminococcus  sp. 
     
     
         70 . The composition of  claim 67 , comprising  Gluconacetobacter hansenii, Terrisporobacter glycolicus, Coprococcus  sp.,  L. plantarum, Clostridium butyricum, Paenibacillus  sp.,  Veillonella  sp.,  Bifidobacterium  sp.,  Bacillus subtilis , and  Acidaminococcus  sp. 
     
     
         71 . The composition of  claim 67 , wherein the composition is a pharmaceutical composition. 
     
     
         72 . The composition of  claim 67 , wherein the composition is an ingestible item. 
     
     
         73 . A method of treating a disease or condition in a subject, comprising administering to a subject in need a composition comprising the composition of  claim 67 . 
     
     
         74 . The method of  claim 73 , wherein the disease or condition is a neurodegenerative disease or disorder. 
     
     
         75 . The method of  claim 73 , wherein the disease or condition is Alzheimer's disease. 
     
     
         76 . The method of  claim 73 , wherein the disease or condition is associated with an altered or defective HIF-1 pathway. 
     
     
         77 . The method of  claim 73 , wherein the disease or condition is an ocular neovascular disease or disorder. 
     
     
         78 . The method of  claim 73 , wherein the disease or condition is diabetic retinopathy, retinopathy of prematurity, age-related macular degeneration, or glaucoma. 
     
     
         79 . Use of a composition of  claim 67  in the treatment of a disease or condition in a subject. 
     
     
         80 . The use of  claim 79 , wherein the disease or condition is a neurodegenerative disease or disorder. 
     
     
         81 . The use of  claim 79 , wherein the disease or condition is Alzheimer's disease. 
     
     
         82 . The use of  claim 79 , wherein the disease or condition is associated with an altered or defective HIF-1 pathway. 
     
     
         83 . The use of  claim 79 , wherein the disease or condition is an ocular neovascular disease or disorder. 
     
     
         84 . The use of  claim 79 , wherein the disease or condition is diabetic retinopathy, retinopathy of prematurity, age-related macular degeneration, or glaucoma.