Lactic acid bacteria, methods and uses thereof

Abstract

The present invention relates to novel strains of lactic acid bacteria, more specifically, novel strains of Lactobacillus reuteri , capable of utilizing ethanolamine. This characteristic makes it possible for the bacteria to compete for the same substrate as pathogenic ethanolamine-utilizing pathogens, thereby presenting an effective means to combat infections resulting from such pathogenic bacteria. There is also provided a method of selecting further ethanolamine-utilizing lactic acid bacteria, as well as other methods and uses involving said novel strains and other ethanolamine-utilizing lactic acid bacteria.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for treating or reducing the risk of developing a condition or disorder caused by or related to an ethanolamine-utilizing pathogen in a subject in need thereof, said method comprising administering to the subject an effective amount of an ethanolamine-utilizing  Lactobacillus  strain. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the  Lactobacillus  strain aggravates and/or decreases the virulent effect of the pathogen. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the  Lactobacillus  strain comprises a gene encoding ethanolamine ammonia lyase large subunit EutB, a gene encoding a microcompartment structural protein EutL, and/or a gene encoding an ethanolamine utilization protein EutH. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein  Lactobacillus  strain further comprises a gene encoding NADPH-dependent FMN reductase and/or a gene encoding protein-tyrosine-phosphatase. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the ethanolamine-utilizing  Lactobacillus strain is a Lactobacillus reuteri  strain. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the effective amount of the  Lactobacillus  strain is in a composition, the composition comprising further additives or ingredients, optionally one or more cryoprotectants, lyoprotectant and/or anti-moisture agents. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said ethanolamine-utilizing pathogen is selected from the group consisting of  Clostridium difficile, Escherichia coli , Enterohemorrhagic  Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium, Salmonella enterica  serovar  Typhimurium, Shigella sonnei, Shigella dysenteriae, Klebsiella pneumonia, Citrobacter koseri, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Clostridium perfringens, Clostridium difficile, Clostridium tetani, Listeria monocytogenes, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Enterococcus faecalis, Acinetobacter baumannii, Burkholderia mallei , and  Burkholderia cepacia.    
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the condition or disorder caused by or related to an ethanolamine-utilizing pathogen is dysbiosis (microbial imbalance or maladaptation on or inside the body), listeriosis,  salmonellosis , bacterial infections leading to Inflammatory Bowel Disorders, infections with pathogenic pseudomonades (infected wounds), and/or tourist diarrhea. 
     
     
         9 . A composition comprising an ethanolamine-utilizing  Lactobacillus  strain wherein the strain comprises a gene encoding ethanolamine ammonia lyase large subunit EutB, a gene encoding a microcompartment structural protein EutL, and/or a gene encoding an ethanolamine utilization protein EutH. 
     
     
         10 . The composition of  claim 9 , wherein  Lactobacillus  strain further comprises a gene encoding NADPH-dependent FMN reductase and/or a gene encoding protein-tyrosine-phosphatase. 
     
     
         11 . The composition of  claim 9 , wherein the ethanolamine-utilizing  Lactobacillus  strain is a  Lactobacillus reuteri  strain. 
     
     
         12 . The composition of  claim 9 , wherein the composition comprises further additives or ingredients, optionally one or more cryoprotectants, lyoprotectant and/or anti-moisture agents.