Source: Author:JK_kyoto. Adobe Stock file # 801639063
Background
A healthy gut is anaerobic. This anaerobic state is maintained through a partnership between symbiotic anaerobic bacteria and intestinal epithelial cells. Intestinal epithelial cells use bacterial metabolites to respire, preventing oxygen from diffusing into the gut. Aging, diet, and antibiotics can damage the host/bacterial symbiosis causing oxygen to leak into the gut. Oxidation of the gut causes blooms of pathobionts and inflammation as observed in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
Technology Overview
Dr. Kim Lewis’ research team at Northeastern University has developed an approach to address gut inflammation. Using membrane vesicles derived from microorganisms to remove oxygen in the gut, the researchers prevented undesirable microbial blooms. Membrane vesicle supplementation in mouse chow improves disease outcomes in models of colitis in mice. Membrane vesicles are safe and can be derived from bacteria that are Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) and are approved, marketed probiotics.
Benefits
- Use of membrane‑bound vesicles to deplete oxygen in the gut
- Reduction of Enterobacteriaceae and other pathobiont levels in the gut
- Improving the environment for gut commensals
- Increased production of beneficial short‑chain fatty acids
Applications
- Treatment of inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, celiac disease
- Prophylactic for inflammatory bowel disease
- Synergistic with other treatments for gut inflammation
- Improve ingrafment of anaerobic probiotics
- Diminish low‑grade inflammation
Opportunity
Seeking licensee/ Industry partner/ Funding
Seeking
- Development partner
- Commercial partner
- Licensing
- Seeking investment
