Probiotic recolonisation therapy
The present invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions suitable for the treatment of chronic diseases associated with the presence of abnormal or an abnormal distribution of microflora in the gastrointestinal tract of a mammalian host, which compositions comprise viable non-pathogenic or attenuated pathogenic Clostridia . The compositions further comprise one or more additional viable non-pathogenic or attenuated pathogenic microorganisms selected from the group consisting of Bacteroides, Eubacteria, Fusobacteria, Propionibacteria, Lactobacilli, anaerobic cocci, Ruminococcus, E. coli, Gemmiger, Desulfomonas, Peptostreptococcus , and fungi. The present invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions suitable for the treatment of the same chronic diseases comprising viable non-pathogenic or attenuated pathogenic Escherichia coli , at least one strain of viable non-pathogenic or attenuated pathogenic Bacteroides and at least one strain of viable non-pathogenic or attenuated pathogenic microorganism.
1. A method for treating a gastrointestinal disorder in a subject in need thereof, which method comprises administering to said subject an effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition comprising a viable non-pathogenic Clostridium , a viable non-pathogenic Bacteroides , and a viable non-pathogenic Escherichia coli , wherein said method does not require the removal of a portion of said subject's existing enteric microflora via orthostatic lavage prior to said administration of said pharmaceutical composition.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said gastrointestinal disorder is a Clostridium difficile infection.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein said gastrointestinal disorder is a recurrent Clostridium difficile infection.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein said gastrointestinal disorder is an inflammatory bowel disease.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein said gastrointestinal disorder is ulcerative colitis.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein said pharmaceutical composition is administered via enema.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein said pharmaceutical composition is administered orally.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein said pharmaceutical composition is administered via a capsule adapted for enteric delivery.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein said method further comprises administering one or more antibiotics prior to said administration of said pharmaceutical composition.
10. The method of claim 3 , wherein said method further comprises administering one or more antibiotics prior to said administration of said pharmaceutical composition.
11. A method for treating a gastrointestinal disorder in a subject in need thereof, which method comprises administering to said subject an effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition comprising a plurality of viable non-pathogenic spores of at least two Clostridium species, wherein said method does not require the removal of a portion of said subject's existing enteric microflora via orthostatic lavage prior to said administration of said pharmaceutical composition.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein said gastrointestinal disorder is a Clostridium difficile infection.
13. The method of claim 11 , wherein said gastrointestinal disorder is a recurrent Clostridium difficile infection.
14. The method of claim 11 , wherein said gastrointestinal disorder is an inflammatory bowel disease.
15. The method of claim 11 , wherein said gastrointestinal disorder is ulcerative colitis.
16. The method of claim 11 , wherein said pharmaceutical composition is administered via enema.
17. The method of claim 11 , wherein said pharmaceutical composition is administered orally.
18. The method of claim 11 , wherein said method further comprises administering one or more antibiotics prior to said administration of said pharmaceutical composition.
19. The method of claim 13 , wherein said method further comprises administering one or more antibiotics prior to said administration of said pharmaceutical composition.
20. The method of claim 11 , wherein said pharmaceutical composition further comprises a viable non-pathogenic Bacteroides , a viable non-pathogenic E. coli , or both.