COMPOSITIONS COMPRISING BACTERIAL STRAINS
The invention provides compositions comprising bacterial strains for treating and preventing inflammatory and autoimmune diseases.
1 .- 30 . (canceled)
31 . A solid composition that comprises:
at least 10 3 colony forming units (CFU) of a bacteria strain of the genus Eubacterium that comprises a polynucleotide of a 16S rRNA gene having at least 98% 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
an excipient, diluent, or carrier;
wherein the solid composition is suitable for oral delivery.
32 . The solid composition of claim 31 , wherein the bacteria strain is effective to reduce the severity of a Th17 mediated inflammatory response in a subject in need thereof.
33 . The solid composition of claim 31 , wherein the bacteria strain is present in the composition in an amount sufficient to partially or totally colonize the intestine of the subject.
34 . The solid composition of claim 31 , wherein the probiotic composition further comprises at least one additional bacteria strain.
35 . The solid composition of claim 31 , wherein the bacteria strain is lyophilized.
36 . The solid composition of claim 31 , wherein the excipient, diluent, or carrier comprises a lyoprotectant.
37 . The solid composition of claim 31 , wherein the solid composition is encapsulated.
38 . The solid composition of claim 31 , wherein the solid composition is an enteric formulation.
39 . The solid composition of claim 31 , wherein the solid composition is a pharmaceutical composition.
40 . The solid composition of claim 31 , further comprising a prebiotic compound.
41 . The solid composition of claim 40 , wherein the prebiotic compound is selected from the group consisting of: an oligosaccharide, a polysaccharide, a sugar alcohol, inulin, transgalacto-oligosaccharides, and any combination thereof.
42 . The solid composition of claim 31 , wherein the excipient, diluent or carrier is selected from the group consisting of lactose, starch, glucose, methyl cellulose, magnesium stearate, mannitol, sorbitol, and any combination thereof.
43 . A method promoting healthy gastrointestinal health, comprising administering to a subject a bacteria strain of the genus Eubacterium that comprises a polynucleotide of a 16S rRNA gene having at least 98% 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 BLOSUM of 62.
44 . The method of claim 43 , wherein the bacteria strain comprises at least 10 3 colony forming units (CFU) of bacteria.
45 . The method of claim 43 , wherein the subject is human.
46 . The method of claim 43 , wherein the administration is oral.
47 . The method of claim 43 , wherein the subject has or has been diagnosed with a gastrointestinal disorder associated with the Th17 pathway.
48 . The method of claim 47 , wherein the gastrointestinal disorder associated with the Th17 pathway is an inflammatory bowel disease.
49 . The method of claim 48 , wherein the inflammatory bowel disease comprises Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis.
50 . The method of claim 43 , wherein the bacteria is administered to the subject in an amount sufficient to partially or totally colonize the gastrointestinal tract of the subject.