Methods of treatment of infections using bacteria
The present disclosure relates generally to compositions, dosage forms, and methods for preventing and treating infections. The compositions include intact and substantially non-viable Gram-negative bacterial cells which have been treated to reduce lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-associated endotoxin activity, which surprisingly have increased activity to trigger immune cell production of cytokines.
1. A method of preventing or treating an infection in a patient in need thereof, comprising administering to the patient an effective amount of a composition comprising a plurality of intact and substantially non-viable Gram-negative bacterial cells which have been treated in such a way as to result in about 75% to 99% reduction of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-associated endotoxin activity when measured by the Limulus Amebocyte Lysate (LAL) assay as compared to untreated, wild-type Gram-negative bacterial cells, wherein the infection is by an influenza A virus, an influenza B virus or an influenza C virus.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the composition contains about 0.01 to 100 ng active LPS per kg body weight of the patient.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the composition contains about 2 to 200 ng active LPS per 1×10 8 cells.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the intact and substantially non-viable Gram-negative bacterial cells have been treated in such a way as to result in about 85% to 98% reduction of LPS-associated endotoxin.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the administration starts within 24 hours following the infection, or within 2 days, 3 days, 4 days, 5 days, 6 days or 7 days following the infection.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the administration starts after at least 24 hours following the infection, or after at least 2 days, 3 days, 4 days, 5 days, 6 days or 7 days following the infection.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least 90%, 95% or 100% of the bacterial cells are non-viable.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the bacterial cells are Salmonella or Escherichia cells.