IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,440,521
Granted Patent B2
US 12,440,521 · App. 18/161,046 · Granted Oct 14, 2025

Materials and methods for improving immune responses and skin and/or mucosal barrier functions

Inventors: Eva A. Berkes (Sarasota, FL); Nicholas T. Monsul (Sarasota, FL); Frederick T. Boehm (Sarasota, FL)
Assignee: QUORUM INNOVATIONS, INC.
A61K35/747A01N63/20A23L33/135A61K35/74C12N1/205A23V2002/00A23V2400/143C12R2001/225
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,440,521
App. No.
18/161,046
Granted
Oct 14, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

The subject invention provides compositions and methods for treating human dermatological conditions by employing a microbiome-centered treatment approach. Preferred embodiments of the invention provide pharmaceutical and cosmetic compositions, and the methods of using the same, comprising a strain of Lactobacillus fermentum bacterium, or bioactive extracts thereof, derived from human microbiota and capable of growing in biofilm phenotype.

Claims (12)

1. A composition comprising an isolated Lactobacillus fermentum bacterial strain grown as biofilm, and/or comprising a bioactive extract of said biofilm, wherein the biological activity of the bioactive extract, is selected from antimicrobial activity, promoting commensal bacterial growth, enhancing skin or mucous membrane barrier function and enhancing a skin innate immune function, wherein the bacterial strain is Lactobacillus fermentum Qi6 having Accession No. PTA-122195.

2. The composition, according to claim 1 , comprising the bioactive extract of the L. fermentum biofilm.

3. The composition, according to claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises a pharmaceutically-acceptable carrier.

4. The composition, according to claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises a cosmetically-acceptable excipient.

5. The composition, according to claim 4 , wherein the composition is formulated as a lotion, cream, emulsion, ointment, oil, or gel.

6. The composition, according to claim 1 , wherein the antimicrobial activity is selected from inhibiting biofilm growth, inhibiting biofilm adhesion and promoting biofilm detachment.

7. A method of improving the condition of skin or a mucous membrane, wherein said method comprises administering to the skin or mucous membrane of a subject an effective amount of the composition of claim 1 .

8. A method for improving the barrier function and/or the condition of a mucous membrane of a subject, wherein said method comprises administering, to the mucous membrane of the subject, an effective amount of the composition of claim 1 .

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the composition comprises Lactobacillus fermentum Qi6 having Accession No. PTA-122195.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the Lactobacillus fermentum Qi6 having Accession No. PTA-122195 is inactivated.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the mucous membrane is in the vagina.

12. The method of claim 8 , wherein the mucous membrane is in the gastrointestinal tract.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 27, 2025
From: QUORUM INNOVATIONS, LLC
To: QUORUM INNOVATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 072607/0324 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 1, 2023
From: BERKES, EVA A.; MONSUL, NICHOLAS T.; BOEHM, FREDERICK T.
To: QUORUM INNOVATIONS, LLC
Reel/Frame 062562/0587 →
Continuity (7)
Continuation 16806000 · Mar 2, 2020
Continuation 15629439 · Jun 21, 2017
Continuation 15496686 · Apr 25, 2017
Continuation 15226226 · Aug 2, 2016
Continuation PCTUS2016042939 · Jul 19, 2016
Provisional Application 62194630 · Jul 20, 2015
Related Publication 20230165915A1 · Jun 1, 2023
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