Compositions and methods that modulate bacteria in a companion animal

Abstract

A specific bacterium in a companion animal can be improved by adjusting the diet of the animal to increase the amount of a compound which positively or negatively modulates the specific type of bacterium or to decrease the amount of a compound which positively or negatively modulates the specific type of bacterium. The specific type of bacterium can be one or more of Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus , or Clostridium perfringens.

The invention is claimed as follows: 
     
         1 . A pet food composition, comprising:
 protein, carbohydrates, fat, fiber, and   at least 6 distinct metabolites for individually modulating the amount of  Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus , and  Clostridium perfringens  in a companion animal;   wherein the metabolite that modulates  Bifidobacterium  is selected from the group consisting of campesterol, 7-ketodeoxycholate, 3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)propionate, 3-dehydrocarnitine, 12-dehydrocholate, X-17314, X-15461, chenodeoxycholate, 3-dehydrocholate, cholate, 15-methylpalmitate (isobar with 2-methylpalmitate) and mixtures thereof;   wherein the metabolite that modulates  Lactobacillus  is selected from the group consisting of X-15461, 3-phenylpropionate (hydrocinnamate), 3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)propionate, mannitol, campesterol, indoleacetate, 3-dehydrocarnitine, X-11378 and mixtures thereof;   wherein the metabolite that modulates  Clostridium perfringens  is selected from the group consisting of dihomo-linoleate (20:2n6), arachidonate (20:4n6), adrenate (22:4n6), mannose, 3-hydroxybutyrate (BHBA), trigonelline (N′-methylnicotinate), eicosenoate (20:1n9 or 11), docosapentaenoate (n3 DPA; 22:5n3), palmitoyl sphingomyelin, glycerate, linolenate [alpha or gamma; (18:3n3 or 6)], dihomo-linolenate (20:3n3 or n6), X-11378, X-17010, 7-alpha-hydroxycholesterol, stearate (18:0), palmitate (16:0), glycolate (hydroxyacetate), stachydrine, X-12450, X-09789, campesterol, pantothenate, linoleate (18:2n6), docosapentaenoate (n6 DPA; 22:5n6), X-11412, X-17185, phenylalanine and mixtures thereof; and   wherein the pet food composition provides at least a 5% increase or a 5% decrease in the amount of at least one of  Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus , and  Clostridium perfringens  in the companion animal upon administration of the pet food to the companion animal.   
     
     
         2 . The pet food composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises at least 9 distinct metabolites, including at least 3 distinct metabolites for modulating each one of  Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus , and  Clostridium perfringens  in a companion animal. 
     
     
         3 . The pet food composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises at least 12 distinct metabolites, including at least 4 distinct metabolites for modulating each one of  Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus , and  Clostridium perfringens  in a companion animal. 
     
     
         4 . The pet food composition of  claim 1 , wherein the metabolite that modulates  Bifidobacterium  is selected from the group consisting of campesterol, 7-ketodeoxycholate, 3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)propionate, 3-dehydrocarnitine, 12-dehydrocholate, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The pet food composition of  claim 1 , wherein the metabolite that modulates  Lactobacillus  is selected from the group consisting of X-15461, 3-phenylpropionate (hydrocinnamate), 3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)propionate, mannitol, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The pet food composition of  claim 1 , wherein the metabolite that modulates  Clostridium perfringens  is selected from the group consisting of dihomo-linoleate (20:2n6), arachidonate (20:4n6), adrenate (22:4n6), mannose, 3-hydroxybutyrate (BHBA), trigonelline (N′-methylnicotinate), eicosenoate (20:1n9 or 11), docosapentaenoate (n3 DPA; 22:5n3), palmitoyl sphingomyelin, glycerate, linolenate [alpha or gamma; (18:3n3 or 6)], dihomo-linolenate (20:3n3 or n6), X-11378, X-17010, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The pet food composition of  claim 1 , wherein the pet food composition provides at least a 10% increase in the amount of at least one of  Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus , or  Clostridium perfringens  in the companion animal. 
     
     
         8 . The pet food composition of  claim 1 , wherein the pet food composition provides at least a 10% decrease in the amount of at least one of  Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus , or  Clostridium perfringens  in the companion animal. 
     
     
         9 . A method of modulating the amount of at least one of  Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus , or  Clostridium perfringens  in a companion animal, comprising:
 administering to the companion animal a pet food composition comprising protein, carbohydrates, fat, fiber, and at least three distinct metabolites for modulating the amount of at least one of  Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus , or  Clostridium perfringens  in the companion animal;   wherein the metabolite that modulates  Bifidobacterium  is selected from the group consisting of campesterol, 7-ketodeoxycholate, 3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)propionate, 3-dehydrocarnitine, 12-dehydrocholate, X-17314, X-15461, chenodeoxycholate, 3-dehydrocholate, cholate, 15-methylpalmitate (isobar with 2-methylpalmitate) and mixtures thereof;   wherein the metabolite that modulates  Lactobacillus  is selected from the group consisting of X-15461, 3-phenylpropionate (hydrocinnamate), 3-(4-hydroxyphenyl) propionate, mannitol, campesterol, indoleacetate, 3-dehydrocarnitine, X-11378 and mixtures thereof; and   wherein the metabolite that modulates  Clostridium perfringens  is selected from the group consisting of dihomo-linoleate (20:2n6), arachidonate (20:4n6), adrenate (22:4n6), mannose, 3-hydroxybutyrate (BHBA), trigonelline (N′-methylnicotinate), eicosenoate (20:1n9 or 11), docosapentaenoate (n3 DPA; 22:5n3), palmitoyl sphingomyelin, glycerate, linolenate [alpha or gamma; (18:3n3 or 6)], dihomo-linolenate (20:3n3 or n6), X-11378, X-17010, 7-alpha-hydroxycholesterol, stearate (18:0), palmitate (16:0), glycolate (hydroxyacetate), stachydrine, X-12450, X-09789, campesterol, pantothenate, linoleate (18:2n6), docosapentaenoate (n6 DPA; 22:5n6), X-11412, X-17185, phenylalanine and mixtures thereof.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the composition comprises at least four distinct metabolites for modulating at least one of  Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus , or  Clostridium perfringens.    
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the composition comprises at least five distinct metabolites for modulating at least one of  Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus , or  Clostridium perfringens.    
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the method modulates at least two bacteria selected from the group consisting of  Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus , and  Clostridium perfringens  and wherein the composition comprises at least six distinct metabolites, three distinct metabolites for modulating each of the at least two bacteria. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the method modulates  Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus , and  Clostridium perfringens  and wherein the composition comprises at least nine distinct metabolites, three distinct metabolites for modulating each of  Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus , and  Clostridium perfringens.    
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the pet food composition provides at least a 5% increase or a 5% decrease in the amount of at least one of  Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus , or  Clostridium perfringens  in the companion animal. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the administering is a regular administration. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the modulating provides one of the following health benefits: weight gain, increased feed conversion rate, reduced mortality, decreased digestive discomfort, relief from irritable bowel syndrome, relief from Crohn's disease, reduction in bacterial overgrowth, increase in food digestion, increase in lactose metabolism, decreased negative effects of antibiotics, healthy skin, decreased yeast infections, increased absorption of nutrients, or increased immune system. 
     
     
         17 . A method of measuring a change in the amount of at least one of  Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus , or  Clostridium perfringens  in a companion animal, comprising:
 obtaining a serum sample of the companion animal;   measuring concentrations of at least three distinct metabolites from the serum sample that modulate at least one of  Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus , or  Clostridium perfringens ; and   determining that the  Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus , or  Clostridium perfringens  has changed if, after comparing the metabolite concentrations to average metabolite concentrations of each metabolite from comparable companion animals, the metabolite concentrations are different than the average metabolite concentrations;   wherein the metabolite that modulates  Bifidobacterium  is selected from the group consisting of campesterol, 7-ketodeoxycholate, 3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)propionate, 3-dehydrocarnitine, 12-dehydrocholate, X-17314, X-15461, chenodeoxycholate, 3-dehydrocholate, cholate, 15-methylpalmitate (isobar with 2-methylpalmitate) and mixtures thereof;   wherein the metabolite that modulates  Lactobacillus  is selected from the group consisting of X-15461, 3-phenylpropionate (hydrocinnamate), 3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)propionate, mannitol, campesterol, indoleacetate, 3-dehydrocarnitine, X-11378 and mixtures thereof; and   wherein the metabolite that modulates  Clostridium perfringens  is selected from the group consisting of dihomo-linoleate (20:2n6), arachidonate (20:4n6), adrenate (22:4n6), mannose, 3-hydroxybutyrate (BHBA), trigonelline (N′-methylnicotinate), eicosenoate (20:1n9 or 11), docosapentaenoate (n3 DPA; 22:5n3), palmitoyl sphingomyelin, glycerate, linolenate [alpha or gamma; (18:3n3 or 6)], dihomo-linolenate (20:3n3 or n6), X-11378, X-17010, 7-alpha-hydroxycholesterol, stearate (18:0), palmitate (16:0), glycolate (hydroxyacetate), stachydrine, X-12450, X-09789, campesterol, pantothenate, linoleate (18:2n6), docosapentaenoate (n6 DPA; 22:5n6), X-11412, X-17185, phenylalanine and mixtures thereof.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , measuring concentrations of at least four distinct metabolites for modulating at least one of  Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus , or  Clostridium perfringens.    
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , measuring concentrations of at least five distinct metabolites for modulating at least one of  Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus , or  Clostridium perfringens.    
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the metabolite that modulates  Bifidobacterium  is selected from the group consisting of campesterol, 7-ketodeoxycholate, 3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)propionate, 3-dehydrocarnitine, 12-dehydrocholate, and mixtures thereof;
 wherein the metabolite that modulates  Lactobacillus  is selected from the group consisting of X-15461, 3-phenylpropionate (hydrocinnamate), 3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)propionate, mannitol, and mixtures thereof; or   wherein the metabolite that modulates  Clostridium perfringens  is selected from the group consisting of dihomo-linoleate (20:2n6), arachidonate (20:4n6), adrenate (22:4n6), mannose, 3-hydroxybutyrate (BHBA), trigonelline (N′-methylnicotinate), eicosenoate (20:1n9 or 11), docosapentaenoate (n3 DPA; 22:5n3), palmitoyl sphingomyelin, glycerate, linolenate [alpha or gamma; (18:3n3 or 6)], dihomo-linolenate (20:3n3 or n6), X-11378, X-17010, and mixtures thereof.