Products and methods

Abstract

The invention relates to fungal cells and spores, as well as extracts of either, for use, in particular, in prevention or treatment of Chlamydia , or Helicobacter pylori or other infections, inflammation, inflammatory, lysosomal, acidic, SOD- or IgG or other immunoglobulin—peroxidases or hydrogen peroxide induced or other forms of oxidative damage, atherosclerosis, heart disease, stomach, intestinal and liver inflammatory conditions and their complications, promoting or stimulating regeneration or healing of wounds, burns, ulcers, or other forms of damaged or aged tissues, or in reducing elevated cholesterol and/or triglycerides levels In a preferred instance, the fungal cells or spores are those used in the manufacture of fungal fermented cheeses or other foodstuff or beverages, particular fungal blue or white cheeses.

1 . A composition comprising:
 (i) a population of cells and/or spores of a food fungus;   (ii) a food matrix comprising a population of cells and/or spores of a food fungus; and/or   (iii) an extract, fermentation product or metabolite of (i) or (ii),   for use in the prevention or treatment of infection, inflammation, inflammatory damage, oxidative damage, atherosclerosis, heart disease, a stomach, intestinal or liver inflammatory condition or complication thereof, promoting or stimulating regeneration or healing or in reducing elevated cholesterol and/or triglycerides levels.   
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1 , where:
 (a) the infection is a  Chlamydia , or  Helicobacter pylori  infection;   (b) the inflammatory damage is lysosomal damage, acidic damage, SOD damage, immunoglobulin mediated damage, peroxidase mediated damaged, hydrogen peroxide mediated damage, or oxidative damage;   (c) the composition promotes or stimulates regeneration of a wound, burn, ulcer, or regeneration of other forms of damaged or aged tissues;   (d) the composition, or matrix, is a dairy product or dairy product based beverage;   (e) the composition, or matrix, is, or comprises, a fungal fermented cheese; or   (f) the composition, or matrix, is, or comprises, a fungal fermented foodstuff or beverages; and/or   (g) the composition is a fortified food or beverages, a food additive, a dietary supplement, a nutraceutical product, a pharmaceutical product, a topical dermatological product or a topical cosmetic product.   
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 1  or  2  where the composition is for use in lowering elevated cholesterol and/or triglycerides or treating or preventing atherosclerosis, heart disease, a  Chlamydia  infection or a  Helicobacter  pylori infection and the composition is, or comprises: (i) a fungal fermented cheese; (ii) a fundal fermented foodstuff or beverage, (iii) an extract, fermentation product or metabolite from such a cheese, or foodstuff; or (iii). 
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 1  or  2 , where the fungal cells and/or spores are from, or the extract, fermentation product or metabolite is obtained from, a fungus selected from a fungus of the  Penicillium  genus, a fungus of the  Rhizopus  genus, a fungus of the  Fusarium  genus, or a fungus of the  Monascus  genus, or a fungus of the  Aspergillus  genus. 
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 3 , wherein the fungus of the  Penicillium  genus is selected from  Penicillium roqueforti; Penicillium camemberti; Penicillium candidum; Penicillium glaucum ; and  Penicillium nalgiovense    
     
     
         6 . The composition of any one of the preceding claims, wherein:
 (a) the composition is to be administered to a subject with elevated cholesterol and/or triglycerides, atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease, or whom has had at least one heart attack or stroke;   (b) the subject has a  Chlamydia  or a  Helicobacter pylori  infection.   (c) the composition stimulates, or prevents the impairment of, regeneration or healing, preferably the composition stimulates or activates or facilitates regenerative reactions and processes, and/or healing of wounds, burns, ulcers, or other forms of damaged or aged tissues;   (d) the individual has a condition selected from auto-immune disease, hypertension, atherosclerosis, a cardio pathology, a vascular pathology, a cerebral pathology, a metabolic syndrome, obesity, type 2 diabetes, sarcopenia, cachexia, gastritis, a stomach or duodenum ulcer, cancer (particularly stomach or duodenal cancer), metastatic cancer, arthritis or joint disease, dermatitis, psoriasis, acne, chronic skin, mouth or other organ tissue ulceration, an age-related or non-age related skin impairment, skin or other organ or tissue burn or wounds, injuries (including sport, trauma, operative and other injuries), side-effects of chemotherapy, radiation treatment, and radiation exposure or the subject is overweight.   
     
     
         7 . The composition of any one of the preceding claims, where the composition reduces or inhibits one or more of allergic processes, endothelial damage, inflammation; oxidative damage, inflammatory damage, lysosomal damage, acidic damage, SOD- or IgG or other immunoglobulin mediated damage, peroxidase damage, hydrogen peroxide induced oxidative damage, inflammation in the development of organ diseases, or recruitment of pro-inflammatory cytokines in an individual; 
     
     
         8 . The composition of any one of the preceding claims, where:
 (a) the composition is, or comprises, a blue or white fungal fermented cheese, a foodstuff or a beverage, or an extract of such a cheese;   (b) the composition is, comprises, or is an extract from a cheese selected from, Roquefort, Camembert, Creamy Blue, Stilton, Cabrales, Cambozola, Fourme d'Ambert, Gorgonzola, Bleu d'Auvergne, Cibosano; or   (c) the composition is, comprises, or is an extract from Roquefort cheese.   
     
     
         9 . A composition according to any one of the preceding claims where the extract is produced by admixing the food matrix with a liquid phase and isolating the liquid phase. 
     
     
         10 . A composition according to  claim 9 , where:
 (a) the liquid phase is an aqueous or non-aqueous solvent;   (b) the liquid phase is selected from phosphate buffered saline (PBS), methanol, ethanol, hydrochloric acid, and ethanol with hydrochloric acid;   (c) the liquid phase is isolated by centrifugation or filtration; and/or   (d) the liquid phase is sterilized or pasteurized following isolation.   
     
     
         11 . A composition according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the composition controls, reduces or inhibits postprandial and other forms of inflammatory and oxidative stress, postprandial and other forms of cholesterol- and triglyceride-aemias, postprandial formation of large and extra-large chylomicrons 200-600 nm in diameter and above, postprandial and other forms of liver and pancreas steatosis, postprandial and other forms of transient and continues inflammation and/or damage of these organs in an individual. 
     
     
         12 . A composition according to any one of the preceding claims where the composition is packaged with packaging with an assigned score or grade indicating the level of activity of the composition for reducing or preventing the condition. 
     
     
         13 . Use of a composition comprising:
 (i) a population of cells and/or spores of a food fungus;   (ii) a food matrix comprising a population of cells and/or spores of a food fungus; and/or   (iii) an extract, fermentation product or metabolite of (i) or (ii),   in the manufacture of a medicament for prevention or treatment of infection, inflammation, inflammatory damage, oxidative damage, atherosclerosis, heart disease, a stomach, intestinal or liver inflammatory condition or complication thereof, promoting or stimulating regeneration or healing or in reducing elevated cholesterol and/or triglycerides levels.   
     
     
         14 . A method for prevention or treatment of infection, inflammation, inflammatory damage, oxidative damage, atherosclerosis, heart disease, a stomach, intestinal or liver inflammatory condition or complication thereof, promoting or stimulating regeneration or healing or in reducing elevated cholesterol and/or triglycerides levels, the method comprising administering to an individual in need thereof a composition comprising:
 (i) a population of cells and/or spores of a food fungus;   (ii) a food matrix comprising a population of cells and/or spores of a food fungus; and/or   (iii) an extract, fermentation product or metabolite of (i) or (ii).   
     
     
         15 . A fungal cheese, an extract from such a cheese, or a food or beverage or supplement comprising either such a cheese or extract, for use in prevention or treatment of infection, inflammation, inflammatory damage, oxidative damage, atherosclerosis, heart disease, a stomach, intestinal or liver inflammatory condition or complication thereof, promoting or stimulating regeneration or healing or in reducing elevated cholesterol and/or triglycerides levels. 
     
     
         16 . A method for producing an extract for use in prevention or treatment of infection, inflammation, inflammatory damage, oxidative damage, atherosclerosis, heart disease, a stomach, intestinal or liver inflammatory condition or complication thereof, promoting or stimulating regeneration or healing or in reducing elevated cholesterol and/or triglycerides levels in an individual, comprising:
 (a) providing a food matrix comprising a population of cells and/or spores of a food fungus;   (b) admixing said food matrix in a liquid phase and;   (c) isolating the liquid phase to produce the extract.   
     
     
         17 . A method to screen, identify or assess activity of a molecule, compound or product that can inhibit inflammatory damage, lysosomal damage, acidic damage, SOD- or IgG or other immunoglobulin medicated damage, peroxidase or hydrogen peroxide induced damage, or other forms of oxidative damage, the method comprising:
 (a) providing a protein or proteins with a Greek key domain, which capable of forming an electron-transfer complexes in a proton excess over electron production, in an acidic environment with pH between 4.0-4.5 and below 6.0-6.5; and   (b) monitoring for the generation of hydrogen peroxide and/or the oxidation due to the generation of hydrogen peroxide.   
     
     
         18 . The screening method of  claim 16 , where the method is a physical, chemical, bio- or immuno-chemical, cellular, biological method or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         19 . An assay for assessing inflammatory oxidative damage (IOD) comprising:
 (a) providing a human tissue sample, tissue sample homogenate, serum or plasma;   (b) adding a source of hydrogen ions capable of acting as a substrate for super oxide dismutase;   (c) incubating the sample for from 6 to 24 hours; and   (d) performing an MDA test to determine the level of oxidation.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , where the results obtained are compared to those for an equivalent control sample of the same tissue, homogenate, serum or plasma to which the source of hydrogen ions has not been added.