WO2007123236A1

WO2007123236A1 - Composition containing microorganism cell which can prevent development of hansen's disease

Info

Publication number: WO2007123236A1
Application number: PCT/JP2007/058798
Authority: WO
Inventors: Takao Fujimura; Wakoto Bukawa
Original assignee: The Kitasato Institute; Combi Corporation
Priority date: 2006-04-24
Filing date: 2007-04-24
Publication date: 2007-11-01
Also published as: JP5172104B2; JP2007290992A

Abstract

Disclosed is a composition comprising at least one Gram-positive bacterium isolated from the intestine of an animal including human or a fermented food as an active ingredient. The composition can be used for inhibition or reduction of in vivo proliferation of Mycobacterium leprae. The composition can be used for prevention, progression prevention or amelioration of Hansen's disease or a condition associated with Hansen's disease. The composition can be ingested readily in a daily life, is safe, and develops reduced adverse side effects.

Description

Specification

Bacteria-containing composition with leprosy prevention effect

Reference to related applications

[0001] This application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-119175 (filing date: April 24, 2006), which is a prior Japanese patent application, and claims the benefit of its priority. The entire disclosure is hereby incorporated by reference.

Background of the Invention

[0002] Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a fungus body-containing composition having an effect of preventing the onset of Hansen's disease. More particularly, the present invention relates to a composition comprising a bacterium selected from the group consisting of gram positive bacteria isolated from animal intestines including humans or from fermented foods. The present invention also relates to a food / beverage product having an effect of preventing the onset of leprosy.

[0003] Background branching

Nosensen's disease is one of the infections that mainly affect the skin and peripheral nerves by Mycobacterium leprae. In Japan, about 10 or less cases are reported annually, but it is said that there are still millions of people with leprosy in developing countries.

[0004] For example, in Indonesia, India, and Africa, there are 3 to 4 people per 10,000 people, and there are 10 times more people with leprosy in areas with a high prevalence. Such areas are said to be leprosy-contaminated areas, and in these areas, new patients who are infected at an early age due to infection within the family increase, and measures to prevent the onset of leprosy are needed. For treatment of leprosy, multi-drug combination therapy (MDT) has been effective, but no effective means of preventing infection has yet been found to prevent its onset. For this reason, the increase in the number of newly infected people remains serious. More recently, the occurrence of leprosy having multidrug resistance has been a concern, and it is important to find infection prevention measures not related to conventional drugs.

[0005] Further, as a viewpoint power for preventing onset, it is desired to provide a drug or food that can be used safely with fewer side effects. The provision of such drugs or foods It is expected to help improve the quality of life of consumers.

[0006] On the other hand, in recent years, research on intestinal flora has progressed, and it has become clear that intestinal flora is closely related to the health and diseases of the host. Lactic acid bacteria, bifidobacteria, etc. There have been many attempts to use it to prevent various diseases and improve symptoms.

[0007] For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-125810 discloses a concentrated beverage comprising yeast and lactic acid bacteria and having an anti-inflammatory action. JP-A-2001-48796 discloses an immunomodulator using a dead cell of a specific Enterococcus genus.

[0008] Enterococcus faecalis EC-12, which is one of the lactic acid bacteria, may be abbreviated as “EC-12” in the following. It has been reported to have action, antitumor action, skin allergy improvement action, etc. (for example, “Food and Development”, Vol.39, Νο.10, pp. 61-63). There is also a report on the effect of EC-12 on the host defense mechanism during Listeria monocytogenes infection (“New Drugs and Clinical” (J. New Rem. & Clin.), Vol. 53, No. 3). 2004, pp. 78-88).

However, as far as the present inventors know, nothing has been reported on the leprosy prevention effect of these bacteria. The infection and development mechanism of leprosy is completely different from the infection mechanism of Listeria monocytogenes and the various diseases described above.

Summary of the Invention

[0010] The present inventors have significantly suppressed the growth of leiomycetes in living organisms by ingesting EC-12 strain, one of Gram-positive bacteria isolated from animal intestines including humans and fermented foods. It was unexpectedly found that symptoms associated with leprosy could be improved. The present invention is based on strong knowledge.

[0011] The object of the present invention is to prevent, suppress or improve leprosy or a condition related to leprosy that can be easily taken in daily life and has very few side effects and can be used as a medicine or food and drink. It is providing the composition which has an effect.

[0012] The composition according to the present invention comprises, as an active ingredient, at least one kind of Gram-positive bacteria isolated from animal intestines including humans or fermented foods. It is used for growth inhibition or reduction. [0013] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the bacterium is a dead cell.

[0014] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the composition according to the present invention is used for prevention, suppression of progress or improvement of leprosy or a condition related thereto. More preferably, the composition according to the present invention is leprosy or related in a patient who is infected or suspected of being infected with leiomycetes or who is likely to be infected with leiomycetes. Used to prevent, suppress or improve progress.

[0015] According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a food or drink comprising the composition according to the present invention.

[0016] According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a food or drink comprising an effective amount of the active ingredient, which is used for suppressing or reducing the growth of leprosy in a living body.

[0017] According to yet another aspect of the present invention, a food or drink comprising an effective amount of the active ingredient, wherein the food or drink is displayed with a function for preventing, suppressing progression or improving leprosy or a state related thereto. Goods are provided.

[0018] According to another aspect of the present invention, is an effective amount of at least one or more kinds of gram positive bacteria isolated from animal intestines including human beings or fermented foods administered to a patient in need thereof? Or a method for preventing, inhibiting progression or ameliorating a leprosy symptom or a condition associated therewith comprising ingestion.

[0019] According to still another aspect of the present invention, animal intestinal or fermented foods including humans for producing a composition for use in the prevention, progression inhibition or amelioration of leprosy or a condition related thereto. Use of at least one gram positive bacterium to be isolated is provided.

[0020] According to another aspect of the present invention, prevention of leprosy or a condition related thereto.

Use of Enterococcus faecalis EC-12 (accession number FERM BP-10284) or a mutant thereof is provided for inhibiting or improving progression.

[0021] According to the present invention, by taking an active ingredient as a pharmaceutical or a food or drink, it is possible to suppress or reduce the growth of leprosy in living organisms. That is, according to the present invention, leprosy or Conditions associated with this can be prevented, progress suppressed or improved. The active ingredient in the present invention is a bacterium from which animal intestines including humans or fermented foods are separated, or dead cells thereof, and it is clear from previous reports that there are almost no side effects and high safety. For this reason, the composition or food or drink according to the present invention has excellent safety with almost no side effects. Therefore, they can be taken easily in daily life. Therefore, since the composition of the present invention can be easily taken by children and adults without side effects, it effectively suppresses leprosy family infection and can effectively prevent childhood infection and increased leprosy infection in leprosy-contaminated areas. It is expected.

Brief Description of Drawings

[0022] FIG. 1 is a morphological photograph showing the results of Examples in the case of EC-12 non-intake group (control group).

FIG. 2 is a morphological photograph showing the results of Examples in the EC-12 intake group.

Detailed description of the invention

[0023] Harmful microorganisms

Enterococcus faecalis EC-12 (Enterococcus faecalis EC-12) was issued on February 25, 2005 (original deposit date). 305-5466 Deposited at Tsukuba Sakai Higashi, 1-chome, 1-chome, 1-center, 6), Ibaraki, Japan. The accession number is FERM BP-10284.

[0024] Active ingredient

As described above, the active ingredient of the composition and food / beverage product according to the present invention is at least one Gram-positive bacterium from which animal intestine including human or fermented food power is also separated. This bacterium is a gram-positive bacterium that produces lactic acid, a so-called lactic acid bacterium.

[0025] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the bacterium is Enterococcus, Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, Streptococcus, and Ratatococcus. Selected from the group consisting of bacteria belonging to (Lactococcus).

[0026] Here, the bacteria belonging to the genus Enterococcus include, for example, Enterococcus faecalis, Enterococcus faecium, etc. Is mentioned. Examples of bacteria belonging to the genus Bifidobacterium include, for example, Bifidobacterium longum, Bifidobacteri um breve, Bifidobacterium bifidum, etc. Can be mentioned. Examples of bacteria belonging to the genus Lactobacillus include Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus salivarius and the like.

[0027] Examples of bacteria belonging to the genus Streptococcus include Streptococcus thermophilus. Examples of bacteria belonging to the genus Ratatococcus include Lactococcus cremoris, Lactococcus lactis and the like.

[0028] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the bacterium used as an active ingredient is a bacterium belonging to the genus Enterococcus. More preferably, the bacterium is Enter ococcus raecalis. .

[0029] Examples of Enterococcus faecalis include strains such as Enterococcus faecalis EC-12 (accession number FERM BP-10284), ATCC 19433, ATCC 14508, ATCC 23655, IF O 16803, IFO 16804, and mutants thereof. Can be illustrated. Of these, the EC-12 strain is most preferred as the bacterium used as the active ingredient.

Here, the “mutant strain” means that a specific strain has been mutated by a method well known to those skilled in the art within a range that does not change the property thereof, or is equivalent to that. The meaning includes things that can be confirmed.

[0030] The bacterium used as the active ingredient is a force capable of using live bacteria and Z or dead cells, preferably dead cells, and more preferably, the bacteria are sterilized by a known heat treatment method. The heat-sterilized microbial cell obtained by using is used. The heat-sterilized cells are collected from a culture obtained by culturing the bacteria according to a conventional method, for example, by filtration, centrifugation, or the like, washed with water, suspended in water, etc., and 120 ° C. Following (preferably 80 to 120 ° C), heat treatment within 30 minutes (3 seconds to 30 minutes), followed by concentration and drying as necessary. In addition, the entericococcus "Fuecharis" sterilized bacterial powder by heat treatment of the EC-12 strain is commercially available under the trade name "EC-12" (manufactured by Combi Co., Ltd.). For this reason, In the present invention, such a commercial product may be used as a bacterium used as an active ingredient.

[0031] 纖

The active ingredient according to the present invention has the effect of inhibiting or reducing the growth of gonococci / gonococci in the living body. That is, as shown in the Examples described later, the active ingredient according to the present invention is highly sensitive to bacterial infection, and when taken by a rat, it can be removed from a living organism in bacterial infection. Although it has the effect of inhibiting the growth of bacteria, it has been confirmed in practice (Examples, Fig. 1 and Fig. 2). That is, it was confirmed from the findings of the rats in the active ingredient administration group and the non-administration group according to the present invention that the progression of the disease state associated with the infection with the bacterium was reduced by the composition according to the present invention. As described above, the active ingredient according to the present invention actually showed an effect of preventing and suppressing the progression of leprosy or a related condition. Therefore, the active ingredient in the present invention has the effect of suppressing the progression of symptoms such as alleviation of symptoms such as reduction of swelling, mitigation of symptoms, and improvement effects on patients infected with leprosy or those who are highly likely to be infected. It can also bring about a therapeutic effect on symptoms. The active ingredient of the present invention can be safely used for mammals having low toxicity.

[0032] According to the active ingredient of the present invention, the growth of bacteria can be suppressed by the action of lactococci on the immune system, so that the growth of bacteria can be prevented. It can be prevented. Note that these are assumptions, and the present invention is not limited to them.

[0033] Therefore, the active ingredient according to the present invention can be used for the prevention, progression inhibition or improvement of leprosy or a condition related thereto. Here, “progression suppression or improvement” of a symptom or condition is used in a sense encompassing adjustment of the symptom or condition, suppression of progression, delay, alleviation, improvement, prevention of re-progression of symptoms and the like.

[0034] In the present invention, "leprosy" refers to infection caused by infection with Mycobacterium leprae, which includes depigmentation or redness accompanied by sensory escape caused by infection with Leprosy. It also includes symptoms such as color eruption, peripheral nerve thickening, annular erythema, and leprosy reaction.

[0035] The effect of the active ingredient according to the present invention can be confirmed by measuring the degree of swelling of the extremities, the thickness of the footpads of the hind limbs (or legs), etc. over time. [0036] According to another aspect of the present invention, a growth inhibitor of leprosy comprising as an active ingredient at least one kind of gram-positive bacteria isolated from animal intestines including humans or fermented foods, Alternatively, a prophylactic agent, progression inhibitor or remedy for leprosy or a condition related thereto is provided. These preparations can be used, for example, as an additive as a raw material for producing pharmaceuticals, a food additive, and the like.

[0037] According to the present invention, as described above, an effective amount of at least one gram-positive bacterium isolated from the intestines of animals including humans or fermented foods is administered to a patient in need thereof. Provided is a method for preventing, inhibiting progression, or ameliorating a leprosy symptom or related condition comprising power or ingestion. Here, the “patient in need thereof” is preferably a patient who is infected or suspected of being infected with leprosy, a person who is placed in an environment where there is a high possibility of being infected with leprosy, or leprosy. Patients with or suspected of developing. Here, the “effective amount” means the amount of the active ingredient that is required at least to exert its effect in order to suppress or improve the progression of symptoms or conditions. Furthermore, the “patient” refers to a human or a mammal other than a human to be administered or ingested the composition or food or drink of the present invention (in particular, immunodeficient mice, rats, and armadillos that are susceptible to leprosy). , Monkeys, etc.). “Administration” and “intake” mean that a target substance is taken into a living body orally or parenterally (preferably orally) to a subject patient.

[0038] Further, according to the present invention, as described above, from the intestinal or fermented foods of animals, including humans, for producing a composition used for the prevention, progression inhibition or improvement of leprosy or a condition related thereto. Use of at least one gram-positive bacterium to be isolated is provided. Here, preferably, the composition is a food composition.

[0039] Composition or food or drink

The composition according to the present invention comprises the aforementioned active ingredient.

[0040] Here, "comprising as an active ingredient" means that it may contain a physiologically acceptable carrier according to the desired product form, and other auxiliary ingredients that can be used in combination. The meaning of including is also included. That is, the composition according to the present invention uses a microbial cell or a dead microbial cell which is an active ingredient, and if necessary, a physiologically acceptable carrier, an excipient. It can be produced by mixing with an agent, a binder, a diluent and the like. The composition according to the present invention can be administered or ingested orally or parenterally. Oral forms include foods, granules, powders, tablets (including sugar-coated tablets), pills, capsules, syrups, emulsions and suspensions. Examples of parenteral forms include injections, drops, and external preparations. These preparations can be formulated together with pharmaceutically acceptable carriers (for example, excipients and additives) by a method generally used in the art. Pharmaceutically acceptable carriers include excipients, binders, fragrances, buffers, thickeners, colorants, stabilizers, emulsifiers, dispersants, suspending agents, disintegrating agents, lubricants, Examples include preservatives. Specific examples include magnesium carbonate, magnesium stearate, talc, sugar, ratatoose, pectin, dextrin, starch, gelatin, tragacanth, methylcellulose, sodium carboxymethylcellulose, and a low melting wax.

[0041] Other auxiliary components that can be used in combination include, for example, vitamin components (eg, vitamin C, vitamin E), antibiotics, glycogen, amino acids, peptides, minerals (eg, zinc, iron, copper). , Manganese, etc.).

[0042] Among the preparations, for example, an oral preparation can be produced as follows. Active ingredients include, for example, excipients (eg lactose, sucrose, starch, mannitol), disintegrants (eg calcium carbonate, carboxymethylcellulose calcium), or lubricants (eg talc, magnesium stearate, (Polyethylene glycol) can be added and compression molded, and then optionally coated by conventional methods for taste masking, enteric or sustained purposes. As the coating agent, for example, ethinoresenololose, hydroxymethenoresenorelose, polyoxyethyleneglycolanol and the like can be used.

[0043] In the present invention, the composition is preferably taken orally.

[0044] If necessary, other preparations such as injections and external preparations can also be produced by conventional methods.

[0045] In formulating, one or more medically effective active ingredients other than the active ingredient according to the present invention may be further added and blended. In the administration of the active ingredient according to the present invention, one or more medically effective active ingredients other than the active ingredient according to the present invention are combined. It may be administered. Examples of such other active ingredients include growth hormones, calcium antagonists, protease inhibitors, steroids and the like.

[0046] The composition according to the present invention is intended to be applied not only to pharmaceuticals but also to foods. Therefore, the food or drink according to the present invention comprises an effective amount of the active ingredient according to the present invention.

[0047] Here, "comprising an effective amount of an active ingredient" means that the active ingredient is contained in such an amount that an effect as an active ingredient can be exhibited as a result of taking the amount of each food or drink normally consumed. To do. In the food and drink according to the present invention, the active ingredient according to the present invention may be blended in the food and drink as it is or in the form of the composition as described above. In addition, the food and drink according to the present invention are prepared by adding conventional additives such as stabilizers to the active ingredient according to the present invention as food and drink, various proteins, sugars, fats, trace elements, vitamins and the like. It may be prepared by blending, liquid, semi-liquid or solid, paste, or added to general food or drink.

[0048] In the present invention, the "food or drink" is other than a medicine and is not particularly limited as long as it can be ingested by mammals, and its form is also liquid, semi-liquid or solid. Any one may be used. For this reason, the form of a drink is also included in food and drink, for example. The food or drink may also be in the form of a dietary supplement tablet such as a supplement.

[0049] In the present invention, the "food and drink" is classified as health food, functional food, food for specified health use, dietary supplement, food with a disease risk reduction label, or food for the sick. Are also included. Furthermore, the term “food or drink” may be used herein to include feed when used for mammals other than humans. Specified health foods as used herein refer to laws and regulations in each country from the viewpoint of health when manufacturing or selling foods for the purpose of preventing, improving, or alleviating the above-mentioned diseases or related conditions. Refers to food that may be subject to any of the above restrictions. Such foods can also be foods that indicate that the foods may reduce disease risk, that is, foods with a disease risk reduction label. Here, the disease risk reduction label is a label for foods that may reduce the disease risk, and is based on or based on the standards established by the FAOZWHO Joint Food Standards Committee (Codex Committee). Refer to the specified display or Can be a recognized indication.

[0050] The active ingredient according to the present invention has the above-described action. Therefore, the active ingredient of the present invention is used in foods, health foods, functional foods, and supplements (eg, foods containing one or more vitamins such as minerals such as calcium and magnesium and vitamin K) taken in daily life. By blending, a food having a function based on the above action can be provided.

[0051] According to the present invention, as described above, there is provided a food and drink comprising an effective amount of the active ingredient according to the present invention, which is used for suppressing or reducing the growth of leprosy in a living body. .

[0052] According to still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a food or drink comprising an effective amount of the active ingredient, which is used for prevention, progression inhibition or improvement of leprosy or a state related thereto. Provided.

[0053] According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a food or drink comprising an effective amount of the active ingredient according to the present invention, wherein the food or drink displaying a function of suppressing or reducing the growth of leprosy in a living body is provided. The According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a food or drink comprising an effective amount of the active ingredient, wherein the food or drink is displayed with a function for preventing, suppressing or improving the leprosy or a state related thereto. Goods are provided. The function indications attached to foods and drinks here are, for example, product bodies, containers, packaging, instructions, package inserts, or promotional materials! , Can be missed.

[0054] Specific examples of the food and drink according to the present invention include juices, soft drinks, tea beverages, drinks, jelly-like beverages, functional beverages and other beverages; beer and other alcoholic beverages; Carbohydrate-containing foods such as breads and pasta; paste products such as fish ham, sausage, and fish paste products; retort products such as curry, ankake, and Chinese soup; soups; milk, milk drinks, ice cream, cheese, yogurt Dairy products such as miso, yogurt, lactic acid bacteria, fermented beverages such as fermented drinks, pickles; bean products; Western confectionery such as biscuits and cookies; Japanese confectionery such as buns and sheep candy; And confectionery such as frozen confectionery such as pudding and ice confectionery; instant foods such as instant soup and instant miso soup, and foods compatible with microwave ovens. Sarakoko is powder, granule, tablet, capsule, liquid, Also included are health foods and drinks prepared in a single-stitch or jelly form.

[0055] In the production of foods and drinks according to the present invention, sugars, fragrances, fruit juices, food additives, stabilizers, and the like that are used in normal food and drink formulation design can be added as appropriate. Manufacture of food and drink can be carried out with reference to manufacturing techniques known in the art. The food / beverage products according to the present invention can take various forms, and the food / beverage products according to the present invention may be produced according to known pharmaceutical production techniques. In that case, it can be produced using a carrier or a pharmaceutical additive as described in the item of production of the composition according to the present invention. It can be manufactured using manufacturing additives. Moreover, it is good also as multifunctional food / beverage products by combining with the other component which exhibits functions other than the function in this invention, or another functional food.

[0056] The composition according to the present invention preferably comprises 0.01 to LOO wt% of the active ingredient based on the total amount of the composition, more preferably 0.05 to 50 wt%. preferable.

[0057] When the composition according to the present invention is used by adding to a food or drink, the amount of the composition added to the food or drink is preferably 0.01 to 80% by mass. 50% by mass is more preferable.

[0058] When the composition and food and drink according to the present invention are administered or ingested, the dose or intake of the active ingredient according to the present invention is determined by the recipient, the age and weight of the recipient, symptoms, administration time, dosage form, It can be determined depending on the administration method, the combination of drugs and the like. For example, when the active ingredient according to the present invention is orally administered or ingested, it is preferable that the daily intake per adult is in the range of 10 to 5000 mg as a dead bacterial powder amount of bacteria. More preferably, it is OOOmg. They can be administered in one or several daily dosage units. These doses or intakes are calculated as necessary as the dose or intake of the active ingredient per day for an adult with a body weight of 60 kg, assuming that the weight of an adult is 60 kg. Can be calculated.

[0059] In addition, the method of adding the microbial cell as an active ingredient to the composition or the food or drink is not particularly limited when the dead microbial cell is used, together with other raw materials used for each food or drink. It can be added from the beginning. Therefore, even if it is added to foods and drinks that require heat treatment (treatment under temperature conditions such as heat sterilization, baking, steaming, etc.), the effect is impaired. There is nothing.

Example

[0060] The present invention will be described in detail by the following examples, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0061] Test method:

In the experiment, SHRZNCrj-rnu nude rats having high susceptibility to infection with Mycobacterium leprae (M. leprae) were used. This rat can be easily obtained from related organizations including the present inventors. However, those skilled in the art can use known literature ("Le prosy in hypertensive nude rat (SHR / N rj -run), Yasuko Yogi et ai., International Journal of Leprosy and Other Mycobacterial Diseases, 67: 435-445, 1999). Corresponding components were EC-12 strain bactericidal cell powder, and EC-12 strain heat-treated bactericidal cell powder was EC-12 (trade name) (manufactured by Combi Corporation). Was used.

[0062] In the experiment, 4 to 6 week-old SHRZNCrj-rnu nude rats were first divided into 3 groups (2 males and 1 female) into two groups, EC-12 intake group and non-intake group. In the lactic acid bacteria EC-12 intake group, a solid feed in which EC 12 was mixed at a ratio of 0.5 mgZg to the experimental animal feed CE 2 (manufactured by Clea Japan Co., Ltd.) was freely taken every day. In the non-intake group, only CE-2 was ingested freely.

[0063] On the 7th day after ingestion of EC-12, 2.5 x 10 ⁸ M. leprae Thai-53 strains (obtained from the National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Nosensen Disease Research Center) on both legs The foot-pad was inoculated. After inoculation, the foot-pad changes were observed over time while continuing to freely consume each feed.

[0064] The results were as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. The figure shows the change in foo t-pad 6 months after inoculation with leprosy. Among these, FIG. 1 shows the EC-12 non-intake group, and FIG. 2 shows the EC 12 ingestion group.

[0065] As is apparent from the figure, in the EC-12 non-administration group, swelling of foot-pads showing the growth of leprosy was observed in all rats. On the other hand, in the EC-12 intake group, the degree of swelling was weaker than that in the non-EC 12 intake group. It was.

Therefore, these results strongly suggest that the growth of leprosy is suppressed by EC-12 intake.

Claims

The scope of the claims

[I] Composition comprising at least one gram-positive bacterium isolated from animal intestines including humans or fermented foods as an active ingredient, and used for inhibiting or reducing the growth of bacteria in living organisms! object.

[2] From the group of bacteria that belong to the genus Enterococcus, Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, Streptococcus, and Lactococcus The composition according to claim 1, which is selected.

[3] The composition according to claim 1, wherein the bacterium belongs to the genus Enterococcus.

[4] The composition according to claim 1, wherein the bacterium is Enterococcus faecalis EC-12 (accession number FERM BP-10284) or a mutant thereof.

[5] The composition according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the bacteria are dead cells.

[6] The composition according to any one of claims 1 to 5, which is used for prevention, suppression or improvement of leprosy or a condition related thereto.

[7] For the prevention, suppression or improvement of leprosy or related conditions in patients who are infected or suspected of being infected with leprosy, or who are placed in an environment that is likely to be infected with leprosy. The composition according to any one of claims 1 to 5, which is used.

[8] The composition according to any one of claims 1 to 7, which is taken orally.

[9] The composition according to any one of claims 1 to 8, which is a pharmaceutical composition.

[10] A food or drink comprising the composition according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

[I I] A food or drink comprising an effective amount of the active ingredient according to claim 1,

A food or drink used for suppressing or reducing the growth of leprosy in a living body.

[12] A food or drink comprising an effective amount of the active ingredient according to claim 1,

A food or drink product that displays functions to prevent, inhibit or improve leprosy or related conditions.

[13] The health food, the functional food, the food for specified health use, the dietary supplement, the food with the disease risk reduction label, or the food for the sick, according to any one of claims 10 to 12. Food and drink.

[14] Leprosy, comprising administering or ingesting to a patient in need thereof an effective amount of at least one Gram-positive bacterium isolated from intestinal or fermented foods including animals. A method to prevent, inhibit or ameliorate symptoms or related conditions.

[15] Patients who are infected or suspected of being infected with leiomycetes, or who have been placed in an environment where they are likely to be infected with leiomycetes, or who have or are suspected to develop leprosy. 15. The method according to claim 14, wherein:

[16] From the group of bacteria whose bacteria belong to the genus Enterococcus, Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, Strentococcus, and Lactococcus 15. A method according to claim 14, wherein the method is selected.

17. The method according to claim 14, wherein the bacterium is a bacterium belonging to the genus Enterococcus.

[18] The method according to claim 14, wherein the bacterium is Enterococcus faecalis EC-12 (accession number FERM BP-10284) or a mutant thereof.

[19] The method according to claim 14, wherein the bacterium is a dead cell.

[20] At least one or more Gram-positive bacteria isolated from animal intestines, including humans, or fermented foods, for producing a composition for use in the prevention, progression inhibition or amelioration of leprosy or related conditions use.

[21] From the group in which the bacteria belong to the genus Enterococcus, Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, Streptococcus, and Lactococcus 21. Use according to claim 20, which is selected.

[22] The use according to claim 20, wherein the bacterium belongs to the genus Enterococcus.

[23] Use according to claim 20, which is Enterococcus faecalis EC-12 (accession number FERM BP-10284) or a mutant thereof.

[24] The use according to claim 20, wherein the bacterium is a dead cell.

[25] Use according to any one of claims 20 to 24, wherein the composition is a food composition.

[26] Enterococcus faecalis EC-12 (Enterococcus faecalis EC-12) (Accession number F) for the prevention, suppression or amelioration of leprosy or related conditions

Use of ERM BP—10284) or its mutants.