Bacteroides vulgatus Bv46

Bacteroides vulgatus Bv46 is a specific strain of live bacteria being investigated as a therapeutic agent for metabolic and inflammatory conditions. [1-4, 1-6] Classified as a live biotherapeutic product, its active component is the bacterium itself. [1-4, 1-6] Preclinical research in animal models has demonstrated its potential to protect against colitis and hyperlipidemia. [2-6, 8-4] In hyperlipidemic rats, oral administration of B. vulgatus Bv46 led to reduced body weight gain, improved serum lipid profiles, lower levels of inflammatory cytokines, and an increase in fecal short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), specifically propionate and butyrate. [1-11, 6] Similarly, in colitis models, it alleviated disease symptoms and boosted fecal SCFA levels. [2-10, 8-3] The therapeutic effects are linked to its ability to produce the enzyme bile salt hydrolase, which modulates bile acid metabolism, and to shift the composition of the gut microbiota. [3-9, 6] The research appears to be primarily academic, with no specific pharmaceutical company sponsor identified yet. [12]