October 29, 2025
Dr. Mark Lyte, professor of veterinary microbiology and preventive medicine, and the W. Eugene Lloyd Chair in Toxicology in the College of Veterinary Medicine, has been issued a U.S. patent.
Patent No. 12,440,519 is entitled “Probiotic Compositions for Production in Dopamine” and is the result of a discovery by Lyte’s research laboratory that the most highly used probiotic in dogs and other animals can make the neurochemical dopamine which has potent beneficial effects in the immune system.
Among the uses described in the patent is its role in ameliorating inflammation. Lyte says increasing the amount of dopamine will decrease the development and help treat gut inflammation.
Lyte is a leader in the field of microbial endocrinology and has been credited to be one of the first to link pathologic bacteria to changes in behavior. He is the recipient of several research awards including the 2025 Iowa State University Award for Outstanding Achievement in Research.