The specification discloses the use of strains of the genus Blautia for treating or preventing visceral hypersensitivity, particularly strains from the species B. hydrogenotrophica, B. stercoris, and B. wexlerae. The claimed invention is the use of Blautia hydrogenotrophica for treating or preventing visceral hypersensitivity. The examples illustrate that the type strain of B. hydrogenotrophica was orally administered to rats inoculated with faecal microbiota from human IBS patient exhibiting visceral hypersensitivity. The examples also illustrate results from a Clinical Phase I trial on human IBS patients. The invention is in the field of using bacterial strains from the mammalian digestive tract in producing medicaments for treating disease.
