MICROBIAL COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS OF USE FOR IMPROVING MILK PRODUCTION

• US 20180325966A1
• Filed: 07/06/2018
• Published: 11/15/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Native Microbials Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Ascus Biosciences, Inc.
• Inventors: EMBREE, Mallory, PICKING, Luke, GOGUL, Grant, TARASOVA, Janna
• Granted Patent: US 10,398,154 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A23K 10/18 of live microorganisms
• CPC Class Codes: A23K 10/30 from material of plant origin, e.g. roots, seeds or hay; from material of fungal origin, e.g. mushrooms obtained by microbiological or biochemical processes, e.g. using yeasts or enzymes, A23K10/10
• CPC Class Codes: A23K 10/37 from waste material from hydrolysates of wood or straw A23K10/32; from molasses A23K10/33
• CPC Class Codes: A23K 20/158 Fatty acids; Fats; Products containing oils or fats
• CPC Class Codes: A23K 20/163 Sugars; Polysaccharides
• CPC Class Codes: A23K 20/28 Silicates, e.g. perlites, zeolites or bentonites
• CPC Class Codes: A23K 40/35 Making capsules specially adapted for ruminants
• CPC Class Codes: A23K 50/10 for ruminants
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 31/10 Yeasts or derivatives thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 33/135 Bacteria or derivatives thereof, e.g. probiotics
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 35/74 Bacteria therapeutic use of a bacterial protein A61K38/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 35/741 Probiotics probiotic yeast, e.g. saccharomyces A61K36/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 35/742 Spore-forming bacteria, e.g. Bacillus coagulans, Bacillus subtilis, clostridium or Lactobacillus sporogenes
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 35/748 Cyanobacteria, i.e. blue-green bacteria or blue-green algae, e.g. spirulina algae, microalgae or microphytes A61K36/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 36/06 Fungi, e.g. yeasts
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 36/062 Ascomycota
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 36/064 Saccharomycetales, e.g. baker's yeast
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 39/02 Bacterial antigens
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/0019 Injectable compositions; Intramuscular, intravenous, arterial, subcutaneous administration; Compositions to be administered through the skin in an invasive manner non-active ingredients are additionally classified in A61K47/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/0053 Mouth and digestive tract, i.e. intraoral and peroral administration rectal administration A61K9/0031
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 15/04 : for inducing labour or abortion; Uterotonics
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 31/04 : Antibacterial agents
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 1/14 : Fungi culture of mushrooms A01G18/00; as new plants A01H15/00; Culture media therefor
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 1/20 : Bacteria; Culture media therefor

Abstract

The disclosure relates to isolated microorganisms—including novel strains of the microorganisms—microbial consortia, and compositions comprising the same. Furthermore, the disclosure teaches methods of utilizing the described microorganisms, microbial consortia, and compositions comprising the same, in methods for modulating the production and yield of milk and milk components in ruminants. In particular aspects, the disclosure provides methods of increasing desirable components of milk in ruminants. Furthermore, the disclosure provides for methods of modulating the rumen microbiome.

Claims

1. A microbial composition, comprising:

a) a purified population of Pichia fungi comprising fungi with an ITS nucleic acid sequence that is at least about 97% identical to SEQ ID NO;

32, and

b) a carrier suitable for ruminant administration;

wherein the purified population of Pichia fungi of a) is present in the composition in an amount effective to increase milk production or improve milk compositional characteristics in a ruminant administered the composition, as compared to a ruminant not administered the composition; and

wherein the Pichia are encapsulated in an encapsulating composition that protects the Pichia from external stressors.

2. The microbial composition according to claim 1, wherein the purified population of Pichia fungi comprises fungi deposited as NRRL Y-67249.

3. The microbial composition according to claim 1, further comprising:

i. a purified population of bacteria that comprises bacteria with a 16S nucleic acid sequence that is at least about 97% identical to a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of;

SEQ ID NOs;

1-30 and 2045-2103, and/or

ii. a purified population of fungi that comprises fungi with an ITS nucleic acid sequence that is at least about 97% identical to a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of;

SEQ ID NOs;

31, 33-60 and 2104-2107.

4. The microbial composition according to claim 3, wherein at least one of the bacteria or fungi are capable of:

(1) converting a carbon source into a volatile fatty acid selected from the group consisting of;

acetone, butyrate, propionate, or combinations thereof;

or

(2) degrading a soluble or insoluble carbon source.

5. The microbial composition according to claim 3, wherein the purified population of bacteria comprises bacteria with a 16S nucleic acid sequence that is at least about 97% identical to SEQ ID NO:

28.

6. The microbial composition according to claim 3, wherein the purified population of bacteria comprises bacteria with a 16S nucleic acide sequence of SEQ ID NO:

28.

7. The microbial composition according to claim 3, wherein both a purified population of bacteria i) and a purified population of fungi ii) are present in the microbial composition.

8. The microbial composition according to claim 1, formulated for administration to a cow.

9. The microbial composition according to claim 1, wherein the microbial composition is stable under ambient conditions for at least one week.

10. The microbial composition according to claim 1, formulated as an:

encapsulation, tablet, capsule, pill, feed additive, food ingredient, food additive, food preparation, food supplement, consumable solution, consumable spray additive, consumable solid, consumable gel, injection, suppository, bolus, drench, or combinations thereof.

11. The microbial composition according to claim 1, wherein the encapsulating composition comprises a:

monosaccharide, disaccharide, trisaccharide, polysaccharide, wax, rosin, balsam, shellac, starch, sugar matrix, polymer matrix, animal fat, animal oil, vegetable fat, vegetable oil, fatty acids, or combinations thereof.

12. The microbial composition according to claim 1, wherein the purified population of Pichia fungi in the microbial composition comprises at least 10² cells.

13. The microbial composition according to claim 1, wherein the ruminant administered the microbial composition exhibits an increase in milk production that leads to a measured increase in milk yield.

14. The microbial composition according to claim 1, wherein the ruminant administered the microbial composition exhibits an increase in milk production and improved milk compositional characteristics that leads to a measured increase in energy-corrected milk.

15. The microbial composition according to claim 1, wherein the ruminant administered the microbial composition exhibits an improved milk compositional characteristic selected from the group consisting of:

an increase in milk fat(s), an increase in milk protein(s), an increase of carbohydrates in milk, an increase of vitamins in milk, an increase of minerals in milk, or combinations thereof.

16. A method for increasing milk production or improving milk compositional characteristics in a ruminant, the method comprising:

a) orally administering to a ruminant an effective amount of a microbial composition comprising;

(i) a purified population of Pichia fungi comprising fungi with an ITS nucleic acid sequence that is at least about 97% identical to SEQ ID NO;

32, and

(ii) a carrier suitable for ruminant administration; and

wherein the ruminant administered the effective amount of the microbial composition exhibits an increase in milk production or improved milk compositional characteristics, as compared to a ruminant not administered the microbial composition.

17. The method according the claim 16, wherein the microbial composition further comprises a purified population of Clostridium.

18. The method according to claim 16, further comprising:

i. a purified population of bacteria that comprises bacteria with a 16S nucleic acid sequence that is at least about 97% identical to a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of;

SEQ ID NOs;

1-30 and 2045-2103, and/or

ii. a purified population of fungi that comprises fungi with an ITS nucleic acid sequence that is at least about 97% identical to a nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of;

SEQ ID NOs;

31, 33-60 and 2104-2107.

19. The method according to claim 17, wherein the purified population of bacteria comprises bacteria with a 16S nucleic acid sequence that is at least about 97% identical to SEQ ID NO:

28.

20. The method according to claim 18, wherein the purified population of bacteria comprises bacteria with a 16S nucleic acide sequence of SEQ ID NO:

28.

21. The method according to claim 16, wherein the ruminant is a cow.

22. The method according to claim 16, wherein the microbial composition is formulated as an:

encapsulation, tablet, capsule, pill, feed additive, food ingredient, food additive, food preparation, food supplement, consumable solution, consumable spray additive, consumable solid, consumable gel, injection, bolus, drench, or combinations thereof.

23. The method according to claim 16, wherein the encapsulating composition comprises a:

monosaccharide, disaccharide, trisaccharide, polysaccharide, wax, rosin, balsam, shellac, starch, sugar matrix, polymer matrix, animal fat, animal oil, vegetable fat, vegetable oil, fatty acids, or combinations thereof.

24. The method according to claim 16, wherein administering comprises feeding the microbial composition to a ruminant.

25. The method according to claim 16, wherein the ruminant administered the effective amount of the microbial composition exhibits an increase in milk production that leads to a measured increase in milk yield.

26. The method according to claim 16, wherein the ruminant administered the effective amount of the microbial composition exhibits an increase in milk production that leads to a measured increase in energy-corrected milk.

27. The method according to claim 16, wherein the ruminant administered the effective amount of the microbial composition exhibits an improved milk compositional characteristic selected from the group consisting of:

an increase in milk fat(s), an increase in milk protein(s), an increase of carbohydrates in milk, an increase of vitamins in milk, an increase of minerals in milk, or combinations thereof.

28. The method according to claim 16, wherein the ruminant administered the effective amount of microbial composition, further exhibits:

at least one improved phenotypic trait, selected from the group consisting of;

an improved efficiency in feed utilization, improved digestibility, an increase in polysaccharide and lignin degradation, an increase in fatty acid concentration in the rumen, pH balance in the rumen, a reduction in methane emissions, a reduction in manure production, improved dry matter intake, an improved efficiency of nitrogen utilization, or combinations thereof.

29. The method according to claim 16, wherein the ruminant administered the effective amount of the microbial composition further exhibits a shift in the microbiome of the rumen.

30. The method according to claim 16, wherein the ruminant administered the effective amount of the microbial composition further exhibits a shift in the microbiome of the rumen,

wherein a first population of microbes present in the rumen before administration of the microbial composition increase in abundance after administration of the microbial composition, and

wherein a second population of microbes present in the rumen before administration of the microbial composition decrease in abundance after administration of the microbial composition.