Methods for the cultivation of micro-organisms

• US 2,822,319 A
• Filed: 08/17/1954
• Issued: 02/04/1958
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/1954
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Jacques Monod
• Original Assignee: Jacques Monod
• Inventors: JACQUES MONOD
• Application Number:
  US03/450,308
• Time in Patent Office: 1,267 Days
• US Class Current: 435/252.1
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 27/00 Means for mixing, agitating or circulating fluids in the vessel by introduction of gas C12M29/06, C12M29/14, mixing in general or mixers per se B01F; mixing in apparatus for chemical or physical processes B01J
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 41/36 of biomass, e.g. colony counters or by turbidity measurements electrooptical investigation of individual particles G01N15/14, flow cytometers G01N15/1404
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 1/00 Microorganisms, e.g. protozoa; Compositions thereof medicinal preparations containing material from protozoa, bacteria or viruses A61K35/66, from algae A61K36/02, from fungi A61K36/06; preparing medicinal bacterial antigen or antibody compositions, e.g. bacterial vaccines, A61K39/00; Processes of propagating, maintaining or preserving microorganisms or compositions thereof; Processes of preparing or isolating a composition containing a microorganism; Culture media therefor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 435/813 Continuous fermentation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 435/837 Bacillus megaterium
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 435/839 Bacillus subtilis
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 435/842 Clostridium
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 435/844 Corynebacterium diphtheriae
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 435/849 Escherichia coli
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 435/885 Streptococcus
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 435/911 using fungi
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 435/94 Saccharomyces
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 435/942 Saccharomyces cerevisiae
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 435/944 Torulopsis
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 435/947 using protozoa

Claims

1. THE METHOD OF GROWING MICROORGANISUMS IN CONTINUOUS CULTURE AND OF CONTROLLING THEIR GROWTH RATE, WHICH COMPRISES CONTINUOUSLY AND SIMULTANEOUSLY ADDING FRESH MEDIUM AT A CONSTANT VOLUMETRIC RATE TO, AND REMOVING CULTURE IN LIQUID STATE AT THE SAME RATE FROM, A FERMENTER, WHILE MIXING THE STIRRING SAID CULTURE TO KEEP IT HOMOGENEOUS WITH RESPECT TO ALL BIOLOGICAL AND CHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE TOTALITY OF ITS VOLUME, THE RATE AT WHICH COMPONENTS OF THE MEDIUM ARE ADDED BEING CHOSEN SUCH THAT THE OPPOSED EFFECTS OF THE ADDITION OF MEDIUM COMPONENTS ON THE ONE HAND AND THE INFLUENCE ON A GROWTH CONTROLLING FACTOR BY THE CONSUMPTION OF SAID COMPONENTS BY THE MICROORGANISMS ON THE OTHER HAND CREATE A STEADYSTATE WHERE THE RATE OF MULTIPLICATION OF THE MICROORGANISMS IS ACTUALLY LIMITED AND CONTROLLED TO REMAIN CONSTANT, IN ALL PARTS OF THE CULTURE SIMULTANEOUSLY AND AT ALL TIMES, BY SAID RATE OF ADDITION OF MEDIUM COMPONENTS.