Ultrasound enhanced growth of microorganisms

• US 9,012,192 B2
• Filed: 09/21/2011
• Issued: 04/21/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hidaca Limited
• Original Assignee: IntelligentNano Inc.
• Inventors: Chen, Jie, Xing, James, Ang, Woon T.
• Primary Examiner(s): DAVIS, RUTH A
• Application Number:
  US13/238,978
• Publication Number:
  US 20120100525A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,308 Days
• US Class Current: 435/171
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 35/04 Mechanical means, e.g. sonic waves, stretching forces, pressure or shear stimuli
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 1/14 Fungi culture of mushrooms A01G18/00; as new plants A01H15/00; Culture media therefor
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 1/18 Baker's yeast; Brewer's yeast
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 13/00 Treatment of microorganisms or enzymes with electrical or wave energy, e.g. magnetism, sonic waves
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 17/04 containing a five-membered hetero ring, e.g. griseofulvin , vitamin C
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 19/02 Monosaccharides 2-ketogulonic acid C12P7/60
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 19/14 produced by the action of a carbohydrase (EC 3.2.x), e.g. by alpha-amylase , e.g. by cellulase, hemicellulase
• CPC Class Codes: C12P 7/06 Ethanol, i.e. non-beverage
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 50/10 Biofuels, e.g. bio-diesel

Abstract

A method of increasing the rate of growth, useful product production, or protein expression of a microorganism includes the step of exposing the microorganism to ultrasound having a frequency greater than about 1 MHz.

Claims

1. A method of increasing the rate of growth, useful product production, or protein expression of a microorganism, comprising:

exposing the microorganism to ultrasound having a frequency from greater than about 1 MHz to about 10 MHz,

wherein the microorganism comprises yeast.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the ultrasound is pulsed.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the frequency of the ultrasound is from greater than about 1 MHz to 2 MHz.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the frequency of the ultrasound is between about 1.4 MHz and about 1.6 MHz.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the frequency of the ultrasound is about 1.5 MHz.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the ultrasound is applied in periodic intervals.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the ultrasound is pulsed, the frequency of the ultrasound is between about 1.4 MHz and about 1.6 MHz, and the ultrasound is applied in periodic intervals.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the microorganism is Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

9. A method of increasing the rate of growth, useful product production, or protein expression of a microorganism, comprising

exposing the microorganism to ultrasound having a frequency from greater than about 1 MHz to about 10 MHz,

wherein the microorganism comprises a protist.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the ultrasound is pulsed.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the frequency of the ultrasound is from greater than about 1 MHz to 2 MHz.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the frequency of the ultrasound is between about 1.4 MHz and about 1.6 MHz.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein the frequency of the ultrasound is about 1.5 MHz.

14. The method of claim 9 wherein the ultrasound is applied in periodic intervals.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the ultrasound is pulsed, the frequency of the ultrasound is between about 1.4 MHz and about 1.6 MHz, and the ultrasound is applied in periodic intervals.