Ultrasound enhanced growth of microorganisms

• US 9,045,733 B2
• Filed: 08/26/2009
• Issued: 06/02/2015
• 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:
  US13/060,860
• Publication Number:
  US 20110189748A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,106 Days
• Field of Search: 424/41, 424/71.1, 424/171
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 35/04 Mechanical means, e.g. sonic waves, stretching forces, pressure or shear stimuli
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 13/00 Treatment of microorganisms or enzymes with electrical or wave energy, e.g. magnetism, sonic waves
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 5/0647 Haematopoietic stem cells; Uncommitted or multipotent progenitors

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 a fungus.

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 intensity of the ultrasound is from about 20 mW/cm² to about 100 mW/cm².

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the fungus comprises a Penicillium species or a Trichoderma species.

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

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the ultrasound is applied in one or more intervals totaling less than 60 minutes in a 24 hour period.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the ultrasound is applied in a single interval of 10 or 20 minutes in a 24 hour period.

11. 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.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the fungus comprises Penicillium brevicompactum.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the fungus comprises Trichoderma reesei.