Methods of improving milk production and compositional characteristics

• US 9,993,507 B2
• Filed: 01/06/2017
• Issued: 06/12/2018
• 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
• Primary Examiner(s): Yamasaki, Robert J
• Application Number:
  US15/400,484
• Publication Number:
  US 20170196922A1
• Time in Patent Office: 522 Days
• Field of Search: None
• 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 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 ruminant supplement comprising;

i. a purified microbial population that comprises a bacteria with a 16S nucleic acid sequence and/or a fungi with an ITS nucleic acid sequence, which is selected from the group consisting of;

SEQ ID NOs;

1-60 and 2045-2107; and

ii. a carrier suitable for ruminant administration,

wherein at least one of the bacteria or fungi are capable of converting a carbon source into a volatile fatty acid selected from the group consisting of;

acetate, butyrate, propionate, or combinations thereof; and

wherein at least one of the bacteria or fungi are capable of degrading a soluble or insoluble carbon source; and

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

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the ruminant is a cow.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the ruminant supplement 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, bolus, drench, or combinations thereof.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the ruminant supplement is encapsulated in a polymer or carbohydrate.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein administering comprises:

feeding the ruminant supplement to a ruminant.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the purified microbial population is present in the ruminant supplement in an amount of at least 10² cells.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the purified microbial population comprises a bacteria with a 16S nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of:

SEQ ID NOs;

1-30 and 2045-2103.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the purified microbial population comprises a fungi with an ITS nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of:

SEQ ID NOs;

31-60 and 2104-2107.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the purified microbial population comprises a bacteria with a 16S nucleic acid sequence and a fungi with an ITS nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting of:

SEQ ID NOs;

1-60 and 2045-2107.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the purified microbial population comprises a bacteria with a 16S nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:

28.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the purified microbial population comprises a fungi with an ITS nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:

32.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the purified microbial population comprises a Pichia fungi as deposited at NRRL Y-67249.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the purified microbial population only contains organisms that are members of a group selected from:

Intestinimonas, Anaerolinea, Pseudobutyrivibrio, Olsenella, Eubacterium, Catenisphaera, Faecalibacterium, Solobacterium, Blautia, Ralsonia, Coprococcus, Casaltella, Anaeroplasma, Acholeplasma, Aminiphilus, Mitsuokella, Alistipes, Sharpea, Oscillibacter, Neocallimastix, Odoribacter, Pichia, Tannerella, Candida, Hydrogenoanaerobacterium, Orpinomyces, Succinivibrio, Sugiyamaella, Ruminobacter, Lachnospira, Caecomyces, Sinimarinibacterium, Tremella, Hydrogenoanaerobacterium, Turicibacter, Clostridium XIVa, Anaerolinea, Saccharofermentans, Butyricicoccus, Olsenella, Papillibacter, Clostridium XIa, Pelotomaculum, Erysipelotrichaceae incertae sedis, Lachnospiracea incertae sedis, Solobacterium, Anaeroplasma, Ralstonia, Clostridium sensu stricto, Eubacterium, Rikenella, Lachnobacterium, Tannerella, Acholeplasma, Howardella, Selenomonas, Butyricimonas, Sharpea, Succinivibrio, Ruminobacter, Candida, Syntrophococcus, Pseudobutyrivibrio, Orpinomyces, Cyllamyces, Saccharomycetales, Phyllosticta, Ascomycota, and Piromyces.

14. The method according to claim 1, wherein the ruminant administered the effective amount of the ruminant supplement exhibits an increase in milk production that leads to a measured increase in milk yield.

15. The method according to claim 1, wherein the ruminant administered the effective amount of the ruminant supplement exhibits an increase in milk production and improved milk compositional characteristics that leads to a measured increase in energy-corrected milk.

16. The method according to claim 1, wherein the ruminant administered the effective amount of the ruminant supplement 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.

17. The method according to claim 1, wherein the ruminant administered the effective amount of the ruminant supplement exhibits at least a 1% increase in the average production of:

milk fat(s), milk protein(s), energy-corrected milk, or combinations thereof.

18. The method according to claim 1, wherein the ruminant administered the effective amount of the ruminant supplement exhibits at least a 10% increase in the average production of:

milk fat(s), milk protein(s), energy-corrected milk, or combinations thereof.

19. The method according to claim 1, wherein the ruminant administered the effective amount of the ruminant supplement exhibits at least a 20% increase in the average production of:

milk fat(s), milk protein(s), energy-corrected milk, or combinations thereof.

20. The method according to claim 1, wherein the ruminant administered the effective amount of the ruminant supplement, 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.

21. The method according to claim 1, wherein the ruminant administered the effective amount of the ruminant supplement, further exhibits:

a shift in the microbiome of the rumen.

22. The method according to claim 1, wherein the ruminant administered the effective amount of the ruminant supplement, further exhibits:

a shift in the microbiome of the rumen,

wherein a population of microbes present in the rumen before administration of the ruminant supplement increase in abundance after administration of the ruminant supplement.

23. The method according to claim 1, wherein the ruminant administered the effective amount of the ruminant supplement, further exhibits:

a shift in the microbiome of the rumen,

wherein a population of microbes present in the rumen before administration of the ruminant supplement decrease in abundance after administration of the ruminant supplement.

24. The method according to claim 1, wherein the ruminant administered the effective amount of the ruminant supplement, further exhibits:

a shift in the microbiome of the rumen,

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

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

25. The method according to claim 1, wherein the purified microbial population comprises a bacteria with a 16S nucleic acid sequence of ID NO:

28 and a fungi with an ITS nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO;

32.

26. The method according to claim 1, wherein the purified microbial population comprises a Clostridium bacteria as deposited at NRRL B-67248.

27. The method according to claim 1, wherein the purified microbial population comprises a Pichia fungi as deposited at NRRL Y-67249 and a Clostridium bacteria as deposited at NRRL B-67248.