Anti-fungal composition

1. A process for the production of natamycin from a fermentation broth containing biomass and natamycin, wherein said process comprises:

(a) disintegrating the biomass;

(b) separating the natamycin from the thus treated fermentation broth to obtain a natamycin suspension;

(c) adjusting the pH of the natamycin suspension to a value greater than 10 and adding an amount of a substantially water-miscible solvent sufficient to dissolve the natamycin in said natamycin suspension;

(d) removing insoluble solids from said pH-adjusted natamycin solution;

(e) lowering the pH of said solution obtained in step (d) to a pH of 5 to 8 to precipitate the natamycin;

(f) removing the natamycin from said natamycin suspension;

(g) optionally, drying of the said removed natamycin; and

(h) optionally, reducing the size of the said dried natamycin;

wherein the release rate of the natamycin produced from step (f):

(i) is 0.1-2.0 μg/24 hours over the first 24 hours when contacted on a carrier with an agar surface of 0.6 cm diameter at 6° C. and a carrier loading of 40 μg of natamycin;

(ii) decreases by 1% to 45% after at least 9 days, when contacted on a carrier with an agar surface of 0.6 cm diameter, and a carrier loading from 5 to 40 μg of natamycin; and/or

(iii) ranges between 6% and 10% of the initial carrier loading after at least 9 days, when tested on a carrier with an agar surface of 0.6 cm diameter, and a carrier loading of 5 to 40 ug of natamycin.

2. A process according to claim 1 , wherein the natamycin present in the fermentation broth is in solid form.

3. A process according to claim 1 , wherein the solid natamycin comprises natamycin particles.

4. A process according to claim 1 , wherein the disintegration of the biomass in step (a) comprises one or a combination of the following techniques and/or treatments: homogenisation, high shear mixing, ultrasonication, heating, alkaline treatment, enzymatic treatment or a treatment with a surface active agent.

5. A process according to claim 1 , wherein the separation of the natamycin in step (b) comprises a gravity gradient separation technique.

6. A process according to claim 5 , wherein the gravity gradient separation technique is a gravity centrifugation technique or uses an up-flow column or a hydroclone.

7. A process according to claim 1 , wherein the water-miscible solvent used in step (c) is selected from the group consisting of acetone, methanol, ethanol, propanol, propanediol, isopropanol, tetrahydrofuran and combinations thereof.

8. A process according to claim 1 , wherein the pH in step (c) is adjusted to a value ranging between 10.0 and 11.0.

9. A process according to claim 1 , wherein step (d) is performed by membrane filtration, depth filtration or centrifugation.

10. A process according to claim 1 , wherein the pH in step (e) is lowered by 0.3 pH units per 5 minutes.

11. A process according to claim 1 , wherein step (f) is performed by membrane filtration.

12. A process according to claim 1 , wherein the fermentation broth comprises at least 2 g/l natamycin.

13. A process according to claim 12 , wherein the fermentation broth comprises at least 7 g/l natamycin.

14. A process according to claim 1 , wherein the fermentation broth comprises natamycin particles having an average particle diameter of at least 2 micrometer.

15. A process according to claim 14 , wherein the natamycin particles have an average particle diameter of at least 5 micrometer.

16. A process according to claim 14 , wherein the natamycin particles have an average particle diameter of at least 10 micrometer.