IP Library Granted Patent US 11,242,544
Granted Patent B2
US 11,242,544 · App. 16/433,639 · Granted Feb 8, 2022

Microbiomes and methods for producing medium-chain fatty acids from organic substrates

Inventors: Timothy James Donohue (Middleton, WI); Matthew Scarborough (Madison, WI); Daniel Noguera (Madison, WI)
Assignee: Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
C12P7/6409C12N1/205C12P2203/00C12R2001/225
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,242,544
App. No.
16/433,639
Granted
Feb 8, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

Microbiome compositions and uses thereof. The microbiome compositions include a set of microbes. The sets of microbes contain members of Lactobacillaceae, Eubacteriaceae, Lachnospiraceae, and Coriobacteriaceae. The number of individual physical microbes in the set constitutes a certain percentage of the total number of individual physical microbes in the microbiome composition. The microbiome compositions can be used for producing medium-chain fatty acids from organic substrates through anaerobic fermentation in a medium. The medium can include lignocellulosic stillage.

Claims (20)

1. A microbiome composition comprising a set of microbes, wherein the microbes in the set consist of members of Lachnospiraceae, Eubacteriaceae, Coriobacteriaceae, and Lactobacillaceae, wherein the number of individual physical microbes in the set constitutes at least 60% of the total number of individual physical microbes in the microbiome composition, wherein one or more of the microbes in the set comprise a genome comprising a sequence at least 90% identical to at least 1 contiguous kilobase of any one or more of SEQ ID NOS: 9, 13, 42, and 424.

2. The microbiome composition of claim 1 , wherein one or more of the members of Lachnospiraceae are members of a genus selected from the group consisting of Roseburia and Shuttleworthia.

3. The microbiome composition of claim 1 , wherein one or more of the members of Lachnospiraceae comprise a genome comprising a sequence at least 90% identical to at least 1 contiguous kilobase of any one or more of SEQ ID NOS:1-10.

4. The microbiome composition of claim 1 , wherein the members of Lachnospiraceae constitute at least 40% of the total number of individual microbes in the microbiome composition.

5. The microbiome composition of claim 1 , wherein one or more of the members of Eubacteriaceae are members of Pseudoramibacter.

6. The microbiome composition of claim 1 , wherein one or more of the members of Eubacteriaceae comprise a genome comprising a sequence at least 90% identical to at least 1 contiguous kilobase of any one or more of SEQ ID NOS:11-39.

7. The microbiome composition of claim 1 , wherein the members of Eubacteriaceae constitute at least 2% of the total number of individual microbes in the microbiome composition.

8. The microbiome composition of claim 1 , wherein one or more of the members of Coriobacteriaceae are members of a genus selected from the group consisting of Olsenella and Atopobium.

9. The microbiome composition of claim 1 , wherein one or more of the members of Coriobacteriaceae comprise a genome comprising a sequence at least 90% identical to at least 1 contiguous kilobase of any one or more of SEQ ID NOS:40-420.

10. The microbiome composition of claim 1 , wherein the members of Coriobacteriaceae constitute at least 3% of the total number of individual microbes in the microbiome composition.

11. The microbiome composition of claim 1 , wherein one or more of the members of Lactobacillaceae are members of Lactobacillus.

12. The microbiome composition of claim 1 , wherein one or more of the members of Lactobacillaceae comprise a genome comprising a sequence at least 90% identical to at least 1 contiguous kilobase of any one or more of SEQ ID NOS:421-745.

13. The microbiome composition of claim 1 , wherein the members of Lactobacillaceae constitute at least 7% of the total number of individual microbes in the microbiome composition.

14. The microbiome composition of claim 1 , wherein the number of individual microbes in the set constitutes at least 85% of the total number of individual microbes in the microbiome composition.

15. The microbiome composition of claim 1 , wherein less than 1% of the number of individual microbes in the microbiome composition are members of Ethanoligenens, Desulfitobacterium, Clostridium, Propionibacterium, Bifidobacterium, Ruminococcaceae, and Bifidobacteriaceae.

16. A method of producing medium-chain fatty acids from an organic substrate comprising anaerobically fermenting the organic substrate for a time sufficient to produce medium-chain fatty acids from the organic substrate with the microbiome composition of claim 1 .

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the organic substrate comprises a component selected from the group consisting of xylose, complex carbohydrates, and glycerol.

18. The method of claim 16 , wherein the organic substrate comprises a lignocellulosic stillage.

19. The method of claim 16 , wherein the fermenting is performed at a pH of about 5 to about 6.5.

20. The method of claim 16 , wherein, the fermenting is performed without the addition of ethanol and wherein the fermenting does not produce methane.

Assignments (2)
CONFIRMATORY LICENSE Recorded May 19, 2021
From: UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON
To: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Reel/Frame 056417/0927 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 7, 2019
From: DONOHUE, TIMOTHY; SCARBOROUGH, MATTHEW; NOGUERA, DANIEL
To: WISCONSIN ALUMNI RESEARCH FOUNDATION
Reel/Frame 049401/0628 →
Continuity (4)
Provisional Application 62846378 · May 10, 2019
Provisional Application 62697249 · Jul 12, 2018
Provisional Application 62696677 · Jul 11, 2018
Related Publication 20200017891A1 · Jan 16, 2020