IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,275,923
Granted Patent B2
US 12,275,923 · App. 17/199,911 · Granted Apr 15, 2025

Systems and methods for controlling attenuation in a fermentation process

Inventor: Nicholas Ketchum (Cincinnati, OH)
Assignee: Rhinegeist, LLC
C12C11/00C12C5/00C12H1/003C12Q1/18C12Q1/6895
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,275,923
App. No.
17/199,911
Granted
Apr 15, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method of controlling attenuation in a fermentation process includes culturing a fungus in a medium to produce a fermented liquid and adding a killer toxin to the fermented liquid. The killer toxin is added in an amount effective to deactivate the fungus.

Claims (18)

1. A method of controlling attenuation in a fermentation process comprising:

culturing a fungus in a medium to produce beer, wherein the fungus is at least one of Saccharomyces, Dekkera, Brettanomyce, Candida , or Aspergillus;

adding a killer toxin to the beer, wherein the killer toxin is added in an amount effective to deactivate the fungus;

conducting a first screening assay on the beer before adding the killer toxin; and

conducting a second screening assay on the beer after adding the killer toxin.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein adding the killer toxin comprises adding the killer toxin when a desired level of attenuation has been reached.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein adding the killer toxin comprises adding more than one type of killer toxin.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein adding the killer toxin comprises directly adding the killer toxin to the beer.

5. The method of claim 4 , the method further comprising, before the killer toxin is added:

producing a broth by a killer yeast capable of generating the killer toxin; and

filtering the broth to provide the killer toxin.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein adding the killer toxin comprises indirectly adding the killer toxin to the beer.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein indirectly adding the killer toxin comprises adding viral like particles (VLPs) that contain a gene for producing the killer toxin.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein adding the VLPs comprises adding a killer yeast to the beer, wherein the killer yeast carries the VLPs.

9. The method of claim 6 , wherein indirectly adding the killer toxin comprises adding a killer yeast capable of generating the killer toxin.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first screening assay detects whether the fungus includes a genetic pathway that confers resistance to the killer toxin.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second screening assay detects a presence of remaining viable fungus cells.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the killer toxin is at least one of K1, K2, or K28.

Assignments (1)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 17, 2023
From: RHINEGEIST, LLC
To: FIRST FINANCIAL BANK
Reel/Frame 065598/0417 →
Continuity (3)
Provisional Application 63135147 · Jan 8, 2021
Provisional Application 62988655 · Mar 12, 2020
Related Publication 20210284939A1 · Sep 16, 2021
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