Granted Patent
B2
US 12,644,095 · App. 18/045,280 · Granted Jun 2, 2026
Microbial cells, methods of producing the same, and uses thereof
Inventors:
James Scott Drouillard (Manhattan, KS); Celine Caroline Aperce (Wamego, KS); Gina Rae Herren (Wamego, KS); Tara Jo Ellerman (Manhattan, KS); Ciana Marie Scaletti (Manhattan, KS); Katherine Van Jordan (Manhattan, KS); James Morris Lattimer (Manhattan, KS); Scott Beyer (Manhattan, KS); Solange Uwituze (Wandegeya, UG); Teresa Lea Douthit (Manhattan, KS); Christina Denise Gunkel (Broken Bow, NE)
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Abstract
The present invention relates to microbial cells, including but not limited to aerobic bacteria cells and anaerobic bacteria cells, as well as yeast cells, and methods for producing the cells, feed additives and compositions comprising the cells, and uses involving administration of the cells to animals.
Claims (26)
1 . A method of producing freeze-dried anaerobic bacterial cells on a commercial scale, comprising:
(a) preparing a liquid culture under anaerobic conditions or partial anaerobic conditions comprising anaerobic bacterial cells and a growth media comprising at least one carbon source,
(b) harvesting the cells under anaerobic conditions or partial anaerobic conditions,
(c) adding at least one cryoprotectant to the harvested cells,
(d) freezing the cells,
(e) freeze-drying the cells, and
(f) obtaining about 1×10 7 to about 1×10 12 CFU/g of viable anaerobic bacterial cells after freeze-drying, wherein the method is performed under anaerobic conditions on a commercial scale.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the pH of the anaerobic bacterial culture prior to harvesting is between about 4.0 and about 9.0.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one cryoprotectant is sucrose, milk powder, infant formula, skim milk, fructose, glucose, trehalose, maltodextrin, betaine, or combinations thereof.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the about 1×10 7 to about 1×10 12 CFU/g of the freeze-dried anaerobic bacterial cells are viable after storage at a temperature of about 25° C. for at least 2 weeks.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the about 1×10 7 to about 1×10 12 CFU/g of the freeze-dried anaerobic bacterial cells are viable after storage at a temperature of about 4° C. for at least 1 month.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises encapsulating the freeze-dried anaerobic bacterial cells.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one cryoprotectant is in a solution, wherein the cryoprotectant solution is added to the harvested cells at a ratio of 1/10 to 1/5.
8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one cryoprotectant is in a solution, wherein the cryoprotectant solution is added to the harvested cells at a ratio of 1/5.
9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one cryoprotectant is in a solution, wherein the cryoprotectant solution is added to the harvested cells at a ratio of 1/10.
10 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the at least one cryoprotectant is sucrose.
11 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the at least one cryoprotectant is milk powder.
12 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the at least one cryoprotectant is infant formula.
13 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the at least one cryoprotectant is skim milk.
14 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the at least one cryoprotectant is fructose.
15 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the at least one cryoprotectant is glucose.
16 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the at least one cryoprotectant is trehalose.
17 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the at least one cryoprotectant is maltodextrin.
18 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the at least one cryoprotectant is betaine.
19 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one carbon source is peptone, casein, lactate, dextrose, fructose, fructan, glucose, sucrose, lactose, maltose, acetate, glycerol, mannitol, sorbitol, saccharose, xylose, molasses, fucose, glucosamine, dextran, a fat, an oil, sodium acetate, arabinose, soy protein, soluble protein, raffinose, amylose, starch, tryptone, yeast extract, or combinations thereof.
20 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the volume of the liquid culture is about 2 liters to about 75,000 liters.
Assignments (4)
SECURITY INTEREST
Recorded Feb 13, 2026
From: AXIOTA U.S., INC. (F/K/A MS BIOTECH, INC.)
To: ALTER DOMUS (US), LLC, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 073782/0124 →
CHANGE OF NAME
Recorded Jun 22, 2023
From: MS BIOTECH, INC.
To: AXIOTA U.S., INC.
Reel/Frame 064088/0926 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST
Recorded Nov 17, 2022
From: HERREN, GINA RAE
To: MS BIOTECH, INC.
Reel/Frame 061810/0948 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST
Recorded Nov 17, 2022
From: DROUILLARD, JAMES SCOTT; APERCE, CELINE CAROLINE; ELLERMAN, TARA JO; SCALETTI, CIANA MARIE; VAN JORDAN, KATHERINE; LATTIMER, JAMES MORRIS; BEYER, SCOTT; UWITUZE, SOLANGE; DOUTHIT, TERESA LEA; GUNKEL, CHRISTINA DENISE
To: KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY RESEARCH FOUNDATION
Reel/Frame 061963/0268 →
Continuity (5)
Continuation
16481962
Provisional Application
62510723
· May 24, 2017
Provisional Application
62452804
· Jan 31, 2017
Provisional Application
62452816
· Jan 31, 2017
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