Antibiotic sensitive
A Bacillus strain characterized by (i): sensitivity for ampicillin, vancomycin, gentamicin, kanamycin, streptomycin, erythromycin, clindamycin, tetracycline and chloramphenicol; (ii) antimicrobial activity against E. coli and Clostridium perfringens ; and (iii) a sporulation percentage of at least 80 when measured after 2 days of incubation. The invention further relates to a method for selecting such strains. Many of the identified strains according to the invention are of the species Bacillus amyloliquefaciens . Some of the Bacillus amyloliquefaciens were further identified as Bacillus amyloliquefaciens subsp. amyloliquefaciens whereas others were identified as amyloliquefaciens subsp. plantarum . A Bacillus strain of the invention may be used as a feed additive to animal feed where it has a probiotic effect.
1. A method for feeding an animal, comprising administering a Bacillus composition to an animal, wherein the Bacillus composition comprises cells of at least one Bacillus strain that (i) is sensitive to ampicillin, vancomycin, gentamicin, kanamycin, streptomycin, erythromycin, clindamycin, tetracycline and chloramphenicol; (ii) inhibits growth of E. coli and Clostridium perfringens , and (iii) exhibits a sporulation percentage of at least 80 when measured after 2 days of incubation, wherein the cells are of at least one of the Bacillus strains selected from:
(a) the Bacillus mojavensis strain CHCC 15510 with accession number DSM 25839;
(b) the Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain CHCC 15516 with accession number DSM 25840;
(c) the Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain CHCC 15536 with accession number DSM 27032;
(d) the Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain CHCC 15539 with accession number DSM 27033; and
(e) the Bacillus subtilis strain CHCC 15541 with accession number DSM 25841,
wherein the Bacillus composition comprises from 10 5 to 10 12 CFU/g of the at least one Bacillus strains, and
wherein the animal is selected from poultry, ruminants, calves, pigs, rabbits, horses, and fish.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the Bacillus composition comprises cells of at least two Bacillus strains selected from:
(a) the Bacillus mojavensis strain CHCC 15510 with accession number DSM 25839;
(b) the Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain CHCC 15516 with accession number DSM 25840;
(c) the Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain CHCC 15536 with accession number DSM 27032;
(d) the Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain CHCC 15539 with accession number DSM 27033; and
(e) the Bacillus subtilis strain CHCC 15541 with accession number DSM 25841.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the Bacillus composition comprises cells of at least three Bacillus strains selected from:
(a) the Bacillus mojavensis strain CHCC 15510 with accession number DSM 25839;
(b) the Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain CHCC 15516with accession number DSM 25840;
(c) the Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain CHCC 15536 with accession number DSM 27032;
(d) the Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain CHCC 15539 with accession number DSM 27033; and
(e) the Bacillus subtilis strain CHCC 15541 with accession number DSM 25841.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the cells of the at least one Bacillus strain are spore cells.
5. The method for feeding an animal of claim 1 , wherein the animal is selected from poultry, ruminants, calves, pigs, rabbits, and horses.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the Bacillus composition comprises cells of the Bacillus mojavensis strain CHCC 15510 with accession number DSM 25839.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the Bacillus composition comprises cells of the Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain CHCC 15516 with accession number DSM 25840.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the Bacillus composition comprises cells of the Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain CHCC 15536 with accession number DSM 27032.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the Bacillus composition comprises cells of the Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain CHCC 15539 with accession number DSM 27033.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the Bacillus composition comprises cells of the Bacillus subtilis strain CHCC 15541 with accession number DSM 25841.
11. The method for feeding an animal of claim 1 , wherein the cells of the at least one Bacillus strain inhibit growth of E. coli as determined by an inhibition zone of at least 1.5 mm when measured by an E. coli agar spot test.