Microbial fermentation methods and compositions

A method for obtaining a Methylobacterium preparation comprising:

• a) inoculating a monoculture of a Methylobacterium strain into media that comprises a liquid phase and a solid phase to an initial titer of at least 1×105 colony-forming units per milliliter of the Methylobacterium in the media, wherein the liquid and solid phase were sterile prior to inoculation of the Methylobacterium strain, wherein said solid phase comprises a plurality of particles which are suspended in the liquid phase,
• b) growing the monoculture of a Methylobacterium strain in the media that comprises a liquid phase and a solid phase to provide a fermentation broth, wherein the Methylobacterium titer in the fermentation broth is increased at least 1,000-fold from the initial titer of Methylobacterium in the inoculated media of step (i);
• and
• c) harvesting the Methylobacterium strain grown in the media, thereby obtaining the Methylobacterium preparation;
• i. wherein said fermentation product is essentially free of contaminating microorganisms other than the Methylobacterium, and
• ii. wherein said Methylobacterium has a titer of at least 5×108 colony-forming units per gram of solid substance to at least about 5×1013 colony-forming units of Methylobacterium per gram of solid substance, and
• iii. wherein said one or more solid substance is an adjuvant.