# US 2022/0030879 A1 · Methods and Compositions for Spray Drying Gram-Negative Bacteria > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2022/0030879 A1 - Document ID: US20220030879A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/506,190 - Filed: 2021-10-20 - Published: 2022-02-03 - Earliest claimed: 2016-06-24 - Assignees: AgBiome, Inc. - Applicants: AgBiome, Inc. - Inventors: Kyle Beery; Alexander P. Schlesinger; James D. Sievert; Kelly S. Smith - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20220030879A1 ## CPC - A01N 63/27: Pseudomonas - A01N 25/006: {insecticidal} - A01N 25/12: Powders or granules (A01N25/26 takes precedence) - C12N 1/04: Preserving or maintaining viable microorganisms (immobilised microorganisms C12N11/00) - A01N: PRESERVATION OF BODIES OF HUMANS OR ANIMALS OR PLANTS OR PARTS THEREOF (preservation of food or foodstuff A23); BIOCIDES, e.g. AS DISINFECTANTS, AS PESTICIDES OR AS HERBICIDES (preparations for medical, dental or toiletry purposes which kill or prevent the growth or proliferation of unwanted organisms A61K); PEST REPELLANTS OR ATTRACTANTS; PLANT GROWTH REGULATORS - C12N: MICROORGANISMS OR ENZYMES; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF; PROPAGATING, PRESERVING, OR MAINTAINING MICROORGANISMS; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; CULTURE MEDIA (microbiological testing media C12Q1/00) ## Abstract Methods for spray drying gram negative bacteria are provided. Such spray drying methods are performed under conditions that allow for the spray dried composition to retain the biological activity of interest of the gram-negative bacteria. Further provided are compositions comprising a spray dried gram-negative bacteria, where the spray dried formulation comprises at least 105 CFU/gram of said gram-negative bacteria. The gram-negative bacteria employed in the various methods and compositions can comprise a biological activity of interest which, in specific embodiments, controls one or more pathogens that cause plant disease and/or improve at least one agronomic trait of interest. The spray dried formulation can be used as an inoculant for plants. Methods for growing a plant susceptible to plant disease and methods and compositions for controlling plant disease are also provided. Further provided are methods and compositions of increasing disease resistance in plants. Methods and compositions for improving plant health and/or improving at least one agronomic trait of interest are also provided. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A formulation comprising a spray dried gram-negative bacteria composition, wherein the spray dried gram-negative bacteria composition retains the biological activity of interest of the gram-negative bacteria and said spray dried formulation comprises at least 105 CFU/gram of said gram-negative bacteria. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The formulation of claim 1, wherein said spray dried formulation comprises at least 105 CFU/gram to about 1012 CFU/gram. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1, 2) The formulation of claim 1 or 2, wherein said spray dried gram-negative bacteria composition comprises a non-polymeric and a non-oil formulation. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1, 2, 3) The formulation of any one of claim 1, claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the viability of the gram-negative bacteria in the formulation does not reduce by more than 10-fold when stored for at least 1 month at 25 degree C. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1, 2, 3, 4) The formulation of any one of claims 1-4, wherein the gram-negative bacteria is a Pseudomonas. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The formulation of claim 5, wherein the gram-negative bacteria was deposited as NRRL No. BB-50897. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6) The formulation of any one of claims 1-6, wherein said formulation comprises a primary spray dried powder. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6) The formulation of any one of claims 1-6, wherein said formulation comprises a final spray dried powder. ### Claim 9 A method for producing a spray dried formulation comprising a gram-negative bacteria comprising a. forming a spray dryer feed comprising the gram negative bacteria; and b. spray drying the spray dryer feed to form a primary spray dried powder, wherein the spray drying of step (b) is performed under conditions such that the primary spray dried powder retains the biological activity of interest of the gram-negative bacteria and comprises at least 105 CFU/gram of said gram-negative bacteria. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the resistance time in the tower is about 6 seconds. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the spray dryer feed further comprises maltodextrin. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the maltodextrin is present in an amount of about 10% to about 20% of the cell paste mixture. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9, 10, 11, 12) The method of claim 9, 10, 11 or 12, wherein said primary spray dried powder comprises at least 105 CFU/gram to about 1012 CFU/gram. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9, 10, 11, 12) The method of claim 9, 10, 11, 12, or 13, wherein said composition comprising the spray dryer feed comprises a non-polymeric and a non-oil formulation. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14) The method of any one of claims 9-14, wherein the viability of the gram-negative bacteria in the primary spray dried powder does not reduce by more than 10-fold when stored for at least 1 month at 25 degrees C. ### Claim 16 (depends on 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15) The method of any one of claims 9-15, wherein the gram-negative bacteria is a Pseudomonas. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the gram-negative bacteria was deposited as NRRL No. B-50897. ### Claim 18 (depends on 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17) The method of any one of claims 9-17, wherein the spray dryer feed comprises glycerol. ### Claim 19 (depends on 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18) The method of any one of claims 9-18, wherein the spray dryer feed comprises maltodextrin.