Methods for the accumulation and retention of immune-enhancing, bacterial-derived ribonucleotides (ORN) in bacteria
OwnerWilliam E. Marshallinventor
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Abstract
The invention relates to methods for the accumulation and retention of immune-enhancing, bacterial-derived ribonucleotides smaller than 10,000 Daltons (ORN<10 kDa) in bacteria that are produced when bacteria are grown naturally, allowing the pH of the growth medium to become acidic. The immune-enhancing, bacterial-derived ribonucleotides (ORN) and bacteria comprising ORN are useful in the preparation of animal feed or animal drinking water as well as for use in enhancing the immune system of an animal and/or its resistance to infection. The invention also discloses methods of preventing the loss of ORN during bacterial production and storage as well as methods to aid in the release of ORN when consumed by an animal.
Claims6
A method of producing bacteria comprising immune-enhancing, bacterial-derived ribonucleotides (ORN) for supplementing animal feed or drinking water comprising:
- growing bacteria in a medium wherein the initial pH of said medium has a neutral pH;
- allowing the bacteria to acidify the medium so that said ribonucleotides are produced and accumulated within said bacteria;
- allowing the bacteria to enter their stationary phase wherein the viable bacteria have ceased to increase;
- collecting the bacteria under acid pH conditions to minimize release of said ribonucleotides;
- and
- washing said collected bacteria using a buffer having a pH of from about 3.5 to less than or equal to 6.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.