Bacillus Feed Strains for Lawsonia Control and Feed Conversion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current treatments for Lawsonia intracellularis infections in animals, such as pigs and horses, are inadequate, often leading to incomplete recovery and antibiotic resistance, and there is a need for sustainable methods to prevent and alleviate these infections.

Innovation Solution

The use of Bacillus strains, including Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus pumilus, and Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, in animal feed to reduce the number of heavily infected cells and improve body weight gain, feed conversion ratio, and alleviate inflammation in animals.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If antibiotics are used to treat Lawsonia intracellularis infection, then the infection is suppressed, but antibiotic resistance develops and complete recovery is not achieved

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinfection treatment effectivenessVSAvoidantibiotic resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs Bacillus strains that produce bacteriocins and other antimicrobial substances to combat Lawsonia intracellularis infection. These natural antimicrobial agents from beneficial bacteria suppress the pathogen without inducing resistance, converting the harmful effect of antibiotic resistance into a beneficial alternative treatment approach using probiotic bacteria.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The Bacillus strains act as intermediary organisms that produce antimicrobial substances (bacteriocins, organic acids) to indirectly suppress Lawsonia intracellularis. Instead of directly applying antibiotics to the pathogen, the patent uses these intermediary beneficial bacteria to create an environment unfavorable for the pathogen while maintaining animal health.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If vaccination is performed early in life to build immunity, then protection against Lawsonia intracellularis is improved, but the vaccination must be administered at a specific early time window

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimmunity developmentVSAvoidvaccination timing window

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent incorporates Bacillus strains into the feed to establish beneficial gut microbiota and provide ongoing immunomodulation and pathogen suppression. This preliminary establishment of protective microbiota continues throughout the animal's growth, eliminating the need for strict early-time-window vaccination and providing sustained protection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If conventional feed is used without probiotic supplementation, then the feed composition is simple, but body weight gain and feed conversion ratio are suboptimal

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebody weight gain and feed conversionVSAvoidfeed composition complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies the feed composition by incorporating specific Bacillus strains at defined concentrations (e.g., 10^6 to 10^10 CFU/kg feed). This parameter change in the microbial composition of the feed improves gut health, nutrient absorption, and overall productivity, achieving better body weight gain and feed conversion ratios without excessive complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS12440518B2<i>Bacillus </i>strains for improving feed conversion rates and body weight gain in animals

Publication Date: 2025.10.14 NOVOZYMES AS

AI summary

When fed to animals, Bacillus licheniformis strain O42AH3 (deposit accession number DSM 32559), Bacillus subtilis strain O52YJ6 (deposit accession number DSM 32560), Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain O52YYT (deposit accession number DSM 32561) and/or Bacillus pumilis O72NR7 (deposit accession number DSM 32563) are useful for preventing and/or treating Lawsonia infections and for improving myriad performance parameters, including, but not limited to, body weight gain, average daily gain and feed conversion rates.