Bacillus Strain Probiotics for Poultry Pathogen Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional poultry production relies on antibiotics to prevent disease and enhance growth, leading to antibiotic resistance in bacteria, which can pose health risks to humans and animals, and there is a need for alternative methods to control bacterial pathogens like Avian Pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) and Clostridium perfringens in poultry.

Innovation Solution

A composition comprising isolated Bacillus strains such as 747, 1104, 1781, 1541, and 2018, which produce bacteriocins to inhibit pathogens, is used in animal feed or water, reducing the pathogen load and enhancing immune function in poultry.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If antibiotics are used to prevent disease and enhance growth in poultry, then disease resistance and growth performance are improved, but antibiotic resistance in bacteria develops

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisease resistanceVSAvoidantibiotic resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces bacteriocins as intermediary substances produced by beneficial bacteria to mediate the inhibition of pathogenic bacteria. Instead of using antibiotics that create resistance, the system uses naturally occurring bacteriocins from probiotic bacteria as the active inhibitory agents, thereby preventing pathogen growth without inducing antibiotic resistance in the poultry gut microbiota

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the chemical mechanism of antibiotics with the biological mechanism of bacteriocin production. Rather than using synthetic or conventional antibiotics that target bacterial cell walls or protein synthesis, the system employs bacteriocins—naturally produced antimicrobial peptides—from beneficial bacteria to selectively inhibit pathogenic organisms, substituting a biological control mechanism for chemical antibiotic action

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Productivity

If antibiotics are administered to poultry, then bacterial pathogens are controlled, but health risks to humans and animals increase due to resistant bacteria

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepathogen controlVSAvoidhealth risks from resistant bacteria

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Beneficial bacteria serve as intermediary organisms that produce bacteriocins to control pathogenic bacteria. The probiotic bacteria ingestively inhibit APEC and other pathogens through bacteriocin secretion, providing pathogen control while eliminating the need for antibiotics that would transfer resistance genes to human pathogens through the food chain

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the presence of pathogenic bacteria into a beneficial outcome by using them as indicators to select and deploy targeted bacteriocin-producing probiotics. The pathogen challenge itself becomes the trigger for implementing the protective mechanism, where the harmful pathogenic bacteria ultimately demonstrate the effectiveness of the probiotic intervention by being inhibited

Inventive Principle:

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

3Reliability

If conventional antibiotic methods are used, then disease prevention is effective, but alternative methods are needed to avoid antibiotic resistance

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisease prevention effectivenessVSAvoidneed for alternative methods

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the fundamental parameter of disease prevention from chemical antibiotic intervention to biological probiotic intervention. By shifting from abiotic chemical agents to biotic living organisms that produce antimicrobial substances, the system maintains disease prevention effectiveness while adapting to the need for resistance-free alternatives

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs composite probiotic formulations containing multiple strains of bacteriocin-producing bacteria (such as Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, and Bacillus strains) working synergistically. This composite approach provides broad-spectrum pathogen inhibition while maintaining gut microbiota balance, offering a versatile alternative that can address multiple pathogen types simultaneously

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The Bacillus strains significantly reduce the levels of APEC and Clostridium perfringens in poultry, improving health and performance by inhibiting pathogens and modulating the immune system, thereby decreasing disease-related economic losses and antibiotic resistance risks.

Implementation Method 1

A composition comprising isolated Bacillus strains such as 747, 1104, 1781, 1541, and 2018, which produce bacteriocins to inhibit pathogens

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBacteriocin production:

Data Source

PatentUS11517595B2Methods of microbial treatment of poultry

Publication Date: 2022.12.06 CHURCH & DWIGHT CO INC

AI summary

Disclosed are methods of administering one or more Bacillus strains to poultry. The Bacillus strains improve bacterial homeostasis in the gastrointestinal tract by inhibiting bacterial pathogens such as E. coli and Clostridium. Administering the Bacillus strains also improves performance such as weight gain and feed conversion. Useful combinations of Bacillus strains and methods of using one or more Bacillus strains are also provided.