Bacillus Pumilus Feed Composition for Focal Ulcerative Dermatitis

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Solution Overview

Problem

Focal ulcerative dermatitis (FUD) is a prevalent and fast-spreading ailment in poultry, particularly in cage-free environments, causing severe health effects and reduced egg production, with limited effective treatments due to its diverse bacterial etiology and challenges with antibiotic resistance.

Innovation Solution

Feeding poultry a feed product containing a direct-fed microbial composition with a specific two-strain combination of Bacillus pumilus, which inhibits Staphylococcus strains causing FUD, thereby preventing or alleviating symptoms.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional antibiotics are used to treat FUD, then bacterial infection is suppressed, but antibiotic resistance develops and public perception deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveeffectiveness of FUD treatmentVSAvoidantibiotic resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the harmful effect of antibiotic resistance into a benefit by using probiotic bacteria (Bacillus pumilus) that naturally inhibit Staphylococcus without requiring antibiotics. The probiotic strains produce bacteriocins and compete for resources, effectively suppressing FUD pathogens while building resistance against antibiotic-dependent approaches.

Inventive Principle:

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

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary substance - the probiotic Bacillus pumilus strain - that mediates between the host poultry and the harmful Staphylococcus bacteria. This intermediary probiotic produces antimicrobial substances and modulates the gut microbiome, creating a protective barrier against FUD without directly attacking the pathogen with antibiotics.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If cage-free environments are implemented, then animal welfare improves, but FUD outbreaks increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveanimal welfareVSAvoidFUD prevention

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by incorporating probiotic Bacillus pumilus into the feed before FUD outbreaks occur. This preventive measure establishes a protective microbiome in the poultry gut beforehand, creating immunity against Staphylococcus infections before they can cause FUD, thus enabling cage-free environments without increased disease susceptibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent enables self-service by using the poultry's own digestive system and microbiome to fight FUD. The probiotic bacteria utilize the host's gastrointestinal tract as a natural delivery mechanism, where the bacteria multiply, produce antimicrobial substances, and establish colonization resistance against pathogens without requiring external interventions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple Staphylococcus strains are present, then bacterial diversity increases, but disease complexity and treatment difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebacterial etiology diversityVSAvoidtreatment complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies universality by using a multi-strain probiotic formulation that simultaneously targets multiple Staphylococcus species and strains. The Bacillus pumilus strains produce a broad spectrum of bacteriocins and antimicrobial substances that effectively inhibit diverse Staphylococcus pathogens, providing a single treatment solution that addresses the complexity of multiple bacterial etiologies.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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

Significantly reduces Staphylococcus levels in the skin microbiome and improves animal performance by increasing egg production and reducing mortality rates in FUD-positive poultry.

Implementation Method 1

The direct-fed microbial composition includes one or more strains of Bacillus pumilus, which inhibits Staphylococcus strains causing FUD

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBacteriocin production:

Implementation Method 2

feeding the poultry a feed product comprising a base feed and a direct-fed microbial composition in an amount effective to inhibit focal ulcerative dermatitis

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMicrobial competition:

Data Source

PatentUS20250261666A1Feed compositions and methods for inhibiting focal ulcerative dermatitis

Publication Date: 2025.08.21 PURINA ANIMAL NUTRITION LLC

AI summary

The present disclosure describes animal feed products formulated to inhibit focal ulcerative dermatitis, and methods of feeding such products to the animals. Feeding methods involve providing poultry with a feed product that includes a base feed and a direct-fed microbial composition. The direct-fed microbial composition includes one or more strains of Bacillus pumilus. The poultry can include cage-free layer hens at risk of developing, or already diagnosed with, focal ulcerative dermatitis. Inhibition of focal ulcerative dermatitis can increase the egg production of the layer hens relative to layer hens fed the same base feed but lacking the direct-fed microbial composition.