Beta-Glucan and Alpha-Fucan Prebiotic Composition for Antibiotic-Free Feed

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Solution Overview

Problem

The ban on antibiotic growth promoters in animal feed has led to increased levels of harmful microbes and reduced animal performance, while current alternatives like dietary acidification, probiotics, and prebiotics are not effective replacements, and human diets disrupt gut flora balance, necessitating a composition that improves gut health and animal performance without adverse effects.

Innovation Solution

A composition comprising high proportions of β-glucans and α-fucans, derived from natural sources, acts as a prebiotic to boost beneficial microbes, reduce pathogenic bacteria, and enhance mineral absorption, formulated with a novel extraction process using acid extraction and nanofiltration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If antibiotic growth promoters are used in animal feed, then animal performance and disease control are improved, but harmful microbes and antibiotic resistance increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisease controlVSAvoidharmful microbes

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the broad-spectrum antibiotic effect into targeted prebiotic effects, specifically promoting beneficial bacteria (Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium) while allowing other bacteria to be managed separately through the acidified environment, thus reducing harmful microbe growth without suppressing beneficial ones

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary substance (prebiotic composition with specific polysaccharides) that mediates between the need for disease control and the desire to reduce harmful microbes, by selectively nourishing beneficial bacteria that then compete with pathogens

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If in-feed antibiotics are removed to reduce antibiotic resistance, then harmful microbe levels increase, but animal performance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveantibiotic resistanceVSAvoidanimal performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-acidifying the feed environment and pre-introducing prebiotics before pathogenic bacteria can proliferate, creating a protective environment that maintains animal performance without antibiotics

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the pH parameter of the feed environment to be more acidic, which fundamentally alters the microbial ecosystem to favor beneficial bacteria while inhibiting pathogens, thereby maintaining animal performance without antibiotic growth promoters

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Object-affected harmful factors

If current alternatives (acidification, probiotics, prebiotics) are used to replace antibiotics, then antibiotic use is reduced, but effectiveness is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveantibiotic useVSAvoiddisease control effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple components (polysaccharides, proteins, peptides, vitamins, minerals) into a composite prebiotic formulation that works synergistically to provide both disease control and gut health benefits, overcoming the limitations of single-component alternatives

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent copies the beneficial effects of the gut environment under antibiotic influence (reduced pathogenic bacteria, increased beneficial bacteria) and recreates it through prebiotics that selectively feed beneficial bacteria, achieving similar outcomes without antibiotics

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

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 composition effectively replaces in-feed antibiotics by improving gut health, reducing harmful bacteria, enhancing animal performance, and increasing nutrient digestibility, while being economically viable and scalable.

Implementation Method 1

a composition comprising high proportions of β-glucans and α-fucans, derived from natural sources, acts as a prebiotic

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAcid extraction: Hydrolysis

Implementation Method 2

formulated with a novel extraction process using acid extraction and nanofiltration

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectNanofiltration: Filter (physical)

Data Source

PatentUS12485152B2Composition to improve gut health and animal performance and methods of making the same

Publication Date: 2025.12.02 BIOATLANTIS

AI summary

The present invention relates to compositions comprising at least about 8% β-glucans and/or at least about 8% α-fucans, which has a prebiotic effect and act as a replacement for in-feed antibiotics. The present invention also relates to extraction methods to obtain such extracts and various uses for the compositions comprising β-glucans and/or α-fucans.