Enzyme-Substrate Oxygen Scavenging for Anaerobic Culture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for culturing anaerobic and microaerophilic microorganisms are cumbersome, expensive, and inefficient, requiring specialized equipment and labor-intensive procedures to maintain anaerobic conditions, which discourages their routine use in industries like food processing.
Innovation Solution
An enzyme-substrate system comprising oxidoreductase enzymes like ascorbic acid oxidase and laccase is used to deplete dissolved oxygen in a liquid medium, creating a controlled environment conducive for the growth of anaerobic and microaerophilic microorganisms, eliminating the need for specialized equipment and allowing cultivation in ordinary incubators.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional anaerobic culture methods are used, then anaerobic microorganisms can be cultured, but the process becomes complex, expensive, and labor-intensive requiring specialized equipment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the oxygen removal function from complex anaerobic chamber systems and concentrates it into a simple chemical packet containing oxygen-scavenging enzymes and substrates. This packet is placed directly into the culture medium, eliminating the need for elaborate anaerobic equipment while maintaining reliable oxygen-free conditions for culturing anaerobic microorganisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary chemical system (enzyme-substrate packet) that mediates between the aerobic environment and the anaerobic culture requirements. The packet contains oxygen-scavenging enzymes and substrates that react to remove dissolved oxygen from the medium, serving as a bridge that enables anaerobic culture without requiring complex anaerobic equipment.
2Reliability
If conventional anaerobic culture methods are used, then anaerobic microorganisms can be cultured, but the procedure becomes labor-intensive and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent prepares oxygen-scavenging enzyme and substrate packets in advance, containing pre-measured amounts of oxygen-scavenging components. These packets are ready-to-use and can be simply added to the culture medium, eliminating time-consuming preparation steps while ensuring reliable oxygen removal for anaerobic culture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent designs a self-contained packet system where the oxygen-scavenging enzymes and substrates automatically react upon contact with the culture medium, creating and maintaining anaerobic conditions without requiring continuous manual intervention or monitoring. The system serves itself by autonomously removing oxygen throughout the culture period.
3Reliability
If conventional anaerobic culture methods are used, then anaerobic microorganisms can be cultured, but the cost increases due to specialized equipment and procedures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs disposable chemical packets containing oxygen-scavenging enzymes and substrates that are inexpensive to manufacture and use. These single-use packets eliminate the need for expensive, specialized anaerobic equipment while providing reliable oxygen-free conditions, making anaerobic culture cost-effective for routine applications.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical and physical systems (anaerobic chambers, gas generation equipment, sealed containers) with a simple chemical system based on enzyme-substrate reactions. This substitution dramatically reduces equipment costs and procedural complexity while maintaining reliable anaerobic culture capabilities.
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
This method provides a quick, simple, and economical way to culture and detect anaerobic and microaerophilic microorganisms, facilitating their enrichment and detection in a more efficient and cost-effective manner without the need for elaborate anaerobic conditions.
Implementation Method 1
an oxygen scavenging system that creates an oxygen depleted environment conducive for the selective enrichment and detection of anaerobic or microaerophilic microorganisms
Implementation Method 2
the addition of an enzyme-substrate system to a liquid medium and sample suspected of containing an anaerobe or a microaerophile in a container, wherein said enzyme-substrate system upon activation by hydration reduces or eliminates the dissolved oxygen
Data Source
AI summary
A culture system for culturing a microaerophilic or an anaerobic microorganism is provided. The culture system can include effective amounts of i) an enzyme of an oxidoreductase family and ii) a substrate for said enzyme, a container, and a predetermined volume of aqueous medium that supports growth of said anaerobic or microaerophilic microorganism. The enzyme can be selected from a group consisting of ascorbic acid oxidase and laccase. The effective amounts are effective to deplete dissolved oxygen in the predetermined volume to a concentration that facilitates growth of a microaerophilic microorganism or an obligately-anaerobic microorganism. A method of using the system is also provided.