Microbial Community Expansion via Bioreactor Parameter Variation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for expanding complex communities of microorganisms are empirical, leading to variability in bacterial diversity and viability, making it difficult to produce consistent and reproducible doses for treatment, particularly at an industrial scale, and often require multiple donors, which is inefficient and challenging due to donor selection issues.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the cultivation of microorganisms in multiple bioreactors with varying parameters such as pH, temperature, and retention time, followed by mixing of harvested inocula to create an expanded complex community with optimized diversity and viability, ensuring homogeneity and reproducibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If current empirical methods are used to expand complex communities of microorganisms, then the process is simple to implement, but the bacterial diversity and viability become variable and inconsistent
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by systematically varying cultivation conditions (pH, temperature, redox potential, gassing conditions, retention time) across multiple bioreactors to optimize and standardize the expansion of complex microbial communities. This controlled variation of parameters enables reproducible results while maintaining manageable process complexity through structured experimentation.
2Quantity of substance
If multiple donors are appealed to obtain desired amount of complex community of microorganisms, then the quantity requirement is met, but the donor selection becomes fastidious and difficult with over 90% rejection rate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the donor pool into screened and unscreened categories, and by segmenting the cultivation process into multiple bioreactors with different conditions. This allows the method to process larger quantities of microbial communities while reducing the burden of donor selection through systematic screening protocols and parallel processing of multiple samples.
3Quantity of substance
If doses from different donors are administered, then the quantity requirement is met, but the heterogeneity between samples increases which is detrimental to treatment efficacy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies merging by combining microbial communities from multiple donors and/or bioreactors into a single expanded community. This consolidation approach maintains the total quantity of microorganisms while reducing heterogeneity through pooling, resulting in more homogeneous doses that ensure consistent treatment efficacy across multiple administrations.
4Device complexity
If the initial sample collection is used for full course of treatment, then the process is simple, but the material is insufficient for reproducible doses over time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies continuity of useful action by establishing a continuous expansion process using multiple bioreactors that can be operated in parallel or sequence. This enables the production of sufficient quantities of microbial communities for a full course of treatment while maintaining reproducible doses over time, extending the utility of the initial sample collection without requiring repeated donor screenings.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of expanding a complex community of microorganisms is provided, an expanded complex community of microorganisms obtained by the method is provided, a pharmaceutical formulation comprising the expanded complex community of microorganisms is provided, and the use of the expanded complex community of microorganisms and the pharmaceutical formulation is provided.