Microbial Muramidase Feed Additives for Egg Quality and Pathogen Lysis

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing muramidases derived from hen egg white are ineffective against certain bacterial pathogens like Staphylococcus aureus, limiting their use in improving egg production and quality in laying birds.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating microbial muramidases, particularly from fungal sources such as Acremonium alcalophilum and Trichophaea saccata, into animal feed to enhance egg production and quality by lysing bacterial cell walls and improving nutrient absorption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If hen egg white muramidase is used in animal feed, then it is commercially available and naturally abundant, but it cannot cleave N,6-O-diacetylmuramic acid in Staphylococcus aureus cell walls and is ineffective against this pathogen

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveeffectiveness against bacterial pathogensVSAvoidsubstrate specificity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the source organism parameter from chicken to fungus, which fundamentally alters the muramidase enzyme's substrate specificity. Fungal muramidases have evolved to recognize and cleave different peptidoglycan structures including N,6-O-diacetylmuramic acid, unlike hen egg white muramidase. This parameter change enables the enzyme to effectively target Staphylococcus aureus while maintaining commercial viability through fungal fermentation production.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If fungal muramidases are used to improve effectiveness against bacterial pathogens, then egg production and quality improve, but this represents a departure from traditionally used hen egg white muramidase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveegg productionVSAvoidavailability of enzyme source

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the traditional hen egg white source with fungal production systems that can be cultivated through fermentation. This approach uses readily available fungal organisms that can be grown economically in industrial fermenters, providing a scalable and cost-effective enzyme source that improves egg production without relying on limited egg white supplies.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Ease of manufacture

If hen egg white muramidase is extracted and used, then it is the primary commercial product available, but it fails to improve egg production and quality due to ineffectiveness against relevant bacterial pathogens

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommercial availabilityVSAvoidegg production

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the production source from hen egg white extraction to fungal fermentation. This parameter change maintains commercial viability through established fermentation technologies while producing muramidases with enhanced antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and other poultry-relevant pathogens, thereby improving egg production and quality outcomes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 improves egg production and quality parameters, including increased egg laying, weight, and quality metrics, while reducing feed conversion ratio.

Implementation Method 1

The enzyme causes the hydrolysis of bacterial cell walls by cleaving the glycosidic bonds of peptidoglycan

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHydrolysis: Hydrolysis

Implementation Method 2

bacterial cells lyse as a result of unbalanced osmotic pressure

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOsmotic pressure: Osmotic Pressure

Data Source

PatentUS20250366495A1Methods and uses for improving egg production and egg quality involving administering feed comprising muramidase

Publication Date: 2025.12.04 NOVONESIS ANIMAL BIOSOLUTIONS AG

AI summary

The present invention relates to a method of improving egg production and/or egg quality of egg laying birds comprising administering to the birds a composition, an animal feed or an animal feed additive comprising one or more microbial muramidases.