Probiotic Bacterium for Nitrate Reduction in Ruminants
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods to address nitrate/nitrite toxicity in ruminants, such as animal and plant management strategies, are labor-intensive and costly, and existing probiotic solutions are either ineffective or pose health risks due to pathogenic strains, while also failing to efficiently reduce methanogenesis and utilize high-nitrate diets effectively.
Innovation Solution
A biologically pure novel strain of nitrate- and nitrite-reducing bacterium, NRRL 67118, is introduced into the rumen of ruminants through carrier feeds, premixes, or lick blocks, which effectively reduces nitrate/nitrite toxicity and methanogenesis by anaerobic denitrification, while being non-pathogenic and economically viable.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If nitrate reduction is increased to manage high-nitrate diets, then nitrate/nitrite toxicity is reduced, but the rate of nitrate reduction to nitrite exceeds the rate of nitrite reduction to ammonia, resulting in accumulation of toxic levels of nitrite
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a specific probiotic bacterium strain that acts as an intermediary organism in the rumen to facilitate the complete reduction pathway from nitrate to nitrogen gas, mediating between the harmful nitrate intake and the toxic nitrite accumulation by providing enzymatic pathways that efficiently complete the denitrification process
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the biochemical parameters of the rumen microbiome by introducing a specific bacterial strain with enhanced nitrate and nitrite reducing capability, altering the reduction kinetics to ensure nitrite is rapidly converted to ammonia and then to nitrogen gas, preventing toxic accumulation while maintaining safe nitrate reduction rates
2Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional nitrate management strategies (animal and plant management) are implemented, then nitrate/nitrite toxicity is controlled, but the methods are labor-intensive and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a self-service solution by introducing a probiotic bacterium that autonomously performs nitrate and nitrite reduction within the rumen environment, eliminating the need for external labor-intensive management interventions such as frequent feed adjustments, harvesting timing modifications, or dietary dilution strategies
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the nitrate reduction function from complex management systems and concentrates it into a single biological agent (the probiotic bacterium strain), simplifying the overall system by removing the need for multiple management interventions while maintaining effective nitrate control
3Object-affected harmful factors
If existing probiotic solutions are used, then some nitrate reduction occurs, but they are either ineffective or pose health risks due to pathogenic strains
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by selecting a specific strain within the Paenibacillus genus that possesses unique localized characteristics (non-pathogenicity combined with enhanced nitrate and nitrite reducing capability), rather than using general probiotic strains, thereby achieving both safety and effectiveness through strain-specific properties
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite biological system by combining the probiotic bacterium strain with high-nitrate feed materials, forming a synergistic relationship where the bacterium safely processes the nitrate load that would otherwise be toxic, enabling the use of high-nitrate diets without compromising animal health
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 strain significantly reduces nitrite accumulation, enhances nitrite reduction capacity, decreases methanogenesis, and reduces the presence of food-borne pathogens like E. coli and Campylobacter jejuni, enabling the safe consumption of high-nitrate feeds and improving animal performance and environmental sustainability.
Implementation Method 1
Selected strains of a currently unspeciated bacterium of the genus Paenibacillus are demonstrated to have increased nitrate- and nitrite-reducing capability
Implementation Method 2
Nitrates become toxic to ruminants when biologically reduced to nitrite by rumen microorganisms that use nitrate as an anaerobic electron acceptor
Implementation Method 3
the rate of nitrate reduction to nitrite exceeds the rate of nitrite reduction to ammonia, resulting in accumulation of toxic levels of nitrite
Implementation Method 4
As high-nitrate diets have been demonstrated to reduce methane production in the rumen, selected strains of the bacterial species described herein can be used in conjunction with such diets to prevent nitrate/nitrite toxicity while reducing methanogenesis
Implementation Method 5
the bacterial strains can cause reductions in unwanted bacteria and food-borne pathogens, such as Escherichia coli and Campylobacter jejuni
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention concerns novel probiotic compositions that increase nitrate- and nitrite-reduction in animals such as ruminants. The present invention thus provides compositions and methods for reducing nitrate/nitrite toxicity in such animals, or prophylactically protecting such animals from the effects of toxicity, such as methemoglobinemia. A novel strain of an unspeciated bacterial strain related to Paenibacillus species with nitrate- and nitrite-reducing capabilities is described. In conjunction with nitrate-supplemented diets, the probiotics of the present invention can also be utilized to reduce methanogenesis in livestock. Furthermore, the probiotic compositions of the present invention can be used to reduce the number and kind of food-borne pathogens, such as Escherichia coli and Campylobacter jejuni.