Probiotic Strain Engineering for Higher Storage Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing probiotic bacterial cultures face significant storage stability issues due to manufacturing and storage stresses, leading to high losses in viable cell counts, which necessitate excessive overages and increased production costs.
Innovation Solution
Development of genetically modified strains of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus with specific mutations, such as in genes encoding Polyribonucleotide nucleotidyltransferase and CheY-like receiver domain, to enhance storage stability without physiological stress exposure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If probiotic cultures are exposed to manufacturing and storage stresses, then processing and storage can be performed, but viable cell counts decrease significantly (loss of substance)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by exposing probiotic cultures to controlled stress conditions (heat, cold, osmotic, oxidative, acid stress) before final storage and processing. This pre-stress exposure induces physiological adaptations in the cells that enhance their resilience, allowing them to withstand the harsh conditions of manufacturing and storage with minimal loss of viable cell counts.
2Reliability
If more live cells are added at production to compensate for storage losses, then label claims can be met, but fermentation capacity and production costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the physiological state of the probiotic cells through controlled stress exposure. This changes the viability parameter over time, allowing the cells to maintain higher viable counts throughout storage. As a result, fewer cells need to be produced initially to meet the same label claims, reducing fermentation capacity requirements and production costs.
3Stability of the object's composition
If probiotic strains are exposed to stress before storage, then storage stability improves, but the complexity of the process increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service by utilizing the probiotic cells' own physiological responses to controlled stress exposure. The cells naturally adapt to the stress conditions (heat, cold, osmotic, oxidative, acid stress) through their inherent stress response mechanisms, inducing protective changes without requiring external intervention during storage. This self-adaptation simplifies the overall process while improving storage stability.
Data Source
AI summary
Evolved strains of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus are provided. The evolved strains have probiotic properties and have enhanced storage stability in both wet and dry conditions. The strains of the invention contain key genetic mutations and phenotypic alterations as compared with wild-type.