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A downstream process for production of a viable and stable Bacillus cereus aquaculture biological agent

  • Biotechnological Products and Process Engineering
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Abstract

Biological products offer advantages over chemotherapeutics in aquaculture. Adoption in commercial application is lacking due to limitations in process and product development that address key end user product requirements such as cost, efficacy, shelf life and convenience. In previous studies, we have reported on the efficacy, physiological robustness and low-cost spore production of a Bacillus cereus isolate (NRRL 100132). This study examines the development of suitable spore recovery, drying, formulation and tablet production from the fermentation product. Key criteria used for such downstream process unit evaluation included spore viability, recovery, spore balance, spore re-germination, product intermediate stability, end product stability and efficacy. A process flow sheet comprising vertical tube centrifugation, fluidised bed agglomeration and tablet pressing yielded a suitable product. The formulation included corn steep liquor and glucose to enhance subsequent spore re-germination. Viable spore recovery and spore balance closure across each of the process units was high (>70% and >99% respectively), with improvement in recovery possible by adoption of continuous processing at large scale. Spore re-germination was 97%, whilst a product half-life in excess of 5 years was estimated based on thermal resistance curves. The process resulted in a commercially attractive product and suitable variable cost of production.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Reshnee Baboolall, Swasthi Soomaroo and Arvesh Parsoo for technical assistance and BioPAD Biotechnology Regional Innovation Centre for funding.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. CSIR Biosciences, Private Bag X2, Modderfontein, 1645, South Africa

    Rajesh Lalloo, Dheepak Maharajh & Neil Gardiner

  2. Department of Process Engineering, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Stellenbosch, 7602, South Africa

    Rajesh Lalloo, Dheepak Maharajh & Johann Görgens

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  1. Rajesh Lalloo
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  2. Dheepak Maharajh
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  3. Johann Görgens
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  4. Neil Gardiner
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Correspondence to Rajesh Lalloo.

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Lalloo, R., Maharajh, D., Görgens, J. et al. A downstream process for production of a viable and stable Bacillus cereus aquaculture biological agent. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 86, 499–508 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-009-2294-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-009-2294-z

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