Methods and compositions for suppressing growth of algae

Details Methods and compositions for suppressing growth of algae Methods and compositions for suppressing growth of algae

2001-03-01

2002-05-21

Tate, Christopher R. (Department: 1651)

Chemistry: molecular biology and microbiology

Micro-organism, per se ; compositions thereof; proces of...

Fungi

C435S254100, C435S173100, C435S173800, C435S254210

Reexamination Certificate

active

06391619

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to the use of yeast cells to suppress the growth of algae and/or decompose debris of algae. These yeasts are useful in waste treatment, and are obtained by growth in electromagnetic fields with specific frequencies and field strengths.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Environmental pollution by urban sewage and industrial waste water has posed a serious health threat to living organisms in the world. Currently, the most common methods for large-scale waste treatment, such as water treatment, include the activated sludge technology and the biomembrane technology. These technologies rely on the innate abilities of myriad natural microorganisms, such as fungi, bacteria and protozoa, to degrade pollutants. However, the compositions of these natural microbial components are difficult to control, affecting the reproducibility and quality of water treatment. Moreover, pathogenic microbes existing in these activated sludge or biomembranes cannot be selectively inhibited, and such microbes usually enter the environment with the treated water, causing “secondary pollution.”
Further, most of the current technologies cannot degrade harmful chemicals such as pesticides, insecticides, and chemical fertilizers. These technologies also cannot alleviate eutrophication, another serious environmental problem around the world. Eutrophication is usually caused by sewage, industrial waste water, fertilizers and the like. It refers to waters (e.g., a lake or pond) rich in minerals and organic nutrients that promote a proliferation of plant life, especially algae, which reduces the dissolved oxygen content or otherwise deteriorates water quality. Eutrophication often results in the extinction of other organisms.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention is based on the discovery that certain yeast cells can be activated by electromagnetic fields having specific frequencies and field strengths to suppress the proliferation of algae and/or to decompose debris of algae. Compositions comprising these activated yeast cells can therefore be used for waste treatment, for example, treatment of sewage, industrial waste water, surface water, drinking water, sediment, soil, garbage, and manure, to reduce the growth of algae and/or to decompose debris of algae in the waste. Waste treatment methods using these compositions are more effective, efficient, and economical than the conventional methods.
This invention embraces a composition comprising a plurality of yeast cells that have been cultured in an alternating electric field having a frequency in the range of about 6340 to 6380 MHz (e.g., 6352-6370 MHz) and a field strength in the range of about 0.5 to 400 mV/cm (e.g., 70-310, 100-330, or 120-20 360 mV/cm). The yeast cells are cultured for a period of time sufficient to substantially increase the capability of said plurality of yeast cells to suppress the growth of algae. In one embodiment, the frequency and/or the field strength of the alternating electric field can be altered within the aforementioned ranges during said period of time. In other words, the yeast cells can be exposed to a series of electromagnetic fields. An exemplary period of time is about 12-450 hours (e.g., 256-432 hours).
This invention also embraces a composition comprising a plurality of yeast cells that have been cultured in an alternating electric field having a frequency in the range of about 4440 to 4470 MHz (e.g., 4452-4470 MHz) and a field strength in the range of about 0.5 to 400 mV/cm (e.g., 50-280 mV/cm). The yeast cells are cultured for a period of time sufficient to substantially increase the capability of said plurality of yeast cells to decompose algae. In one embodiment, the frequency and/or the field strength of the alternating electric field can be altered within the aforementioned ranges during said period of time. In other words, the yeast cells can be exposed to a series of electromagnetic fields. An exemplary period of time is about 12-600 hours (e.g., 320-576 hours).
Yeast cells that can be included in this composition are available from the China General Microbiological Culture Collection Center (“CGMCC”), a depository recognized under the Budapest Treaty (China Committee for Culture Collection of Microorganisms, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Haidian, P.O. Box 2714, Beijing, 100080, China). Useful yeast species include, but are not limited to,
Saccharomyces cerevisiae
. For instance, the yeast cells can be of the strain
Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Hansen AS2.408, AS2.414, AS2.416, AS2.422, AS2.453, AS2.486, AS2.558, AS2.562, or IFFI1292.
This invention further embraces a composition comprising a plurality of yeast cells, wherein said plurality of yeast cells have been activated such that they have a substantially increased capability to suppress the growth of algae or decompose algae as compared to unactivated yeast cells. Included in this invention are also methods of making these compositions.
As used herein, “suppressing the growth of algae” means preventing the increase in or even reducing the proliferation rate of algae. “Decomposing algae” means breaking down debris of algae into harmless products. It is to be understood that in the absence of yeast cells of this invention, the number of algae will increase naturally over a period of time. Algae include, but are not limited to, green, blue, and red algae.
A “substantially increase” means an increase of more than 10 (e.g., 10
2
, 10
3
, 10
4
, 10
5
, or 10
6
) fold.
A “culture medium” refers to a medium used in a laboratory for selecting and growing a given yeast strain, or to liquid or solid waste in need of treatment.
Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Exemplary methods and materials are described below, although methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can also be used in the practice or testing of the present invention. All publications and other references mentioned herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety. In case of conflict, the present specification, including definitions, will control. The materials, methods, and examples are illustrative only and not intended to be limiting.
Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, and from the claims.


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