Drug – bio-affecting and body treating compositions – Whole live micro-organism – cell – or virus containing
Patent
1996-04-19
2000-03-14
Hutzell, Paula K.
Drug, bio-affecting and body treating compositions
Whole live micro-organism, cell, or virus containing
4241841, 4242341, 514 2, A61K 3900, A61K 3902, A01N 6300, A01N 3718
Patent
active
060369507
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to methods for improving the utilisation of nutrients by ruminant and ruminant-like animals.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The rumen or forestomach is an organ found in the digestive tract of certain herbivorous mammals prior to the gastric stomach and within which the digestion and formentation of plant material occurs through the activity of special microbial populations. A group of which some are found amongst such microbial populations are the Archae.
The Archae are a diverse group with regard to their physiology and include the methanogens, halophiles and thermacidophiles. They are related through ribosomal RNA sequences that differ drastically from those of other procaryotes. Because of the anaerobic conditions in the rumen only those Archae that are obligate anaerobes are found therein. One member of the Archae found in the rumen, the methanogens are able to produce methane in symbiosis with other rumen microorganisms. For example, H.sub.2 and CO.sub.2 are common end products and these may subsequently be used by the methanogens in the production of methane.
It has been recognised for some time, see e.g. Baxter, K. L. (1962) `The Energy Metabolism of ruminants` (Hutchinson, London), that rumen methanogenesis can result in a loss of energy available to an animal, a loss equivalent to possibly 10% of an animal's gross energy intake. To reduce this loss several procedures for the inhibition of methanogenesis in the rumen have been investigated over the years. These procedures include the use of feed additives such as long-chain unsaturated fatty acids and the administration of ionophoric drugs to inhibit the production of H.sub.2. Varying degrees of inhibition of methanogenesis have been demonstrated although in no case has it been clearly established that the overall result was economically favourable. Furthermore, irrespective of any technical inadequacies, the concept of constant administration of feed additives and drugs to meat-producing animals is increasingly regarded with disfavour by meat consumers.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for improving the nutrient uptake of a ruminant or ruminant-like animal comprising inoculating the animal with an immunogenic preparation effective in inhibiting the activity in the gastro-intestinal tract of at least one species or strain of Archae.
The ruminant animal may be a bovine, ovine, caprine, or cervine, while the ruminant-like animal may be a macropod, llama or alpaca.
The immunogenic preparation may comprise a whole cell preparation or a whole cell extract of one or more purified species or strains of Archae. Additionally, or alternatively, the preparation may comprise an immunogenic fraction(s), polypeptide(s)/peptide(s) polysaccharide(s) or lipolysaccharide(s) derived from one or more species or strains of Archae. Preferably the immunogenic preparation is effective in inhibiting the activity in the gastrointestinal tract of many species and strains of Archae, including the methanogenic bacteria.
The immunogenic preparation may further comprise one or more adjuvants of the type commonly used in the art, and may be provided as a veterinary preparation comprising an antigen component derived from one or more species or strains of Archae.
The immunogenic preparation or vaccine may be administered to the ruminant or ruminant-like animal via the intraperitoneal, intravenous or sub-cutaneous routes.
With regard to the method of the invention, the anaerobic fermentation of carbohydrates in the rumen results in the formation of volatile fatty acids, carbon dioxide and methane. In this respect, it has been demonstrated that there is an inverse relationship between the production of methane and the production of propionate by rumen microorganisms. Indeed, wool production responds more to the supply of protein (which is spared by propionate) to the abomasum than to the supply of energy and, accordingly, the present invention may be expec
REFERENCES:
patent: 5091364 (1992-02-01), Baumgarten et al.
patent: 5648258 (1997-07-01), Odom
Burgess et al (J Cell Bio, 111: 2129-2138), 1990.
Lazar et al (Mol & Cell Bio, 8: 1247-1252, 1988.
Tao et al (J. Immunol 143:2595-2601, 1989.
Harlow & Lane (Antibodies, A Lab. Manual, Cold Spring Harbor Lab, NY, pp. 96 & 97, 1988.
Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation
Hutzell Paula K.
Ungar Susan
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