Method for Producing Chimeric Microbial Hybrids

Abstract

Described is a method to transfer chromosomal DNA between two microbial species without genetic engineering or vectors. The strains resulting from this method are chimeric microbial hybrids that can express a combination of genotypes from both parents.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method for chromosomal, horizontal gene transfer between two different microbial parent strains without the use of a vector, said method comprising combining cells of first and second parent strains together onto a solid or into a liquid growth medium, wherein the growth medium and/or environment surrounding or in contact with the growth medium contains at least one separate stressor for each parent strain, wherein a microbial hybrid strain is produced that is a genetic hybrid of the first and second parent strains and that expresses at least one phenotypic trait from genetic material has been transferred from the first parent strain to the second parent strain. 
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and second parent strains are different microbial species. 
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the microbial hybrid expresses phenotypic traits from genetic material contributed from both parent strains. 
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein each stressor is present at a concentration or level that is sufficient to inhibit growth by about 80% to about 100%. 
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the microbial parent strains are bacterial or fungal. 
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the microbial hybrid strain is biotherapeutic for one or more disease conditions. 
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the microbial hybrid strain has increased or decreased fitness for one or more industrial applications, in comparison to the microbial parent strains from which it was derived. 
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the microbial hybrid strain produces a new commodity, in comparison to the microbial parent strains from which it was derived. 
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the microbial hybrid strain has probiotic properties. 
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one parent of the microbial hybrid strain is generally recognized as safe (GRAS). 
     
     
         11 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the microbial hybrid contains DNA from a parental strain of the bacterial species of  Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, Streptococcus, Clostridium, Mycoplasma, Bacillus, Staphylococcus, Lactococcus, Leuconostoc, Pediococcus, Enterococcus, Enterobacteriaceae, Escherichia, Pseudomonas, Bacteroidetes , or  Actinobacteria.    
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the microbial hybrid contains DNA from a parental strain of the fungal species of  Saccharomyces, Schizosacchoromyces, Schefferomyces, Zygosaccharomyces, Yarrowia, Pichia, Dekkera, Kluyveromyces, Candida, Metschnikowia, or Torulaspora.    
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein the  Lactobacillus  species is  L. plantarum, L. delbrueckii, L. acidophilus, L. brevis, L. casei, L. paracasei, L. sanfranciscensis, L. rhamnosus, L. helveticus, L. curvatus, L. sakei, L. buchneri, L. fermentum , or  L. reuteri.    
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein the  Bifidobacterium  species is  B. animalis, B. asteroids, B bifidum, B. breve, B. denticum, B. faecale, B. infantis, B. longum, B. merycicum, B. ruminantium, B. thermacidophilum , or  B. tsurumiense.    
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 12 , wherein the  Saccharomyces  species is  S. cerevisiae  var.  boulardii, S. cerevisiae, S. pastorianus, S. fragilis  or  S. bayanus.    
     
     
         16 . A microbial hybrid strain produced according to the method of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         17 . A biotherapeutic microbial strain produced according to the method of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         18 . A probiotic microbial strain produced according to the method of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         19 . A microbial strain produced according to the method of  claim 1  that produces a commodity. 
     
     
         20 . A non-naturally occurring microbial hybrid derived from two different microbial parent strains or species without the use of recombinant DNA technology.