Animal meal that includes fungal biomass

Abstract

Disclosed herein are compositions comprising an isolated cellulose degrading fungus. Also disclosed are culture compositions and bioreactor compositions comprising the cellulose degrading fungus. Further described herein are filtration and extraction devices comprising the cellulose degrading fungus. Still further disclosed are bioprocessing facilities for and methods for producing co-products resulting from one or more bioprocesses of the cellulose degrading fungus.

1 . An admixture for animal feed comprising fungal biomass. 
     
     
         2 . The admixture of  claim 1 , wherein said fungal biomass comprises biomass derived from a cellulose degrading fungus. 
     
     
         3 . The admixture of  claim 2 , wherein said cellulose degrading fungus is a fungus of the genus  Penicillium.    
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . The admixture of  claim 2 , wherein said cellulose degrading fungus comprises a characteristic selected from the group consisting of: a 5.8S ribosomal RNA gene sequence having at least 98% nucleotide sequencing identity with the nucleic acid of SEQ ID NO: 1; an ITS1 sequence with at least 98% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 2; an ITS2 sequence with at least 98% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 3; and a 28S ribosomal RNA gene sequence with at least 98% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 4. 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
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         25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . A method of improving the longevity of an animal, comprising:
 identifying an animal in need of having improved longevity; and   providing to said animal an animal feed comprising fungal biomass derived from a cellulose degrading fungus of the genus  Penicillium.      
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein said cellulose degrading fungus is a lignocellulose degrading fungus. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein said animal is an aquatic animal. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein said cellulose degrading fungus comprises a characteristic selected from the group consisting of: a 5.8S ribosomal RNA gene sequence having at least 98% nucleotide sequencing identity with the nucleic acid of SEQ ID NO: 1; an ITS1 sequence with at least 98% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 2; an ITS2 sequence with at least 98% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 3; and a 28S ribosomal RNA gene sequence with at least 98% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 4. 
     
     
         32 . (canceled) 
     
     
         33 . (canceled) 
     
     
         34 . (canceled) 
     
     
         35 . A method of increasing the resistance of an animal to an infection, comprising:
 identifying an animal in need of increased resistance to an infection; and   providing to said animal an animal feed comprising a fungal biomass derived from a cellulose degrading fungus of the genus  Penicillium.      
     
     
         36 . (canceled) 
     
     
         37 . (canceled) 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein said cellulose degrading fungus comprises a characteristic selected from the group consisting of: a 5.8S ribosomal RNA gene sequence having at least 98% nucleotide sequencing identity with the nucleic acid of SEQ ID NO: 1; an ITS1 sequence with at least 98% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 2; an ITS2 sequence with at least 98% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 3; and a 28S ribosomal RNA gene sequence with at least 98% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 4. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein said cellulose degrading fungus comprises a species selected from the group consisting of:  Penicillium menonorum  and a species being the same as NRRL deposit Accession No: 50410. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein said biomass has been substantially depleted of a lipid product. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein said animal feed comprises said biomass in an amount ranging from 1% to 100% by weight.