Acidophilic fusarium oxysporum strains, methods of their production and methods of their use

Abstract

The present invention provides isolated acidophilic Fusarium oxysporum strains, such as MK7, and their progeny, compositions comprising such strains and their progeny, methods of producing such strains and their progeny, and methods of using such strains and their progeny.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method of producing one or more energy-rich metabolites, said method comprising the steps of:
 (a) making a mixture by contacting an isolated  Fusarium oxysporum  strain MK7 (ATCC Accession Deposit No. PTA-10698), and/or its progeny, with a wheat straw feedstock material that supports the growth of the  Fusarium oxysporum  strain MK7 and/or its progeny;   (b) adding manganese to the mixture to a final concentration of 5-25 mM;   (c) incubating said mixture at pH 0.5-8.0 for a period of time under anaerobic conditions to produce fungal biomass;   (d) producing from the mixture and/or fungal biomass one or more energy-rich metabolites following such contact, wherein production of the one or more energy-rich metabolites is improved compared to a control lacking manganese; and   (e) optionally, isolating said one or more energy-rich metabolites from the mixture.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the pH is less than 3.0. 
     
     
         23 . A method of producing one or more energy-rich metabolites, said method comprising the steps of:
 (a) making a mixture by contacting an isolated  Fusarium oxysporum  strain MK7 (ATCC Accession Deposit No. PTA-10698), and/or its progeny, with a wheat straw feedstock material that supports the growth of the  Fusarium oxysporum  strain MK7 and/or its progeny;   (b) adding manganese peroxide isolated from  Fusarium oxysporum  strain MK7 (ATCC Accession Deposit No. PTA-10698) to the mixture;   (c) incubating said mixture at a pH of less than 3.0 for a period of time under anaerobic conditions to produce fungal biomass;   (d) producing from the mixture and/or fungal biomass one or more energy-rich metabolites following such contact, wherein production of the one or more energy-rich metabolites is improved compared to a control lacking manganese peroxidase isolated from  Fusarium oxysporum  strain MK7; and   (e) optionally, isolating said one or more energy-rich metabolites from the mixture.   
     
     
         24 . A method of culturing a  Fusarium  strain, comprising:
 (a) culturing a biologically pure culture of  Fusarium  MK7 strain, deposited as ATCC Accession Deposit No. PTA-10698, in a liquid culture media comprising a carbon source and having pH of less than 5.0 to produce  Fusarium  MK7 strain in a form comprising hyphae of  Fusarium  MK7 strain; and   (b) harvesting the  Fusarium  MK7 strain.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the liquid culture media further comprises an amino acid donor.