Microbial-Based Process for High Quality Protein Concentrate

Abstract

The present invention describes a bio-based process to produce high quality protein concentrate (HQPC) by converting plant derived celluloses into bioavailable protein via aerobic incubation, including the use of such HQPC so produced as a nutrient, including use as a fish meal replacement in aquaculture diets.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method to produce a high-protein food product, comprising the steps of:
 mixing a plant-protein composition in water, wherein the plant protein comprises at least 0.81 g crude fiber/100 g of composition and wherein the plant protein composition is selected from the group consisting of soybeans, peas, rice, corn, cereal grains, and combinations thereof;   inoculating the mixture with a fungal culture, wherein the fungal culture comprises  Pleurotus ostreatus ; and   culturing the inoculated mixture for a sufficient time to produce a high-protein food product comprising fungal biomass and exopolysaccharides.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises the step of concentrating the high-protein food product, wherein the concentrating is selected from the group consisting of drying, filtering, centrifuging, precipitating, washing, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the concentration is carried out by centrifugation. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the concentration is carried out by filtration. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the concentration is carried out by washing and centrifugation. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the high-protein food product has a higher protein content than the plant protein composition. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the soybean composition is selected from the group consisting of soy protein flour, soy protein concentrate, soybean meal, soy protein isolate, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         8 . A food product made by the method of  claim 1 , wherein the food product is selected from the group consisting of animal feed and human food. 
     
     
         9 . The food product of  claim 8 , selected from cereal, crackers, pies, cookies, cakes, pizza crust, summer sausage, meat balls, and shakes. 
     
     
         10 . A composition comprising a high-protein food product, wherein the high-protein food product is derived from a plant protein composition, wherein the plant protein composition comprises soy, wherein the plant protein composition is fermented by a fungal culture comprising  Pleurotus ostreatus , wherein the plant protein comprises at least 0.81 g crude fiber/100 g of composition, and wherein the high-protein food product comprises fungal biomass and exopolysaccharides. 
     
     
         11 . The composition of  claim 9 , wherein the high-protein food product has a higher protein content compared to the plant protein composition. 
     
     
         12 . The composition of  claim 9 , wherein the composition is selected from the group consisting of soy protein flour, soy protein concentrate, soybean meal, soy protein isolate, and combinations thereof.