Bacillus strains improving health and performance of production animals

Abstract

The present disclosure provides novel Bacillus strains that exhibit antimicrobial activity against pathogens, such as Clostridium perfringens and Escherichia coli , as well as animal feeds and animal feed additives comprising such Bacillus strains, and methods of using said strains, said animal feeds and said animal feed additives to improve the health and performance of production animals, such as poultry and swine.

1 . An animal feed or animal feed additive comprising a carrier, a flowability agent and a  Bacillus  strain having a 16S rDNA with more than 98% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 2. 
     
     
         2 . The animal feed or animal feed additive of  claim 1 , wherein the  Bacillus  strain has antimicrobial activity against  Clostridium perfringens.    
     
     
         3 . The animal feed or animal feed additive of  claim 1 , wherein the  Bacillus  strain has antimicrobial activity against  Escherichia coli.    
     
     
         4 . The animal feed or animal feed additive of  claim 1 , wherein the  Bacillus  strain is sensitive to at least seven of Vancomycin, Clindamycin, Chloramphenicol, Gentamicin, Kanamycin, Streptomycin, Erythromycin and Tetracycline. 
     
     
         5 . The animal feed or animal feed additive of  claim 1 , wherein the  Bacillus  strain is non-hemolytic. 
     
     
         6 . The animal feed or animal feed additive of  claim 1 , wherein the  Bacillus  strain is present in said animal feed or animal feed additive as dried spores. 
     
     
         7 . The animal feed or animal feed additive of  claim 1 , wherein the  Bacillus  strain is present in said animal feed or animal feed additive at rate of between 1×10 4  and 1×10 18  colony forming units per kilogram of animal feed or animal feed additive. 
     
     
         8 . The animal feed or animal feed additive of  claim 1 , wherein the carrier comprises one or more of the following: glycerol, ethylene glycol, 1, 2-propylene glycol or 1, 3-propylene glycol, sodium chloride, sodium benzoate, potassium sorbate, sodium sulfate, potassium sulfate, magnesium sulfate, sodium thiosulfate, calcium carbonate, sodium citrate, dextrin, maltodextrin, glucose, sucrose, sorbitol, lactose, wheat flour, wheat bran, corn gluten meal, starch, farigel, cassava cores, Sipernat 50S, polyethylene glycol 200, polyethylene glycol 400, polyethylene glycol 600, polyethylene glycol 1000, polyethylene glycol 1500, polyethylene glycol 4000, carbopol, and cellulose. 
     
     
         9 . The animal feed or animal feed additive of  claim 1 , wherein the carrier comprises calcium carbonate. 
     
     
         10 . The animal feed or animal feed additive of  claim 1 , wherein the flowability agent comprises sodium aluminum silicate and/or colloidal amorphous silica. 
     
     
         11 . The animal feed or animal feed additive of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more additional components selected from the group consisting of enzymes, microbes, vitamins, minerals, amino acids and other feed ingredients. 
     
     
         12 . A method comprising administering the animal feed or animal feed additive of  claim 1  to an animal. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said animal feed or animal feed additive is administered to said animal in an amount effective to improve one or more performance parameters of said animal. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said animal is monogastric. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said animal is selected from the group consisting of poultry and swine. 
     
     
         16 . An animal feed or animal feed additive comprising a carrier, a flowability agent and dried spores of a  Bacillus  strain, wherein said  Bacillus  strain:
 has a 16S rDNA with more than 98% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 2;   has antimicrobial activity against  Clostridium perfringens  and/or  Escherichia coli;      is sensitive to at least seven of Vancomycin, Clindamycin, Chloramphenicol, Gentamicin, Kanamycin, Streptomycin, Erythromycin and Tetracycline; and   is non-hemolytic.   
     
     
         17 . A method comprising administering the animal feed or animal feed additive of  claim 16  to an animal. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said animal feed or animal feed additive is administered to said animal in an amount effective to improve one or more performance parameters of said animal. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said animal is monogastric. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said animal is selected from the group consisting of poultry and swine.