US4226940A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Non-frozen concentrated bacterial cultures
Assignee: Great Lakes Biochemical Co Inc
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Filing: 1979-06-21
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Granted: 1980-10-07
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Expires: 1999-06-21
Abstract
Abstract A concentrated bacterial culture, capable of being cooled to temperatures as low as about -40° C. for storage without rapid freezing and with minimum damage to the bacterial cells, is prepared by diluting a conventionally prepared concentrated cell paste with a liquid anti-freeze agent containing one or more water freezing point depressants which are water-soluble, are non-injurious to the bacteria, and do not form crystals when cooled to a predetermined temperature within the range of about 5 to about -40° C. The amount of the freezing point depressant(s) is sufficient to prevent formation of ice crystals from the water present in the diluted product when cooled to the predetermined temperature. The culture, which does not become hard or crystalline upon being cooled to temperatures as low as -40° C., can be warmed to a temperature convenient for sampling, assaying and blending and then re-cooled to a cold storage temperature without an appreciable reduction in viability.
Inventors
- 👤 Arnold B. Storrs
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 08:24
CPC Classifications
A; A23; A23C; A23C9/00; A23C9/12; A23C9/123; A23C9/1236; C; C12; C12N; C12N1/00; C12N1/04; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S435/00; Y10S435/8215; Y10S435/822; Y10S435/853; Y10S435/854; Y10S435/855; Y10S435/856; Y10S435/857; Y10S435/885
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
156 words
In a process for preparing a concentrated bacterial culture which can be cooled to a subfreezing temperature for preserving the viability of the bacteria for an extended time including the steps of inoculating an aqueous bacterial nutrient medium with a culture of the bacteria, incubating the inoculated medium under suitable conditions to obtain a desired yield of bacterial cells, and concentrating the medium to obtain a concentrated bacterial paste containing water, the improvement comprising admixing with said paste a liquid anti-freeze agent containing at least one water freezing point depressant which is water-soluble, is non-injurious to the bacteria, and does not form crystals when cooled to a predetermined temperature within the range of about 5° to about -40° C., the amount of said water freezing depressant in said anti-freeze agent being sufficient to prevent formation of ice crystals from the water present in the resultant mixture when the resultant mixture is cooled to said predetermined temperature.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
156 words
In a process for preparing a concentrated bacterial culture which can be cooled to a subfreezing temperature for preserving the viability of the bacteria for an extended time including the steps of inoculating an aqueous bacterial nutrient medium with a culture of the bacteria, incubating the inoculated medium under suitable conditions to obtain a desired yield of bacterial cells, and concentrating the medium to obtain a concentrated bacterial paste containing water, the improvement comprising admixing with said paste a liquid anti-freeze agent containing at least one water freezing point depressant which is water-soluble, is non-injurious to the bacteria, and does not form crystals when cooled to a predetermined temperature within the range of about 5° to about -40° C., the amount of said water freezing depressant in said anti-freeze agent being sufficient to prevent formation of ice crystals from the water present in the resultant mixture when the resultant mixture is cooled to said predetermined temperature.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein the bacteria selected is an organism falling within the classification Eubacteriales.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
A process according to claim 2 wherein said freezing point depressant is selected from the group consisting of polyhydric alcohols, sugars, cryo protective salts and mixtures thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
A process according to claim 3 wherein the resultant mixture has a calculated water activity value of less than about 0.95.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
A process according to claim 4 wherein the calculated water activity of the resultant mixture is less than about 0.9.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
A process according to claim 5 wherein the concentration of said freezing point depressant in the resultant mixture is at least 40 weight %, based on the total weight of the resultant mixture.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
A process according to claim 5 wherein the concentration of said freezing point depressant in said anti-freeze agent is at least 50 weight %, based on the total weight of said anti-freeze agent.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
A process according to claim 5 wherein said anti-freeze agent includes water in an amount less than about 20 weight %, based on the total weight of said anti-freeze agent.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
75 words
A process according to claim 8 wherein said polyhydric alcohol is selected from the group consisting of glycerol, propylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, sorbitol, mannitol and mixtures thereof, said sugar is selected from the group consisting of invert sugar, fructose, corn syrup, hydrolyzed corn syrup, high fructose corn syrup, dextrose, sucrose, maltose, lactose, other levulose-containing carbohydrates and mixtures thereof, and said cyroprotective salts is selected from the group consisting of glutamates, gluconates, cyclomates and mixtures thereof.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
48 words
A process according to claim 9 wherein said anti-freeze agent includes about 80 weight % of a high fructose corn syrup, about 10 weight % glycerol, about 5 weight % monosodium glutamate and about 5 weight % water, all based on the total weight of said anti-freeze agent.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
44 words
A process according to claim 9 wherein said anti-freeze agent includes about 40 weight % glycerol, about 40 weight % invert sugar, about 10 weight % monosodium glutamate, and about 10 weight % water, all based on the total weight of said anti-freeze agent.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
83 words
A concentrated bacterial culture comprising live bacterial cells containing an anti-freeze agent including at least one water freezing point depressant which is water soluble, is non-injurious to the bacteria, and does not form crystals when cooled to a predetermined temperature within the range of about 5° to about -40° C., the amount of said water freezing point depressant in said anti-freeze agent being sufficient to prevent formation of ice crystals from the water present in said culture when cooled to said predetermined temperature.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
83 words
A concentrated bacterial culture comprising live bacterial cells containing an anti-freeze agent including at least one water freezing point depressant which is water soluble, is non-injurious to the bacteria, and does not form crystals when cooled to a predetermined temperature within the range of about 5° to about -40° C., the amount of said water freezing point depressant in said anti-freeze agent being sufficient to prevent formation of ice crystals from the water present in said culture when cooled to said predetermined temperature.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
A concentrated bacterial culture according to claim 12 wherein the bacteria selected is an organism falling within the classification Eubacteriales.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
A concentrated bacterial culture according to claim 13 wherein the calculated water activity value is less than about 0.90.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
52 words
A concentrated bacterial culture according to claim 14 wherein said water freezing point depressant is selected from the group consisting of glycerol, propylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, sorbitol, mannitol, invert sugar, fructose, corn syrup, hydrolyzed corn syrup, high fructose corn syrup, dextrose, maltose, lactose, other levulose-containing carbohydrates, glutamates, gluconates, cyclomates, and mixtures thereof.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
50 words
A concentrated bacterial culture according to claim 15 wherein said anti-freeze agent includes about 80 weight % of a high fructose corn syrup, about 10 weight % glycerol, about 5 weight % monosodium glutamate and about 5 weight % water, all based on the total weight of said anti-freeze agent.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
28 words
A concentrated bacterial culture according to claim 16 containing at least 40 weight % of said water freezing point depressant, based on the total weight of said culture.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1983-10-07 | 1984-04-07 | 1984-10-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-10-07 | 1988-04-07 | 1988-10-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-10-07 | 1992-04-07 | 1992-10-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |