Superior growth medium nutrients of marine origin for improving biobased production

Soluble protein hydrolysates, or peptones, are ubiquitous ingredients of microbiological and mammalian cell culture media. They are used in microbial growth media for the production of a wide range of products, from bulk commodities to high-value diagnostics and biopharmaceuticals. Biomega´s goal is to develop new and cost-effective peptones for use in industrial fermentation. If successful, this can contribute to increased value creation in the marine sector, more specifically targeted at the use of high quality human grade rest raw materials. New peptones will extend Biomega´s product range within the growing industrial biotechnology worldwide, and will form a basis to enter new profitable markets. Key research institutions in this project are SINTEF Materials and Chemistry and Nofima. Nofima Bergen has produced the peptones which have been tested at SINTEF in Trondheim. The goal has been to develop all-round peptones as well as peptones tailormade for selected relevant microorganisms. Different raw materials, enzymes and process variables have been applied to develop the right products for optimal cost efficiency. Of raw materials can be mentioned the standard Biomega salmon hydrolysate Salmigo L60, different fish species (whole fish, and parts of the fish) as well as the sediment fraction from the hydrolysis process at Biomega. A whole range of enzymes from various manufacturers have been tested. The process variables have been varied according to the characteristics of the enzymes. Nofima produced 15 different peptones for further evaluation at SINTEF where 10 different microorganisms, bacteria as well as yeasts, were studied. Screening was performed by means of high throughput fermentation in microscale, with further scaled-up verifications with control of pH and oxygen levels. The threshold to change peptone source of an established and well-functioning industrial process is high. However, marine proteins have a good reputation, and they are not a part of the virus/phage question as they will not be transferred to the culture grown. Therefore, this may as well be relevant for the pharmaceutical industry. Initial market studies (carried out by Njorth Bio) have clearly revealed an interest for the Biomega peptones, but the industry request scaled-up tests of their own processes before commercial sales. In addition, price, stability of delivery and repeatable quality will be a key for the introduction of marine peptones. The present project has laid the scientific basis and generated important documentation to initiate the next steps towards commercialization.

Soluble protein hydrolysates, or peptones, are ubiquitous ingredients of microbiological and mammalian cell culture media. They are used for the manufacture of a wide range of products, from bulk commodities to high-value diagnostics and biopharmaceutical s. The project involves developments of new peptones of marine origin, optimization of their production processes, including actions towards industrial scale up and market entrance The proposed project builds on the findings of a previous Innovation Nor way/TSB feasibility study (MarineIB, TSB 15500-105183) with Nofima and Centre for Process Innovation Ltd (CPI), which considered the technically and commercially feasibility for Biomega AS to tailor their marine peptone for the fermentation market. In t he present project Biomega brings together central Norwegian players as Nofima and SINTEF within biorefining of marine raw materials, biocatalysis, and industrial bioprocess development, in collboration with the UK-based CPI. The partners have complementa ry tasks based on their track records, specific expertise, commercial interests and/or infrastructure. The product and process development started at Nofima and Biomega will be rationalized by evaluation of the peptones on a range of industrial microorgan isms at SINTEF's high-throughput screening platform, in an iterative way with small-scale hydrolysis experiments at Nofima. Peptone manufacturing will be scaled up by Biomega, while CPI is the key player with respect to up-scaling of industrial processes towards commercialization.