Abstract:
The invention related to the use of  Bacillus licheniformis  strain OBT618 (ATCC PTA-122188) for inhibiting  Clostridium  pathogens in a material contaminated with the pathogens. The strain can be added to animal feed, animal waste or food processing facility waste that is contained with  Clostridium  to inhibit the pathogen.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Not Applicable. 
     FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     This disclosure concerns a  Bacillus licheniformis  strain useful for inhibiting the growth of pathogens. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       Bacillus licheniformis  bacterium is a gram-positive, mesophilic bacterium that is commonly found in the soil and on bird feathers, especially on the chest and back plumage of ground-dwelling and aquatic birds. It is cultured to obtain protease for use in laundry detergent. Other applications that have been explored include use in synthesis of gold nanoparticles and as an agent to fight tooth decay. 
       Clostridium  is a gram positive bacterium capable of forming spores and colonizing the intestines of humans and animals of agricultural importance such as cattle, poultry, and swine. There are a variety of  Clostridium  species that are troublesome pathogens in both humans and animals. Not only do the bacteria themselves present problems in terms of their pathogenicity, they also produce toxins that can cause extremely adverse health effects in humans and animals. In humans, the  Clostridium  bacteria from the species  botulinum  produces the botulism toxin that can cause muscle paralysis; the  perfringens  species causes food poisoning and gas gangrene in people and enterotoxaemia in sheep and goats; the tetani species causes tetanus, resulting in lockjaw or spastic paralysis in humans, cattle, dogs and other animals; the  sordelli  species causes pneumonia, endocarditis, arthritis, peritonitis and myonecrosis, as well as toxic shock syndrome. 
     The  difficile  species is of concern to humans and animals for colitis. It is capable of colonizing the intestines of humans and animals, including horses, cattle, poultry and swine. Much foodborne illness is also linked to  C. difficile . In humans,  C. difficile  is most commonly known for its ability to cause disease in hospitalized patients who are being treated with antibiotics or chemotherapy for an infection from another bacterium. During this time, exposure to  C. difficile , which is resistant to many common antibiotics, takes advantage of the reduction of colonic flora, growing rapidly and causing severe diarrhea, bloating, and abdominal pain. 
     Many cases of  C. difficile  infection have been reported from non-hospitalized patients where the source is believed to be mainly foodborne illness.  C. difficile  has been isolated from animal fecal samples of agricultural importance such as cattle, poultry, and swine and also from food products which come from these produce. This link is believed to be the source of many cases of foodborne illness. 
     Accordingly, new and effective methods to inhibit  C. difficile  and other clostridium species, along with new and effective methods to prevent them from producing the harmful toxins are desired. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     A novel strain of  Bacillus licheniformis  has been identified and isolated, namely  Bacillus licheniformis  strain OBT618. This strain is characterized by its ability to inhibit the growth and/or activity of bacteria of the genus  Clostridium , including species which are pathogens and opportunistic pathogens through production through its own growth and/or through production of inhibitory substances such as enzymes, metabolites, and/or antibiotics. 
     The novel strain of  Bacillus licheniformis  can be used in numerous applications including contacting a pathogen of  Clostridium  with an effective amount of the bacillus strain to provide an inhibitory effect. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
         FIG. 1  is the relevant sequence (SEQ. ID NO. 1) for  Bacillus licheniformis  strain OBT618. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     It has been discovered that the novel  Bacillus licheniformis  strain OBT618 exhibits an inhibitory effect on pathogens of  Clostridium  and has many applications that can improve safety and reduce incidents of disease in humans and animals. 
     The term “inhibit” means to reduce or arrest growth and/or reproduction of  Clostridium  species, and/or to reduce or arrest production by and/or secretion of toxins from  Clostridium . The term “inhibit” also encompasses killing  Clostridium  species and/or reducing or arresting the pathogenic or toxic effects of  Clostridium  species. 
     The term “effective amount” means an amount that will achieve a desired inhibitory effect to reduce incidents of diseases caused by pathogens of  Clostridium . Effective amounts for particular applications can be determined by routine experimentation. 
     The novel strain of bacterium produces specific types of useful enzymes, metabolites and antibiotics to inhibit both the growth and toxin production from  Clostridium  species. These enzymes, metabolites and antibiotics reduce the potential for illness and disease by using the OBT618 bacterium. 
     Examples of  Clostridium  species that are inhibited by  Bacillus licheniformis  strain OBT618 include  C. botulinum, C. perfringens, C. tetani, C. sordelli, C. difficile  (including CDT A and CDT B). 
     The OBT618 bacteria can be used in various processes for inhibiting pathogenic or other undesirable or nuisance microorganisms such as  Clostridium  species,  C. difficile  species,  vibrio, E. coli  species, and  salmonella  species, by direct contact or by contacting the undesirable microorganism with one or more enzymes, metabolites, and/or antibiotics produced by  Bacillus licheniformis  strain OBT618. The process can be used to treat contaminated or potentially contaminated liquids and semi-solid materials such as wastewater, waste lagoons, manure piles, livestock pens, animal feed, animal feces and other animal waste, meat and other food processing facility water, pond, etc. 
     The OBT618 bacterium can be used to treat wastewater contaminated with  C. difficile  by spraying, direct inoculation of a liquid or a powder or a block containing the bacteria to reduce the  C. difficile  contamination and to reduce the toxins that may be present from the  C. difficile  or other  Clostridium  species. 
     Waste lagoons, manure piles, and pens containing waste from pig, cattle, sheep, chicken and equine can be treated with the novel OBT618 by spraying or dispersing in a powder form the bacteria to reduce the  C. difficile  contamination and to reduce the toxins that may be present from the  C. difficile  or other  Clostridium  species. 
     Animal feed can be treated by using the novel OBT618 bacterium as a direct fed microbial to either mix with the feed or as a separate feed supplement to reduce intestinal  C. difficile  colitis outbreaks and to reduce internal toxin production by  Clostridium  species. 
     Animal water can be treated by using the novel OBT618 bacterium to reduce the abundance and spread of  C. difficile  in drinking water and to inoculate the animal&#39;s intestinal tract to reduce intestinal  C. difficile  colitis outbreaks and to reduce internal toxin production by  Clostridium  species. 
     Chicken litter or other animal litter can be treated by using the novel OBT618 bacterium to spray the litter to reduce intestinal  C. difficile  colitis outbreaks and to reduce internal toxin production by  Clostridium  species in the animal. 
     Meat processing or food processing facility waste can be treated with the novel OBT618 bacterium by spraying, direct inoculation of a liquid or a powder or a block containing the bacterium to reduce the  C. difficile  contamination and to reduce the toxins that may be present from the  C. difficile  or other  Clostridium  species. 
     Farm ponds can be treated with the novel OBT618 by spraying, direct inoculation of a liquid or a powder or a block containing the bacteria to reduce the  C. difficile  contamination and to reduce the toxins that may be present from the  C. difficile  or other  Clostridium  species. 
     The disclosed  Bacillus licheniformis  strain OBT618 can be biologically purified and/or provided in a dried, sporulated form (e.g., in a particulate or powder form), or in a liquid composition. Such liquid or dry compositions may comprise various additives such as nutrients, dispersants, stabilizers, fragrances and dyes. 
     The described embodiments are preferred and/or illustrated, but are not limiting. Various modifications are considered within the purview and scope of the appended claims. 
     The  Bacillus licheniformis  strain OBT618 was deposited under the Budapest Treaty and will be irrevocably and without restriction or condition released to the public upon issuance of a patent. The  Bacillus licheniformis  strain OBT618 was deposited May 29, 2015 at the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC), P.O Box 1549, Manassas. Virginia 20108 and given accession number PTA-122188.