Effect of airflow rate on yields of Steinernema carpocapse Az 20 in liquid culture in an external-loop airlift bioreactor

Production of entomopathogenic nematodes in submerged monoxenic culture: A review

Monoxenic liquid culture is the most suitable technology for scaling up to industrial production of entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs); however, the variability of the yield production remains a current problem in the process. The aim of this study was to analyze the parameters and criteria for EPN production in liquid culture based on scientific and technological knowledge from the last two decades. While experimental research has permitted the yield production of Heterorhabditis bacteriophora (362 × 10³ infective juveniles [IJs]/ml) and Steinernema carpocapsae (252 × 10³  IJs/ml), simultaneously, theoretical approaches have contributed to the understanding of the culture process, based on biological parameters of the bacterium-nematode complex and hydrodynamic and rheological parameters of the complex gas-liquid-solid system. Under this interdisciplinary research approach, bioprocess and biosystem engineering can contribute to design the various control strategies of the process variables, increase the productivity, and reduce the variability that until now distinguishes the in vitro production of EPNs by the liquid culture.

Effect of inoculum age and physical parameters on in vitro culture of the entomopathogenic nematode Steinernema feltiae

Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) of the families Steinernematidae and Heterorhabditidae have a symbiotic association with bacteria which makes them virulent against insects. EPNs have been mass produced using in vivo and in vitro methods, including both solid and liquid fermentation. This study assessed the effect of nematode inoculum age on the production of Steinernema feltiae in liquid, solid and biphasic processes. Several physical parameters were also assessed: the effect of medium viscosity, flask size and aeration speed on the recovery and yield of infective juveniles (IJs). Inoculum age treatments included inoculum liquid cultures that were 7, 14, 21 and 28 days old. Nematodes from the same inoculum were added to one liquid medium (liquid culture), one solid medium with bacteria previously grown in sponge (solid culture) and a variation of the solid medium (a biphasic culture), in which the bacteria were first grown in liquid and, then, soaked into the sponges, with the purpose of providing a more homogeneous bacterial culture before nematode inoculation. Experiments were conducted in Erlenmeyer flasks. Eight treatments were established involving combinations of three variables: two media (with and without 0.2% agar), two flask sizes (250 and 150 ml) and two agitation speeds (180 and 280 rpm). The study showed increases in nematode yield for liquid cultures, but not for solid or biphasic cultures, with the advance of the inoculum age up to 28 days of growth. Furthermore, the addition of 0.2% agar to the liquid medium and increasing the aeration rate by using larger flasks with higher agitation speed may increase nematode recovery and final yield. The experiments were conducted using shake flasks but the results may also be applicable for bioreactors.

The Effects of Nutrient Concentration, Addition of Thickeners, and Agitation Speed on Liquid Fermentation of Steinernema feltiae

Entomopathogenic nematode production in liquid fermentation still requires improvements to maximize efficiency, yield, and nematode quality. Therefore, this study was aimed at developing a more suitable liquid medium for mass production of Steinernema feltiae, by assessing the effects of nutrient concentration, thickeners (primarily agar), and agitation speed on infective juvenile (IJ) yield. Base medium (BM) contained yeast extract (2.3%), egg yolk (1.25%), NaCl (0.5%), and corn oil (4%). All media were inoculated with Xenorhabdus bovienii, and 2 d later, with 2-d-old S. feltiae juveniles. For the nutrient concentration experiment, we evaluated the base medium versus a modified base medium containing all the components, but with 3× concentrations of yeast extract (6.9%), egg yolk (3.75%), and corn oil (12%). The nematodes and bacteria were cultured in 150-ml Erlenmeyer flasks containing 50 ml of liquid medium at (25°C) and 180 rpm on a rotary shaker incubator. To assess the effect of thickeners, IJs were inoculated in BM with agar (0.2%), carrageen (0.2%), and carboxymethyl cellulose (0.2% and 0.5%). The addition of 3× more nutrients relative to the BM resulted in a significantly lower yield of nematodes. For agar and agitation speed experiments, five levels of agar in the BM (0%, 0.2%, 0.4%, 0.6%, and 0.8% agar) and two agitation speeds (180 and 280 rpm) were evaluated for production. Increasing agitation speed from 180 to 280 rpm and higher levels of agar in the medium (> 0.2%) significantly increased the yield of bacteria. At the lower agitation speed, media amended with 0.4% and 0.6% agar produced higher nematode yields compared to media without agar. Media with 0.2% and 0.8% agar resulted in intermediate levels of nematode production. At the higher agitation speed, media supplemented with 0.8% agar resulted in the lowest yield of nematodes when compared to the other media tested. Results indicated that increasing nutrient concentration levels was detrimental to nematode production. Also, media containing agar (0.4% and 0.6%) increased nematode yields when cultures were grown at low agitation speed. When IJs were used as the inoculum, 0.2% agar also enhanced recovery and nematode yield at the higher agitation speed.

Submerged monoxenic culture of the entomopathogenic nematodeSteinernema carpocapsae in an internal-loop airlift bioreactor using two configurations of the inner tube

This article reports the submerged culture of the entomopathogenic nematode Steinernema carpocapsae and its symbiotic bacterium, Xenorhabdus nematophila, within an internal-loop airlift bioreactor. Two configurations of the inner cylinder were tested: a standard draft tube (SDT) and a static mixer (SM), as well as two production media: MP1 (500 mL/L whey, among other ingredients) and MP2 (82 mL/L agave-juice from Agave spp., among other ingredients). Three fermentations were carried out: F1 --> SDT-MP1, F2 --> SM-MP1 and F3 --> SM-MP2. The operating conditions were expressed on the basis of dimensionless Reynolds number (Re) and volumetric oxygen transfer coefficient (k(L)a), both of them determined on riser and downcomer sections within the bioreactor. The experiments began with fewer than 1,000 infective juvenile nematode stages (IJ) per mL and at t = 20 d, they achieved (nematodes/mL-%IJ) 222,000-87%, 62,200-23% and 114,600-80%, within F1, F2 and F3 experiments, respectively. Nonetheless, the achieved maximum nematode biomass concentrations (g/L) were F1 --> 408, F2 --> 557 and F3 --> 613, and occurred at t = 16, 10 and 12 d, respectively. The fermentation operating conditions involved 0.042 (-) < Re < 647 (-) and 2.8 x 10(-4) s(-1) < k(L)a < 0.0447 s(-1), as functions of 0.004 m/s < superficial gas velocity (within the riser) < 0.079 m/s, 0.001 m/s < mean downcomer velocity < 0.014 m/s, and culture broth rheological properties which evolved from nearly the Newtonian behaviour to the pseudoplastic one. The maximum IJ concentration was achieved within F1 experiment (193,406 IJ/mL). Also, fermentation conditions involving higher riser-Re and lower downcomer-Re as well as higher nutriment concentrations in culture medium, promote higher nematode biomass concentrations but lower %IJ, maybe as a result of better conditions for the nematode population development.

Monoxenic liquid culture of the entomopathogenic nematode Steinernema carpocapsae using a culture medium containing whey

The submerged culture of the entomopathogenic nematode Steinernema carpocapsae and its symbiotic bacterium, Xenorhabdus nematophila, was carried out in orbitally agitated bottles using a culture medium containing whey (in grams per litre: 500 whey, 20 yeast extract, 10 dried egg yolk-food grade, 3 sodium chloride, 37 corn oil-food grade). Maximum total viable nematode concentrations of 198,333ml(-1) were achieved within fermentations of 24 days with 64% of the nematode population within the infective juvenile stage (IJ) (126,666ml(-1)) at the end. The kinetics of the bioprocess was well modelled using the four-parameter Sigmoidal model and the corresponding maximum specific rates of nematode production (0.47 day(-1)), carbohydrates consumption (0.0008g(carbohydrates)g(nematodes)(-1)day(-1)) and nitrogen consumption (4.44g(nitrogen)g(nematodes)(-1)day(-1)) are first proposed. Besides, X. nematophila appears to have the capacity of lactose hydrolysis.

Monoxenic production of the entomopathogenic nematode Steinernema carpocapsae using culture media containing agave juice (aguamiel) from Mexican maguey-pulquero (Agave spp). Effects of the contents of nitrogen, carbohydrates and fat on infective juvenile production

The production of infective juvenile stages (IJ) of the entomopathogenic nematode Steinernema carpocapsae in the presence of its symbiotic bacterium Xenorhabdus nematophilus was carried out in orbitally agitated bottles. Four complex culture media (M1-M4) were used, containing from 8% to 28% (by vol.) agave juice (aguamiel) from Mexican maguey-pulquero (Agave spp) as the main carbohydrate source. After 20 days of fermentation, a maximum viable IJ concentration of 249,000 IJ/ml and an initial nematode population multiplication factor of x620 were achieved when medium M4 was used (aguamiel concentration in this medium was 28% by vol.). M4 medium contained (w/v): 0.3% total nitrogen, 3.2% total carbohydrates and 3.0% total fat. According to the results obtained, total carbohydrates concentration appeared to be of great importance in obtaining high IJ concentrations.

Challenges for mass production of nematodes in submerged culture

Nematodes of Steinernema and Heterorhabditis genera are used as agents in insect biocontrol programs. They are associated with specific bacteria which are also involved in the mechanism of pathogenicity and which are consumed by nematodes as living food. S. feltiae has various developmental stages in its life cycle, including four juvenile stages, adults and the free living form. During mating, males coil themselves around the female, which is around 1 cm long. Successful commercialization of nematode-bacteria biocontrol products depends on the ability to produce sufficient quantities of these products at competitive prices for a full pest control program. This could be feasible if high cell density submerged cultures are designed and implemented; however, major problems related to nematodes mass production in a bioreactor remain unsolved due to the lack of knowledge about the physiological aspects of the nematode, bacteria and nematode-bacteria association, interaction between the three phases present in the bioreactor (liquid, gas, nematodes-bacteria), possibility of mating under hydrodynamic stress conditions, etc. We have found that the two most important engineering aspects to take into account the mass propagation of nematodes are oxygen transfer rate and hydrodynamics to allow mating and to avoid mechanical damage of juveniles in stage 2. This article focuses on several aspects related to the fermentation system such as kinetics of growth, shear stress, hydrodynamics fields in the bioreactor and oxygen demand. Also, results published by other groups, together with those of our own, will be discussed in relation to the main challenges found during the fermentation process.