DEVELOPING PROBIOTIC YEAST FOR IMPROVED CATTLE FEED EFFICIENCY AND METHANE EMISSION REDUCTION

In this USDA SBIR Phase I effort, Hoofprint proposes to develop bioactive peptides to eliminate methane emissions from cattle and to secrete them from the probiotic yeast, S. boulardii. We have computationally identified a library of novel bioactive peptides, and the goals of this proposal are to use this library to develop acost-effective probiotic feed additiveproduct. Our technical objectives are:Objective A. Screen and selectanti-methanepeptides in vitro.Objective B. Demonstrate methane reduction using anti-methane peptide secretion by S. boulardiiHoofprint plans to answer to following technical questions to establish the technical feasibility of the proposed approach:Which of our identified peptides has the strongest reduction of methane production? Is secretion of multiple peptides required for complete methane elimination? What is the final concentration of peptides secreted from S. boulardii? What will be the expected effective dose in vivo?Project success requires: (1) identification of bioactive peptides that can reduce methane by >80% using our in vitro articial rumen culturesystem; (2) secretion of peptidesfrom Hoofprint's S. boulardii platform in sufficient quantities for a biologically relevant effectand reducing methane from in vitro cultures by at least 80%. To carry out these objectives, we will leverage Hoofprint's prior experience with cell-free peptide synthesis,artificial rumen (in vitro) fermentation, and probiotic yeast engineering. The successful completion of these objectives will yield a product that will decrease methane from the cattle rumen microbiome by at minimum 80% in vitro, while simultaneously improving the health and productivity of cattle. The objectives of the Phase II proposal will be to translate these findings toin vivo trials for methane reduction, feed efficiency, and animal health.