WO2020053274A1

WO2020053274A1 - Animal feed composition and use thereof

Info

Publication number: WO2020053274A1
Application number: PCT/EP2019/074222
Authority: WO
Inventors: Rual Lopez-Ulibarri; Estefania Perez Calvo
Original assignee: Dsm Ip Assets B.V.; Novozymes A/S
Priority date: 2018-09-11
Filing date: 2019-09-11
Publication date: 2020-03-19
Also published as: EP3849337A1; AU2019339736A1; BR112021004519A2; MX2021002787A; CN112804883A

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method of improving immunity and/or anti-inflammatory ability of a monogastric animal comprising administering to the animal a composition, an animal feed or an animal feed additive comprising one or more microbial muramidases.

Description

ANIMAL FEED COMPOSITION AND USE THEREOF

REFERENCE TO A SEQUENCE LISTING

This application contains a Sequence Listing in computer readable form, which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to methods of improving immunity and/or anti-inflammatory ability of an animal using animal feed comprising one or more microbial muramidase.

Description of the Related Art

Muramidase, also named as lysozyme, is an O-glycosyl hydrolase produced as a defensive mechanism against bacteria by many organisms. The enzyme causes the hydrolysis of bacterial cell walls by cleaving the glycosidic bonds of peptidoglycan, an important structural molecule in bacteria. After having their cell walls weakened by muramidase action, bacterial cells lyse as a result of umbalanced osmotic pressure.

Muramidase naturally occurs in many organisms such as viruses, plants, insects, birds, reptiles and mammals. Muramidase has been classified into five different glycoside hydrolase (GH) families (CAZy, www.cazy.org): hen egg-white muramidase (GH22), goose egg-white muramidase (GH23), bacteriophage T4 muramidase (GH24), Sphingomonas flagellar protein (GH73) and Chalaropsis muramidases (GH25). Muramidases from the families GH23 and GH24 are primarily known from bacteriophages and have only recently been identified in fungi. The muramidase family GH25 has been found to be structurally unrelated to the other muramidase families.

Muramidase has traditionally been extracted from hen egg white due to its natural abundance and until very recently hen egg white muramidase was the only muramidase investigated for use in animal feed. Muramidase extracted from hen egg white is the primary product available on the commercial market, but does not cleave A/,6-0-diacetylmuramic acid in e.g. Staphylococcus aureus cell walls and is thus unable to lyse this important human pathogen among others (Masschalck B, Deckers D, Michiels CW (2002), “Lytic and nonlytic mechanism of inactivation of gram-positive bacteria by muramidase under atmospheric and high hydrostatic pressure”, J Food Prot. 65(12):1916-23).

W02000/21381 discloses a composition comprising at least two antimicrobial enzymes and a polyunsaturated fatty acid, wherein one of the antimicrobial enzymes was a GH22 muramidase from chicken egg white. GB2379166 discloses a composition comprising a compound that disrupts the peptidoglycan layer of bacteria and a compound that disrupts the phospholipid layer of bacteria, wherein the peptidoglycan disrupting compound was a GH22 muramidase from chicken egg white.

W02004/026334 discloses an antimicrobial composition for suppressing the growth of enteric pathogens in the gut of livestock comprising (a) a cell wall lysing substance or its salt, (b) a antimicrobial substance, (c) a sequestering agent and (d) a lantibiotic, wherein the cell wall lysing substance or its salt is a GH22 muramidase from hen egg white.

Surprisingly, the inventors of the present invention discovered that muramidases can be used in feed to improve immunity and/or anti-inflammatory ability of a monogastric animal. As demand on animal protein is growing, such solution which improves animal health is always of interest of farmers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention provides a method for improving immunity and/or anti- inflammatory ability of a monogastric animal comprising administering to the animal a composition, an animal feed or an animal fee additive comprising one or more microbial muramidases.

Overview of Sequence Listing

SEQ ID NO: 1 is the mature amino acid sequence of a wild type GH25 muramidase from Acremonium alcalophilum with N-terminal SPIRR as described in WO 2013/076253.

SEQ ID NO: 2 is the gene sequence of the GH24 muramidase as isolated from Trichophaea saccata.

SEQ ID NO: 3 is the amino acid sequence as deduced from SEQ ID NO: 2.

SEQ ID NO: 4 is the mature amino acid sequence of a wild type GH24 muramidase from Trichophaea saccata.

SEQ ID NO: 5 is the mature amino acid sequence of a wild type GH22 muramidase from Gallus gallus (hen egg white muramidase).

SEQ ID NO: 6 is primer F-80470.

SEQ ID NO: 7 is primer R-80470.

SEQ ID NO: 8 is primer 8643. SEQ ID NO: 9 is primer 8654.

SEQ ID NO: 10 is the mature amino acid sequence of a wild type GH25 muramidase from Acremonium alcalophilum as described in WO 2013/076253.

DEFINITIONS

Microbial muramidase: The term “microbial muramidase” means a polypeptide having muramidase activity which is obtained or obtainable from a microbial source. Examples of microbial sources are fungi; i.e. the muramidase is obtained or obtainable from the kingdom Fungi, wherein the term kingdom is the taxonomic rank. In particular, the the microbial muramidase is obtained or obtainable from the phylum Ascomycota, such as the sub-phylum Pezizomycotina, wherein the terms phylum and sub-phylum is the taxonomic ranks.

If the taxonomic rank of a polypeptide is not known, it can easily be determined by a person skilled in the art by performing a BLASTP search of the polypeptide (using e.g. the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCIB) website http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/) and comparing it to the closest homologues. An unknown polypeptide which is a fragment of a known polypeptide is considered to be of the same taxonomic species. An unknown natural polypeptide or artificial variant which comprises a substitution, deletion and/or insertion in up to 10 positions is considered to be from the same taxonomic species as the known polypeptide.

Muramidase activity: The term“muramidase activity” means the enzymatic hydrolysis of the 1 ,4-beta-linkages between A/-acetylmuramic acid and A/-acetyl-D-glucosamine residues in a peptidoglycan or between A/-acetyl-D-glucosamine residues in chitodextrins, resulting in bacteriolysis due to osmotic pressure. Muramidase belongs to the enzyme class EC 3.2.1.17. Muramidase activity is typically measured by turbidimetric determination. The method is based on the changes in turbidity of a suspension of Micrococcus luteus ATCC 4698 induced by the lytic action of muramidase. In appropriate experimental conditions these changes are proportional to the amount of muramidase in the medium (c.f. INS 1 105 of the Combined Compendium of Food Additive Specifications of the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the UN (www.fao.org)). For the purpose of the present invention, muramidase activity is determined according to the turbidity assay described in example 5 (“Determination of Muramidase Activity”). In one aspect, the polypeptides of the present invention have at least 20%, e.g., at least 40%, at least 50%, at least 60%, at least 70%, at least 80%, at least 90%, at least 95%, or at least 100% of the muramidase activity of SEQ ID NO: 1. In one aspect, the polypeptides of the present invention have at least 20%, e.g., at least 40%, at least 50%, at least 60%, at least 70%, at least 80%, at least 90%, at least 95%, or at least 100% of the muramidase activity of SEQ ID NO: 4. In one aspect, the polypeptides of the present invention have at least 20%, e.g., at least 40%, at least 50%, at least 60%, at least 70%, at least 80%, at least 90%, at least 95%, or at least 100% of the muramidase activity of SEQ ID NO: 10.

Fragment: The term“fragment” means a polypeptide or a catalytic domain having one or more (e.g., several) amino acids absent from the amino and/or carboxyl terminus of a mature polypeptide or domain; wherein the fragment has muramidase activity. In one aspect, a fragment comprises at least 170 amino acids, such as at least 175 amino acids, at least 177 amino acids, at least 180 amino acids, at least 185 amino acids, at least 190 amino acids, at least 195 amino acids or at least 200 amino acids of SEQ ID NO: 1 and has muramidase activity.

In another aspect, a fragment comprises at least 210 amino acids, such as at least 215 amino acids, at least 220 amino acids, at least 225 amino acids, at least 230 amino acids, at least 235 amino acids or at least 240 amino acids of SEQ ID NO: 4 and has muramidase activity.

In one aspect, a fragment comprises at least 170 amino acids, such as at least 175 amino acids, at least 177 amino acids, at least 180 amino acids, at least 185 amino acids, at least 190 amino acids, at least 195 amino acids or at least 200 amino acids of SEQ ID NO: 10 and has muramidase activity.

Isolated: The term“isolated” means a substance in a form that environment does not occur in nature. Non-limiting examples of isolated substances include (1 ) any non-naturally occurring substance, (2) any substance including, but not limited to, any enzyme, variant, nucleic acid, protein, peptide or cofactor, that is at least partially removed from one or more or all of the naturally occurring constituents with which it is associated in nature; (3) any substance modified by the hand of man relative to that substance found in nature; or (4) any substance modified by increasing the amount of the substance relative to other components with which it is naturally associated (e.g., multiple copies of a gene encoding the substance; use of a stronger promoter than the promoter naturally associated with the gene encoding the substance). An isolated substance may be present in a fermentation broth sample.

Mature polypeptide: The term“mature polypeptide” means a polypeptide in its final form following translation and any post-translational modifications, such as N-terminal processing, C-terminal truncation, glycosylation, phosphorylation, etc.

Sequence identity: The relatedness between two amino acid sequences or between two nucleotide sequences is described by the parameter“sequence identity”.

For purposes of the present invention, the sequence identity between two amino acid sequences is determined using the Needleman-Wunsch algorithm (Needleman and Wunsch, 1970, J. Mol. Biol. 48: 443-453) as implemented in the Needle program of the EMBOSS package (EMBOSS: The European Molecular Biology Open Software Suite, Rice et al., 2000, Trends Genet. 16: 276-277), preferably version 5.0.0 or later. The parameters used are gap open penalty of 10, gap extension penalty of 0.5, and the EBLOSUM62 (EMBOSS version of BLOSUM62) substitution matrix. The output of Needle labeled“longest identity” (obtained using the -nobrief option) is used as the percent identity and is calculated as follows:

(Identical Residues x 100)/(Length of Alignment - Total Number of Gaps in Alignment)

Variant: The term“variant” means a polypeptide having muramidase activity comprising an alteration, i.e., a substitution, insertion, and/or deletion, of one or more (several) amino acid residues at one or more (e.g., several) positions. A substitution means replacement of the amino acid occupying a position with a different amino acid; a deletion means removal of the amino acid occupying a position; and an insertion means adding 1 , 2, or 3 amino acids adjacent to and immediately following the amino acid occupying the position.

In one aspect, a muramidase variant according to the invention may comprise from 1 to 5; from 1 to 10; from 1 to 15; from 1 to 20; from 1 to 25; from 1 to 30; from 1 to 35; from 1 to 40; from 1 to 45; or from 1 -50, i.e. 1 , 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 1 1 , 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 , 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31 , 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41 , 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49 or 50 alterations and have at least 20%, e.g., at least 40%, at least 50%, at least 60%, at least 70%, at least 80%, at least 90%, at least 95%, or at least 100% of the muramidase activity of the parent muramidase, such as SEQ ID NO: 1 , SEQ ID NO: 4 or SEQ ID NO: 10.

Monogastric animal: The term“monogastric animal” refers to any animal which has a simple single-chambered stomach except humans. Examples of monogastric animals include pigs or swine (including, but not limited to, piglets, growing pigs, and sows); poultry such as turkeys, ducks, quail, guinea fowl, geese, pigeons (including squabs) and chicken (including but not limited to broiler chickens (referred to herein as broiles), chicks, layer, hens (referred to herein as layers)); pet animals such as cat and dog; horses (including but not limited to hotbloods, coldbloods and warm bloods), crustaceans (including but not limited to shrimps and prawns) and fish (including but not limited to amberjack, arapaima, barb, bass, bluefish, bocachico, bream, bullhead, cachama, carp, catfish, catla, chanos, char, cichlid, cobia, cod, crappie, dorada, drum, eel, goby, goldfish, gourami, grouper, guapote, halibut, java, labeo, lai, loach, mackerel, milkfish, mojarra, mudfish, mullet, paco, pearlspot, pejerrey, perch, pike, pompano, roach, salmon, sampa, sauger, sea bass, seabream, shiner, sleeper, snakehead, snapper, snook, sole, spinefoot, sturgeon, sunfish, sweetfish, tench, terror, tilapia, trout, tuna, turbot, vendace, walleye and whitefish). Animal feed: The term“animal feed” refers to any compound, preparation, or mixture suitable for, or intended for intake by an animal. Animal feed for a monogastric animal typically comprises concentrates as well as vitamins, minerals, enzymes, direct fed microbial, amino acids and/or other feed ingredients (such as in a premix) whereas animal feed for ruminants generally comprises forage (including roughage and silage) and may further comprise concentrates as well as vitamins, minerals, enzymes direct fed microbial, amino acid and/or other feed ingredients (such as in a premix).

Concentrates: The term “concentrates” means feed with high protein and energy concentrations, such as fish meal, molasses, oligosaccharides, sorghum, seeds and grains (either whole or prepared by crushing, milling, etc. from e.g. corn, oats, rye, barley, wheat), oilseed press cake (e.g. from cottonseed, safflower, sunflower, soybean (such as soybean meal), rapeseed/canola, peanut or groundnut), palm kernel cake, yeast derived material and distillers grains (such as wet distillers grains (WDS) and dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS)).

Forage: The term“forage” as defined herein also includes roughage. Forage is fresh plant material such as hay and silage from forage plants, grass and other forage plants, seaweed, sprouted grains and legumes, or any combination thereof. Examples of forage plants are Alfalfa (lucerne), birdsfoot trefoil, brassica (e.g. kale, rapeseed (canola), rutabaga (swede), turnip), clover (e.g. alsike clover, red clover, subterranean clover, white clover), grass (e.g. Bermuda grass, brome, false oat grass, fescue, heath grass, meadow grasses, orchard grass, ryegrass, Timothy-grass), corn (maize), millet, barley, oats, rye, sorghum, soybeans and wheat and vegetables such as beets. Forage further includes crop residues from grain production (such as corn stover; straw from wheat, barley, oat, rye and other grains); residues from vegetables like beet tops; residues from oilseed production like stems and leaves form soy beans, rapeseed and other legumes; and fractions from the refining of grains for animal or human consumption or from fuel production or other industries.

Roughage: The term“roughage” means dry plant material with high levels of fiber, such as fiber, bran, husks from seeds and grains and crop residues (such as stover, copra, straw, chaff, sugar beet waste).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Methods of improving immunity and/or anti-inflammatory ability

It has been surprisingly found that supplementing an animal feed with a microbial muramidase results in a significant benefit in improving immunity in a monogastric animal, compared to an animal feed without the microbial muramidase. In in vivo broiler trials, it was surprisingly discovered that:

(a) Treatment with a muramidase leads to higher intraepithelial lymphocytes (IEL) and Goblet Cells (GC) in jejunum; and/or

(b) Treatment with a muramidase leads to lower response against Gumboro vaccination.

It has been further surprisingly found that supplementing an animal feed with a microbial muramidase has effect on improving anti-inflammatory ability of a monogastric animal, compared to an animal feed without the microbial muramidase. In in vivo broiler trials, it was surprisingly discovered that:

(a) treatment with a muramidase leads to higher cytokines LITAF, IL-10, and/or TLR5 in jejunum; and/or

(b) Treatment with a muramidase leads to reduced Clostridium in cecum.

Thus the invention relates to a method of improving immunity and/or anti-inflammatory ability of a monogastric animal comprising administering to the animal a composition, an animal feed or an animal feed additive comprising one or more microbial muramidases.

In the present invention, the improvement is compared to an animal feed or animal feed additive wherein the microbial muramidase is not present (herein referred to as the negative control).

Preferably, the IEL and or GC in jejunum is higher by at least 1 %, such as by at least 2%, at least 3%, at least 4%, at least 5%, at least 10%, at least 15% or at least 20% compared to the negative control.

Preferabley, the response against Gumboro vaccination is lower by at least 1 %, such as by at least 2%, at least 3%, at least 4%, at least 5%, at least 10%, at least 15% or at least 20% compared to the negative control.

Preferabley, the cytokines LITAF, IL-10, and/or TLR5 in jejunum is higher by at least 1 %, such as by at least 2%, at least 3%, at least 4%, at least 5%, at least 10%, at least 15% or at least 20% compared to the negative control. In the present invention, the microbial muramidase may be dosed at a level of 100 to 1000 mg enzyme protein per kg animal feed, such as 200 to 900 mg, 300 to 800 mg, 400 to 700 mg, 500 to 600 mg enzyme protein per kg animal feed, or any combination of these intervals.

In the present invention, the monogastric animal may be selected from the group consisting of swine, piglet, growing pig, sow, poultry, turkey, duck, quail, guinea fowl, goose, pigeon, squab, chicken, broiler, layer, pullet and chick, cat, dog, horse, crustaceans, shrimps, prawns, fish, amberjack, arapaima, barb, bass, bluefish, bocachico, bream, bullhead, cachama, carp, catfish, catla, chanos, char, cichlid, cobia, cod, crappie, dorada, drum, eel, goby, goldfish, gourami, grouper, guapote, halibut, java, labeo, lai, loach, mackerel, milkfish, mojarra, mudfish, mullet, paco, pearlspot, pejerrey, perch, pike, pompano, roach, salmon, sampa, sauger, sea bass, seabream, shiner, sleeper, snakehead, snapper, snook, sole, spinefoot, sturgeon, sunfish, sweetfish, tench, terror, tilapia, trout, tuna, turbot, vendace, walleye and whitefish. Preferably, the monogastric animal is a selected from the group consisting of swine, piglet, growing pig, sow, poultry, turkey, duck, quail, guinea fowl, goose, pigeon, squab, chicken, broiler, layer, pullet and chick. More preferably, the the monogastric animal is a selected from the group consisting of swine, piglet, growing pig, sow, chicken, broiler, layer, and chick.

In the present invention, the microbial muramidase may be fed to the animal from birth until slaughter. Preferably, the the microbial muramidase is fed to the animal on a daily basis from birth until slaughter. More Preferably, the microbial muramidase is fed to the animal on a daily basis for at least 10 days, such as at least 15 days or at least 20 days (where the days can be continuous or non-continuous) during the life span of the animal. Further preferably, the microbial muramidase is fed to the animal for 10-20 days followed by a non-treatment period of 5-10 days, and this cycle is repeated during the life span of the animal.

In the present invention, the microbial muramidase may be fed to broilers for the first 49 days after hatching. Preferably, the microbial muramidase is fed to broilers for the first 36 days after hatching. More preferably, the microbial muramidase is fed to broilers on days 22 to 36 after hatching. Further preferably, the microbial muramidase is fed to broilers during the pre-starter (days 1-7) period. Further preferably, the microbial muramidase is fed to broilers during the starter (days 8-22) period. Further preferably, the microbial muramidase is fed to broilers during the pre-starter (days 1 - 7) and starter (days 8-22) period.

In the present invention, the microbial muramidase may be fed to layers during the life span of the animal. Preferably, the microbial muramidase is fed to layers for 76 weeks from hatching. More preferably, the microbial muramidase is fed to layers during the laying period, (from ca. week 18). Further preferably, the microbial muramidase is fed to layers during the laying period but withheld during the forced molting period.

In the present invention, the microbial muramidase may be fed to turkeys during life span of the animal. Preferably, the microbial muramidase is fed to turkeys for 24 weeks from hatching. More preferably, the microbial muramidase is fed to turkeys for the first 16 weeks from hatching (for hens) and for the first 20 weeks for hatching (for toms).

In the present invention, the microbial muramidase may be fed to swine during life span of the animal. Preferably, the microbial muramidase is fed to swine for 27 weeks from birth. More preferably, the microbial muramidase is fed to piglets from birth to weaning (at 4 weeks). Further preferably, the microbial muramidase is fed to piglets for the first 6 weeks from birth (4 weeks of lactation and 2 weeks post-weaning). Further preferably, the microbial muramidase is fed to weaning piglets during the pre-starter (days 1 -14 after weaning). Further preferably, the microbial muramidase is fed to weaning piglets during the starter (days 15-42 after weaning) period. Further preferably, the microbial muramidase is fed to weaning piglets during the pre-starter (days 1 -14 after weaning) and starter (days 15-42 after weaning) period. Further preferably, the microbial muramidase is fed to swine during the grower/fattening period (week 10 to ca. week 27 after birth).

In the present invention, the microbial muramidase may be of fungal origin. Preferably, the microbial muramidase is obtained or obtainable from the phylum Ascomycota, such as the sub- phylum Pezizomycotina. Preferably, the microbial muramidase comprises one or more domains selected from the list consisting of GFI24 and GFI25.

In the present invention, the microbial muramidase may have at least 50%, e.g., at least 60%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 86%, at least 87%, at least 88%, at least 89%, at least 90%, at least 91 %, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, or 100% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 1 , 4 or 10.

In the present invention, the microbial muramidase may comprise or consist of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 or an allelic variant thereof; or is a fragment thereof having muramidase activity, wherein the fragment comprises at least 170 amino acids, such as at least 175 amino acids, at least 177 amino acids, at least 180 amino acids, at least 185 amino acids, at least 190 amino acids, at least 195 amino acids or at least 200 amino acids. Preferably, the microbial muramidase comprises or consists of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 or an allelic variant thereof and a N-terminal and/or C-terminal His-tag and/or FIQ-tag. More preferably, the polypeptide comprises or consists of amino acids 1 to 213 of SEQ ID NO: 1. Alternatively, the microbial muramidase may comprise or consist of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4 or an allelic variant thereof; or is a fragment thereof having muramidase activity, wherein the fragment comprises at least 210 amino acids, such as at least 215 amino acids, at least 220 amino acids, at least 225 amino acids, at least 230 amino acids, at least 235 amino acids or at least 240 amino acids. Preferably, the microbial muramidase comprises or consists of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4 or an allelic variant thereof and a N-terminal and/or C-terminal His-tag and/or HQ-tag. More preferably, the polypeptide comprises or consists of amino acids 1 to 245 of SEQ ID NO: 4.

More alternatively, the microbial muramidase may comprise or consist of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 10 or an allelic variant thereof; or is a fragment thereof having muramidase activity, wherein the fragment comprises at least 210 amino acids, such as at least 215 amino acids, at least 220 amino acids, at least 225 amino acids, at least 230 amino acids, at least 235 amino acids or at least 240 amino acids. Preferably, the microbial muramidase comprises or consists of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 10 or an allelic variant thereof and a N-terminal and/or C-terminal His- tag and/or HQ-tag. More preferably, the polypeptide comprises or consists of amino acids 1 to 208 of SEQ ID NO: 10.

In the present invention, the microbial muramidase may be a variant of SEQ ID NO: 1 , 4 or 10 wherein the variant has muramidase activity and comprises one or more substitutions, and/or one or more deletions, and/or one or more insertions or any combination thereof in 1 , 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 1 1 , 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 , 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31 , 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41 , 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49 or 50 positions. Preferably, the number of positions comprising one or more amino acid substitutions, and/or one or more amino acid deletions, and/or one or more amino acid insertions or any combination thereof in SEQ ID NO: 1 , 4 or 10 is between 1 and 45, such as 1 -40, 1 -35, 1 -30, 1-25, 1-20, 1-15, 1-10 or 1-5 positions. More preferably, the number of positions comprising one or more amino acid substitutions, and/or one or more amino acid deletions, and/or one or more amino acid insertions or any combination thereof in SEQ ID NO: 1 , 4 or 10 is not more than 10, e.g., 1 , 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10. Further preferably, the number of substitutions, deletions, and/or insertions in SEQ ID NO: 1 , 4 or 10 is not more than 10, e.g., 1 , 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10. Futher preferably, the number of substitutions, preferably conservative substitutions, in SEQ ID NO: 1 , 4 or 10 is not more than 10, e.g., 1 , 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10. Further preferably, the number of conservative substitutions in SEQ ID NO: 1 , 4 or 10 is not more than 10, e.g., 1 , 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10. Any person skilled in the art can understand, the polypeptide of the microbial muramidase may have amino acid changes. The amino acid changes may be of a minor nature, that is conservative amino acid substitutions or insertions that do not significantly affect the folding and/or activity of the protein; small deletions, typically of 1-30 amino acids; small amino- or carboxyl-terminal extensions, such as an amino-terminal methionine residue; a small linker peptide of up to 20-25 residues; or a small extension that facilitates purification by changing net charge or another function, such as a poly-histidine tract, an antigenic epitope or a binding domain.

Examples of conservative substitutions are within the groups of basic amino acids (arginine, lysine and histidine), acidic amino acids (glutamic acid and aspartic acid), polar amino acids (glutamine and asparagine), hydrophobic amino acids (leucine, isoleucine and valine), aromatic amino acids (phenylalanine, tryptophan and tyrosine), and small amino acids (glycine, alanine, serine, threonine and methionine). Amino acid substitutions that do not generally alter specific activity are known in the art and are described, for example, by H. Neurath and R.L. Hill, 1979, In, The Proteins, Academic Press, New York. Common substitutions are Ala/Ser, Val/lle, Asp/Glu, Thr/Ser, Ala/Gly, Ala/Thr, Ser/Asn, Ala/Val, Ser/Gly, Tyr/Phe, Ala/Pro, Lys/Arg, Asp/Asn, Leu/lle, Leu/Val, Ala/Glu, and Asp/Gly.

Essential amino acids in a polypeptide can be identified according to procedures known in the art, such as site-directed mutagenesis or alanine-scanning mutagenesis (Cunningham and Wells, 1989, Science 244: 1081-1085). In the latter technique, single alanine mutations are introduced at every residue in the molecule, and the resultant mutant molecules are tested for muramidase activity to identify amino acid residues that are critical to the activity of the molecule. See also, Hilton et ai, 1996, J. Biol. Chem. 271 : 4699-4708. The active site of the enzyme or other biological interaction can also be determined by physical analysis of structure, as determined by such techniques as nuclear magnetic resonance, crystallography, electron diffraction, or photoaffinity labeling, in conjunction with mutation of putative contact site amino acids. See, for example, de Vos et ai, 1992, Science 255: 306-312; Smith et ai., 1992, J. Mol. Biol. 224: 899-904; Wlodaver et ai., 1992, FEBS Lett. 309: 59-64. The identity of essential amino acids can also be inferred from an alignment with a related polypeptide.

The crystal structure of the Acremonium alcalophilum CBS 114.92 muramidase was solved at a resolution of 1.3 A as disclosed in WO 2013/076253. These atomic coordinates can be used to generate a three dimensional model depicting the structure of the Acremonium alcalophilum CBS1 14.92 muramidase or homologous structures (such as the variants of the present invention). Using the x/ray structure, amino acid residues D95 and E97 (using SEQ ID NO: 1 for numbering) were identified as catalytic residues.

In one embodiment, the invention relates to a method of improving immunity and/or anti- inflammatory ability of a monogastric animal comprising administering to the animal a composition, an animal feed or an animal feed additive comprising one or more microbial muramidases, wherein:

(a) the microbial muramidase is a microbial muramidase comprising one or more domains selected from the list consisting of GH24 and GH25, is dosed at a level of 300 to 500 mg enzyme protein per kg animal feed; and

(b) the animal is a selected from the group consisting of swine, piglet, growing pig, sow, chicken, broiler, layer, pullet and chick.

In another embodiment, the invention relates to a method of improving immunity and/or anti- inflammatory ability of a monogastric animal comprising administering to the animal a composition, an animal feed or an animal feed additive comprising one or more microbial muramidases, wherein:

(a) the microbial muramidase is a GH24 or GH 25 muramidase obtained or obtainable from the phylum Ascomycota, and is dosed at a level of 300 to 500 mg enzyme protein per kg animal feed; and

Formulation

The microbial muramidase of the present invention may be formulated as a composition for improving immunity and/or anti-inflammatory ability of a monogastric animal, which is also the present invention intents to cover. The microbial muramidase of the present invention may be formulated as a liquid or a solid.

For a liquid formulation, the formulating agent may comprise a polyol (such as e.g. glycerol, ethylene glycol or propylene glycol), a salt (such as e.g. sodium chloride, sodium benzoate, potassium sorbate) or a sugar or sugar derivative (such as e.g. dextrin, glucose, sucrose, and sorbitol). Thus the composition of the present invention may a liquid composition comprising the microbial muramidase of the present invention and one or more formulating agents selected from the list consisting of glycerol, ethylene glycol, 1 ,2-propylene glycol, 1 ,3-propylene glycol, sodium chloride, sodium benzoate, potassium sorbate, dextrin, glucose, sucrose, and sorbitol. The liquid formulation may be sprayed onto the feed after it has been pelleted or may be added to drinking water given to the animals. For a solid formulation, the composition of the present invention may be for example as a granule, spray dried powder or agglomerate. The formulating agent may comprise a salt (organic or inorganic zinc, sodium, potassium or calcium salts such as e.g. such as calcium acetate, calcium benzoate, calcium carbonate, calcium chloride, calcium citrate, calcium sorbate, calcium sulfate, potassium acetate, potassium benzoate, potassium carbonate, potassium chloride, potassium citrate, potassium sorbate, potassium sulfate, sodium acetate, sodium benzoate, sodium carbonate, sodium chloride, sodium citrate, sodium sulfate, zinc acetate, zinc benzoate, zinc carbonate, zinc chloride, zinc citrate, zinc sorbate, zinc sulfate), starch or a sugar or sugar derivative (such as e.g. sucrose, dextrin, glucose, lactose, sorbitol).

For example, the solid composition is in granulated form. The granule may have a matrix structure where the components are mixed homogeneously. However, the granule typically comprises a core particle and one or more coatings, which typically are salt and/or wax coatings. Examples of waxes are polyethylene glycols; polypropylenes; Carnauba wax; Candelilla wax; bees wax; hydrogenated plant oil or animal tallow such as hydrogenated ox tallow, hydrogenated palm oil, hydrogenated cotton seeds and/or hydrogenated soy bean oil; fatty acid alcohols; mono-glycerides and/or di-glycerides, such as glyceryl stearate, wherein stearate is a mixture of stearic and palmitic acid; micro-crystalline wax; paraffin’s; and fatty acids, such as hydrogenated linear long chained fatty acids and derivatives thereof. A preferred wax is palm oil or hydrogenated palm oil. The core particle can either be a homogeneous blend of muramidase of the invention optionally combined with one or more additional enzymes and optionally together with one or more salts or an inert particle with the muramidase of the invention optionally combined with one or more additional enzymes applied onto it.

In the above granule, the material of the core particles may be selected from the group consisting of inorganic salts (such as calcium acetate, calcium benzoate, calcium carbonate, calcium chloride, calcium citrate, calcium sorbate, calcium sulfate, potassium acetate, potassium benzoate, potassium carbonate, potassium chloride, potassium citrate, potassium sorbate, potassium sulfate, sodium acetate, sodium benzoate, sodium carbonate, sodium chloride, sodium citrate, sodium sulfate, zinc acetate, zinc benzoate, zinc carbonate, zinc chloride, zinc citrate, zinc sorbate, zinc sulfate), starch or a sugar or sugar derivative (such as e.g. sucrose, dextrin, glucose, lactose, sorbitol), sugar or sugar derivative (such as e.g. sucrose, dextrin, glucose, lactose, sorbitol), small organic molecules, starch, flour, cellulose and minerals and clay minerals (also known as hydrous aluminium phyllosilicates). Preferably, the core comprises a clay mineral such as kaolinite or kaolin. The salt coating is typically at least 1 pm thick and can either be one particular salt or a mixture of salts, such as Na₂S0₄, K2SO4, MgS0₄ and/or sodium citrate. Other examples are those described in e.g. WO 2008/017659, WO 2006/034710, WO 1997/05245, WO 1998/54980, WO 1998/55599, WO 2000/70034 or polymer coating such as described in WO 2001/00042.

Preferably, the composition of the present invention is a solid composition comprising the muramidase of the invention and one or more formulating agents selected from the list consisting of sodium chloride, sodium benzoate, potassium sorbate, sodium sulfate, potassium sulfate, magnesium sulfate, sodium thiosulfate, calcium carbonate, sodium citrate, dextrin, glucose, sucrose, sorbitol, lactose, starch and cellulose. More preferably, the formulating agent is selected from one or more of the following compounds: sodium sulfate, dextrin, cellulose, sodium thiosulfate and calcium carbonate. Further preferably, the solid composition is in granulated form. More further preferably, the solid composition is in granulated form and comprises a core particle, an enzyme layer comprising the muramidase of the invention and a salt coating.

Preferably, the formulating agent is selected from one or more of the following compounds: glycerol, ethylene glycol, 1 , 2-propylene glycol or 1 , 3-propylene glycol, sodium chloride, sodium benzoate, potassium sorbate, sodium sulfate, potassium sulfate, magnesium sulfate, sodium thiosulfate, calcium carbonate, sodium citrate, dextrin, glucose, sucrose, sorbitol, lactose, starch, kaolin and cellulose. More preferably, the formulating agent is selected from one or more of the following compounds: 1 , 2-propylene glycol, 1 , 3-propylene glycol, sodium sulfate, dextrin, cellulose, sodium thiosulfate, kaolin and calcium carbonate.

Animal Feed and Animal Feed Additives

The microbial muramidase of the present invention may also be formulated as animal feed or animal feed additive for improving immunity and/or anti-inflammatory ability of an animal, which is also the present invention intents to cover.

Animal feed compositions or diets have a relatively high content of protein. Poultry and pig diets can be characterised as indicated in Table B of WO 2001/058275, columns 2-3. Fish diets can be characterised as indicated in column 4 of this Table B. Furthermore such fish diets usually have a crude fat content of 200-310 g/kg.

An animal feed composition according to the present invention may have a crude protein content of between 50 and 800 g/kg, and furthermore comprises one or more microbial muramidases as described herein. Furthermore, or in the alternative (to the crude protein content indicated above), the animal feed composition of the present invention may have a content of metabolisable energy of 10-30 MJ/kg; and/or a content of calcium of 0.1 -200 g/kg; and/or a content of available phosphorus of 0.1 - 200 g/kg; and/or a content of methionine of 0.1-100 g/kg; and/or a content of methionine plus cysteine of 0.1-150 g/kg; and/or a content of lysine of 0.5-50 g/kg.

Particularly, the content of metabolisable energy, crude protein, calcium, phosphorus, methionine, methionine plus cysteine, and/or lysine may be within any one of ranges 2, 3, 4 or 5 in Table B of WO 2001/058275 (R. 2-5).

The nitrogen content is determined by the Kjeldahl method (A.O.A.C., 1984, Official Methods of Analysis 14th ed., Association of Official Analytical Chemists, Washington DC) and crude protein is calculated as nitrogen (N) multiplied by a factor 6.25 (i.e. Crude protein (g/kg)= N (g/kg) x 6.25).

Metabolisable energy can be calculated on the basis of the NRC publication Nutrient requirements in swine, ninth revised edition 1988, subcommittee on swine nutrition, committee on animal nutrition, board of agriculture, national research council. National Academy Press, Washington, D.C., pp. 2-6, and the European Table of Energy Values for Poultry Feed-stuffs, Spelderholt centre for poultry research and extension, 7361 DA Beekbergen, The Netherlands. Grafisch bedrijf Ponsen & looijen bv, Wageningen. ISBN 90-71463-12-5.

The dietary content of calcium, available phosphorus and amino acids in complete animal diets is calculated on the basis of feed tables such as Veevoedertabel 1997, gegevens over chemische samenstelling, verteerbaarheid en voederwaarde van voedermiddelen, Central Veevoederbureau, Runderweg 6, 8219 pk Lelystad. ISBN 90-72839-13-7.

The animal feed composition of the present invention may contain at least one vegetable protein as defined above.

The animal feed composition of the present invention may also contain animal protein, such as Meat and Bone Meal, Feather meal, and/or Fish Meal, typically in an amount of 0-25%. The animal feed composition of the present invention may also comprise Dried Distillers Grains with Solubles (DDGS), typically in amounts of 0-30%.

Preferaly, the animal feed composition of the present invention contains 0-80% maize; and/or 0-80% sorghum; and/or 0-70% wheat; and/or 0-70% Barley; and/or 0-30% oats; and/or 0-40% soybean meal; and/or 0-25% fish meal; and/or 0-25% meat and bone meal; and/or 0-20% whey.

Preferably, the animal feed of the present invention comprises vegetable proteins. The protein content of the vegetable proteins is at least 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, or 90% (w/w). In the present invention, the vegetable proteins may be derived from vegetable protein sources, such as legumes and cereals, for example, materials from plants of the families Fabaceae ( Leguminosae ), Cruciferaceae, Chenopodiaceae, and Poaceae, such as soy bean meal, lupin meal, rapeseed meal, and combinations thereof.

The vegetable protein source may be material from one or more plants of the family Fabaceae, e.g., soybean, lupine, pea, or bean. The vegetable protein source may also be material from one or more plants of the family Chenopodiaceae, e.g. beet, sugar beet, spinach or quinoa. Other examples of vegetable protein sources are rapeseed, and cabbage. Soybean is a preferred vegetable protein source. Other examples of vegetable protein sources are cereals such as barley, wheat, rye, oat, maize (corn), rice, and sorghum.

Animal diets can e.g. be manufactured as mash feed (non-pelleted) or pelleted feed. Typically, the milled feed-stuffs are mixed and sufficient amounts of essential vitamins and minerals are added according to the specifications for the species in question. Enzymes can be added as solid or liquid enzyme formulations. For example, for mash feed a solid or liquid enzyme formulation may be added before or during the ingredient mixing step. For pelleted feed the (liquid or solid) muramidase/enzyme preparation may also be added before or during the feed ingredient step. Typically a liquid enzyme preparation comprises the microbial muramidase of the present invention optionally with a polyol, such as glycerol, ethylene glycol or propylene glycol, and is added after the pelleting step, such as by spraying the liquid formulation onto the pellets. The muramidase may also be incorporated in a feed additive or premix.

Alternatively, the microbial muramidase of the present invention may be prepared by freezing a mixture of liquid enzyme solution with a bulking agent such as ground soybean meal, and then lyophilizing the mixture.

In the present invention, the animal feed composition may further comprise one or more additional enzymes, microbes, vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and/or other feed ingredients.

Preferably, the composition comprises one or more of the microbial muramidases of the present invention, one or more formulating agents and one or more components selected from the list consisting of: one or more additional enzymes; one or more microbes; one or more vitamins; one or more minerals; one or more amino acids; and one or more other feed ingredients.

The final muramidase concentration in the animal feed compositon of the present invention may be within the range of 0.01-200 mg enzyme protein per kg animal feed, such as 0.1 to 150 mg, 0.5 to 100 mg, 1 to 75 mg, 2 to 50 mg, 3 to 25 mg, 2 to 80 mg, 5 to 60 mg, 8 to 40 mg or 10 to 30 mg enzyme protein per kg animal feed, or any combination of these intervals. It is at present contemplated that the microbial muramidase is administered in one or more of the following amounts (dosage ranges): 0.01-200; 0.01-100; 0.5-100; 1-50; 5-100; 5-50; 10-100; 0.05-50; 5-25; or 0.10-10 - all these ranges being in mg muramidase per kg feed (ppm).

For determining mg muramidase protein per kg feed, the muramidase is purified from the feed composition, and the specific activity of the purified muramidase is determined using a relevant assay (see under muramidase activity). The muramidase activity of the feed composition as such is also determined using the same assay, and on the basis of these two determinations, the dosage in mg muramidase protein per kg feed is calculated.

The animal feed additive of the present invention is intended for being included (or prescribed as having to be included) in animal diets or feed at levels of 0.01 to 10.0%; more particularly 0.05 to 5.0%; or 0.2 to 1.0% (% meaning g additive per 100 g feed). This is so in particular for premixes.

The same principles apply for determining mg muramidase protein in feed additives. Of course, if a sample is available of the muramidase used for preparing the feed additive or the feed, the specific activity is determined from this sample (no need to purify the muramidase from the feed composition or the additive).

Additional Enzymes

In the present invention, the compositions or animal feed or animal feed additive described herein optionally include one or more enzymes. Enzymes can be classified on the basis of the handbook Enzyme Nomenclature from NC-IUBMB, 1992), see also the ENZYME site at the internet: http://www.expasy.ch/enzyme/. ENZYME is a repository of information relative to the nomenclature of enzymes. It is primarily based on the recommendations of the Nomenclature Committee of the International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (IUB-MB), Academic Press, Inc., 1992, and it describes each type of characterized enzyme for which an EC (Enzyme Commission) number has been provided (Bairoch A. The ENZYME database, 2000, Nucleic Acids Res 28:304-305). This IUB-MB Enzyme nomenclature is based on their substrate specificity and occasionally on their molecular mechanism; such a classification does not reflect the structural features of these enzymes.

Another classification of certain glycoside hydrolase enzymes, such as endoglucanase, xylanase, galactanase, mannanase, dextranase, muramidase and galactosidase is described in Henrissat et al,“The carbohydrate-active enzymes database (CAZy) in 2013”, Nucl. Acids Res. (1 January 2014) 42 (D1 ): D490-D495; see also www.cazy.org.

Thus the composition or animal feed or animal feed additive of the present invention may also comprise at least one other enzyme selected from the group consisting of phytase (EC 3.1.3.8 or 3.1.3.26), xylanase (EC 3.2.1.8); galactanase (EC 3.2.1.89); alpha-galactosidase (EC 3.2.1.22); protease (EC 3.4); phospholipase A1 (EC 3.1.1.32); phospholipase A2 (EC 3.1.1.4); lysophospholipase (EC 3.1.1.5); phospholipase C (3.1.4.3); phospholipase D (EC 3.1.4.4); amylase such as, for example, alpha-amylase (EC 3.2.1.1 ); arabinofuranosidase (EC 3.2.1.55); beta- xylosidase (EC 3.2.1.37); acetyl xylan esterase (EC 3.1.1.72); feruloyl esterase (EC 3.1.1.73); cellulase (EC 3.2.1.4); cellobiohydrolases (EC 3.2.1.91 ); beta-glucosidase (EC 3.2.1.21 ); pullulanase (EC 3.2.1.41 ), alpha-mannosidase (EC 3.2.1.24), mannanase (EC 3.2.1 .25) and beta-glucanase (EC 3.2.1.4 or EC 3.2.1.6), or any combination thereof.

Examples of commercially available phytases include Bio-Feed™ Phytase (Novozymes), Ronozyme® P, Ronozyme® NP and Ronozyme® HiPhos (DSM Nutritional Products), Natuphos™ (BASF), Finase® and Quantum® Blue (AB Enzymes), OptiPhos® (Fluvepharma) Phyzyme® XP (Verenium/DuPont) and Axtra® PFIY (DuPont). Other preferred phytases include those described in e.g. WO 98/28408, WO 00/43503, and WO 03/066847.

Examples of commercially available xylanases include Ronozyme® WX and Ronozyme® G2 (DSM Nutritional Products), Econase® XT and Barley (AB Vista), Xylathin® (Verenium), Hostazym® X (Fluvepharma) and Axtra® XB (Xylanase/beta-glucanase, DuPont).

Examples of commercially available proteases include Ronozyme® ProAct (DSM Nutritional Products).

Microbes

In the present invention, the composition or animal feed or animal feed additive may further comprise one or more additional microbes. For example, the composition or animal feed further comprises a bacterium from one or more of the following genera: Lactobacillus, Lactococcus, Streptococcus, Bacillus, Pediococcus, Enterococcus, Leuconostoc, Carnobacterium, Propionibacterium, Bifidobacterium, Clostridium and Megasphaera or any combination thereof.

Preferably, the composition or animal feed or animal feed additive of the present invention further comprises a bacterium from one or more of the following strains: Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, Bacillus cereus, Bacillus pumilus, Bacillus polymyxa, Bacillus megaterium, Bacillus coagulans, Bacillus circulans, Enterococcus faecium, Enterococcus spp, and Pediococcus spp, Lactobacillus spp, Bifidobacterium spp, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Pediococsus acidilactici, Lactococcus lactis, Bifidobacterium bifidum, Propionibacterium thoenii, Lactobacillus farciminus, lactobacillus rhamnosus, Clostridium butyricum, Bifidobacterium animalis ssp. animalis, Lactobacillus reuteri, Lactobacillus salivarius ssp. salivarius, Megasphaera elsdenii, Propionibacteria sp.

More preferably, the composition or animal feed or animal feed additive of the present invention further comprises a bacterium from one or more of the following strains of Bacillus subtilis: 3A-P4 (PTA-6506), 15A-P4 (PTA-6507), 22C-P1 (PTA-6508), 2084 (NRRL B-500130), LSSA01 (NRRL-B-50104), BS27 (NRRL B-501 05), BS 18 (NRRL B-50633), BS 278 (NRRL B-50634), DSM 29870, DSM 29871 , NRRL B-50136, NRRL B-50605, NRRL B-50606, NRRL B-50622 and PTA- 7547.

More preferably, the composition, animal feed or animal feed additive of the present invention further comprises a bacterium from one or more of the following strains of Bacillus pumilus: NRRL B- 50016, ATCC 700385, NRRL B-50885 or NRRL B-50886.

More preferably, composition, animal feed additive or animal feed further comprises a bacterium from one or more of the following strains of Bacillus lichenformis: NRRL B 50015, NRRL B-50621 or NRRL B-50623.

More preferably, the composition, animal feed or animal feed additive of the present invention further comprises a bacterium from one or more of the following strains of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens: DSM 29869, DSM 29872, NRRL B 50607, PTA-7543, PTA-7549, NRRL B-50349, NRRL B-50606, NRRL B-50013, NRRL B-50151 , NRRL B-50141 , NRRL B-50147 or NRRL B-50888.

The bacterial count of each of the bacterial strains in the composition, animal feed or animal feed additive of the present invention is between 1x10⁴ and 1x10¹⁴ CFU/kg of dry matter, preferably between 1x10⁶ and 1x10¹² CFU/kg of dry matter, more preferably between 1x10⁷ and 1x10¹¹, and the most preferably between 1x10⁸ and 1x10¹° CFU/kg of dry matter.

The bacterial count of each of the bacterial strains in the composition, animal feed or animal feed additive of the present invention is between 1x10⁵ and 1x10¹⁵ CFU/animal/day, preferably between 1x10⁷ and 1 x10¹³ CFU/animal/day, and more preferably between 1x10⁸ and 1x10¹² CFU/animal/day, and the most preferably between 1x10⁹ and 1x10¹¹ CFU/animal/day.

In the present invention, the one or more bacterial strains may be present in the form of a stable spore.

Premix

In the present invention, the composition, animal feed or animal feed additive may include a premix, comprising e.g. vitamins, minerals, enzymes, amino acids, preservatives, antibiotics, other feed ingredients or any combination thereof which are mixed into the animal feed. Amino Acids

the composition, animal feed or animal feed additive of the present invention may further comprise one or more amino acids. Examples of the amino acids include but are not limited to lysine, alanine, beta-alanine, threonine, methionine and tryptophan.

Vitamins and Minerals

In the present invention, the composition, animal feed or animal feed additive may include one or more vitamins, such as one or more fat-soluble vitamins and/or one or more water-soluble vitamins. Optionally, the composition, animal feed or animal feed additive of the present invention may include one or more minerals, such as one or more trace minerals and/or one or more macro minerals.

Usually fat- and water-soluble vitamins, as well as trace minerals form part of a so-called premix intended for addition to the feed, whereas macro minerals are usually separately added to the feed.

Non-limiting examples of fat-soluble vitamins include vitamin A, vitamin D3, vitamin E, and vitamin K, e.g., vitamin K3.

Non-limiting examples of water-soluble vitamins include vitamin B12, biotin and choline, vitamin B1 , vitamin B2, vitamin B6, niacin, folic acid and panthothenate, e.g., Ca-D-panthothenate.

Non-limiting examples of trace minerals include boron, cobalt, chloride, chromium, copper, fluoride, iodine, iron, manganese, molybdenum, selenium and zinc.

Non-limiting examples of macro minerals include calcium, magnesium, potassium and sodium.

The nutritional requirements of these components (exemplified with poultry and piglets/pigs) are listed in Table A of WO 2001/058275. Nutritional requirement means that these components should be provided in the diet in the concentrations indicated.

In the alternative, the composition, animal feed or animal feed additive of the present invention comprises at least one of the individual components specified in Table A of WO 01/58275. At least one means either of, one or more of, one, or two, or three, or four and so forth up to all thirteen, or up to all fifteen individual components. More specifically, this at least one individual component is included in the composition, animal feed or animal feed additive of the present invention in such an amount as to provide an in-feed-concentration within the range indicated in column four, or column five, or column six of Table A. Preferably, the animal feed additive of the invention comprises at least one of the below vitamins, to provide an in-feed-concentration within the ranges specified in the below Table 1 (for piglet and broiler diets, respectively).

Table 1 : Typical vitamin recommendations

Other feed ingredients

the composition, animal feed or animal feed additive of the present invention may further comprise colouring agents, stabilisers, growth improving additives and aroma compounds/flavourings, polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs); reactive oxygen generating species, anti-microbial peptides and anti-fungal polypeptides.

Examples of the colouring agents are carotenoids such as beta-carotene, astaxanthin, and lutein. Examples of the stabilizing agents (e.g. acidifiers) are organic acids. Examples of these are benzoic acid (VevoVitall®, DSM Nutritional Products), formic acid, butyric acid, fumaric acid and propionic acid.

Examples of the aroma compounds/flavourings are creosol, anethol, deca-, undeca-and/or dodeca-lactones, ionones, irone, gingerol, piperidine, propylidene phatalide, butylidene phatalide, capsaicin and tannin.

Examples of the polyunsaturated fatty acids are C18, C20 and C22 polyunsaturated fatty acids, such as arachidonic acid, docosohexaenoic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid and gamma-linoleic acid.

Examples of the reactive oxygen generating species are chemicals such as perborate, persulphate, or percarbonate; and enzymes such as an oxidase, an oxygenase or a syntethase.

Examples of the antimicrobial peptides (AMP’s) are CAP18, Leucocin A, Tritrpticin, Protegrin- 1 , Thanatin, Defensin, Lactoferrin, Lactoferricin, and Ovispirin such as Novispirin (Robert Lehrer, 2000), Plectasins, and Statins, including the compounds and polypeptides disclosed in WO 03/044049 and WO 03/048148, as well as variants or fragments of the above that retain antimicrobial activity.

Examples of the antifungal polypeptides (AFP’s) are the Aspergillus giganteus, and Aspergillus niger peptides, as well as variants and fragments thereof which retain antifungal activity, as disclosed in WO 94/01459 and WO 02/090384.

Use of microbial lyzozyme

In another aspect, the invention relates to the use of a composition, an animal feed or an animal feed additive for improving immunity and/or anti-inflammatory ability of a monogastric animal wherein the composition, the animal feed or the animal feed additive comprises one or more microbial muramidases.

In the present invention, the microbial muramidase may be dosed at a level of 100 to 1000 mg enzyme protein per kg animal feed, such as 200 to 900 mg, 300 to 800 mg, 400 to 700 mg, 500 to 600 mg enzyme protein per kg animal feed, or any combination of these intervals.

In the present invention, the microbial muramidase may be fed to the animal from birth until slaughter. Preferably, the the microbial muramidase is fed to the animal on a daily basis from birth until slaughter. More Preferably, the microbial muramidase is fed to the animal on a daily basis for at least 10 days, such as at least 15 days or at least 20 days (where the days can be continuous or non-continuous) during the life span of the animal. In one embodiment, the microbial muramidase is fed to the animal for 10-20 days followed by a non-treatment period of 5-10 days, and this cycle is repeated during the life span of the animal.

EXAMPLES

Strains

Trichophaea saccata CBS804.70 was purchased from the Centraalbureau voor Schimmelcultures (Utrecht, the Netherlands). According to Central Bureau vor Schnimmelkulture, Trichophaea saccata CBS804.70 was isolated from coal spoil tip soil from Staffordshire, England in May 1968.

According to Central Bureau vor Schnimmelkulture, Acremonium alcalophilum CBS 1 14.92 was isolated by A. Yoneda in 1984 from the sludge of pig faeces compost near Tsukui Lake, Japan.

Media and Solutions

YP + 2% glucose medium was composed of 1 % yeast extract, 2% peptone and 2% glucose.

YP + 2% maltodextrin medium was composed of 1 % yeast extract, 2% peptone and 2% maltodextrin.

PDA agar plates were composed of potato infusion (potato infusion was made by boiling 300 g of sliced (washed but unpeeled) potatoes in water for 30 minutes and then decanting or straining the broth through cheesecloth). Distilled water was then added until the total volume of the suspension was one liter, followed by 20 g of dextrose and 20 g of agar powder. The medium was sterilized by autoclaving at 15 psi for 15 minutes (Bacteriological Analytical Manual, 8th Edition, Revision A, 1998). LB plates were composed of 10 g of Bacto-Tryptone, 5 g of yeast extract, 10 g of sodium chloride, 15 g of Bacto-agar, and deionized water to 1 liter.

LB medium was composed of 10 g of Bacto-Tryptone, 5 g of yeast extract, 10 g of sodium chloride, and deionized water to 1 liter.

COVE sucrose plates were composed of 342 g of sucrose, 20 g of agar powder, 20 ml of COVE salts solution, and deionized water to 1 liter. The medium was sterilized by autoclaving at 15 psi for 15 minutes (Bacteriological Analytical Manual, 8th Edition, Revision A, 1998). The medium was cooled to 60°C and 10 mM acetamide, 15 mM CsCI, TRITON® X-100 (50 pl/500 ml) were added.

COVE salts solution was composed of 26 g of MgS04_*7H20, 26 g of KCL, 26 g of KH2P04, 50 ml of COVE trace metals solution, and deionized water to 1 liter.

COVE trace metals solution was composed of 0.04 g of Na2B4O7_*10H2O, 0.4 g of CuS04*5H20, 1.2 g of FeS04*7H20, 0.7 g of MnS04*H20, 0.8 g of Na2Mo04*2H20, 10 g of ZnS04_*7H20, and deionized water to 1 liter.

Example 1 : Cloning, Expression and Purification of the GH25 muramidase from Acremonium alcalophilum CBS 114.92

The GH25 muramidase from Acremonium alcalophilum CBS 1 14.92 (SEQ ID NO: 1 ) was cloned and expressed as described in example 8 and purified as described in example 5 of WO 2013/076253. Alternatively, SEQ ID NO: 10 can be cloned and expressed as described in example 2 of WO 2013/076253.

Example 2: Expression of the GH24 muramidase from Trichophaea saccata

The fungal strain was cultivated in 100 ml of YP + 2% glucose medium in 1000 ml Erlenmeyer shake flasks for 5 days at 20°C. Mycelia were harvested from the flasks by filtration of the medium through a Buchner vacuum funnel lined with MIRACLOTH® (EMD Millipore, Billerica, MA, USA). Mycelia were frozen in liquid nitrogen and stored at -80°C until further use. Genomic DNA was isolated using a DNEASY® Plant Maxi Kit (QIAGEN GMBH, Hilden Germany) according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Genomic sequence information was generated by lllumina MySeq (lllumina Inc., San Diego, CA). 5 pgs of the isolated Trichophaea saccata genomic DNA was used for library preparation and analysis according to the manufacturer’s instructions. A 100 bp, paired end strategy was employed with a library insert size of 200-500 bp. One half of a HiSeq run was used for the total of 95,744,298, 100 bp raw reads obtained. The reads were subsequently fractionated to 25% followed by trimming (extracting longest sub-sequences having Phred-scores of 10 or more). These reads were assembled using Idba version 0.19. Contigs shorter than 400 bp were discarded, resulting in 8,954,791 ,030 bp with an N-50 of 10,035. Genes were called using GeneMark.hmm ES version 2.3c and identification of the catalytic domain was made using "Phage muramidase PF00959" Hidden Markov Model provided by Pfam. The polypeptide coding sequence for the entire coding region was cloned from Trichophaea saccata CBS804.70 genomic DNA by PCR using the primers F-80470 and R-80470 (SEQ ID NO: 6 and SEQ ID NO: 7 respectively) as described below.

5’- ACACAACTGGGGATCCACCATGCACGCTCTCACCCTTCT -3’ (SEQ ID NO: 6)

5’- CTAGATCTCGAGAAGCTTTTAGCACTTGGGAGGGTGGG -3’ (SEQ ID NO: 7)

Bold letters represent Trichophaea saccata enzyme coding sequence. Restriction sites are underlined. The sequence to the left of the restriction sites is homologous to the insertion sites of pDau109 (WO 2005/042735).

Extensor HIFI PCR mix, 2x concentration (Thermo Scientific cat no AB-0795) was used for experiment.

The amplification reaction (25 pi) was performed according to the manufacturer’s instructions (Thermo Scientific cat no AB-0795) with the following final concentrations:

PCR mix:

0.5 pM Primer F-80470

0.5 pM Primer R-80470

12.5 pi Extensor HIFI PCR mix, 2x cone.

1 1 .0 pi H20

10 ng of Trichophaea saccata CBS804.70 genomic DNA.

The PCR reaction was incubated in a DYAD® Dual-Block Thermal Cycler (BioRad, USA) programmed for 1 cycle at 94°C for 30 seconds; 30 cycles each at 94°C for 30 seconds, 52°C for 30 seconds and 68°C for 60 seconds followed by 1 cycle at 68°C for 6 minutes. Samples were cooled to 10°C before removal and further processing.

Three pi of the PCR reaction were analyzed by 1 % agarose gel electrophoresis using 40 mM Tris base, 20 mM sodium acetate, 1 mM disodium EDTA (TAE) buffer. A major band of about 946 bp was observed. The remaining PCR reaction was purified directly with an ILLUSTRA™ GFX™ PCR DNA and Gel Band Purification Kit (GE Healthcare, Piscataway, NJ, USA) according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Two pg of plasmid pDau109 was digested with Bam HI and Hind III and the digested plasmid was run on a 1 % agarose gel using 50 mM Tris base-50 mM boric acid-1 mM disodium EDTA (TBE) buffer in order to remove the stuffer fragment from the restricted plasmid. The bands were visualized by the addition of SYBR® Safe DNA gel stain (Life Technologies Corporation, Grand Island, NY, USA) and use of a 470 nm wavelength transilluminator. The band corresponding to the restricted plasmid was excised and purified using an ILLUSTRA™ GFX™ PCR DNA and Gel Band Purification Kit. The plasmid was eluted into 10 mM Tris pH 8.0 and its concentration adjusted to 20 ng per pi. An IN-FUSION® PCR Cloning Kit (Clontech Laboratories, Inc., Mountain View, CA, USA) was used to clone the 983 bp PCR fragment into pDau109 digested with Bam HI and Hind III (20 ng). The IN- FUSION® total reaction volume was 10 pi. The IN-FUSION® total reaction volume was 10 pi. The IN-FUSION® reaction was transformed into FUSION-BLUE™ E. coli cells (Clontech Laboratories, Inc., Mountain View, CA, USA) according to the manufacturer’s protocol and plated onto LB agar plates supplemented with 50 pg of ampicillin per ml. After incubation overnight at 37°C, transformant colonies were observed growing under selection on the LB plates supplemented with 50 pg of ampicillin per ml.

Several colonies were selected for analysis by colony PCR using the pDau109 vector primers described below. Four colonies were transferred from the LB plates supplemented with 50 pg of ampicillin per ml with a yellow inoculation pin (Nunc A/S, Denmark) to new LB plates supplemented with 50 pg of ampicillin per ml and incubated overnight at 37°C.

Primer 8653: 5’-GCAAGGGATGCCATGCTTGG-3’ (SEQ ID NO: 8)

Primer 8654: 5’-CATATAACCAATTGCCCTC-3’ (SEQ ID NO: 9)

Each of the three colonies were transferred directly into 200 pi PCR tubes composed of 5 pi of 2X Extensor HIFI PCR mix, (Thermo Fisher Scientific, Rockford, IL, USA), 0.5 pi of primer 8653 (10 pm/pl), 0.5 pi of primer 8654 (10 pm/pl), and 4 pi of deionized water. Each colony PCR was incubated in a DYAD® Dual-Block Thermal Cycler programmed for 1 cycle at 94°C for 60 seconds; 30 cycles each at 95°C for 30 seconds, 60°C for 45 seconds, 72°C for 60 seconds, 68°C for 10 minutes, and 10°C for 10 minutes.

Three pi of each completed PCR reaction were submitted to 1 % agarose gel electrophoresis using TAE buffer. All four E. coli transformants showed a PCR band of about 980 bp. Plasmid DNA was isolated from each of the four colonies using a QIAprep Spin Miniprep Kit (QIAGEN GMBH, Hilden Germany). The resulting plasmid DNA was sequenced with primers 8653 and 8654 (SEQ ID NO: 8 and 9) using an Applied Biosystems Model 3730 Automated DNA Sequencer using version 3.1 BIG-DYE™ terminator chemistry (Applied Biosystems, Inc., Foster City, CA, USA). One plasmid, designated pKKSC0312-2, was chosen for transforming Aspergillus oryzae MT3568. A. oryzae MT3568 is an amdS (acetamidase) disrupted gene derivative of Aspergillus oryzae Jal_355 (WO 2002/40694) in which pyrG auxotrophy was restored by inactivating the A. oryzae amdS gene. Protoplasts of A. oryzae MT3568 were prepared according to the method described in European Patent, EP0238023, pages 14-15.

E. coli 3701 containing pKKSC0312-2 was grown overnight according to the manufacturer’s instructions (Genomed) and plasmid DNA of pKKSC0312-2 was isolated using a Plasmid Midi Kit (Genomed JETquick kit, cat. nr. 400250, GENOMED GmbH, Germany) according to the manufacturer’s instructions. The purified plasmid DNA was transformed into Aspergillus oryzae MT3568. A. oryzae MT3568 protoplasts were prepared according to the method of Christensen et al., 1988, Bio/Technology 6: 1419-1422. The selection plates consisted of COVE sucrose with +10 mM acetamide +15 mM CsCI + TRITON® X-100 (50 pl/500 ml). The plates were incubated at 37°C. Briefly, 8 pi of plasmid DNA representing 3ugs of DNA was added to 100 pi MT3568 protoplasts. 250 pi of 60% PEG solution was added and the tubes were gently mixed and incubate at 37° for 30 minutes. The mix was added to 10 ml of pre melted Cove top agarose (The top agarose melted and then the temperature equilibrated to 40 C in a warm water bath before being added to the protoplast mixture). The combined mixture was then plated on two Cove-sucrose selection petri plates with 10mM Acetamide. The plates were incubated at 37°C for 4 days. Single Aspergillus transformed colonies were identified by growth on plates using the selection Acetimide as a carbon source. Each of the four A. oryzae transformants were inoculated into 750 pi of YP medium supplemented with 2% glucose and also 750 pi of 2% maltodextrin and also DAP4C in 96 well deep plates and incubated at 37°C stationary for 4 days. At the same time the four transformants were restreaked on COVE-2 sucrose agar medium.

Culture broth from the Aspergillus oryzae transformants were then analyzed for production of the GH24 polypeptide by SDS-PAGE using NUPAGE® 10% Bis-Tris SDS gels (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, CA, USA) according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. A protein band at approximately 27 kDa was observed for each of the Aspergillus oryzae transformants. One A. oryzae transformant was cultivated in 1000 ml Erlenmeyer shake flasks containing 100 ml of DAP4C medium at 26°C for 4 days with agitation at 85 rpm. Example 3: Purification of the GH24 muramidase from Trichophaea saccata

The fermentation supernatant with the GH24 muramidase from example 2 was filtered through a Fast PES Bottle top filter with a 0.22 pm cut-off. The resulting solution was diafiltrated with 5 mM Na-acetate, pH 4.5 and concentrated (volume reduced by a factor of 10) on an Ultra Filtration Unit (Sartorius) with a 10 kDa cut-off membrane.

After pretreatment about 275 mL of the muramidase containing solution was purified by chromatography on SP Sepharose (approximately 60 mL) in a XK26 column eluting the bound muramidase with 0 to 100% gradient of buffer A (50 mM Na-acetate pH 4.5) and buffer B (50 mM Na-acetate + 1 M NaCI pH 4.5) over 10 column volumes. The fractions from the column were pooled based on the chromatogram (absorption at 280 and 254 nm) and SDS-PAGE analysis.

The molecular weight, as estimated from SDS-PAGE, was approximately 27 kDa and the purity was > 90%.

Example 4: Other characteristics for the GH24 muramidase from Trichophaea saccata

Determination of the N-terminal sequence was: YPVKTDL.

The calculated molecular weight from this mature sequence is 26205.5Da (M+H)⁺.

The molecular weight determined by intact molecular weight analysis was 26205.3 Da. (M+H)⁺.

The mature sequence (from EDMAN N-terminal sequencing data, intact molecular weight analysis and proteomic analysis):

YPVKTDLHCRSSPSTSASIVRTYSSGTEVQIQCQTTGTSVQGSNVWDKTQHGCYVADYYVKTGHS GIFTTKCGSSSGGGSCKPPPINAATVALIKEFEGFVPKPAPDPIGLPTVGYGHLCKTKGCKEVPYSF PLTQETATKLLQSDIKTFTSCVSNYVKDSVKLNDNQYGALASWAFNVGCGNVQTSSLIKRLNAGEN PNTVAAQELPKWKYAGGKVMPGLVRRRNAEVALFKKPSSVQAHPPKC (SEQ ID NO: 4).

Example 5: Determination of Muramidase Activity

Muramidase activity was determined by measuring the decrease (drop) in absorbance/optical density of a solution of resuspended Micrococcus lysodeikticus ATTC No. 4698 (Sigma-Aldrich M3770) or Exiguobacterium undea (DSM14481 ) measured in a spectrophotometer at 540 nm.

Preparation of Micrococcus lysodeikticus substrate

Before use the cells were resuspended in citric acid - phosphate buffer pH 6.5 to a concentration of 0.5 mg cells/mL and the optical density (OD) at 540 nm was measured. The cell suspension was then adjusted so that the cell concentration equalled an OD540 = 1.0. The adjusted cell suspension was then stored cold before use. Resuspended cells were used within 4 hours. Preparation of dried cells of Exiguobacterium undae substrate

A culture of E. undae (DSM14481 ) was grown in 100 mL LB medium (Fluka 51208, 25 g/L) in a 500 mL shake-flask at 30°C, 250 rpm overnight. The overnight culture was then centrifuged at 20°C and 5000g for 10 minutes, and the pellet was then washed twice with sterile milliQ water, and resuspended in Milli-Q water. The washed cells were centrifuged for 1 minute at 13000 rpm and as much as possible of the supernatant was decanted. The washed cells were dried in a vacuum centrifuge for 1 hour. The cell pellet was resuspended in citric acid - phosphate buffer pH 4, 5 or 6 so that the optical density (OD) at 540nm = 1.

Measurement of muramidase antimicrobial activity in the turbidity assay

The muramidase sample to be measured was diluted to a concentration of 100-200 mg enzyme protein/L in citric acid - phosphate buffer pH 4, 5 or 6, and kept on ice until use. In a 96 well microtiterplate (Nunc) 200pL of the substrate was added to each well, and the plate was incubated at 37°C for 5 minutes in a VERSAmax microplate reader (Molecular Devices). Following incubation, the absorbance of each well was measured at 540 nm (start value). T o start the activity measurement, 20 pL of the diluted muramidase sample was added to each substrate (200 pL) and kinetic measurement of absorbance at 540 nm was initiated for minimum 30 minutes up to 24 hours at 37°C. The measured absorbance at 540 nm was monitored for each well and over time a drop in absorbance is seen if the muramidase has muramidase activity. The results are presented in table 2 below.

Table 2: Muramidase Activity against Micrococcus lysodeikticus and Exiquobacterium undea as measured by Optical Density Drop

¹ - Means no effect; + means small effect; ++ means medium effect; +++ means large effect. The pH value in the brackets lists the assay pH based on muramidase-substrate combination.

The data confirms that the GH22 muramidase from Gallus gallus, the GH24 muramidase from Trichophaea saccata and the GH25 muramidase from A. alcalophilum all have muramidase activity.

Example 6: In vivo broiler trial Location and housing

The experiment was performed at the Se/vei de Granges i Camps Experimentals of the Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona (UAB).

Animals were housed in one single room with 16 floor pens (8 pens (1.5 m x 1 m) at each side of the room). The environmental conditions (temperature, relative humidity and ventilation rates) were controlled according to the Ross broiler management guidelines. Animals were disposed of nipple drinkers (3 drinkers/pen) and manual pan feeders (1 pan/pen).

Experimental Animals

408 one-day-old male broiler chickens (Ross 308) were used (30/pen). They were obtained from a local hatchery, weighed, wing-tagged individually, and allocated to dietary treatments in a completely randomized design. Animals were vaccinated in ovo against Gumboro and Marek and also against coccidiosis (Hypracox, coarse spray at 1 day) and bronchitis (fine spray) after birth.

Experimental Groups

Each pen was allocated to one of two experimental treatments: A control diet (T1 ) or the same diet including muramidase (T2).

Feeding Program

The basel experimental diets were formulated to meet or exceed the nutrient requirements recommended for Ross broiler chickens. The ingredients, mineral-vitamin premix, the calculated and actual analyses of the diets are presented in Table 3. The basal diets did not contain any enzymes or feed additives (other than Muramidase), coccidiostats, veterinary antibiotics or any other growth promoters. All diets included carotenoids of Carophyll Yellow (10%) at 60 mg/kg.

Table 3: Composition and nutrient contents of the basal experimental diets

¹ Mineral-Vitamin premix provided per kilogram of diet: Vitamin A: 10Ό00 I.U.; vitamin E: 40 I.U.; vitamin K3: 3.0 mg; vitamin C: 100 mg; vitamin B1 : 2.50 mg; vitamin B2: 8.00 mg; vitamin B6: 5.00 mg; vitamin B12: 0.03 mg; niacin: 50.0 mg; pantothenate calcium: 12.0 mg; folic acid: 1 .50 mg; biotin 0.15 mg; cholin: 450 mg; ethoxyquine: 54 mg; Na: 1.17 g; Mg: 0.8 g; Mn: 80 mg; Fe: 60 mg; Cu: 30 mg; Zn: 54 mg; I: 1 .24 mg; Co: 0.6 mg; Se: 0.3 mg

Animals were randomly allocated in two experimental treatments consisting of a balanced diet supplemented or not with muramidase at 35,000 LSU(F)/kg feed (534mg muramidase/ kg feed). During the experimental period the animals received two diets (starter from 0-21 days and grower from 21- 35 days) the starter dietwas in crumble form and the grower in pellet form. All diets included titanium dioxide (0.5 %) as digestibility marker.

Experimental design Birds were individually wind-tagged the day of arrival. Individual weigh of the animals and feed residuals (by pen) were registered at day 0, 9 (first sacrifice), 21 (change of diet) and 36 (final day-second sacrifice).

On day 9, 21 birds per cage (randomly selected) were sacrificed and the remaining 9 were sacrificed at the end of the experiment (fifth week) (by decapitation both days). In each slaughtering day, one bird per cage was sampled for gene expression (immunity) and histomorphology, another bird per cage was sampled for traditional microbiology. Other three animals per cage were sampled individually for molecular microbiological analysis, and scrapings for secretory immunoglobulin (Ig) A. These three birds and the rest of animals (a total of 19 animals in the first slaughter and 7 in the last one) were sampled for ileal digestibility analysis, pooling all the ileal digesta samples per pen.

Additionally, on day 36 three animals per group (those destined or mucosal scrapings) were also blood for Ig titters in serum.

Analysis

Traditional microbiology

Enumeration of enterobacteria, lactobacilli and Clostridia, was performed by selective growth medium. Sections analysed included crop, ileal and cecal content of one animal per cage (randomly selected). Enterobacteria were counted after 24-48h of incubation in MacKONKEY agar, lactic acid bacteria were determined in MRS agar and Clostridium in selective agar for this genus.

Histomorphology

Tissue samples from jejunum were taken and analysed for histomorphological studies. Parameters analysed included: intraepithelial lymphocytes (I EL) (cells per villi and cells/100pm), and Goblet Cells (cells per villi and cells/100pm).

Innate immune response - Gene expression

Small tissue samples (cubes of 0.5 cm) from jejunum (bird of medium weight from each cage) were stored with RNAIater® solution and keep at -80°C for RNA extraction and gene expression studies.

RNA from jejunum was purified and translated to cDNA for gene expression studies using the RNeasy Mini Kit (Qiagen, Germany) and the QuantiTect Reverse TranscriptionKit (Qiagen, Germany). The qPCR reactions were performed using commercially available Taqman Gene expression assays (Applied Biosystems, USA). The primers and probes included in this study were LPS-induced TNF-alpha factor (LITAF), interleukin-10 (IL10) and toll-like receptor 5 (TLR5). LITAF is considered pro-inflammatory cytokines; IL-10 is considered as an anti-inflammatory cytokine; and TLR-5 recognizes bacterial flagelin. The average cycle thresholds (Ct) of the innate immune-related genes were normalized to the housekeeping gene (AOTb) and compared to control animals by means of 2-DDOT method. Results were also represented as individual data points following Schmittgen and Livak (2008).

Adaptive immune response-Gumboro titres

The effect of dietary treatments on humoral immune response was examined by measuring the antibody titres against Gumboro (Infectious bursitis disease virus, IBDV) at day 36 and also the production of mucosal s-lgA at days 9 and 36.

Antibody titers against IBDV were determined in serum samples by using a commercial ELISA kit (IDEXX Europe B.V, 2132 PV Hoofddorp, The Netherlands). Following manufacturer’s instructions, animals were considered positive to vaccination when titres values were above 396. Animals had been vaccinated in ovo against Gumboro.

Statistical Analysis

The results are expressed as means with their standard errors unless otherwise stated. Data was analysed with ANOVA using the GLM procedure taking into account the experimental diets as main effect. When frequencies were analyzed the Fisher’s exact test was used. All the statistical analysis were performed using the Statistical Analysis Software SAS version 9.2 (SAS Institute Inc.). The a level used for the determination of significance for all the analysis was P=0.05. The statistical trend was also considered for P values >0.05 and <0.10. Results and Discussion

Intestinal architecture

Flistomorphometry of jejunal samples is shown in Table 4.

Table 4: Histomorphometry of jejunum

Significant increases were detected with Muramidase at day 36 in the intraepithelial lymphocytes (IEL) and goblet cells (GC) regardless they were expressed in absolute or relative terms.

Observed increases in IEL were within physiological levels and could reflect an increase in the immune response of the animals without meaning inflammation. IEL are considered part of the gut-associated lymphoid tissue and provide a first line of defence against intestinal microbial invasion. These frontline lymphocytes residing within the epithelial layer are incredibly heterogeneous with regard to their function and phenotype. IEL subsets can provide immunosurveillance at the epithelial barrier to prevent or impair infection in the intestine either through innate-like mechanisms or as antigen-specific effector or memory CD8a3+ T cells.

Similarly goblet cells contribute to the protection of the intestinal epithelium by the production and maintenance of the protective mucus blanket by synthesizing and secreting high- molecularweight glycoproteins known as mucins. Changes in goblet cell functions and in the chemical composition of intestinal mucus have been described in response to a broad range of luminal insults, including alterations of the normal microbiota. Available data indicate that intestinal microbes may affect goblet cell dynamics and the mucus layer directly via the local release of bioactive factors or indirectly via activation of host immune cells (Deplancke and Gaskins, 2001 ). Changes promoted by Muramidase in intestinal ecosystem or in the release of bioactive factors could therefore be behind the observed effects.

Microbial groups analyses

Table 5 shows the plate counts (log cfu/gr FM) for Clostridium group analysed. For Clostridium, it was found a trend for a decrease in cecum at day 9 in the animals feeding muramidase.

Table 5. Plate counts (log cfu/gr FM) for different microbial groups in crop, ileum and cecum diqesta.

Clostridium plate counts were in some animals below the minimum detection level of the method. Because it was seen a higher number of animals below the detection level with the muramidase treatment, values were also subjected to a frequency analysis that is shown in Table 6. In this way it could be also appreciated that muramidase decrease the number of animals with detectable Clostridim in cecum at day 9.

Table 6. number of animals with more than 10 CFU/qr (minimum level of detection for the method).

Cytokine and TLR gene expression in jejunum

Table 7 shows the change of the expression of the different studied genes (LITAF, IL-10 and

TLR5) in muramidase group compared to control group. A higher expression of LITAF, IL-10 and TLR5 were observed.

Table 7. Fold change of studied cytokines in the jejunum at day 9

1 ) Values higher than 1 indicates increase of expression in BOND group, contrary, values lowerthan 1 indicates expression decreasing.

Gumboro antibodies

Table 8 shows how muramidase reduced humoral response against Gumboro vaccination at day 36. Table 8: Number of animals positive to Gumboro vaccination and mean ± S.D titre values at day 36.

Animals in this trial were vaccinated in ovo with an immunocomplex Gumboro vaccine. The action of this vaccine correlates with the level of IBDV maternally-derived antibodies (MDA) in the young chicken, i.e. chickens with higher level of IBDV MDA at hatch have a later immune response to the vaccine than chickens with low IBDV MDA. The lower response against vaccine in muramidase could be explained by a higher IBDV MDA level at hatch in this particular group.

Conclusion

The results obtained in the study showed that the inclusion of muramidase was effective in increasing IEL and GC, reducing Clostridium, increasing expression of Cytokines LITAF, IL-10 and TLR5, and reducing humoral response against Gumboro vaccination in broilers. Accrodingly, the muramidase have effect in improving immunity and anti-inflammatory ability of broilers and reducing Clostridium Perfringens of guts in broilers.

Claims

CLAIMS What is claimed is:

1. A method of improving immunity and/or anti-inflammatory ability of a monogastric animal comprising administering to the animal a composition, an animal feed or an animal feed additive comprising one or more microbial muramidases.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the monogastric animal is selected from the group consisting of swine, piglet, growing pig, sow, poultry, turkey, duck, quail, guinea fowl, goose, pigeon, squab, chicken, broiler, layer, pullet and chick, cat, dog, horse, crustaceans, shrimps, prawns, fish, amberjack, arapaima, barb, bass, bluefish, bocachico, bream, bullhead, cachama, carp, catfish, catla, chanos, char, cichlid, cobia, cod, crappie, dorada, drum, eel, goby, goldfish, gourami, grouper, guapote, halibut, java, labeo, lai, loach, mackerel, milkfish, mojarra, mudfish, mullet, paco, pearlspot, pejerrey, perch, pike, pompano, roach, salmon, sampa, sauger, sea bass, seabream, shiner, sleeper, snakehead, snapper, snook, sole, spinefoot, sturgeon, sunfish, sweetfish, tench, terror, tilapia, trout, tuna, turbot, vendace, walleye and whitefish.

3. The method of any of claims 1 to 2, wherein the microbial muramidase is obtained or obtainable from the phylum Ascomycota, or the subphylum Pezizomycotina.

4. The method of any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the microbial muramidase comprises one or more domains selected from the list consisting of GH24 and GH25.

5. The method of any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the microbial muramidase is selected from the group consisting of:

(a) a polypeptide having at least 50%, e.g., at least 60%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 86%, at least 87%, at least 88%, at least 89%, at least 90%, at least 91 %, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, or 100% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 1 ;

(b) a variant of SEQ ID NO: 1 wherein the variant has muramidase activity and comprises one or more amino acid substitutions, and/or one or more amino acid deletions, and/or one or more amino acid insertions or any combination thereof in 1 , 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 1 1 , 12, 13 , 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 , 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31 , 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41 , 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49 or 50 positions;

(c) a fragment of the polypeptide of (a) or (b) that has muramidase activity wherein the fragment comprises at least 170 amino acids, such as at least 175 amino acids, at least 177 amino acids, at least 180 amino acids, at least 185 amino acids, at least 190 amino acids, at least 195 amino acids or at least 200 amino acids;

(d) a polypeptide having at least 50%, e.g., at least 60%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 86%, at least 87%, at least 88%, at least 89%, at least 90%, at least 91 %, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, or 100% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 4;

(e) a variant of SEQ ID NO: 4 wherein the variant has muramidase activity and comprises one or more amino acid substitutions, and/or one or more amino acid deletions, and/or one or more amino acid insertions or any combination thereof in 1 , 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 1 1 , 12, 13 , 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 , 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31 , 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41 , 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49 or 50 positions; and

(f) a fragment of the polypeptide of (d) or (e) that has muramidase activity wherein the fragment comprises at least 210 amino acids, such as at least 215 amino acids, at least 220 amino acids, at least 225 amino acids, at least 230 amino acids, at least 235 amino acids or at least 240 amino acids.

6. The method of any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the microbial muramidase is selected from the group consisting of amino acids 1 to 213 of SEQ ID NO: 1 , amino acids 1 to 245 of SEQ ID NO: 4 and amino acids 1 to 208 of SEQ ID NO: 10.

7. The method of any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the composition, the animal feed or the animal feed additive further comprises carotenoids such as beta-carotene, astaxanthin, and lutein.

8. A method of improving immunity and/or anti-inflammatory ability of a monogastric animal comprising administering to the animal a composition, an animal feed or an animal feed additive comprising one or more microbial muramidases, wherein:

9. Amethod of improving immunity and/or anti-inflammatory ability of a monogastric animal comprising administering to the animal a composition, an animal feed or an animal feed additive comprising one or more microbial muramidases, wherein:

10. Use of a composition, an animal feed or an animal feed additive for improving immunity and/or anti-inflammatory ability of a monogastric animal wherein the composition, the animal feed or the animal feed additive comprises one or more microbial muramidases.

1 1 . The use of claim 10, wherein the monogastric animal is selected from the group consisting of swine, piglet, growing pig, sow, poultry, turkey, duck, quail, guinea fowl, goose, pigeon, squab, chicken, broiler, layer, pullet and chick, cat, dog, horse, crustaceans, shrimps, prawns, fish, amberjack, arapaima, barb, bass, bluefish, bocachico, bream, bullhead, cachama, carp, catfish, catla, chanos, char, cichlid, cobia, cod, crappie, dorada, drum, eel, goby, goldfish, gourami, grouper, guapote, halibut, java, labeo, lai, loach, mackerel, milkfish, mojarra, mudfish, mullet, paco, pearlspot, pejerrey, perch, pike, pompano, roach, salmon, sampa, sauger, sea bass, seabream, shiner, sleeper, snakehead, snapper, snook, sole, spinefoot, sturgeon, sunfish, sweetfish, tench, terror, tilapia, trout, tuna, turbot, vendace, walleye and whitefish.

12. The use of any of claims 10 to 1 1 , wherein the microbial muramidase is obtained or obtainable from the phylum Ascomycota, or the subphylum Pezizomycotina.

13. The use of any of claims 10 to 12, wherein the microbial muramidase comprises one or more domains selected from the list consisting of GH24 and GH25.

14. The use of any of claims 10 to 13, wherein the microbial muramidase is selected from the group consisting of:

(e) a variant of SEQ ID NO: 4 wherein the variant has muramidase activity and comprises one or more amino acid substitutions, and/or one or more amino acid deletions, and/or one or more amino acid insertions or any combination thereof in 1 , 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 1 1 , 12, 13 ,14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 , 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31 , 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41 , 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49 or 50 positions; and

(f) a fragment of the polypeptide of (d) or (e) that has muramidase activity wherein the fragment comprises at least 210 amino acids, such as at least 215 amino acids, at least 220 amino acids, at least 225 amino acids, at least 230 amino acids, at least

235 amino acids or at least 240 amino acids.

15. The use of any of claims 10 to 13, wherein the microbial muramidase is selected from the group consisting of amino acids 1 to 213 of SEQ ID NO: 1 , amino acids 1 to 245 of SEQ ID NO: 4 and amino acids 1 to 208 of SEQ ID NO: 10.

16. The use of any of claims 10 to 13, wherein the composition, the animal feed or the animal feed additive further comprises carotenoids such as beta-carotene, astaxanthin, and lutein.