AUTHOR=Altermann Eric , Reilly Kerri , Young Wayne , Ronimus Ron S. , Muetzel Stefan 

TITLE=Tailored Nanoparticles With the Potential to Reduce Ruminant Methane Emissions

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Microbiology

VOLUME=13

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2022.816695

DOI=10.3389/fmicb.2022.816695

ISSN=1664-302X

ABSTRACT=<p>Agricultural methane produced by archaea in the forestomach of ruminants is a key contributor to rising levels of greenhouse gases leading to climate change. Functionalized biological polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) nanoparticles offer a new concept for the reduction of enteric methane emissions by inhibiting rumen methanogens. Nanoparticles were functionalized <italic>in vivo</italic> with an archaeal virus lytic enzyme, PeiR, active against a range of rumen <italic>Methanobrevibacter</italic> species. The impact of functionalized nanoparticles against rumen methanogens was demonstrated in pure cultures, in rumen batch and continuous flow rumen models yielding methane reduction of up to 15% over 11 days in the most complex system. We further present evidence of biological nanoparticle fermentation in a rumen environment. Elevated levels of short-chain fatty acids essential to ruminant nutrition were recorded, giving rise to a promising new strategy combining methane mitigation with a possible increase in animal productivity.</p>