Insecticidal fermentation broth from actinomycetes containing enhanced ratio of active to inactive dunaimycins

Abstract

Methods and compositions are provided for the preparation of insecticidal compositions.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A process for producing a fermentation product enriched in insecticidally active dunaimycins comprising cultivating an actinomycete that produces active dunaimycins and inactive dunaimycins in a culture medium containing carbon sources and nitrogen sources until at least about 0.5 milligrams of active dunaimycins per liter culture medium is produced, wherein the ratio of carbon to nitrogen sources is at least about 10:1 by weight. 
     
     
         2 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the carbon sources are selected from the group consisting of monosaccharides, disaccharides, polysaccharides and complex carbohydrates from plant or animal materials. 
     
     
         3 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the carbon sources are selected from the group consisting of sucrose, glucose, maltose, starch, maltodextrin, molasses and malt extract. 
     
     
         4 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the nitrogen sources are selected from the group consisting of proteins and amino acids from plants or animals, soy flour, soytone, peptone, soy hydrolysate, soy grits, cotton seed flour, corn steep powder and potato extract. 
     
     
         5 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the carbon source is glucose and the nitrogen source is soy flour. 
     
     
         6 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the carbon source is glucose and the nitrogen source is a combination of cotton seed flour and soy flour. 
     
     
         7 . The process of  claim 1 , further comprising an initial step of screening a library of dunaimycin over-producing actinomycetes for production of active dunaimycins and inactive dunaimycins. 
     
     
         8 . The process of  claim 1 , further comprising purifying active dunaimycins from the fermentation broth and biomass. 
     
     
         9 . The process of  claim 1 , further comprising concentrating the fermentation broth and biomass. 
     
     
         10 . The process of  claim 1 , further comprising drying the fermentation broth and biomass. 
     
     
         11 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the ratio of active dunaimycins to inactive dunaimycins is at least about 1:1. 
     
     
         12 . A fermentation product produced by the process of any of  claims 1  to  11 .