Enzyme vs. Bacteria-Based Products: How Do They Compare?

Natural enzymatic solutions are on the cutting edge of replacing chemicals in everything from commercial food production to industrial and institutional applications. At Envera, our focus on microbial selection never wavers. That includes screening for enzyme production and a deep understanding of source.

Microorganisms, like bacteria, exist almost everywhere in the environment, from deep ocean vents to the top of Mount Everest. Their survival in challenging locations is dependent upon unique adaptions, which we can harness to create natural solutions across a variety of industries. In some cases, the unique adaptation may be the ability to produce a specific enzyme. You’ll find products for sale that are enzyme-based or bacteria-based. Which is better? What should you look for in product selection and development? 

Bacteria make enzymes. The enzymes then break down organic material, which the bacteria consume to reproduce and continue the cycle. Think of bacteria as a two-for-one product because bacteria already produce enzymes.  
 
However, natural products frequently only include enzymes. While enzymes are vital, they don’t do their best work alone. By their nature, enzymes leave behind smaller particles because they don’t absorb them like bacteria. Again, the enzyme’s role is to break down organic material for the bacteria to eat and reproduce.

Without bacteria, the product isn’t as shelf-stable or effective because enzymes can’t make other enzymes—they’re only a byproduct of bacteria. When an enzyme-only product sits too long, the enzymes start to degrade, and the product becomes less potent. Enzyme-only manufacturing lines also start to degrade the product immediately because of inefficient filtration. We combine situation-specific bacteria with a preservative, so products are even more shelf-stable.  

Bacteria secrete different kinds of enzymes suited to what needs to be broken down. Depending on the purpose, we help the process along and include multiple strains of bacteria in products to increase its potential to break down different materials or accomplish different tasks. Bacteria will move toward organic material while enzymes don’t, which speeds up the process. Bacteria are also much hardier across a wide range of temperatures, pH, salt concentrations, and organic solvents.  

We need both bacteria and enzymes, which is what nature intended. Enzyme-only products are limited by their innate characteristics, even if they do perform an important function in the life cycle of bacteria. Bacteria-based products are much more effective, reliable, and long-lasting.  

We have 5,000+ bacteria, one of the world’s biggest collections. Our production capabilities are large enough to quickly ramp up production but agile enough for smaller runs. Our clients are our partners, so we offer services beyond the raw materials and production, including Product Analysis & Development, Education & Training, and Regulatory Support. Contact us when you’re ready to explore our capabilities.  

That’s why Envera scours the world to isolate bacterial cultures adapted to an expansive range of environments and conditions.

Our scientists at Envera create biological products from bacteria to solve real-world problems—contamination, unsustainable fuels, food shortages, and disease. The possibilities are almost limitless because of the number of different kinds of bacteria found in nature. Bacteria found at the bottom of high-pressure oceans have different attributes than bacteria from hot and arid deserts. They’ve adapted to their environment to survive, even in harsh pH and temperature conditions.

Many markets benefit from the small impressive organism:

Developing effective products for custom applications begins with isolation, characterization, and identification of the bacteria we find. Our scientists collect samples from soils, waste, animal guts, and plant roots to build our culture collection.  
 
However, samples contain many kinds of bacteria. In the lab, we physically isolate a single bacterium with the desired attributes so we can properly test and use them. Our scientists use genetic sequencing and single-cell genomics in addition to traditional microbiological techniques like heat shock, pour plate, streak plate, microscopy, and morphological selection.  

We cryopreserve the isolated strain of bacteria to maintain function and structural integrity. Isolates are stored in a -80C° freezer to ensure a long storage time without biological mutation. Even after the strain is isolated, we continue testing to find growing preferences, enzymes, environmental metabolites (how the bacteria respond to stress), and all physiological characteristics. 

Our culture collection currently has over 5,000 isolated strains. We cultivate that many so we can choose the perfect ones for your product or solution. When we know each strain deeply, we can use a systematic approach to give you the most effective products. 
 
Contact us for more information and to see if we have the solution for you. 

Our entire strain development process is centered around one crucial thing: bacterial growth. Through fermentation, we nurture bacterial growth for large-scale production. But the process begins long before that. Through rigorous testing, we pinpoint a strain’s ideal growing conditions so that the end product has the best yield, quality, and overall value. 

Our lines have an adventurous beginning, with our scientists wading in a cold-water stream or slogging through an oil-spill field to collect samples. After isolating the strain, we test if it’s a spore former, has any valuable characteristics, and see if it could be successful at the commercial scale.  

We have decades of experience in the fermentation of spore-forming bacteria, but we still relentlessly question our data to isolate ideal strains. Our experience sharpens our instincts, but we always follow up with thorough research. We examine strains from a variety of standpoints. Our cross-departmental approach means everyone approaches testing from their own specialties, and the resulting strain is stronger for it. 

Our Research and Development Department performs small-volume testing to find the best conditions for the strain to grow. Historically we have documented trends in the successful growth parameters needed for a particular species. This gives us a strong foundation to work on, but there will always be outlier strains that need special care.  
 
As Research and Development identifies the strain’s needs, they increase the testing volume until they find success in several liters before passing the strain to the Fermentation Department.

Strains can act differently when grown at industrial scales compared to smaller flasks. At this stage, the Fermentation Department further dials in the ideal growth parameters for a specific strain using sophisticated bioreactors that have complete control over the growing environment. We diligently monitor the entire fermentation process so we can adjust as needed. 
 
At the end of this process, we can assure the maximum output and best economic value at a commercial scale. Please feel free to contact us with any questions about our process or to see if we’d be a good fit to develop your natural product line.  

Envera’s products are only formulated with Biological Safely Level I organisms. These microbes are safe, non-pathogenic and ubiquitous throughout the world.

Envera specializes in spore forming bacteria primarily within the Genus Bacillus. The species within the Genus we work with frequently include, but are not limited to, amyloliquefaciens, licheniformis, megaterium, pumilus, simplex, subtilis, and velezensis. Bacillus species are unique in their ability to form a spore which provides shelf stability for all products.

Envera’s products are highly concentrated and are typically designed to be further blended or diluted. Focusing on bulk concentrates creates our desired business model to ensure we are not in competition with our customers.
Our products come in several final forms; powders, liquids, water soluble packets (WSPs) and solid technology (Bioblocks).

Envera’s products are only formulated with Biological Safely Level I organisms. These microbes are safe, non-pathogenic and ubiquitous throughout the world.

We offer a multitude of carriers for our powder products and customizable liquid formulations that range from a stabilized base to a fully formulated product including fragrance, dye and surfactants. Our WSPs and Bioblocks are offered in several sizes.

Envera is a bulk product, business to business supplier and offers a variety of product container types and sizes such as multiple sizes of fiber drums/plastic pails, and 55 gallon drums (all of which can be palletized), as well as totes and super sacks. Envera’s sales representatives will work to understand your applications and assist you in choosing the right packaging.

Envera’s customized solutions mean we work closely with our customers to fit your
ordering needs. Contact a sales representative to discuss MOQs.

Labels can be customized to our customers’ needs and, at the minimum, typically include product name and code as well as applicable GHS information.

Envera is your Total Biological Resource-serving you in areas of strain selection, product development, quality assurance, regulatory assistance and sales and marketing support.

Envera currently ships product to every continent in the world, including Antarctica. And into countries such as Canada, Brazil, Thailand, France, and Vietnam to name a small few. We are continuously learning and meeting the requirements to ship into new countries, and we are happy to assist our customers in all their regulatory pursuits.

Yes, Envera has an FDA registered feed/food manufacturing room. We manufacture Direct Feed Microbial(DFM) products for the Animal Care market as well as a Kosher, Halal and non-GMO human grade probiotic. Our facility is compliant with the requirements of both the Public Health, Security, and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002 and the Food Safety Modernization Act which amended section 415 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetics Act (FD&C Act) [21 U.S.C. § 350d.

Envera’s facility includes a fully equipped 5000 square foot laboratory where the majority of our microbial and product testing is conducted by our highly trained teams of scientists and technicians. We also support our customers with their internal or third party testing by offering review of experimental design, tailoring methodology, assistance with data analysis, and more.

Lesaffre acquires a majority interest in Envera

Marcq-en-Baroeul, France and West Chester, PA, November 17, 2017:

As part of its ongoing expansion strategy in nutrition and health, Lesaffre, a global key player in the yeasts and fermentation industry today announces the acquisition of a majority interest in Envera, and innovative U.S. bioscience-based company.

Founded in 2004 by Michael L. Matheny, a long-time microbiologist entrepreneur and executive, Envera is a full solution provider in the field of microbiology. Based in West Chester, Pennsylvania, with experienced researchers, Envera develops specific microbial-based products for a range of applications.

With this transaction, Lesaffre will enhance its presence and product offering in the fast-growing nutritional ingredients and health sector. In July 2017, Lesaffre announced an investment in Intralytix, another U.S. biotechnology company and leader in bacteriophage technology.

Antoine Baule, Lesaffre’s Chief Executive Officer says: “Lesaffre welcomes this acquisition which is entirely in line with our strategic development objectives. We are pleased to contribute to Envera’s development and to build upon the skills and expertise of the team in place. The specific technology and the strains collection developed by the company will provide a substantial addition to our current portfolio.”

Paolo Rossi, President of Lesaffre’s Nutrition and Health activity, adds: “Envera’s impressive range of bacteria strains and products will enable us to widen our offering of microorganisms to our customers, especially in the field of human, animal, and plant care activity. What’s unique about Envera is its experience in the isolation, selection, production, and formulation of microbial cultures.”

Michael L. Matheny, President of Envera comments: “I am delighted to have partnered with Lesaffre, a French family company known and recognized internationally for its expertise and professionalism in fermentation. I am confident the synergies between our companies, coupled with Lesaffre’s resources and connections around the world, will enable Envera to significantly accelerate its growth.”

About Lesaffre As a key global player in yeasts and fermentation, Lesaffre designs, manufactures and markets innovative solutions for baking, food taste and pleasure, healthcare, and biotechnology. A family group founded in northern France in 1853 and now a multi-national and a multicultural company, Lesaffre is committed to working with confidence to better nourish and protect the planet. In close collaboration with its clients and partners, Lesaffre employs 9,500 people in more than 70 subsidiaries, based in about 40 countries. Lesaffre has global revenues of more than 1.9 billion euros, over 40 percent of which are in in emerging markets.

More information: www.lesaffre.com