The present invention relates to novel strains of Streptococcus thermophilus, compositions comprising said strains and to methods for the preparation of such compositions.

A method is provided on producing a yoghurt base composition, said method comprising combining butter milk and a small-size-particle WPC-fraction. In addition, the invention provides a method of producing a liquid yoghurt product or liquid yoghurt-like product, said method comprising mixing said yoghurt base composition with a liquid, such as water, milk, butter milk, milk permeate, juice, milk and/or juice concentrates. The invention also comprises a yoghurt base composition and a liquid yoghurt product or liquid yoghurt-like product comprising butter milk and a small-size-particle WPC-fraction. Furthermore, the invention provides a small-size-particle WPC-fraction, wherein said WPC particles have an average size in the range of 15-60 nanometer and the method of producing such a small-size-particle WPC-fraction.

A method is provided on producing a yoghurt base composition, said method comprising combining butter milk and a small-size-particle WPC-fraction. In addition, the invention provides a method of producing a liquid yoghurt product or liquid yoghurt-like product, said method comprising mixing said yoghurt base composition with a liquid, such as water, milk, butter milk, milk permeate, juice, milk and/or juice concentrates. The invention also comprises a yoghurt base composition and a liquid yoghurt product or liquid yoghurt-like product comprising butter milk and a small-size-particle WPC-fraction. Furthermore, the invention provides a small-size-particle WPC-fraction, wherein said WPC particles have an average size in the range of 15-60 nanometer and the method of producing such a small-size-particle WPC-fraction.

The present invention relates to a composition for producing a fermented milk product comprising (i) at least one Streptococcus thermophilus (St) strain, wherein the St strain is galactose-fermenting, wherein the strain carries a mutation in the DNA sequence of the glcK gene encoding a glucokinase protein, wherein the mutation inactivates the glucokinase protein or has a negative effect on expression of the gene, and (ii) at least one Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus (Lb) strain, wherein the Lb strain is lactose-deficient and capable of metabolizing a non-lactose carbohydrate.

The present invention relates to a composition for producing a fermented milk product comprising (i) at least one Streptococcus thermophilus (St) strain, wherein the St strain is galactose-fermenting, wherein the strain carries a mutation in the DNA sequence of the glcK gene encoding a glucokinase protein, wherein the mutation inactivates the glucokinase protein or has a negative effect on expression of the gene, and (ii) at least one Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus (Lb) strain, wherein the Lb strain is lactose-deficient and capable of metabolizing a non-lactose carbohydrate.

The present invention relates to a process for producing a fermented milk product comprising the steps of: 1) adding a starter culture of lactic acid bacteria comprising at least one lactose-deficient Streptococcus thermophilus strain, which is capable of metabolizing a non-lactose carbohydrate, and at least one lactose-deficient Lactococcus lactis strain, which is capable of metabolizing the non-lactose carbohydrate, to a milk base, and 2) fermenting the milk for a period of time until a target pH is reached to obtain a fermented milk product.

The present invention relates to compositions for weight management comprising: a) a microbiome modifying component; b) a satiety modifying component; and c) a metabolic modifying component. The composition may also be used for the treatment of obesity, elevated cholesterol, diabetes, hypertension or heart disease.

The present invention relates to compositions for weight management comprising: a) a microbiome modifying component; b) a satiety modifying component; and c) a metabolic modifying component. The composition may also be used for the treatment of obesity, elevated cholesterol, diabetes, hypertension or heart disease.

The present invention relates to a method for producing a mesophilic fermented dairy product by fermenting a milk substrate with a mesophilic lactic acid bacterium starter culture comprising at least one Lactococcus lactis strain in the presence of at least one Bacillus subtilis subsp. natto or Bacillus coagulans strain.

The present invention relates to compositions for use and formulation as weight management products and in particular fermented dairy foodstuffs. The compositions generally comprise two or more of the following components: a) a microbiome modifying component; b) a satiety modifying component; and c) a metabolic modifying component and at least one of the following: d) Streptococcus thermophilus CBS 139100 and Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus CBS 139099 microbial strains or mutant strains or fragments or fractions thereof; e) a combination of Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus microbial strains which together, or individually, are capable of secreting polysaccharides having high levels of galactosamine and no or low levels of rhamnose and glucuronic acid when grown on a dairy substrate; or f) polysaccharides formed of: i) 15-25% galactosamine; ii) 45-60% galactose; and iii) 20-30% glucose. The compositions may also be useful in the management or treatment of obesity, elevated cholesterol, diabetes, hypertension or heart disease.