Bacillus strains, compositions and methods are disclosed for reducing growth of microorganisms in a feed. Bacillus strains, compositions and methods are disclosed for providing beneficial effects to animals, including but not limited to increasing performance of the animal.

The current invention concerns a new B. subtilis strain with strong inhibition of C. perfringens and its use as a probiotic.

Disclosed is a method for improving intestinal microflora, which includes administering an extract of Codonopsis lanceolata of an amount effective for improving intestinal microflora to a subject in need thereof. The extract can promote the proliferation of beneficial intestinal bacteria and suppress the proliferation of harmful bacteria. Also, the extract can improve intestinal health or intestinal function and improve defecation disorder. In addition, a synergic effect can be obtained when the composition of the present disclosure is used together with probiotics.

The invention covers a novel treatment strategy that considerably improves conventional probiotic treatments of inflammatory bowel diseases, irritable bowel syndrome and other gastrointestinal disorders. Both probiotic microorganisms and the carrier of the probiotic microorganisms in form of a fermented cereal gruel are used as treatment effectors. Phospholipids may also be an effecter. The novel treatment strategy is capable of removing the symptoms of inflammatory bowel diseases regardless of a mild, moderate or severe stage of the disease.

The invention relates to acetylcholine-producing microorganisms for use in the prevention and/or treatment of intestinal diseases, and/or reduction of risks of intestinal diseases, and/or improvement of intestinal health as well as promoting healthy gut flora. The acetylcholine-producing microorganisms may be provided as a pharmaceutical dosage form or as additive to functional food or food supplemental products. Also encompassed is a method for the production of acetylcholine by use of Lactobacilli. Further the invention refers to microbially produced acetylcholine for use in the treatment and/or prevention of intestinal diseases.

The invention relates to a probiotic strain selected from Lactobacillus reuteri V340 with accession number CECT and Bifidobacterium breve BT820 with accession number CECT 8606, or a variant of said probiotic strain having cholesterol-absorbing capacity, and to methods and therapeutic uses thereof. The invention also relates to compositions, pharmaceutical compositions, feeds or nutritional products comprising a probiotic strain selected from Lactobacillus reuteri V3401 with accession number CECT 8605 and Bifidobacterium breve BT820 with accession number CECT 8606, or a variant of said probiotic strain having cholesterol-absorbing capacity.

According to the present invention there are provided methods of regulating the immune system of a companion animal and methods of improving the digestion of a companion animal, wherein each of said methods comprises administering to a companion animal a probiotic bacteria strain of the genus Bifidobacteria.

A probiotic formulation is provided including one or more bacteria, bacterial strains or bacterial species of the genus Veillonella, genus Faecalibacterium, genus Phascolarctobacteria, genus Oscillospira, genus Ruminococcus, genus Bacteroides, genus Blautia, family Christensenellaceae, genus Dialister, or phylum cyanobacteria.

The present invention relates to polypeptide HP, or a polynucleotide sequence encoding polypeptide HP, or a host cell comprising said polynucleotide sequence, or a host cell comprising an expression vector comprising said polynucleotide sequence, for use in the treatment and/or prevention of a disorder in a subject; wherein said disorder is an inflammatory disorder and/or an autoimmune disorder; wherein said polypeptide has at least 75% identity to SEQ ID NO 2, SEQ ID NO 4 or SEQ ID NO 6 or variants, homologues, fragments or derivatives thereof; and wherein said polynucleotide sequence encodes a polypeptide which has at least 75% identity to SEQ ID NO 2, SEQ ID NO 4 or SEQ ID NO 6 or variants, homologues, fragments or derivatives thereof and/or wherein said polynucleotide sequence has at least 75% identity to SEQ ID NO 1, SEQ ID NO 3 or SEQ ID NO 5 or variants, homologues, fragments or derivatives thereof.

The invention relates to a bacterium of the Christensenellaceae family, in particular of the genus Christensenella, or a composition containing same for use in the prevention and/or treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases and/or cancers in humans or animals.