The present invention is directed to a method of producing a Streptococcus thermophilus strain comprising the steps of a) Providing a mother strain in the form of Streptococcus thermophilus DSM32502, b) Growing a culture of the mother strain in the presence of a bacteriophage, to which the mother strain is not resistant, to obtain a number of mutant strains, which are resistant to the said bacteriophage, c) Measuring the acidification time of the bacteriophage-resistant mutant strains and the mother strain in a milk base and selecting at least one mutant strain with a reduced acidification time as compared to the mother strain to obtain a fast-acidifying mutant strain.

The camel-milk products with plant-based protein additives include camel milk in the form of plant-based milk, plant-based milk powder and/or derivatives thereof and have enhanced gel strength. The plant-based protein additives may be derived from soybeans; oats; almonds; lupin chickpeas or navy beans. The camel-milk products include fermented and non-fermented camel-milk products, such as: set and stir yogurt; all cheese varieties; cultured camel milks; and custard-based products. The camel-milk products are prepared by mixing camel milk with plant-based protein additives to form a mixture and coagulating the mixture by acid or enzyme treatment.

The camel-milk products with plant-based protein additives include camel milk in the form of plant-based milk, plant-based milk powder and/or derivatives thereof and have enhanced gel strength. The plant-based protein additives may be derived from soybeans; oats; almonds; lupin chickpeas or navy beans. The camel-milk products include fermented and non-fermented camel-milk products, such as: set and stir yogurt; all cheese varieties; cultured camel milks; and custard-based products. The camel-milk products are prepared by mixing camel milk with plant-based protein additives to form a mixture and coagulating the mixture by acid or enzyme treatment.

The invention relates to a lactose-positive, galactose-negative, Streptococcus thermophilus strain carrying a mutation in 2 or 3 genes selected from the group consisting of 1) a gene encoding a protein of the mannose-glucose-specific PTS and a glcK gene, 2) a gene encoding a protein of the mannose-glucose-specific PTS and a ccpA gene, and 3) a gene encoding a protein of the mannose-glucose-specific PTS, a glcK gene and a ccpA gene, wherein said strain, when used to ferment milk, provides a low lactose fermented milk and/or a fermented milk not undergoing acidification when stored at fermentation temperature.

The present invention relates to a multiple emulsion comprising or consisting of P1/O/W2, wherein P1 is an aqueous phase forming droplets or a gas phase forming bubbles, said droplets or bubbles being dispersed in O thereby forming P1/O, wherein O is an oily phase comprising crystals, wherein W2 is an aqueous phase comprising at least one hydrophilic surfactant, wherein P1/O globules are formed in W2, wherein said oily phase O comprises at least 90%, preferably at least 92%, and even preferably at least 95%, by mass of triglycerides with respect to the mass of the O phase. The present invention relates to a process for preparing such multiple emulsion and applications thereof. Food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical compositions as well as a packaging containing a composition are claimed.

An agent of the present invention comprising poultry feet or a processed product thereof, preferably a hydrolysate of an extract of poultry feet, promotes hyaluronic acid production, thereby exhibiting excellent effects of preventing or treating a joint disorder, improving skin dryness, wrinkles or skin tension, moisturizing the skin, etc. The agent is thus useful as a medicament, a quasi-drug, a cosmetic product, a food product or an animal feed.

An agent of the present invention comprising poultry feet or a processed product thereof, preferably a hydrolysate of an extract of poultry feet, promotes hyaluronic acid production, thereby exhibiting excellent effects of preventing or treating a joint disorder, improving skin dryness, wrinkles or skin tension, moisturizing the skin, etc. The agent is thus useful as a medicament, a quasi-drug, a cosmetic product, a food product or an animal feed.

The present invention relates to a composition suitable for preparing a dairy product comprising at least one starter culture and a Lactobacillus rhamnosus strain capable of imparting onto the dairy product an enhanced creamy flavor without affecting the rheology negatively, the fermentation time or the post-acidification of the dairy product. The present invention further relates to processes for preparing a dairy product, such as a low-fat yogurt or cheese, which has a high content of diacetyl. A Lactobacillus rhamnosus strain useful for preparing such dairy product is also part of the present invention.

Probiotic Bifidobacterium strain AH1714 is significantly immunomodulatory following oral consumption. The strain is useful as an immunomodulatory biotherapeutic agent.

This invention provides an IFN inducer comprising, as an active ingredient, lactic acid bacteria and capable of inducing IFN production, an immunopotentiating agent or prophylactic agent against virus infection comprising such inducer, and a food or drink product comprising such IFN inducer and having IFN-inducing activity, immunopotentiating activity, or prophylactic activity against virus infection. The agent for inducing IFN production comprises, as active ingredients, lactic acid bacteria that can activate plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) and promote IFN production, such as Lactococcus garvieae NBRC100934, Lactococcus lactis subsp. cremoris JCM16167, Lactococcus lactis subsp. cremoris NBRC100676, Lactococcus lactis subsp. hordniae JCM1180, Lactococcus lactis subsp. hordniae JCM11040, Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis NBRC12007, Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis NRIC1150, Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis JCM5805, Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis JCM20101, Leuconostoc lactis NBRC12455, Leuconostoc lactis NRIC1540, Pediococcus damnosus JCM5886, or Streptococcus thermophilus TA-45.