The present invention features methods for treating or reducing the severity of a microbial infection in an infant of a lactating mother. Compositions comprising food products fermented by Lactobacillus paracasei CBA L74, International Depository Accession Number LMG P-24778 are administered to a pregnant or lactating mother in order to treat or attenuate the severity of a microbial infection in her offspring.

The present invention features methods for treating or reducing the severity of a microbial infection in an infant of a lactating mother. Compositions comprising food products fermented by Lactobacillus paracasei CBA L74, International Depository Accession Number LMG P-24778 are administered to a pregnant or lactating mother in order to treat or attenuate the severity of a microbial infection in her offspring.

A variant polypeptide having chymosin activity, wherein the variant has an amino acid sequence which, when aligned with the chymosin comprising the sequence set out in SEQ ID NO: 2, comprises at least one substitution of an amino acid residue corresponding to any of amino acids 2, 22, 40, 48, 50, 51, 53, 61, 62, 76, 88, 98, 99, 109, 112, 117, 125, 126, 135, 144, 160, 161, 163, 187, 189, 194, 200, 201, 202, 203, 221, 223, 240, 242, 244, 254, 267, 271, 273, 278, 280, 284, 289, 292, 294 or 295 said positions being defined with reference to SEQ ID NO: 2 and wherein the variant has one or more altered properties as compared with a reference polypeptide having chymosin activity. Such a variant polypeptide may be used in the preparation of a cheese.

A variant polypeptide having chymosin activity, wherein the variant has an amino acid sequence which, when aligned with the chymosin comprising the sequence set out in SEQ ID NO: 2, comprises at least one substitution of an amino acid residue corresponding to any of amino acids 2, 22, 40, 48, 50, 51, 53, 61, 62, 76, 88, 98, 99, 109, 112, 117, 125, 126, 135, 144, 160, 161, 163, 187, 189, 194, 200, 201, 202, 203, 221, 223, 240, 242, 244, 254, 267, 271, 273, 278, 280, 284, 289, 292, 294 or 295 said positions being defined with reference to SEQ ID NO: 2 and wherein the variant has one or more altered properties as compared with a reference polypeptide having chymosin activity. Such a variant polypeptide may be used in the preparation of a cheese.

The present invention provides a method for the construction of a bacteriophage-insensitive mutant of a Streptococcus thermophilus parent strain whereby the bacteriophage insensitivity is not based on the CRISPR resistance mechanism but based on another mechanism. The method provides a protocol by which this can be achieved by inactivating one or more of the CRISPR systems present in a given strain. The invention also provides the bacteriophage-insensitive mutants as well as their use in a process for making a dairy product.

Methods of production of edible filamentous fungal biomat formulations are provided as standalone protein sources and/or protein ingredients in foodstuffs as well as a one-time use or repeated use self-contained biomat reactor comprising a container with at least one compartment and placed within the compartment(s), a feedstock, a fungal inoculum, a gas-permeable membrane, and optionally a liquid nutrient medium.

Methods of production of edible filamentous fungal biomat formulations are provided as standalone protein sources and/or protein ingredients in foodstuffs as well as a one-time use or repeated use self-contained biomat reactor comprising a container with at least one compartment and placed within the compartment(s), a feedstock, a fungal inoculum, a gas-permeable membrane, and optionally a liquid nutrient medium.

Methods of production of edible filamentous fungal biomat formulations are provided as standalone protein sources and/or protein ingredients in foodstuffs as well as a one-time use or repeated use self-contained biomat reactor comprising a container with at least one compartment and placed within the compartment(s), a feedstock, a fungal inoculum, a gas-permeable membrane, and optionally a liquid nutrient medium.

A method for producing a cheese with reduced amount of galactose comprising inoculating milk with Streptococcus thermophilus Gal(+) bacteria and Lactobacillus Gal(+) Lac(?) bacteria.

A method for producing a cheese with reduced amount of galactose comprising inoculating milk with Streptococcus thermophilus Gal(+) bacteria and Lactobacillus Gal(+) Lac(?) bacteria.