The invention is directed to a process for producing one or more fermentation product in a multi-stage process including an inoculation reactor and at least one bioreactor. The inoculation reactor is fed a C1-containing gaseous substrate containing a reduced amount of hydrogen. The hydrogen is reduced to increase the proportion of CO in the C1-containing gaseous substrate being provided to the inoculation reactor. The inoculation reactor ferments the CO-rich C1-containing gaseous substrate and produces an inoculum, which is fed to at least one bioreactor. The bioreactor receives the C1-containing gaseous substrate, which may or may not contain reduced amounts of hydrogen, to produce one or more fermentation product. By providing a CO-rich C1-containing gaseous substrate to the inoculation reactor, both the inoculation reactor and the subsequent bioreactor(s), are able to have increased stability and product selectivity.

The present invention relates to a mineral dietary supplement for ruminants comprising an organic-inorganic complex based on urea, and various clays for improving the animal's performance by the effect of delaying the release of urea in the rumen. The clays comprise at least one fibrous clay and a nonfibrous clay, preferably attapulgite and montmorillonite.

The present invention relates to a mineral dietary supplement for ruminants comprising an organic-inorganic complex based on urea, and various clays for improving the animal's performance by the effect of delaying the release of urea in the rumen. The clays comprise at least one fibrous clay and a nonfibrous clay, preferably attapulgite and montmorillonite.

Disclosed are methods of administering one or more Bacillus subtilis strains to swine. The Bacillus subtilis strains that are administered include 747 (NRRL B-67257), 1104 (NRRL B-67258), 1541 (NRRL B-67260), 1781 (NRRL B-67259), 2018 (NRRL B-67261), and BS1999 (NRRL B-67318). The Bacillus strains improve bacterial homeostasis in the gastrointestinal tract by inhibiting bacterial pathogens such as E. coli, Clostridium, Salmonella, and Streptococcus. Administering the Bacillus strains also improves performance such as weight gain and feed conversion. Useful combinations of Bacillus strains and methods of using one or more Bacillus strains are also provided.

Disclosed are methods of administering one or more Bacillus subtilis strains to swine. The Bacillus subtilis strains that are administered include 747 (NRRL B-67257), 1104 (NRRL B-67258), 1541 (NRRL B-67260), 1781 (NRRL B-67259), 2018 (NRRL B-67261), and BS1999 (NRRL B-67318). The Bacillus strains improve bacterial homeostasis in the gastrointestinal tract by inhibiting bacterial pathogens such as E. coli, Clostridium, Salmonella, and Streptococcus. Administering the Bacillus strains also improves performance such as weight gain and feed conversion. Useful combinations of Bacillus strains and methods of using one or more Bacillus strains are also provided.

The present invention relates to methods and compositions for diagnosing and treating degenerative mitral valve disease in a canine. In one embodiment, a method of diagnosing early stage degenerative mitral valve disease in a canine can comprise measuring a normalized relative abundance of a biomarker selected from the group consisting of Erysipelatoclostridium, Ruminococcaceae UCG014, Butyricicoccus, Faecalibacterium, and combinations thereof, and determining that the canine has early stage degenerative mitral valve disease if the Erysipelatoclostridium is from 0 to 0.5 normalized relative abundance, the Ruminococcaceae UCG014 is from 0 to 0.1 normalized relative abundance, the Butyricicoccus is from 0 to 0.1 normalized relative abundance, or the Faecalibacterium is from 0 to 0.1 normalized relative abundance.

The present invention relates to methods and compositions for diagnosing and treating degenerative mitral valve disease in a canine. In one embodiment, a method of diagnosing early stage degenerative mitral valve disease in a canine can comprise measuring a normalized relative abundance of a biomarker selected from the group consisting of Erysipelatoclostridium, Ruminococcaceae UCG014, Butyricicoccus, Faecalibacterium, and combinations thereof, and determining that the canine has early stage degenerative mitral valve disease if the Erysipelatoclostridium is from 0 to 0.5 normalized relative abundance, the Ruminococcaceae UCG014 is from 0 to 0.1 normalized relative abundance, the Butyricicoccus is from 0 to 0.1 normalized relative abundance, or the Faecalibacterium is from 0 to 0.1 normalized relative abundance.

Metastable state spore incubation mixing systems are described. An example system includes a spores container to store spores, a nutrient container to store nutrients, a water supply line, a syringe tank, a syringe pump, an adjustable valve, a heater, and a controller. In a drawing phase of the system, a controller can cause the syringe pump and the adjustable valve to draw into the syringe tank a volume of spores, nutrients, and water to form a mixture. The controller causes the heater to heat the mixture for a period of time. In a dispensing phase of the system, the controller can cause the syringe pump to expel the mixture through the adjustable valve and into a water distribution system. The controller can direct the system through a number of other phases of operation.

Disclosed herein is an isolated strain of Lactobacillus rhamnosus LRH05, which is deposited at Deutsche Sammlung von Mikroorganismen und Zellkulturen GmbH under an accession number DSM 33616. Also disclosed herein are a composition including the isolated strain of Lactobacillus rhamnosus LRH05 for treating a metabolic syndrome-related disorder and for modifying gut microbiota, and use of the isolated strain of Lactobacillus rhamnosus LRH05 for treating a metabolic syndrome-related disorder and for modifying gut microbiota.

Novel lactic acid bacterium L8 strain and a composition including the same L8 strain, the composition having blood glucose level reducing action, a lipid metabolism improving action, an antioxidant action, an antiobesity action, a fatty liver suppressing action, a hepatitis preventing action, a liver function improving action, and an intestinal environment improving action. A Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis L8 strain derived from Amur cork living in the Shirakami Mountains, a composition containing the strain, and a medium and a method for efficiently culturing the strain.