Provided herein are agents, compositions, and methods for agricultural use, e.g., for altering the level, activity, or metabolism of one or more microorganisms resident in a host nematode or arthropod (e.g., honeybee or silkworm), the alteration resulting in an increase in the fitness of the host. The invention features a composition that includes an agent (e.g., phage, peptide, small molecule, antibiotic, or combinations thereof) that can alter the host's microbiota in a manner that is beneficial to the host. By promoting favorable microbial levels, microbial activity, microbial metabolism, and/or microbial diversity, the agents described herein may be used to increase the fitness of a variety of beneficial nematodes or arthropods, such as bees and silkworms, utilized in agriculture and commerce.

The present disclosure provides recombinant microalgae that can deliver both pathogen protection and essential nutrition to honey bees. The microalgae can contain genetic modifications that result in the expression of RNA-interference (RNAi) inducing elements that target honey bee pathogens and endogenous honey bee genes.

The present disclosure provides recombinant microalgae that can deliver both pathogen protection and essential nutrition to honey bees. The microalgae can contain genetic modifications that result in the expression of RNA-interference (RNAi) inducing elements that target honey bee pathogens and endogenous honey bee genes.

The present invention relates to the use of a first amino acid selected from the group consisting of glycine, alanine, cysteine, histidine, leucine, methionine, phenylalanine, serine, tryptophan and tyrosine or a mixture of two or more thereof; a second amino acid selected from the group consisting of aspartic acid, cystine, glutamic acid, glutamine, isoleucine, lysine, aspartic acid, ornithine, threonine, valine, proline and hydroxyproline or a mixture of two or more thereof and one or more furanones for increasing the palatability of a foodstuff to a companion animal. The invention also relates to a pet foodstuff or supplement comprising a first amino acid selected from the group consisting of glycine, alanine, cysteine, histidine, leucine, methionine, phenylalanine, serine, tryptophan and tyrosine or a mixture of two or more thereof; a second amino acid selected from the group consisting of aspartic acid, cystine, glutamic acid, glutamine, isoleucine, lysine, aspartic acid, ornithine, threonine, valine, proline and hydroxyproline or a mixture of two or more furanones, and also a method of increasing the palatability of a foodstuff to a companion animal.

The present invention relates to the use of a first amino acid selected from the group consisting of glycine, alanine, cysteine, histidine, leucine, methionine, phenylalanine, serine, tryptophan and tyrosine or a mixture of two or more thereof; a second amino acid selected from the group consisting of aspartic acid, cystine, glutamic acid, glutamine, isoleucine, lysine, aspartic acid, ornithine, threonine, valine, proline and hydroxyproline or a mixture of two or more thereof and one or more furanones for increasing the palatability of a foodstuff to a companion animal. The invention also relates to a pet foodstuff or supplement comprising a first amino acid selected from the group consisting of glycine, alanine, cysteine, histidine, leucine, methionine, phenylalanine, serine, tryptophan and tyrosine or a mixture of two or more thereof; a second amino acid selected from the group consisting of aspartic acid, cystine, glutamic acid, glutamine, isoleucine, lysine, aspartic acid, ornithine, threonine, valine, proline and hydroxyproline or a mixture of two or more furanones, and also a method of increasing the palatability of a foodstuff to a companion animal.

The present invention relates to the use of one or more nucleotides selected from the group consisting of GMP (guanosine monophosphate) and IMP (inosine monophosphate), a first amino acid selected from the group consisting of alanine, histidine and glycine or a mixture thereof; a second amino acid selected from the group consisting of proline and threonine or a mixture thereof; and furaneol for increasing the palatability of a foodstuff to a companion animal. The invention also relates to a pet food-stuff or supplement comprising one or more nucleotides selected from the group consisting of GMP and IMP, a first amino acid selected from the group consisting of alanine, histidine and glycine or a mixture thereof; a second amino acid selected from the group consisting of proline and threonine or a mixture thereof; and furaneol, and also to a method of increasing the palatability of a food-stuff to a companion animal.

The present invention relates to the use of one or more nucleotides selected from the group consisting of GMP (guanosine monophosphate) and IMP (inosine monophosphate), a first amino acid selected from the group consisting of alanine, histidine and glycine or a mixture thereof; a second amino acid selected from the group consisting of proline and threonine or a mixture thereof; and furaneol for increasing the palatability of a foodstuff to a companion animal. The invention also relates to a pet food-stuff or supplement comprising one or more nucleotides selected from the group consisting of GMP and IMP, a first amino acid selected from the group consisting of alanine, histidine and glycine or a mixture thereof; a second amino acid selected from the group consisting of proline and threonine or a mixture thereof; and furaneol, and also to a method of increasing the palatability of a food-stuff to a companion animal.

A specific type of organ health marker in a companion animal can be improved by adjusting the diet of the animal to increase the amount of a compound which positively or negatively modulates the specific type of organ health marker or adjusting the diet of the animal to decrease the amount of a compound which positively or negatively modulates the specific type of organ health marker. The specific type of organ health marker can be one or more of phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase, aspartate aminotransferase, or gamma-glutamyltransferase.

A specific type of organ health marker in a companion animal can be improved by adjusting the diet of the animal to increase the amount of a compound which positively or negatively modulates the specific type of organ health marker or adjusting the diet of the animal to decrease the amount of a compound which positively or negatively modulates the specific type of organ health marker. The specific type of organ health marker can be one or more of phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase, aspartate aminotransferase, or gamma-glutamyltransferase.

Amino acids present in domains of an umami taste receptor are described herein, wherein the amino acids interact with at least one nucleotide derivative and/or at least one transmembrane compound that potentiates, modulates, increases, and/or enhances the activity of the umami receptor. Such compounds can be used in flavor compositions to enhance the umami taste and/or palatability of food products.