The present invention provides a method of controlling growth of unwanted microorganisms by limiting their access to manganese. More specifically, the present invention provides a method of inhibiting or delaying growth of yeast and mold by reducing the manganese concentration in a product which is preferably a food product. The invention also provides manganese scavengers and uses thereof to inhibit or delay fungal growth. The manganese scavenger may be a bacterial cell, specifically a lactic acid bacterial cell, more specifically Lactobacillus rhamnosus alone or in combination with Lactobacillus paracasei.

The present disclosure relates to a composition for preventing, relieving or treating climacteric symptoms, the composition comprising lactic acid bacteria and prebiotic composition. The lactic acid bacteria of the present disclosure have -glucosidase activity and a very excellent ability to convert isoflavones into equol compounds, and thus may exhibit estrogenic activity through synergism with the gut microbiota. Therefore, the lactic acid bacteria of the present disclosure may be effectively used for the prevention, relief or treatment of women's climacteric or menopausal symptoms.

The invention relates to a dry compositions for lactic acid bacteria and in particular to a dry composition comprising from 10.sup.9 to 10.sup.13 cfu/g of the composition of lactic acid bacteria cells, wherein the composition is characterized by that it also comprises following amounts of protective agents (all amounts of protective agents below are given relative to 1 g of lactic acid bacteria cells in the composition): from 6 to 9 g of trehalose, from 0.1 to 1 g of inulin and from 0.5 to 3 g of hydrolyzed casein, and by that it does not comprise a salt of alginic acid. The composition has an improved storage stability of the cell of interest. Comparison experiments have been made between compositions with and without alginate and it has been found that there is substantially no difference between compositions with or without alginate with regard to stability. Further, the invention relates to a method for preparing a dry lactic acid bacteria composition.

The present invention relates to a method for producing a cheese-flavored substance, including adding a bacterial cell disrupted product obtained by disrupting lactic acid bacteria and an enzyme to a milk raw material to cause a reaction. The present invention can provide a method for producing a cheese-flavored substance which can safely and efficiently produce a cheese-flavored substance having a more natural cheese flavor at low-cost with simple operation.

A method of inhibiting oral pathogens comprising administering to a subject in need thereof an effective amount of Lactobacillus strain-containing food composite, medical composite and oral cleaning composite. The food composite, medical composite and oral cleaning composite comprises at least one Lactobacillus strain, which is at least one isolated Lactobacillus strain selected from a group including Lactobacillus acidophilus F-1 strain, CCTCC NO: M2011124; Lactobacillus salivarius subsp. salicinius AP-32 strain, CCTCC NO: M2011127; Lactobacillus reuteri GL-104 strain, CCTCC NO: M209138; Lactobacillus paracasei GL-156 strain, CCTCC NO: M2014590; Lactobacillus helveticus RE-78 strain, CGMCC No. 13513; Lactobacillus rhamnosus CT-53 strain, CCTCC NO: M2011129; and Lactobacillus paracasei ET-66 strain, CGMCC No. 13514, which are respectively preserved in China Center for Type Culture Collection (CCTCC) and China General Microbiological Culture Collection Center (CGMCC).

A method of inhibiting oral pathogens comprising administering to a subject in need thereof an effective amount of Lactobacillus strain-containing food composite, medical composite and oral cleaning composite. The food composite, medical composite and oral cleaning composite comprises at least one Lactobacillus strain, which is at least one isolated Lactobacillus strain selected from a group including Lactobacillus acidophilus F-1 strain, CCTCC NO: M2011124; Lactobacillus salivarius subsp. salicinius AP-32 strain, CCTCC NO: M2011127; Lactobacillus reuteri GL-104 strain, CCTCC NO: M209138; Lactobacillus paracasei GL-156 strain, CCTCC NO: M2014590; Lactobacillus helveticus RE-78 strain, CGMCC No. 13513; Lactobacillus rhamnosus CT-53 strain, CCTCC NO: M2011129; and Lactobacillus paracasei ET-66 strain, CGMCC No. 13514, which are respectively preserved in China Center for Type Culture Collection (CCTCC) and China General Microbiological Culture Collection Center (CGMCC).

A method of inhibiting oral pathogens comprising administering to a subject in need thereof an effective amount of lactobacillus strain-containing food composite, medical composite and oral cleaning composite. The food composite, medical composite and oral cleaning composite comprises at least one lactobacillus strain, which is at least one isolated lactobacillus strain selected from a group including Lactobacillus acidophilus F-1 strain, CCTCC NO: M2011124; Lactobacillus salivarius subsp. salicinius AP-32 strain, CCTCC NO: M2011127; Lactobacillus reuteri GL-104 strain, CCTCC NO: M209138; Lactobacillus paracasei GL-156 strain, CCTCC NO: M2014590; Lactobacillus helveticus RE-78 strain, CGMCC No. 13513; Lactobacillus rhamnosus CT-53 strain, CCTCC NO: M2011129; and Lactobacillus paracasei ET-66 strain, CGMCC No. 13514, which are respectively preserved in China Center for Type Culture Collection (CCTCC) and China General Microbiological Culture Collection Center (CGMCC).

A method of inhibiting oral pathogens comprising administering to a subject in need thereof an effective amount of lactobacillus strain-containing food composite, medical composite and oral cleaning composite. The food composite, medical composite and oral cleaning composite comprises at least one lactobacillus strain, which is at least one isolated lactobacillus strain selected from a group including Lactobacillus acidophilus F-1 strain, CCTCC NO: M2011124; Lactobacillus salivarius subsp. salicinius AP-32 strain, CCTCC NO: M2011127; Lactobacillus reuteri GL-104 strain, CCTCC NO: M209138; Lactobacillus paracasei GL-156 strain, CCTCC NO: M2014590; Lactobacillus helveticus RE-78 strain, CGMCC No. 13513; Lactobacillus rhamnosus CT-53 strain, CCTCC NO: M2011129; and Lactobacillus paracasei ET-66 strain, CGMCC No. 13514, which are respectively preserved in China Center for Type Culture Collection (CCTCC) and China General Microbiological Culture Collection Center (CGMCC).

Disclosed herein are a starter culture and a fermented product prepared using such starter culture. The starter culture comprises a mixture of Lactobacillus fermentum strain LF26, Lactobacillus helveticus strain LH43, Lactobacillus paracasei strain LPC12, Lactobacillus rhamnosus strain LRH10, and Streptococcus thermophilus strain ST30. Also disclosed herein are methods for reducing fatigue, improving exercise performance, and/or modifying gut microbiota. Each of these methods includes administering to a subject the fermented product.

Disclosed herein are a starter culture and a fermented product prepared using such starter culture. The starter culture comprises a mixture of Lactobacillus fermentum strain LF26, Lactobacillus helveticus strain LH43, Lactobacillus paracasei strain LPC12, Lactobacillus rhamnosus strain LRH10, and Streptococcus thermophilus strain ST30. Also disclosed herein are methods for reducing fatigue, improving exercise performance, and/or modifying gut microbiota. Each of these methods includes administering to a subject the fermented product.