The present invention relates to a prebiotic composition comprising a galacto oligosaccharide (GOS) produced from Lactobacillus plantarum, wherein the GOS acts as a selective growth medium for a chosen Lactobacillus plantarum probiotic bacterial strain, and wherein the GOS is substantially the same as the form produced by reverse -galactosidase reaction in the chosen probiotic bacterial strain. The present invention also relates to methods of producing GOS and related composition incorporating the GOS.

This invention relates to a preparation comprising a probiotic bacterial strain and a prebiotic mixture comprising 5-70 wt % of at least one N-acetylated oligosaccharide selected from the group consisting of Ga1NAc1-3Ga11-4G1c, Ga11-6Ga1Nac1-3Ga11-4G1c and combinations thereof, 20-95 wt % of at least one neutral oligosaccharide selected from the group consisting of Gal1-6Gal, Gal1-6Gal1-4Glc, Gal1-6Gal1-6Glc, Gal1-3Gal1-3Glc, Gal1-3Gal1-4Glc, Gal1-6Gal1-6Gal1-4Glc, Gal1-6Gal1-3Gal1-4Glc, Gal1-3Gal1-6Gal1-4Glc, Gal1-3Gal1-3Gal1-4Glc and combinations thereof and 2-50 wt % of at least one sialylated oligosaccharide selected from the group consisting of NeuAc2-3Gal1-4Glc, NeuAc2-6Ga11-4G1c and combinations thereof. The invention extends to food products comprising said preparation and to the use of the preparation in the prevention and treatment of infections.

The invention concerns Lactobacillus reuteri for use in the prevention or treatment of microbiota dysbiosis, in particular, decreased levels of Actinobacteria and increased levels of Proteobacteria, in young mammals and in the prevention or treatment of disorders associated therewith. The microbiota dysbiosis may have been cause by numerous factors including being born by caesarean section, exposure to antibiotics in utero or after birth, or, parenteral feeding, hospitalizing, psychological stress or by gastrointestinal dysfunctions. The disorders that may be treated or prevented by preventing or treating microbiota dysbiosis include propensity to infection, allergy, type I diabetes mellitus, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, celiac disease, peripheral and central adiposity, obesity, necrotizing enterocolitis, inflammatory bowel disease, such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, and functional gastrointestinal disorders such as IBS, functional diarrhea, functional constipation, recurrent abdominal pain, and dyspepsia.

A method is provided of selecting specific probiotic lactic acid bacteria producing histamine and the use of such strains for beneficial effects for mammals. The method includes selecting a lactic acid bacterial strain for use in the local production of histamine in a mammal, and further comprises screening bacteria for the presence of an active histidine operon and selecting a strain which has an active histidine operon and is capable of producing histamine. Preferably said strain is selected for its ability to produce histamine at a level of greater than 250 pg/ml. The present invention further provides products comprising the strains obtainable by the selection methods of the invention for use in the local production of histamine in a mammal, in particular for use in the treatment or prophylaxis of inflammatory conditions.

A food composite, an oral cleaning composite or a medical composite contain at least one lactobacillus strain able to inhibit oral pathogens. The lactobacillus strain is at least one isolated lactobacillus strain selected from a group including Lactobacillus acidophilus F-1 strain; Lactobacillus salivarius subsp. salicinius AP-32 strain; Lactobacillus reuteri GL-104 strain; Lactobacillus paracasei GL-156 strain; Lactobacillus helveticus RE-78 strain; Lactobacillus rhamnosus CT-53 strain; and Lactobacillus paracasei ET-66 strain. The abovementioned lactobacillus strains are able to inhibit oral pathogens and carried by a food composite, an oral cleaning composite or a medical composite.

A food composite, an oral cleaning composite or a medical composite contain at least one lactobacillus strain able to inhibit oral pathogens. The lactobacillus strain is at least one isolated lactobacillus strain selected from a group including Lactobacillus acidophilus F-1 strain; Lactobacillus salivarius subsp. salicinius AP-32 strain; Lactobacillus reuteri GL-104 strain; Lactobacillus paracasei GL-156 strain; Lactobacillus helveticus RE-78 strain; Lactobacillus rhamnosus CT-53 strain; and Lactobacillus paracasei ET-66 strain. The abovementioned lactobacillus strains are able to inhibit oral pathogens and carried by a food composite, an oral cleaning composite or a medical composite.

The present invention comprises a method for selecting lactic acid bacterial strains effective for preventing bone loss in humans and strains that have been selected according to the presented method. The selection method is based on the strain's capability of reestablishing an altered microbial community to normal and/or harboring at least one of four specific SNPs.

The present invention comprises a method for selecting lactic acid bacterial strains effective for preventing bone loss in humans and strains that have been selected according to the presented method. The selection method is based on the strain's capability of reestablishing an altered microbial community to normal and/or harboring at least one of four specific SNPs.

The present invention relates to a prebiotic composition comprising a microbially produced oligosaccharide, wherein the oligosaccharide is characterised by being selective for a pre-determined probiotic bacterial strain and also capable of being produced by the pre-determined probiotic bacteria by reverse enzyme action. The present invention also relates to methods of screening a composition suitable for use as a prebiotic and methods for screening of prebiotics for incorporation into synbiotic formulations.

Isolated Lactobacillus strains are useful in preventing or delaying the development of Type 1 Diabetes (T1D). A probiotic composition comprising the Lactobacillus strains and use of the composition in T1D prevention are provided.