An antimicrobial peptide having potent antibacterial activity against Listeria monocytogenes and Staphylococcus aureus is described. Also described is an isolated Lactobacillus salivarius DPC6502 strain as deposited with the National Collection of Industrial and Marine Bacteria under the Accession No. NCIMB 41840, and variants thereof, wherein the isolated bacteria and variants thereof express an antimicrobial peptide of the invention.

A composition for promoting defecation includes a cell culture of at least one lactic acid bacterial strain which is substantially free of cells. The least one lactic acid bacterial strain is selected from the group consisting of Lactobacillus salivarius subsp. salicinius AP-32, Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis CP-9, and Lactobacillus acidophilus TYCA06, which are respectively deposited at the Bioresource Collection and Research Center (BCRC) under accession numbers BCRC 910437, BCRC 910645 and BCRC 910813. Also disclosed is a method for promoting defecation, including administering to a subject in need thereof an effective amount of the composition.

A probiotic composition comprising Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, Enterococcus faecalis, Lactobacillus salivarius, Lactobacillus johnsonii, Lactobacillus gallinarum and Lactobacillus crispatus is provided. The probiotic composition stimulates the immune response of chickens without negatively affecting growth performance. The probiotic composition can be added to poultry feed to improve the health and performance of chickens, and can be used as a replacement for antibiotic supplementation.

A probiotic for inhibiting and preventing the progression of a renal disease and a composition containing the same are disclosed. The probiotic contains a novel Lactobacillus acidophilus BP105 strain, a novel Lactobacillus salivarius BP121 strain. The novel probiotics, the Lactobacillus acidophilus BP105 strain and the Lactobacillus salivarius BP121 strain exhibit excellent indoxyl sulfate removal ability, p-cresol removal ability, and phosphorus absorption ability.

The invention relates to probiotic compositions, sachets, and nutritional supplements comprising a probiotic bacterium capable of an adaptive response resulting from growth in the presence of pomegranate extract, as well as methods of selecting, producing, and using thereof.

The present invention is a yogurt product that may be consumed by dogs and other mammalian pets. The yogurt product is in an unflavored form comprising as essential constituents: (A) 0% to 88% by weight water; (B) 0.2% to 25% by weight of a no-fat protein component selected from the group consisting of skim milk and cultured skim milk; (C1) 0.001% to 6% by weight sugar component comprising: (C1) 0.001% to 6% polydextrose and (C2) 0.001% to 6% Glycoses and Galactoses; (D) 2% to 8% by weight milk derived solids; (E) 0.2% to 2.5% by weight stabilizers and emulsifiers; and (F) at least one probiotic microorganism. The yogurt product may be refrigerated and served as a mousse, frozen dessert, or as a fermented yogurt drink similar to Ayran or Kefir. A method for producing the yogurt product is also disclosed herein.

The use of a bacterium of the species Lactobacillus salivarius in the manufacture of a food product, dietary supplement or medicament for treating cardiac dysfunction, particularly myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure, dilated cardiomyopathy or inflammatory heart disease (including endocarditis, inflammatory cardiomegaly and myocarditis) is disclosed.

The use of a bacterium of the species Lactobacillus salivarius in the manufacture of a food product, dietary supplement or medicament for treating cardiac dysfunction, particularly myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure, dilated cardiomyopathy or inflammatory heart disease (including endocarditis, inflammatory cardiomegaly and myocarditis) is disclosed.

The invention provides a method of increasing an amount of oral immunoglobulin A (IgA) and/or inhibiting oral pathogens in a subject in need thereof, which utilizes a composition including a therapeutically effective amount of probiotics as an effective ingredient. The probiotics include Lactobacillus plantarum LPL28, which can efficiently increase the amount of oral IgA and/or inhibit the oral pathogens, and thus have a potential to prevent teeth cavities and/or periodontal diseases.

The present invention provides a lactic acid bacteria starter comprising: Streptococcus thermophilus; and a lactic acid bacterium of the Lactobacillaceae other than Lactobacillus delbrueckii.