The present invention relates to fermentation processes. The objective of the invention was to provide methods for producing ferments and formulating such ferments into preservatives. It was in particular an object of the present invention to provide improved processes for producing lactic acid containing ferments by simple and efficient (batch) culturing and allowing for simple down-stream processing either into a liquid, semi-liquid or a dry powder product, having sufficient stability, good handling properties and satisfactory organoleptic properties. Such processes are provided, as well as the products that can be obtained with it and their use as food preservative.

Provided is a pharmaceutical composition and food composition for treating or preventing a skin disease caused by abnormal growth of a skin bacterium or infection with a pathogenic microorganism. A composition comprising a lactic acid bacterium as an active ingredient, for suppressing bacterial abnormal growth, or preventing or ameliorating deterioration of skin condition caused by a bacterial abnormal growth, by oral intake thereof.

The present invention comprises the discovery and development of an effective cryoprotectant composition, without containing skim milk or any other animal-derived compounds, to achieve long-term stability of freeze-dried lactic acid bacteria (LAB), at different temperatures, whereby the retention of viability of the freeze-dried LAB after 6 months of storage, preferably after 9 months of storage, more preferably after 12 months of storage is more than 50%. The invention is in the field of producing freeze dried bacteria, in particular Lactic acid bacteria. More in particular, the invention relates to the use of a novel combination of cryoprotectants for increasing the viability of bacteria after freeze drying, improving the texture of the lyofilized cake for easy grinding and improving the long term stability of the freeze dried bacteria at different temperature conditions. The invention further relates to such freeze dried bacteria for use in food industry or in human or animal health applications. More in particular, the invention relates to the increased viability and long-term storage of recombinant bacteria capable of expressing heterologous proteins or peptides and administered to humans or animals for therapeutic or vaccination purposes.

The present invention relates to a mutant strain of Lactococcus lactis and its application, and belongs to the field of food biotechnology. The mutant strain, Lactococcus lactis WH101, was screened for its better tolerance to harsh environmental factors, especially higher acid tolerance. The OD.sub.600 of Lactococcus lactis WH101 was increased by 5.5 times than that of the parent strain when cultured at pH 4.5. The survival rate of the mutant strain was 22.4 times higher than that of the parent strain after 3 hr treatment in pH 4.0 culture medium. The survival rate of the mutant strain was 5.2, 2.0 and 1.9 times over that of the parent strain treated with 15% ethanol for 4 hr, 15% NaCl for 6 hr and 1 mM H.sub.2O.sub.2 for 3 hr, respectively.

Provided are a composition and a food or drink, having the effect of enhancing an immune response to an antigen, which is administered by another route such as subcutaneous injection, by orally administering to a subject, lactic acid bacteria, a culture thereof, a treated product thereof, or a composition comprising the same. An oral ingestion composition, which comprises a lactic acid bacterium strain that is Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis enhancing the proliferation of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) and the generation of antibodies, or a culture or treated product thereof, and is used in combination with an antigen as a vaccine, wherein the oral ingestion composition is for use in enhancing the proliferation of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) specific to the antigen and the generation of antibodies specific to the antigen.

The present invention comprises the discovery and development of an effective cryoprotectant composition, without containing skim milk or any other animal-derived compounds, to achieve long-term stability of freeze-dried lactic acid bacteria (LAB), at different temperatures, whereby the retention of viability of the freeze-dried LAB after 6 months of storage, preferably after 9 months of storage, more preferably after 12 months of storage is more than 50%. The invention is in the field of producing freeze dried bacteria, in particular Lactic acid bacteria. More in particular, the invention relates to the use of a novel combination of cryoprotectants for increasing the viability of bacteria after freeze drying, improving the texture of the lyofilized cake for easy grinding and improving the long term stability of the freeze dried bacteria at different temperature conditions. The invention further relates to such freeze dried bacteria for use in food industry or in human or animal health applications. More in particular, the invention relates to the increased viability and long-term storage of recombinant bacteria capable of expressing heterologous proteins or peptides and administered to humans or animals for therapeutic or vaccination purposes.

A processed cheese composition and methods of making the processed cheese composition are provided. The processed cheese composition includes natural cheese, dairy materials and a cultured dairy component. The raw cheese is provided in a range of about 10 to about 90 weight %. The dairy materials are provided in a range of about 5 to about 50 weight % and include at least one of the group consisting of milk protein concentrate, whey protein concentrate, whey, milkfat and cream. The cultured dairy component is provided in a range of about 1 to about 20 weight % and includes an antibacterial material and/or antibacterial producing bacterial culture in combination with an exopolysaccharide and/or an exopolysaccharide producing culture.

The present invention generally relates to the field of preventing and/or treating inflammatory and infectious disorders, in particular by boosting the endogenous antimicrobial defences. One embodiment of the present invention is the use of non-replicating L. johnsonii La1 NCC533 (deposit number CNCM I-1225) for use in the treatment or prevention of disorders related to the immune system including infections.

The present application relates to methods for producing beverages with low levels of acids, cations and/or sugars. The methods comprise the step of removing acidic ions through an AX-REED membrane stack and optionally removing cations through a CX-REED membrane stack. In certain embodiments, the AX-REED and the CX-REEF membrane stacks are operated in parallel. The methods may also comprise a step of converting sugar to organic acid, while simultaneously removing the generated organic acid through the AX-REED membrane stack. The sugar may for example be converted with the aid of enzymes and/or microorganisms.

Composition of a hypoallergenic, plant-based vegan product by combining water with a hypoallergenic-substrate, and a plant-based butter and/or cream including at least one or more of sunflower seed butter and/or coconut cream. The resulting slurry is then subjected to a preservation process. In an alternative method, the resulting slurry is inoculated in order to reduce its pH.