The Lactobacillus curvatus strain deposited as DSM18775 is used as a biopreservative culture in a wide range of meat products due to its production of bacteriocin. The present invention relates to Lactobacillus curvatus strains having an extended lag phase of at least 24 hours at 30° C. relative to DSM18775. In a presently preferred embodiment, the strains are mutants of DSM18775, such as the Lactobacillus curvatus strain deposited as DSM32590 and the Lactobacillus curvatus strain deposited as DSM 32591. Further, the invention relates to a method for inhibiting Listeria in a food product comprising adding bacteria of a Lactobacillus curvatus strain according to the invention to a food product in a concentration of at least 10.sup.5 CFU/g.

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 invention relates to microbial compositions useful in treating and remediating wastewater, removing organic matter from the surfaces of post harvested fruits and vegetables, and decreasing post-harvest disease in fruit and vegetables.

The present invention is directed to methods of administering a probiotic composition including Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus licheniformis, and Pediococcus acidilactici to dogs to decrease endotoxemia and improve the digestive process, and related methods.

The present invention is directed to methods of administering a probiotic composition including Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus licheniformis, and Pediococcus acidilactici to dogs to decrease endotoxemia and improve the digestive process, and related methods.

The present invention relates to a method of reducing the concentration of Gram-negative bacteria in a food product, the method comprising adding a red wine extract produced from red wine by dealcoholization, concentration and drying, and a culture comprising at least one class IIa bacteriocin-producing lactic acid bacterial strain to a food product, ripening the food product, and storing the food product at a temperature of at the most 15 C. until a concentration less than 1 E-1 of Gram-negative bacteria. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, Gram-negative bacteria already present are eliminated. In one embodiment of the invention, the Gram-negative bacteria are Salmonella ssp. The bacteriocin-producing culture may comprise at least one of Lactobacillus curvatus (DSM 18775) and Pediococcus acidilactici (DSM 28307). The invention further relates to a kit for reducing the concentration of Gram-negative bacteria in a food product comprising a red wine extract produced from red wine by dealcoholization, concentration and drying, and a culture comprising at least one class IIa bacteriocin-producing lactic acid bacterial strain.

A bacterial composition and method that inhibits E. coli O157:H7 growth by as much as 93% and Salmonella growth by as much as 97%, together with commensurate inhibition rates against the Big-Six Escherichia coli strains referred to as the non-O157 STECs that include E. coli O121:H19; E. coli O45:H2; E. coli O103:H11; E. coli O145, E. coli O26:H11; and E. coli O111. The composition is constituted of various combinations of the following unique pathogen-inhibiting bacteria: (1) Lactobacillus animalis; (2) Enterococcus faecium (3) Pediococcus acidilactici.

The present invention is directed to compositions comprising a mixture of microbes and the metabolites produced when the microbes are grown together. The invention is further directed to methods for making and using the compositions.

The present invention is directed to compositions comprising a mixture of microbes and the metabolites produced when the microbes are grown together. The invention is further directed to methods for making and using the compositions.

The present invention is directed to compositions comprising a mixture of microbes and the metabolites produced when the microbes are grown together. The invention is further directed to methods for making and using the compositions.