The combination of specific immunoglobulins plus activated Bifidobacteria strains or other beneficial bacteria is described with the designed efficacy to colonize unstable microbiome communities in humans or other animals, restoring the keystone Bifidobacteria strains or other beneficial bacteria to compositional and functional importance in the intestine and improve overall health and reduce pathogenic infections in the host. Secretory immunoglobulin A (SIgA), when bound via specific glycans to select commensal bacteria grown on human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs), enhances the colonization potential of commensals through protection from intestinal digestion, enhancing attachment, and dampening host immune response.

The invention pertains to the use of a probiotic and a beta-lactoglobulin-derived peptide in the manufacture of a product for use in inducing oral tolerance, and/or treatment, prevention or reducing the risk of allergy in a subject, in particular cow's milk protein allergy.

A combination product comprising an isolated strain of Bifidobacterium NCIMB 41003 and another strain which does not adversely interact with Bifidobacterium NCIMB 41003 improves gastrointestinal symptoms associated with IBS and improves one or more of mood, stress, anxiety, sleep quality and depression associated with IBS.

An object of the present invention is to provide a technique for further promoting growth of bacteria belonging to the genus Bifidobacterium. By combining lactoferrin and/or lactoferrin hydrolyzate, and human milk oligosaccharides, a synergistic growth promoting effect of the bacteria belonging to the genus Bifidobacterium is achieved. Preferably, the human milk oligosaccharides include one or more selected from the group consisting of 2′-fucosyllactose, 3-fucosyllactose, and lactodifucotetraose. In addition, preferably, the bacteria belonging to the genus Bifidobacterium include one or more selected from the group consisting of Bifidobacterium breve, Bifidobacterium infantis, and Bifidobacterium longum.

An object of the present invention is to provide a technique for further promoting growth of bacteria belonging to the genus Bifidobacterium. By combining lactoferrin and/or lactoferrin hydrolyzate, and human milk oligosaccharides, a synergistic growth promoting effect of the bacteria belonging to the genus Bifidobacterium is achieved. Preferably, the human milk oligosaccharides include one or more selected from the group consisting of 2′-fucosyllactose, 3-fucosyllactose, and lactodifucotetraose. In addition, preferably, the bacteria belonging to the genus Bifidobacterium include one or more selected from the group consisting of Bifidobacterium breve, Bifidobacterium infantis, and Bifidobacterium longum.

Disclosed herein is a process for producing a postbiotic extract, which includes providing a first material having a first isoelectric point ranging from pH 1 to pH 6 and a second material having a second isoelectric point ranging from pH 4 to pH 8, admixing the first material and a probiotic microorganism with water having a pH greater than the second isoelectric point, so as to form a mixture, adding the second material into the mixture and then adjusting a pH of the second material-added mixture to between the first and second isoelectric points so that a precipitate is formed, and subjecting the precipitate to a cell wall isolation treatment to obtain the postbiotic extract. Use of the postbiotic extract is also disclosed.

A strain of Bifidobacterium longum APC 1472 is described. The strain has weight lowering effects in-vivo, achieved through inducing satiety via decreased internalisation of the Ghrelin receptor, and therefore, decreased constitutive activity. Moreover, the strain also showed a trend towards decreased ghrelin receptor hypothalamic expression in HFD-fed mice when compared with vehicle control group. The strain also improves glucose tolerance and decreased insulin plasma levels in mice, indicating the strain in the prevention and/or treatment of Type II diabetes, especially in obese individuals.

The disclosure relates to a mixture of bacteria belonging to at least six or seven different and specific bacterial species preferably for use in preventing or treating gastro-intestinal disorders. Preferably, the mixture of bacteria is grown together in a fermenter prior to administering the mixture to a subject in order to prevent or treat the disorder.

The invention discloses a composition comprising an oligosaccharide mixture, said oligosaccharide mixture comprising from 40 to 80 wt % of fucosylated oligosaccharide(s), from 10 to 50 wt % of N-acetylated oligosaccharide(s), from 5 to 40 wt % of sialylated oligosaccharide(s) and from 0 to 20 wt % of precursor(s) of human milk oligosaccharide, for use in preventing and/or in treating necrotizing enterocolitis in infants and young children.

The strain Lactobacillus casei AH077 (NCIMB12019) produces a polysaccharide and increases energy excretion. The strain acts to block fat absorption and is used in the prevention or treatment of obesity and obesity-related metabolic syndrome.