The present invention provides a microbial consortium comprising two or more microorganisms, compositions and kits comprising the same and uses thereof in methods of treating functional gastrointestinal disorders.

The disclosure provides recombinant bacterial host cells that metabolize and convert glycerol or volatile fatty acids (VFAs) to poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) or PHBV. The disclosure further provides methods of producing PHBV using the recombinant bacteria disclosed herein.

The disclosure provides recombinant bacterial host cells that metabolize and convert glycerol or volatile fatty acids (VFAs) to poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) or PHBV. The disclosure further provides methods of producing PHBV using the recombinant bacteria disclosed herein.

The disclosure provides recombinant bacterial host cells that metabolize and convert glycerol or volatile fatty acids (VFAs) to poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) or PHBV. The disclosure further provides methods of producing PHBV using the recombinant bacteria disclosed herein.

The disclosure provides recombinant bacterial host cells that metabolize and convert glycerol or volatile fatty acids (VFAs) to poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) or PHBV. The disclosure further provides methods of producing PHBV using the recombinant bacteria disclosed herein.

An antibacterial agent suppresses the growth of gram-positive contaminating bacteria. The antibacterial agent is selected from: a lactylate in accordance with the general formula (R(OCH(CH.sub.3)CO).sub.aO).sub.bM; a glycerol ester in accordance with the general formula CH.sub.2OR.sub.1CHOR.sub.2CH.sub.2OR.sub.3; and, mixtures thereof. In the general formulae: R represents a C4-C18 acyl group, R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 are each independently selected from H or a C4-C18 acyl group, the acyl group having an alkyl or alkenyl chain which may be branched or unbranched, with the proviso that at least one of R.sub.1, R.sub.2 or R.sub.3 is H and at least one of R.sub.1, R.sub.2, or R.sub.3 is an acyl group; M represents a proton (H.sup.+) or a counter-cation chosen from the group Li, Na, K, Ca, Mg, Zn, Fe(II), Cu, Mn, Ag, ammonium or substituted ammonium having one or more (C1-4)alkyl optionally substituted with one or more hydroxyl.

An antibacterial agent suppresses the growth of gram-positive contaminating bacteria. The antibacterial agent is selected from: a lactylate in accordance with the general formula (R(OCH(CH.sub.3)CO).sub.aO).sub.bM; a glycerol ester in accordance with the general formula CH.sub.2OR.sub.1CHOR.sub.2CH.sub.2OR.sub.3; and, mixtures thereof. In the general formulae: R represents a C4-C18 acyl group, R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 are each independently selected from H or a C4-C18 acyl group, the acyl group having an alkyl or alkenyl chain which may be branched or unbranched, with the proviso that at least one of R.sub.1, R.sub.2 or R.sub.3 is H and at least one of R.sub.1, R.sub.2, or R.sub.3 is an acyl group; M represents a proton (H.sup.+) or a counter-cation chosen from the group Li, Na, K, Ca, Mg, Zn, Fe(II), Cu, Mn, Ag, ammonium or substituted ammonium having one or more (C1-4)alkyl optionally substituted with one or more hydroxyl.

Disclosed herein are new strains of Propionibacterium and methods for the biosynthetic production of propionic acid.

Disclosed herein are new strains of Propionibacterium and methods for the biosynthetic production of propionic acid.

The invention provides a non-naturally occurring microbial biocatalyst including a microbial organism having a 4-hydroxybutanoic acid (4-HB) biosynthetic pathway having at least one exogenous nucleic acid encoding 4-hydroxybutanoate dehydrogenase, succinyl-CoA synthetase, CoA-dependent succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase, or -ketoglutarate decarboxylase, wherein the exogenous nucleic acid is expressed in sufficient amounts to produce monomeric 4-hydroxybutanoic acid (4-HB). Also provided is a non-naturally occurring microbial biocatalyst including a microbial organism having 4-hydroxybutanoic acid (4-HB) and 1,4-butanediol (BDO) biosynthetic pathways, the pathways include at least one exogenous nucleic acid encoding 4-hydroxybutanoate dehydrogenase, succinyl-CoA synthetase, CoA-dependent succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase, 4-hydroxybutyrate:CoA transferase, 4-butyrate kinase, phosphotransbutyrylase, -ketoglutarate decarboxylase, aldehyde dehydrogenase, alcohol dehydrogenase or an aldehyde/alcohol dehydrogenase, wherein the exogenous nucleic acid is expressed in sufficient amounts to produce 1,4-butanediol (BDO). Additionally provided is a method for the production of 4-HB. The method includes culturing a non-naturally occurring microbial organism having a 4-hydroxybutanoic acid (4-HB) biosynthetic pathway including at least one exogenous nucleic acid encoding 4-hydroxybutanoate dehydrogenase, succinyl-CoA synthetase, CoA-dependent succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase or -ketoglutarate decarboxylase under substantially anaerobic conditions for a sufficient period of time to produce monomeric 4-hydroxybutanoic acid (4-HB). Further provided is a method for the production of BDO. The method includes culturing a non-naturally occurring microbial biocatalyst, comprising a microbial organism having 4-hydroxybutanoic acid (4-HB) and 1,4-butanediol (BDO) biosynthetic pathways, the pathways including at least one exogenous nucleic acid encoding 4-hydroxybutanoate dehydrogenase, succinyl-CoA synthetase, CoA-dependent succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase, 4-hydroxybutyrate:CoA transferase, 4-hydroxybutyrate kinase, phosphotranshydroxybutyrylase, -ketoglutarate decarboxylase, aldehyde dehydrogenase, alcohol dehydrogenase or an aldehyde/alcohol dehydrogenase for a sufficient period of time to produce 1,4-butanediol (BDO). The 4-HB and/or BDO products can be secreted into the culture medium.