The present invention relates to a wild-type, non-engineered, microbial lipolytic enzyme with a higher specificity for short-chain fatty acids than for medium to long fatty acids, specially long fatty acids. This invention further relates to a process for preparing a food product, and to the use of the wild-type, non-engineered, microbial lipolytic enzyme.

The present invention relates to a method for producing a cheese-flavored substance, including adding a bacterial cell disrupted product obtained by disrupting lactic acid bacteria and an enzyme to a milk raw material to cause a reaction. The present invention can provide a method for producing a cheese-flavored substance which can safely and efficiently produce a cheese-flavored substance having a more natural cheese flavor at low-cost with simple operation.

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.

A proliferation promoting effect on lactic acid bacteria during production and a viability improving effect during storage are obtained by a method for producing a lactic acid bacterium fermentation food product characterized in that when a lactic acid bacterium fermentation food product is produced by inoculating and culturing lactic acid bacteria in a medium containing a milk or a milk product as a main component, a lipase degradation product of an oil or fat is added to the medium containing a milk or a milk product as a main component before culturing lactic acid bacteria, or to a fermented liquid during or after culturing.

An activator suitable for immune response in tumor immunotherapy using an immune checkpoint inhibitor. An agent suitable for potentiating an antitumor effect of an immune checkpoint inhibitor, may contain a probiotic and a prebiotic as active ingredients.

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 relates to a polypeptide having lipase activity wherein the polypeptide, which, when aligned with a polypeptide according to SEQ ID NO: 1, comprises at least one amino acid substitution resulting in Ser (S), Ala (A) or Leu (L) at position 246, Trp (W) at position 307, Leu (L) at position 345, Ile (I) at position 365, and/or Phe (F) at position 534, wherein the position is defined with reference to SEQ ID NO: 1, wherein Ala(A) at position 1 in SEQ ID NO: 1 is counted as number 1 and a method for preparing the polypeptide. The present invention further relates to a process for preparing a food product wherein a polypeptide according to the present invention is used.

Provided are a microorganism having an ability to degrade ethanol and acetaldehyde, and a composition and a kit each including the microorganism.

A multilayer microencapsulated lactic bacteria and bifidobacteria, preferably bacteria with probiotic activity, and the use thereof to prepare a food product, supplement product, medical device or pharmaceutical composition or water- and/or fruit-based beverage are described. A process for preparing multilayer microencapsulated lactic bacteria and bifidobacteria, preferably bacteria with probiotic activity is described. A food product is described selected from water, water- and/or fruit-based beverages, milk, fresh whole milk, partially skimmed milk, powdered milk, cheese, fresh cheese, aged cheese, grated cheese, butter, margarine, yogurt, cream, milk- and chocolate-based custards, custards for sweets, jams and oily suspensions having bacteria, preferably multilayer microencapsulated lactic bacteria and bifidobacteria with probiotic activity.

The present invention relates to a method for producing a cheese-flavored substance, including adding a bacterial cell disrupted product obtained by disrupting lactic acid bacteria and an enzyme to a milk raw material to cause a reaction. The present invention can provide a method for producing a cheese-flavored substance which can safely and efficiently produce a cheese-flavored substance having a more natural cheese flavor at low-cost with simple operation.