Described in several exemplary embodiments are Bifidobacterium longum subspecies, microorganisms and formulations thereof. Described in several exemplary embodiments are formulations, such as synthetic formulations, that contain one or more of the Bifidobacterium longum subspecies microorganisms. Described in several embodiments herein is use of the Bifidobacterium longum subspecies microorganisms and formulations thereof, such as in an infant and/or young child.

The present invention relates to CRISPR/Cas-based methods for generating random-sized deletions around at least one target nucleic acid sequence, or for generating precise indels around at least one target nucleic acid sequence, or for modulating transcription of at least one target nucleic acid sequence. Also disclosed is a clonal library comprising clones with random-sized deletions, as well as polynucleotides, polypeptides, cells and kits useful for performing the present methods. The present methods can be performed in organisms where gene editing is typically considered as difficult, such as actinomycetes, in particular streptomycetes.

An oral biology model which comprises biofilm, oral epithelial tissue and a suspension of neutrophil-like cells in media is disclosed. The biofilm, which comprises oral bacteria, is produced by culturing oral bacteria on a solid substrate. The oral epithelial tissue may be gingival epithelial tissue to model the gingival crevice or buccal epithelial tissue to model the oral check. The suspension of neutrophil-like cells in media comprises neutrophil-like cells that are differentiated HL60 cells induced to a neutrophil-like phenotype by treatment with retinoic acid. Methods of using the oral biology model to test and compare compounds and formulations or to screen compounds and formulations for their effect on release of inflammatory signals, their effect on biofilm and oral bacteria and/or their effect on the cellular components are disclosed.

The present disclosure provides an isolated strain of Amycolatopsis sp. WGS_07 having accession number MCC 0218. The present disclosure provides a process for synthesizing furano-naphthoquinone and pyrazinone derivatives using a novel strain Amycolatopsis sp. . The novel compounds synthesized possesses activity against gram positive bacteria, malarial parasites, and various cancers.

The present disclosure provides an isolated Glycomyces lithiumensis (ECO002) strain deposited at the Agricultural Research Service Culture Collection under the Accession number NRRL No. B-68190 according to the Budapest Treaty. The disclosed newly discovered and mutated bacterial strain is useful in lithium extraction, production, and amplification. In particular, the present disclosure is directed to a novel microorganism useful to extract, produce and/or amplify lithium from a substrate.