A microbial composition for improving the conditions in animal farms comprising: a slow-releasing carrier base having a first predetermined percentage by weight (w/w %); and a mixture of microorganisms identified in a 16S rRNA gene sequence so that the composition is capable of denitrification, feces decomposition, and hydrogen sulfide (H.sub.2S) oxidation.

A lactic acid bacterium-containing composition including a lactic acid bacterium having a human papillomavirus (HPV) E7 protein-derived polypeptide on a surface thereof, wherein the HPV E7 protein-derived polypeptide is included in an amount of 0.03 μg to 1.0 μg per 1×10.sup.8 lactic acid bacteria; a therapeutic oral pharmaceutical composition for at least one of an HPV infectious disease and an HPV-associated tumor which includes the lactic acid bacterium-containing composition; and a mucosal immunity-inducing agent which includes the lactic acid bacterium-containing composition.

An object of the present invention is to provide a novel composition which suppresses or improves depression. The present invention provides a composition for use in suppressing or improving depression, comprising Lactobacillus paracasei as an active ingredient. In the present invention, the depression can be a condition which occurs in daily life. The composition of the present invention can be provided as a food composition and a supplement, and can be provided to a human so that Lactobacillus paracasei is ingested in a daily amount of 1 mg or more in terms of dry cell mass or 10 to 10.sup.11 cells.

The probiotic composition comprises at least one lactic acid bacteria strain, preferably Lactobacillus with intestinal tropism, for use in promoting juvenile growth in livestock, with stimulation of linear growth and/or of IGF-1 level. Exemplary lactic acid bacteria include Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus fermentum, Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus paracasei and Lactobacillus rhamnosus. The strains can be selected in a mouse model. The invention also relates to a probiotic treatment method using this composition.

A method for preventing or treating oral cancer includes administering a composition comprising Lactobacillus paracasei or a supernatant of the heat-killed Lactobacillus paracasei. A composition that contains an active ingredient with anti-oral cancer effect. The active ingredient is Lactobacillus paracasei GMNL-346 or the supernatant of the heat-killed GMNL-346. The deposition number of the Lactobacillus paracasei GMNL-346 is BCRC 910953 or CCTCC M 2019983.

The present invention relates to a gene expression cassette including a strong promoter derived from lactic acid bacteria, and a gene expression vector including the same. According to the present invention, a large amount of a human protein, the physiological activity of which has been verified, may be stably produced with high efficiency by introducing a useful foreign gene into an expression vector and transforming probiotics with the expression vector. Through the production of this protein, it is possible to provide a basis for developing functional probiotics and making products using them.

Using a method for producing fermented milk containing an oligosaccharide and a lactic acid bacterium as a living bacterium that cultures the lactic acid bacterium in a medium containing the oligosaccharide and fermented milk produced by the production method, a high viable bacterial count can be maintained even during long-term preservation in the fermented milk containing the oligosaccharide and the lactic acid bacterium as a living bacterium.

The present invention relates to bacteria and metabolites thereof that are capable of binding to vaginal cells and producing hydrogen peroxide, their use in probiotic compositions and food products and methods for their selection. The invention also relates to the use of said bacteria, metabolites and probiotic compositions for the prevention and/or treatment of urogenital disorders.

A bacterial ferment obtained by a method including the following steps: (a) culturing Lactobacillus species in at least one growth medium for at least 24 hours; (b) separating the mixture via centrifugation; (c) adding lactic acid to the supernatant obtained from step b) in an amount sufficient to lower the pH value of the supernatant; (d) stabilizing the resulting mixture with the addition of at least one preservative and/or at least one multifunctional; and optionally (e) filtering the mixture to remove any final precipitation.

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.