Abstract: Provided is a gene that is useful for imparting hydrogen peroxide resistance to a microorganism. Also provided is a method for using the same. The hydrogen peroxide resistance-imparting gene encoding a protein selected from the following proteins (a) to (c): (a) a protein having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2; (b) a protein which has an amino acid sequence equivalent to the amino acid sequence of (a), except that one to several amino acid residues are deleted, substituted, or added, and which exhibits hydrogen peroxide resistance-imparting activity; and (c) a protein which has an amino acid sequence having an identity of 85% or higher to the amino acid sequence of (a), and which exhibits hydrogen peroxide resistance-imparting activity.

Abstract: Provided is a gene that is useful for imparting hydrogen peroxide resistance to a microorganism. Also provided is a method for using the same. The hydrogen peroxide resistance-imparting gene encoding a protein selected from the following proteins (a) to (c): (a) a protein having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2; (b) a protein which has an amino acid sequence equivalent to the amino acid sequence of (a), except that one to several amino acid residues are deleted, substituted, or added, and which exhibits hydrogen peroxide resistance-imparting activity; and (c) a protein which has an amino acid sequence having an identity of 85% or higher to the amino acid sequence of (a), and which exhibits hydrogen peroxide resistance-imparting activity.

Abstract: The invention provides a gene encoding a protein selected from among the following proteins (a) to (c): (a) a protein having any of the amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 82, 84, 86, 88, 90, 92, 94, 96, 98, 100, 102, 104, 106, and 108; (b) a protein which has an amino acid sequence equivalent to any of the amino acid sequences of (a), except that one to several amino acid residues are deleted, substituted, or added, and which exhibits cytokine production regulatory activity; and (c) a protein which has an amino acid sequence having 90% or higher identity to any of the amino acid sequences of (a), and which exhibits cytokine production regulatory activity, as well as a gene useful for regulating cytokine production and use of the gene.

Abstract: To provide a gene useful for imparting oxygen resistance to a microorganism and use of the gene. The oxygen-resistance-imparting gene encoding a protein selected from among the following proteins (a) to (c): (a) a protein having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2 or 6; (b) a protein which has an amino acid sequence equivalent to the amino acid sequence of (a), except that one to several amino acid residues are deleted, substituted, or added, and which exhibits oxygen-resistance-imparting activity; and (c) a protein which has an amino acid sequence having an identity of 85% or higher to the amino acid sequence of (a), and which exhibits oxygen-resistance-imparting activity.

Abstract: The present invention provides a bacterium belonging to the genus Bifidobacterium, which can exhibit a high viability in the storage under agitation and can produce a fermented food containing a large number of viable bacterial count. The present invention further provides a fermented food, which contains the bacterium belonging to the genus Bifidobacterium and exhibits various physiological effects such as inhibitory action against harmful intestinal bacteria and intestinal function controlling effects. The present invention further provides a bacterium belonging to the genus Bifidobacterium having a rate of viability of 30% or more, when the bacterium is stored in the aerobic condition under agitation at 10° C. for 14 days after culturing in a medium containing milk as a main ingredient until obtaining a viable count of 1×108 cfu/ml or more, and fermented food using the same.

Abstract: The invention provides a gene encoding a protein selected from among the following proteins (a) to (c): (a) a protein having any of the amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 82, 84, 86, 88, 90, 92, 94, 96, 98, 100, 102, 104, 106, and 108; (b) a protein which has an amino acid sequence equivalent to any of the amino acid sequences of (a), except that one to several amino acid residues are deleted, substituted, or added, and which exhibits cytokine production regulatory activity; and (c) a protein which has an amino acid sequence having 90% or higher identity to any of the amino acid sequences of (a), and which exhibits cytokine production regulatory activity, as well as a gene useful for regulating cytokine production and use of the gene.

Abstract: A Bifidobacterium that is resistant to acid and bile and which retains at least 20% viability after acid and bile treatment. Foods and drinks containing an acid- and bile-resistant Bifidobacterium. Methods for providing viable Bifidobacteria to the intestine after ingestion of a food or drink containing an acid- and bile-resistant Bifidobacterium.

Abstract: The present invention provides a bacterium belonging to the genus Bifidobacterium, which can exhibit a high viability in the storage under agitation and can produce a fermented food containing a large number of viable bacterial count. The present invention further provides a fermented food, which contains the bacterium belonging to the genus Bifidobacterium and exhibits various physiological effects such as inhibitory action against harmful intestinal bacteria and intestinal function controlling effects. The present invention further provides a bacterium belonging to the genus Bifidobacterium having a rate of viability of 30% or more, when the bacterium is stored in the aerobic condition under agitation at 10° C. for 14 days after culturing in a medium containing milk as a main ingredient until obtaining a viable count of 1×108 cfu/ml or more, and fermented food using the same.

Abstract: Provided is a method of assessing the extent to which Bifidobacterium bacteria in a Bifidobacterium-bacteria-containing fermented milk food or drink reach the intestines when the food or drink is orally administered to human beings, which comprises subjecting the fermented milk food or drink to successive treatments with an acid and bile, and measuring the bacterial viability after the treatments.