Abstract: The present invention provides a method for inhibiting blood phosphorus level elevation, including administering to a patient in need thereof a composition comprising a lactic acid bacterium as an active ingredient. The method may further include encapsulating the composition comprising a lactic acid bacterium in a capsule. The inhibitor for blood phosphorus level elevation of the present invention is highly safe, is readily administrable, and can sufficiently inhibit a blood phosphorus level elevation.

Abstract: Artificial seeds formed of a seamless soft capsule are provided herein. The artificial seed contains a meristematic plant cell or tissue. The artificial seed has a structure of three or more layers containing an innermost layer, an inner layer covering the innermost layer, and an outer layer covering the inner layer. The innermost layer can contain an aqueous liquid, the inner layer can be formed by an inner membrane containing hardened oil, and the outer layer can be formed of a biodegradable outer membrane.

Abstract: The present invention provides an oral vaccine against a bacterial infectious disease (e.g., typhoid fever, cholera, or dysentery). The oral vaccine of the present invention is a capsule formulation in which a transformed microorganism that expresses a flagellin antigen protein or that secretes a flagellin antigen protein out of the cell of the microorganism is encapsulated with an acid-resistant membrane. Examples of the microorganism include intestinal bacteria belonging to the genus Bifidobacterium, the genus Lactobacillus, the genus Lactococcus, and the like. The form of the capsule formulation may be any one of a seamless capsule formulation, a soft capsule formulation, and a hard capsule formulation.

Abstract: The present invention provides a fat metabolism improving agent comprising rose hips or an extract therefrom as an active ingredient. This fat metabolism improving agent is very safe and has a superior body weight reducing effect.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for inhibiting blood phosphorus level elevation, including administering to a patient in need thereof a composition comprising a lactic acid bacterium as an active ingredient. The method may further include encapsulating the composition comprising a lactic acid bacterium in a capsule. The inhibitor for blood phosphorus level elevation of the present invention is highly safe, is readily administrable, and can sufficiently inhibit a blood phosphorus level elevation.

Abstract: According to the present invention, there is provided a means of expressing and displaying a protein on the cell surface of a bifidobacterium. In the gene for expressing a protein on the surface of a bifidobacterium of the present invention, a gene coding for a bifidobacterium-derived GNB/LNB substrate-binding membrane protein and a gene coding for the target protein or peptide are linked in this order from the 5? end side. Thus, a bifidobacterium transformed by introducing the gene for expressing a protein on the surface of a bifidobacterium of the present invention expresses the target protein or peptide on the surface thereof. When the target protein or peptide is an antigen protein or an antigen peptide, the transformed bifidobacterium of the present invention is useful as an oral vaccine.

Abstract: According to the present invention, there is provided a means of expressing and displaying a protein on the cell surface of a bifidobacterium. In the gene for expressing a protein on the surface of a bifidobacterium of the present invention, a gene coding for a bifidobacterium-derived GNB/LNB substrate-binding membrane protein and a gene coding for the target protein or peptide are linked in this order from the 5? end side. Thus, a bifidobacterium transformed by introducing the gene for expressing a protein on the surface of a bifidobacterium of the present invention expresses the target protein or peptide on the surface thereof. When the target protein or peptide is an antigen protein or an antigen peptide, the transformed bifidobacterium of the present invention is useful as an oral vaccine.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for storing seeds, comprising the step of immersing seeds in an oily substance having a boiling point of 100° C. or higher. According to the method for storing seeds of the present invention, the germination rate and the germination vigor of seeds can be stably maintained for a long period of time in a simple manner.

Abstract: The present invention provides an oral vaccine against a bacterial infectious disease (e.g., typhoid fever, cholera, or dysentery). The oral vaccine of the present invention is a capsule formulation in which a transformed microorganism that expresses a flagellin antigen protein or that secretes a flagellin antigen protein out of the cell of the microorganism is encapsulated with an acid-resistant membrane. Examples of the microorganism include intestinal bacteria belonging to the genus Bifidobacterium, the genus Lactobacillus, the genus Lactococcus, and the like. The form of the capsule formulation may be any one of a seamless capsule formulation, a soft capsule formulation, and a hard capsule formulation.

Abstract: A polysaccharide comprising galactose, glucose, rhamnose, and pyruvic acid as constituents, wherein the galactose, glucose, and rhamnose are contained in a molar ratio of 4:2:1, and the pyruvic acid is contained in an amount of 4 to 7 wt %. The polysaccharide can be obtained by culturing Bifidobacterium longum JBL05 (NITE BP-82) under anaerobic conditions.

Abstract: The seamless capsule of the invention is obtained by immersing in an aqueous fluid a two-layered seamless capsule comprising an inner layer comprising a suspension composition comprising a biocatalyst suspended in an oily substance and an outer layer comprising a shell composition comprising a water permeable substance. The seamless capsule of the invention, which has a pseudo three-layer structure of outer layer/oil layer/aqueous layer, is useful in that it is applicable to, for example, a bioreactor.

Abstract: The present invention provides an inhibitor for blood phosphorus level elevation comprising a lactic acid bacterium as an active ingredient. The inhibitor for blood phosphorus level elevation of the present invention is highly safe, is readily administerable, and can sufficiently inhibit a blood phosphorus level elevation.

Abstract: A polysaccharide comprising galactose, glucose, rhamnose, and pyruvic acid as constituents, wherein the galactose, glucose, and rhamnose are contained in a molar ratio of 4:2:1, and the pyruvic acid is contained in an amount of 4 to 7 wt %. The polysaccharide can be obtained by culturing Bifidobacterium longum JBL05 (NITE BP-82) under anaerobic conditions.

Abstract: The objective of the present invention is to provide a gene encoding novel afadin DIL domain-binding protein (ADIP) and use of the novel ADIP protein. The present inventors successfully identified a novel afadin-binding protein (ADIP) using yeast two-hybrid screening in order to identify how the nectin and afadin system organize tight junctions and adherens junctions at the cell-cell junctions. The novel protein is useful for evaluating actin cytoskeleton-controlling agents.

Abstract: The present invention provides a fat metabolism improving agent comprising rose hips or an extract therefrom as an active ingredient. This fat metabolism improving agent is very safe and has a superior body weight reducing effect.

Abstract: The present invention provides a fat metabolism improving agent comprising rose hips or an extract therefrom as an active ingredient. This fat metabolism improving agent is very safe and has a superior body weight reducing effect.

Abstract: To provide a novel substance having ?-glucosidase inhibiting activity, derived from natural products and being safe, which substance has not only a blood sugar ameliorating activity being effective in the prevention or treatment of diabetes or obesity but also an activity of reducing postprandial hyper-blood sugar, etc. and to provide food containing the same.

Abstract: The objective of the present invention is to provide a gene encoding novel afadin DIL domain-binding protein (ADIP) and use of the novel ADIP protein. The present inventors successfully identified a novel afadin-binding protein (ADIP) using yeast two-hybrid screening in order to identify how the nectin and afadin system organize tight junctions and adherens junctions at the cell-cell junctions. The novel protein is useful for evaluating actin cytoskeleton-controlling agents.

Abstract: Capsules which contain vital cells or tissues as the contents and in which these cells or tissues can be grown. Since these cells or tissues can be grown in the capsules, an extremely high cell density can be achieved. By using these capsules, foods having an excellent effect of ameliorating intestinal disorders, etc. can be provided. Moreover, it is possible to provide artificial seeds showing an excellent storage stability and a high germination ratio which comprise seamless soft capsules consisting of an innermost layer containing indefinite embryo, indefinite shoots, multiple shoots, shoot apexes, growing points, protocorm-like bodies, indefinite roots, hairy roots, etc., an inner coating layer comprising a hardened oil and an outer coating layer made of a biodegradable film comprising gelatin, polysaccharides, etc.

Abstract: Capsules which contain vital cells or tissues as the contents and in which these cells or tissues can be grown. Since these cells or tissues can be grown in the capsules, an extremely high cell density can be achieved. By using these capsules, foods having an excellent effect of ameliorating intestinal disorders, etc. can be provided. Moreover, it is possible to provide artificial seeds showing an excellent storage stability and a high germination ratio which comprise seamless soft capsules consisting of an innermost layer containing indefinite embryo, indefinite shoots, multiple shoots, shoot apexes, growing points, protocorm-like bodies, indefinite roots, hairy roots, etc., an inner coating layer comprising a hardened oil and an outer coating layer made of a biodegradable film comprising gelatin, polysaccharides, etc.