Abstract: A natto (fermented soybeans) container 11 is made of a resin-foam sheet of a structure of which a lid body, having a natto-holding recess, is connected by a hinge part to, and covering the opening of the container body. A seasoning-holding recess is provided adjacent to the inner-lid surface of the lid body. A pre-defined folding line L1 is described on the outer-lid surface of the lid body, along which the lid body folds upward into a valley shape. A splittable groove, provided on the lid body, communicates with the natto seasoning-holding recesses and crosses the pre-defined folding line L1. A sealant material is provided on the outer-lid surface, covering and sealing the seasoning holding recess. Hence, the lid body folds into a valley-shape along the pre-defined folding-line crossing, thus breaking the splittable groove.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a method for efficiently producing vinegar that contains a higher concentration of acetic acid, wherein a gene involved in the acetic acid fermentation ability is obtained, the acetic acid fermentation ability of an acetic acid bacterium is improved by reducing or deleting the function of the protein encoded by the gene. An acetic acid bacterium with a remarkably improved acetic acid fermentation ability was obtained by obtaining genes encoding an acyl homoserine lactone synthase and an acyl homoserine lactone receptor-type transcription factor that are involved in the quorum-sensing system in the acetic acid bacterium, and modifying the genes so as to reduce or delete the function of the quorum-sensing system. Further provided is a method for more efficiently producing vinegar containing a higher concentration of acetic acid by using the acetic acid bacterium.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for reducing or deleting the function of a protein encoded by the glyT gene in an acetic acid-producing bacterium. This method significantly suppresses foam formation during the culture and enhances the acetic acid fermentation ability of the bacterium.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a method for suppressing foam formation by identifying a gene involved in foam formation during culture of an acetic acid bacterium and reducing or deleting the function of a protein encoded by the gene, a method for more efficiently producing vinegar that contains a high concentration of acetic acid by using an acetic acid bacterium in which foam formation has been suppressed by the above method, and vinegar produced by the above production method. An acetic acid bacterium with suppressed foam formation was obtained by isolating a gene encoding a protein involved in foam formation during culture of an acetic acid bacterium, then by altering the gene by a modification to reduce or delete the function of a protein involved in foam formation. Further provided is a method for efficiently producing vinegar with higher concentration of acetic acid with the use of the acetic acid bacterium.

Abstract: The present invention is to obtain a novel gene that encodes a protein having a function of promoting acetic acid bacterial growth in the presence of a high concentration of acetic acid; to enhance acetic acid bacteria's function of promoting growth and thereby to develop acetic acid bacteria with an improved fermentation ability in the presence of a high concentration of acetic acid; and to provide a method for efficiently producing vinegar that contains a high concentration of acetic acid in a short time using the acetic acid bacterium.

Abstract: [Object] To provide a strain in natto-producing bacteria that is suitable for the production of soft natto (a fermented soybean product). [Means for Solving the Problems] A strain in natto-producing bacteria that is suitable for the production of soft natto is provided by isolating natto-producing strains from chungkookjang, which is a fermented food having been taken in Korea, and selecting an appropriate natto-producing strain using the stickiness and hardness of natto as indications. Different from the existing natto-producing bacteria, this strain is characterized by being capable of softening natto with the progress of the fermentation. Also, it is intended to provide a method of producing soft natto by using the above-described strain and the soft natto produced by this production method.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a method for suppressing foam formation by identifying a gene involved in foam formation during culture of an acetic acid bacterium and reducing or deleting the function of a protein encoded by the gene, a method for more efficiently producing vinegar that contains a high concentration of acetic acid by using an acetic acid bacterium in which foam formation has been suppressed by the above method, and vinegar produced by the production method. An acetic acid bacterium with suppressed foam formation was given by obtaining a gene encoding a protein involved in foam formation during culture of an acetic acid bacterium, then by altering the gene by a modification to reduce or delete the function of a protein involved in foam formation. Further provided is a method for efficiently producing vinegar with a higher concentration of acetic acid with the use of the acetic acid bacterium.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a method for efficiently producing vinegar that contains a higher concentration of acetic acid, wherein a gene involved in the acetic acid fermentation ability is obtained, the acetic acid fermentation ability of an acetic acid bacterium is improved by reducing or deleting the function of the protein encoded by the gene. An acetic acid bacterium with a remarkably improved acetic acid fermentation ability was obtained by obtaining genes encoding an acyl homoserine lactone synthase and an acyl homoserine lactone receptor-type transcription factor that are involved in the quorum-sensing system in the acetic acid bacterium, and modifying the genes so as to reduce or delete the function of the quorum-sensing system. Further provided is a method for more efficiently producing vinegar containing a higher concentration of acetic acid by using the acetic acid bacterium.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a method for suppressing foam formation by identifying a gene involved in foam formation during culture of an acetic acid bacterium and reducing or deleting the function of a protein encoded by the gene, a method for more efficiently producing vinegar that contains a high concentration of acetic acid by using an acetic acid bacterium in which foam formation has been suppressed by the above method, and vinegar produced by the above production method. An acetic acid bacterium with suppressed foam formation was obtained by isolating a gene encoding a protein involved in foam formation during culture of an acetic acid bacterium, then by altering the gene by a modification to reduce or delete the function of a protein involved in foam formation. Further provided is a method for efficiently producing vinegar with higher concentration of acetic acid with the use of the acetic acid bacterium.

Abstract: [Problems] To provide a method for efficient production of an acetic acid bacterium-type ceramide which is expected to have physiological effects such as making skin beautiful, by increasing the content of ceramide contained in cells of an acetic acid bacterium. [Means for Solving the Problems] There has been developed a method for increasing the acetic acid bacterium-type ceramide where the content of the acetic acid bacterium-type ceramide in cells of the acetic acid bacterium is able to be made as high as to a level of 10 to 30 fold by such a manner that acetic acid bacterium after finishing the culture is kept at the pH of 2.0 to 8.0 and the temperature of 4 to 70° C. for 3 hours to 7 days. As to the acetic acid bacterium used, Acetobacter malorum NCI 1683 strain (FERM BP-10595) or Gluconacetobacteri hansenii NCI 1468 strain (FERM BP-10596) is preferred.