Abstract: The present disclosure provides compositions for stimulating the growth of gut bifidobacteria, thereby maintaining/improving gut health. Of particular interest are compositions comprising cells of Lactobacillus fermentum, including the product LACTEOL®. Examples of specific conditions that may be treated which the compositions include antibiotic-associated diarrhea, dysbiosis, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Abstract: Disclosed herein are compositions and methods for preventing, ameliorating, or treating Clostridium difficile infections and/or reducing the severity of one or more risk factors, signs, or symptoms associated with C. difficile infections. In particular, the technology of the present disclosure relates to methods for administering an effective amount of a composition comprising strains of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens bacteria identified as ART24, ART4, and ART 12, to a subject suffering from or at risk for C. difficile infections.

Abstract: An improved process for the preparation of aggregates for use with mixtures of various carbonatable substances, in particular mixtures comprising pulverised fuel ash and/or steel slag. The mixtures also comprise a carbonatable binder. The process comprises the steps of a. blending a combination of two carbonatable wastes, b. mixing the blended carbonatable waste with a carbonatable binder, c. mixing the blended carbonatable waste and binder with water, and d. carbonating the damp blended carbonatable waste in the presence of carbon dioxide.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are compositions and methods for preventing, ameliorating, or treating Clostridium difficile infections and/or reducing the severity of one or more risk factors, signs, or symptoms associated with C. difficile infections. In particular, the technology of the present disclosure relates to methods for administering an effective amount of a composition comprising strains of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens bacteria identified as ART24, ART4, and ART 12, to a subject suffering from or at risk for C. difficile infections.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are compositions and methods for preventing, ameliorating, or treating Clostridium difficile infections and/or reducing the severity of one or more risk factors, signs, or symptoms associated with C. difficile infections. In particular, the technology of the present disclosure relates to methods for administering an effective amount of a composition comprising strains of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens bacteria identified as ART24, ART4, and ART 12, to a subject suffering from or at risk for C. difficile infections.

Abstract: An isolated lantibiotic is provided comprising amino acid sequence SEQ. ID No. 2 and at least one of amino acid sequences SEQ. ID No. 4 and SEQ. ID. No 6. Also provided is use of the lantibiotic in the treatment or prevention of infection by Group B Streptococcus or Corynebacterium xerosis. The invention further relates to isolated S. hominis strains and use of same in producing the lantibiotic. A vector is provided comprising nucleotides sequences for producing the lantibiotic.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for managing data in a non-volatile memory (NVM) of a storage device, such as a solid-state drive (SSD). In some embodiments, flash memory cells are arranged along word lines to which read voltages are applied to sense programmed states of the memory cells, with the flash memory cells along each word line being configured to concurrently store multiple pages of data. An encoder circuit is configured to apply error correction encoding to input data to form code words having user data bits and code bits, where an integral number of the code words are written to each page. A reference voltage calibration circuit is configured to randomly select a single selected code word from each page and to use the code bits from the single selected code word to generate a set of calibrated read voltages for the associated page.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are compositions and methods for preventing, ameliorating, or treating Clostridium difficile infections and/or reducing the severity of one or more risk factors, signs, or symptoms associated with C. difficile infections. In particular, the technology of the present disclosure relates to methods for administering an effective amount of a composition comprising strains of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens bacteria identified as ART24, ART4, and ART 12, to a subject suffering from or at risk for C. difficile infections.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for managing data in a non-volatile memory (NVM) of a storage device, such as a solid-state drive (SSD). In some embodiments, flash memory cells are arranged along word lines to which read voltages are applied to sense programmed states of the memory cells, with the flash memory cells along each word line being configured to concurrently store multiple pages of data. An encoder circuit is configured to apply error correction encoding to input data to form code words having user data bits and code bits, where an integral number of the code words are written to each page. A reference voltage calibration circuit is configured to randomly select a single selected code word from each page and to use the code bits from the single selected code word to generate a set of calibrated read voltages for the associated page.

Abstract: The present invention provides a pharmaceutical composition comprising dead cells of Lactobacillus strains useful for the protection of subjects against the development of conditions with behavioral, psychological and/or physical components caused or exacerbated by stress or anxiety, and/or useful in treating existing conditions with behavioral, psychological and/or physical components caused or exacerbated by stress or anxiety. Examples of specific conditions include stress, anxiety, depression, mood disturbances, sociability disorders, irritable bowel syndrome, autism, autism spectrum disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, chronic stress and a range of other stress-related diseases.

Abstract: An antimicrobial peptide having potent antibacterial activity against Listeria monocytogenes and Staphylococcus aureus is described. Also described is an isolated Lactobacillus salivarius DPC6502 strain as deposited with the National Collection of Industrial and Marine Bacteria under the Accession No. NCIMB 41840, and variants thereof, wherein the isolated bacteria and variants thereof express an antimicrobial peptide of the invention.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to the live cultures of probiotic bacteria to treat infectious diseases in humans and animals. Food-grade or non-pathogenic cultures are used to treat localised infections.

Abstract: A non-therapeutic method of reducing weight gain, serum cholesterol levels, or liver triglyceride levels, in a non-obese mammal, comprises the step of administering to the gut of a mammal an effective amount of a bacteria expressing a BSH1 enzyme of SEQUENCE ID NO: 1, or a functional variant thereof; a BSH1 enzyme of SEQUENCE ID NO: 1, or a functional variant thereof for use as a medicament; isolated bacterial strains expressing functional variants of BSH1.

Abstract: A Nisin derivative or variant, comprising an amino acid substitution at amino acid position 29 in the amino acid sequence. The Nisin derivative exhibits enhanced antimicrobial activity when compared to wild type Nisin. The Nisin derivative has an application as a natural food additive and as a therapeutic agent.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a nisin derivative comprising amino acid substitutions in the peptide sequence encoding the hinge region of the protein, wherein the derivative exhibits an increased anti-microbial activity.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a new bacteriocin, to microbial strains which can produce it and to uses of the bacteriocin and the strains. The bacteriocin is effective against Clostridium difficile and Listeria monocytogenes amongst other organisms.

Abstract: An antimicrobial peptide having potent antibacterial activity against Listeria monocytogenes and Staphylococcus aureus is described. Also described is an isolated Lactobacillus salivarius DPC6502 strain as deposited with the National Collection of Industrial and Marine Bacteria under the Accession No. NCIMB 41840, and variants thereof, wherein the isolated bacteria and variants thereof express an antimicrobial peptide of the invention.

Abstract: The invention provides a probiotic composition to alleviate Salmonella infection in farm animals. The composition may comprise at least one of Lactobacillus murinus, Lactobacillus pentosus, Lactobacillus salivarius sub-species salivarius, and Pediococcus pentosaceus. The composition maybe formulated as an animal feedstuff, or as a pharmaceutical composition.

Abstract: Crude solid vanillin-containing material is precipitated from a solution obtained by biotransformation, and purified by a process comprising contacting it with a purification fluid selected from (a) a liquefied gas whose pressure exceeds its critical pressure and whose temperature is below its critical temperature; (b) a supercritical fluid; (c) a gas. The fluid is preferably liquid carbon dioxide. The temperature is maintained below 25° . The product may be further purified by treatment with CO2 in a fluid bed drier. The crude material is preferably one precipitated from a solution resulting from biotransformation of ferulic acid. A new strain of Amycolatopsis capable of generating high concentrations of vanillin with minimal odoriferous by-products (e.g. guaiacol) is also disclosed.

Abstract: A Nisin derivative or variant, comprising an amino acid substitution at amino acid position 29 in the amino acid sequence. The Nisin derivative exhibits enhanced antimicrobial activity when compared to wild type Nisin. The Nisin derivative has an application as a natural food additive and as a therapeutic agent.