Abstract: The present invention relates to an isolated and purified strain of the species Lactobacillus sanfranciscensis which produces levan. The present invention further relates to a method of producing the levan, and to a method of preparing various human or pet food products or cosmetic products which utilizes the levan and/or a strain producing the same.

Abstract: A lactic bacteria strain that is exogenous to the oral microflora is selected for its ability to adhere the pellicle of the teeth and to produce a growth inhibition factor. This strain is used for the preparation of a composition intended for reducing dental plaque and for treating or preventing root caries and other diseases related to Actinomyces naeslundii in mammals.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of a casein derivative for the preparation of a composition for cosmetic, pharmaceutical or veterinary use, intended to be administered to humans or to animals for the purpose of preventing or treating disorders induced by the pathogens of the cutaneous system.

Abstract: An isolated, naturally occurring microorganism which is incapable of producing a toxin and which produces at least one compound which can be ingested by a human to lower serum cholesterol concentrations. The microorganism can be used to prepare an edible product such as a fermented food product or a medicament that includes the at least one compound and that can be safely ingested by the human to reduce serum cholesterol concentrations.

Abstract: The invention relates to a food composition containing an effective quantity of rennetted milk for preventing or treating dental caries or dental plaque. The invention also relates to a method of preparing the composition.

Abstract: Strain of lactic acid bacterium, (1) whose 16S ribosomal RNA is characteristic of the genus Streptococcus, (2) whose total protein profile, obtained after migration of the total proteins on an SDS-PAGE electrophoresis gel, is characteristic of that of the strain of lactic acid bacterium CNCM I-1920 but distinct from those of the recognized species belonging to the genus Streptococcus, namely S. acidominimus, S. agalactiae, S. alactolyticus, S. anginosus, S. bovis, S. canis, S. caprinus, S. constellatus, S. cricetus, S. cristatus, S. difficile, S. downei, S. dysgalactiae ssp. dysgalactiae, S. dysgalactiae ssp. equisimilis, S. equi, S. equi ssp. equi, S. equi ssp. zooepidemicus, S. equinus, S. ferus, S. gallolyticus, S. gordonii, S. hyointestinalis, S. hyovaginalis, S. iniae, S. intermedius, S. intestinalis, S. macacae, S. mitis, S. mutans, S. oralis, S. parasanguinis, S. parauberis, S. phocae, S. pleomorphus, S. pneumoniae, S. porcinus, S. pyogenes, S. ratti, S. salivarius, S. sanguinis, S. shiloi, S.

Abstract: A milk protein hydrolysate which is preferably caseinoglycomacropeptide and/or a whey protein in a bioavailable form is used for the manufacture of a composition for the treatment or prevention of diabetes or syndrome X. The invention also relates to a method of treatment or prevention of diabetes or syndrome X utilizing such compositions, a method for assessing proglucagon gene expression and GLP-1 release by a cell line derived from an adenocarcinoma of human caecum.

Abstract: Compositions for the prophylaxis or treatment of dental caries, dental plaque, and periodontal infection that include lactic bacteria that are not part of the resident microflora of the mouth, that are low acidifying, and that are capable of adhering directly to the pellicle of the teeth. The compositions are used in methods of treating or preventing dental caries, dental plaque, and infection.

Abstract: The invention relates to a food composition containing an effective quantity of rennetted milk for preventing or treating dental caries or dental plaque. The invention also relates to a method of preparing the composition.

Abstract: A food or cosmetic composition containing a dextran composition synthesized by a dextran sucrase enzyme produced by a strain of Leuconostoc mesenteroides ssp. crenzoris. The food or cosmetic composition is prepared by fermenting a food or cosmetic composition containing sucrose with the strain, or the strain is cultured in a culture medium containing sucrose and the dextran composition produced is incorporated into a food or cosmetic substance.

Abstract: A food or cosmetic composition containing active dextran sucrase enzymes which are produced by a strain of Leuconostoc mesenteroides ssp. cremoris and which synthesize dextran. In addition to culturing the strain in a food or cosmetic composition containing sucrose to obtain a composition containing the active enzymes, the strain may be cultured in a culture medium containing sucrose to obtain a culture product containing the active dextran sucrase enzymes which may be isolated from the culture product and incorporated into a food or cosmetic substance.

Abstract: A method of determining or predicting a value P.sub.x of a property (e.g. octane number) of a material X or a property of a product of a process from the material or yield of the process for example a blending, separation, or chemical (e.g. polymerization) process, which method comprises measuring the absorption D.sub.ix of the material at more than one wavelength in the region 600-2600 nm, comparing the the signals indicative of the absorptions or a derivative thereof with signals indicative of absorptions D.sub.im or derivatives thereof at the same wavelength for a number of standards S in a bank for which the property or yield P is known, and choosing from the bank at least one standard S.sub.m with property P.sub.m the standard having the smallest average value of the absolute difference at each wavelength i between the signal for the material and the signal for the standard S.sub.m to obtain P.sub.x, with averaging of the properties or yields P.sub.m when more than one standard S.sub.m is chosen.

Abstract: The invention relates to a new isolated polysaccharide originating from Streptococcus thermophilus comprising the following repeat structure, and which may be use for the preparation of a food, cosmetic or pharmaceutical composition intended for inhibiting .beta.-galactoside specific lectins.

Abstract: Strains of Leuconostoc mesenteroides ssp. cremoris which provide, upon culturing, dextran, and the strains include deposited strains CNCM I-1692 and CNCM I-1693.

Abstract: The invention relates to a new isolated exo-polysaccharide originating from Streptococcus thermophilus consisting of essentially D-galactose, L-rhamnose and D-glucose in a molar ratio of 3:2:1, and optionally consisting of the following repeat structure. This polysaccharide may be used in flavor reactions, and for the preparation of a food, cosmetic or pharmaceutical composition intended for inhibiting .beta.-galactoside specific lectins.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a new branched natural soluble polysaccharide comprising a main chain having repeating side chains which are only made of lactose units, possibly substituted.The present invention also concerns the microorganism by which this branched polysaccharide may be obtained and the food composition, the cosmetical composition and the pharmaceutical composition comprising said branched polysaccharide and/or microorganism.

Abstract: A method of determining or predicting a value P.sub.x of a property of a feed X to a steam cracking process or yield of said process, which method comprises measuring the absorption D.sub.ix of said material at more than one wavelength in the region 600-2600 nm, comparing signals indicative of said adsorptions or a mathematical function thereof with signals indicative of absorptions D.sub.im or mathematical function thereof at the same wavelength for a number of standards S in a bank for which the said property or yield P is known, and choosing from the bank at least one standard S.sub.m with property P.sub.m said standard having the smallest average value of the absolute difference at each wavelength i between the signal for the material and the signal for the standard S.sub.m to obtain P.sub.x, with averaging of said properties or yields P.sub.m when more than one standard S.sub.m is chosen. If desired the method can be used as such to control the steam cracking process by comparison of P.sub.

Abstract: An apparatus for on-line measuring physical property data of hydrocarbon products such as octane number, cetane number, density, vapour pressure and the like or gasoline/alcohol ratio, comprising means for providing (N)IR radiation in a predetermined spectral range; means for transmitting light at selected wavelengths in the (N)IR spectral region; means for delivering light from said transmitting means to a hydrocarbon product line; means for allowing an optical path length in the hydrocarbon product line; means for detecting the light transmitted through the said optical path; means for providing the obtained signal to be input to processing equipment for spectral analysis and correlating the spectral data to the physical property data of hydrocarbon products such as octane number, cetane number, density, vapour pressure and the like or gasoline/alcohol ratio.

Abstract: Process for the preparation of fluoridated casein micelles, in which at least 100 ppm of a soluble fluoride salt are added of a solution comprising micellar casein and the fluoridated micellar casein is isolated. Food or pharmaceutical composition for treating dental caries or plaque comprising an effective quantity of fluoridated micellar casein or its micellar subunits.

Abstract: A method of determining or predicting a value P.sub.x of a property of a material X, which is a feed to a process or a property of a product of a process from said material or yield of said process, which method comprises measuring the absorption D.sub.i x of said material at more than one wavelength in the region 600-2600 nm, comparing the said absorptions or a derivative thereof with absorptions D.sub.i m or derivatives thereof at the same wavelength for a number of standards S in a bank for which the said property or yield P is known, and choosing from the bank at least one standard S.sub.m with property P.sub.m said standard having the smallest average value of the absolute difference at each wavelength i between the absorption D.sub.i x (or derivative thereof) for the material and the absorption D.sub.i m (or derivative thereof) for the standards S.sub.m to obtain P.sub.x, with averaging of said properties or yields P.sub.m when more than one standard S.sub.