Abstract: The present invention relates to the Lactobacillus helveticus VF45A strain, mutants and variants thereof capable of reducing the pH of milk to about 3.36 or less after 48 hours of fermentation. The present invention also relates to isolated peptides that may be obtained by fermentation of milk by the aforementioned strain. The present invention also relates to the Lactobacillus helveticus VFH049 strain and mutants and variants thereof capable of producing at least one peptide corresponding to the SEQ ID 44 to SEQ ID NO 86 sequences and/or capable of increasing the intestinal absorption of calcium. The present invention also relates to an isolated peptide and associated products and compositions and the Lactobacillus delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus VF50b strain and mutants and variants thereof capable of producing at least one peptide corresponding to the SEQ ID 87 to SEQ ID NO 199 sequences and/or capable of increasing the intestinal absorption of calcium.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the isolated strain of Lactobacillus plantarum VF46A deposited at the CNCM (Collection Nationale De Cultures de Microorganismes, INSTITUT PASTEUR, 25 rue du Docteur Roux, F-75724 PARIS CEDEX15) under the number CNCM 1-5301 on 29 Mar. 2018 as well as to a pharmaceutical composition, a food supplement and a food comprising said strain.

Abstract: Methods and compositions are provided for evaluating a subject for chronic immune disease, including predicting whether a subject is susceptible to a chronic immune disease, diagnosing whether a subject has a chronic immune disease and/or determining a treatment for a subject suffering from a chronic immune disease. Aspects of the methods include obtaining an intestinal bacterial assessment for the subject and using the assessment to provide the evaluation. In addition, reagents and kits thereof that find use in practicing the subject methods are provided. Furthermore, methods of treating a subject for a chronic immune disease are provided.

Abstract: Methods and compositions are provided for evaluating a subject for chronic immune disease, including predicting whether a subject is susceptible to a chronic immune disease, diagnosing whether a subject has a chronic immune disease and/or determining a treatment for a subject suffering from a chronic immune disease. Aspects of the methods include genotyping a subject to determine whether the subject has a least one polymorphism in at least one gene chosen from TLR4, Hsp60, IL-23R, IL-6 and IL-17F. In addition, reagents, devices and kits thereof that find use in practicing the subject methods are provided.

Abstract: Methods are provided for diagnosing and/or characterizing chronic immune disease activity in a subject. In the subject methods, a sample is obtained from a subject suspected of having or known to have a chronic immune disease. The sample is then assayed for the presence of native Stat-1 protein and/or any lower molecular weight fragments of Stat-1 protein present. The assay results are used to diagnose the presence of chronic immune disease activity and/or characterize chronic immune disease activity in the subject, e.g., to confirm an initial chronic immune disease diagnosis, to determine the stage of the disease, to monitor disease progression, to predict disease attacks, and the like. In certain embodiments, the assay results are also used to predict the effectiveness of a particularly treatment protocol, e.g., to determine whether an interferon based treatment protocol will be effective. In addition, methods of Stat-1 based methods of treating chronic immune disease conditions are provided.

Abstract: Methods are provided for diagnosing and/or characterizing chronic immune disease activity in a subject. In the subject methods, a sample is obtained from a subject suspected of having or known to have a chronic immune disease. The sample is then assayed for the presence of native Stat-1 protein and/or any lower molecular weight fragments of Stat-1 protein present. The assay results are used to diagnose the presence of chronic immune disease activity and/or characterize chronic immune disease activity in the subject, e.g., to confirm an initial chronic immune disease diagnosis, to determine the stage of the disease, to monitor disease progression, to predict disease attacks, and the like. In certain embodiments, the assay results are also used to predict the effectiveness of a particularly treatment protocol, e.g., to determine whether an interferon based treatment protocol will be effective. In addition, methods of Stat-1 based methods of treating chronic immune disease conditions are provided.

Abstract: Methods are provided for diagnosing/characterizing chronic immune disease activity in a subject. In the subject methods, a sample is obtained from a subject suspected of having or known to have a chronic immune disease. The sample is then assayed for the presence and amount of intact (i.e., native) p53 protein and/or fragments thereof. The assay results are used to diagnose the presence of chronic immune disease and/or characterize chronic immune disease activity in a subject, and/or to determine appropriate treatments protocols. Also provided by the subject invention are methods of treating chronic immune disease conditions by enhancing p53 activity. Also provided by the subject invention are kits for practicing the methods.

Abstract: Methods are provided for diagnosing and/or characterizing chronic immune disease activity in a subject. In the subject methods, a sample is obtained from a subject suspected of having or known to have a chronic immune disease. The sample is then assayed for the presence of native Stat-1 protein and/or any lower molecular weight fragments of Stat-1 protein present. The assay results are used to diagnose the presence of chronic immune disease activity and/or characterize chronic immune disease activity in the subject, e.g., to confirm an initial chronic immune disease diagnosis, to determine the stage of the disease, to monitor disease progression, to predict disease attacks, and the like. In certain embodiments, the assay results are also used to predict the effectiveness of a particularly treatment protocol, e.g., to determine whether an interferon based treatment protocol will be effective. In addition, methods of Stat-1 based methods of treating chronic immune disease conditions are provided.

Abstract: Methods are provided for diagnosing/characterizing chronic immune disease activity in a subject. In the subject methods, the extracellular nuclease activity, measured directly and/or indirectly, of the subject is assayed and the resultant value is employed in the diagnosisis/characterization. More specifically, a sample, e.g., plasma or a fraction thereof, is obtained from a subject suspected of having or known to have a chronic immune disease. The sample is then assayed for nuclease activity, either directly or indirectly. The assay results are used to diagnose the presence of chronic immune disease and/or characterize chronic immune disease activity in a subject, and/or to determine appropriate treatments protocols. Also provided by the subject invention are methods of treating chronic immune disease conditions by enhancing extracellular nuclease activity. Also provided by the subject invention are kits for practicing the methods.

Abstract: Methods are provided for diagnosing/characterizing chronic immune disease activity in a subject. In the subject methods, a sample is obtained from a subject suspected of having or known to have a chronic immune disease. The sample is then assayed for the presence and amount of intact (i.e., native) p53 protein and/or fragments thereof. The assay results are used to diagnose the presence of chronic immune disease and/or characterize chronic immune disease activity in a subject, and/or to determine appropriate treatments protocols. Also provided by the subject invention are methods of treating chronic immune disease conditions by enhancing p53 activity. Also provided by the subject invention are kits for practicing the methods.