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: A process for the manufacture of a probiotic cheese, such as Cheddar cheese, comprises adding a 0.0-5.5% inoculum of a strain of Lactobacillus paracasei, which is non-pathogenic, acid and bile tolerant and adherent to human epithelial cells, as a starter adjunct to cheese milk, said L. paracasei strain being capable of growing during the ripening phase to a level of 107 cfu/g or greater. The L. paracasei strains are found to grow and proliferate to high cell numbers (in excess of 108 cfu/g) in the cheese over eight months of ripening, even when added at a relatively low inoculum. The presence of the L. paracasei strains is found to have negligible effects on cheese composition, flavor and aroma.

Abstract: The production of a spray-dried bacteriocin lacticin 3147 powder is described. The powder is shown to have effective anti-microbial activity in a range of foodstuffs, namely infant milk formulations, powdered soup, yoghurt and cottage cheese. Increased anti-microbial activity was demonstrated when the lacticin 3147 powder was used in conjunction with increased hydrostatic pressure. The process comprises: inoculating a medium with a lacticin 3147-producing strain of bacteria, fermenting the inoculated medium, adjusting the pH of the fermentation to 6.3-6.7, inactivating the bacterial fermentate and evaporating the fermentate.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel anti-microbial agent, more particularly, a novel bacteriocin with nisin-like properties. The bacteriocin is designated lacticin 3147 and has the following properties: a molecular weight of approximately 2.8 kDa; inhibiting activity against lactococci, lactobacilli, enterococci, bacilli, leuconostocs, pediococci, clostridia, staphylococci and streptococci; sensitivity to the proteases trypsin, alpha-chymotrypsin, proteinase K and pronase E but not pepsin; heat-stability; activity at acid pH; and the capability of inhibiting nisin-producing bacterial strains.