Abstract: The present invention relates to an interferon therapeutic effect enhancer that contains lactoferrin as its active ingredient; the use of lactoferrin for the production of an interferon therapeutic effect enhancer; a pharmaceutical composition having interferon and lactoferrin as its active ingredients; and, a disease treatment method that includes administration of said pharmaceutical composition, said interferon therapeutic effect enhancer and said pharmaceutical composition being able to improve the therapeutic effects of interferon against various diseases without the occurrence of adverse side effects.

Abstract: This invention relates to a new microorganism belonging to Streptococcus thermophilus having an oxygen uptake ability of at least 30 nano moles per milligram of dried cell of said microorganism per minute which is defined by the quantity of oxygen consumption as determined by Warburg's manometric method, and to a microbial composition which comprises as main ingredients viable cell mass of (a) said microorganism and (b) bifidobacteria.

Abstract: A culture containing a viable mass of Bifodobacteria and lactic acid bacteria is obtained by incubating separately or together microorganisms of the genus Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus, and the species Streptococcus thermophilus in a medium containing milk as the main ingredient. The Streptococcus thermophilus is a strain having high oxygen uptake. When incubated separately, the microorganisms are mixed together after incubating. In the presence of the high oxygen uptake Streptococcus thermophilus, a high survival fraction of the Bifidobacteria is obtained when the culture is stored under aerobic conditions. The culture is useful in preparing food, medicine or feed.

Abstract: A method of treating organic waste water in an aeration tank is characterized by the fact that (1) the dissolved oxygen content in the aeration tank is adjusted to be within the range of 1.5-4.5 ppm; (2) the temperature of the waste water is controlled to be within the range of 15.degree.-40.degree. C. and the residence time of the waste water in the aeration tank is set at ten or more days if the ratio of the total carbon content to the nitrogen content of the organic materials contained in the waste water (TOC/N) is not less than 5, and the temperature of the waste water is controlled to be within the range of 20.degree.-40.degree. C. and the residence time of the waste water in the aeration tank is set at ten or more days if the TOC/N is less than 5 and not less than 2.5, and (3) the activated sludge content in the aeration tank is kept constant by controlling the amount of COD to be removed according to the equation:.sigma.T=33.5.times.1.058.sup.(T-20)wherein T is a temperature (.degree.C.