Abstract: Disclosed herein is an ingestible composition comprising a sphingan and its use as a prebiotic.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an ingestible composition comprising a sphingan and its use as a prebiotic.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an ingestible composition comprising a sphingan and its use as a prebiotic.

Abstract: Gellan gum products having an increased bulk density are provided that include a gellan gum co-precipitated with a co-precipitation agent to form a co-precipitated gellan composition. The co-precipitation agent and the gellan gum are present in the co-precipitated composition in a weight ratio effective to produce the gellan gum product, in which the gellan gum product bulk density is greater than a bulk density of the gellan gum precipitated, dried, and milled without the co-precipitation agent. This greater bulk density is about 0.30 g/mL or greater. Methods are provided for preparing a gellan gum product having an improved bulk density, in which the gellan gum product bulk density is greater than a bulk density of the gellan gum precipitated, dried, and milled without the co-precipitation agent. This greater bulk density is about 0.30 g/mL or greater.

Abstract: PHB-deficient Sphingomonas strains having improved sphingan yield are provided. Certain of the Sphingomonas strains are diutan-producing strains that exhibit a dramatic improvement in productivity and yield due to a combination of certain genetic modifications that affect PHB and sphingan synthesis. Moreover, the sphingans produced from such strains have superior characteristics including improved filterability, clarity, and improved rheology-modifying characteristics. The sphingans provided are, thus, highly desirable in a variety of commercial and industrial uses, including personal care items, cement applications, and oilfield applications.

Abstract: Gellan gum products having an increased bulk density are provided that include a gellan gum co-precipitated with a co-precipitation agent to form a co-precipitated gellan composition. The co-precipitation agent and the gellan gum are present in the co-precipitated composition in a weight ratio effective to produce the gellan gum product, in which the gellan gum product bulk density is greater than a bulk density of the gellan gum precipitated, dried, and milled without the co-precipitation agent. This greater bulk density is about 0.30 g/mL or greater. Methods are provided for preparing a gellan gum product having an improved bulk density, in which the gellan gum product bulk density is greater than a bulk density of the gellan gum precipitated, dried, and milled without the co-precipitation agent. This greater bulk density is about 0.30 g/mL or greater.

Abstract: PHB-deficient Sphingomonas strains having improved sphingan yield are provided. Certain of the Sphingomonas strains are diutan-producing strains that exhibit a dramatic improvement in productivity and yield due to a combination of certain genetic modifications that affect PHB and sphingan synthesis. Moreover, the sphingans produced from such strains have superior characteristics including improved filterability, clarity, and improved rheology-modifying characteristics. The sphingans provided are, thus, highly desirable in a variety of commercial and industrial uses, including personal care items, cement applications, and oilfield applications.

Abstract: PHB-deficient Sphingomonas strains having improved sphingan yield are provided. Certain of the Sphingomonas strains are diutan-producing strains that exhibit a dramatic improvement in productivity and yield due to a combination of certain genetic modifications that affect PHB and sphingan synthesis. Moreover, the sphingans produced from such strains have superior characteristics including improved filterability, clarity, and improved rheology-modifying characteristics. The sphingans provided are, thus, highly desirable in a variety of commercial and industrial uses, including personal care items, cement applications, and oilfield applications.

Abstract: Compositions are provided that are suitable for safe consumption by a patient with dysphagia. In one embodiment, the compositions include a modified xanthan gum in an amount suitable to provide a viscous, free-flowing solution having gel-like properties. The modified xanthan gum comprises a non-pyruvylated xanthan gum, a reduced-pyruvylated xanthan gum, or a combination thereof. The composition desirably has a viscosity of greater than about 2000 cP and is characterized as having a shape retention of greater than about 50%. Also provided are methods for their preparation and use.

Abstract: A stabilizing additive for compositions, e.g., fermented milk products, is disclosed comprising xanthan gum and iota-carrageenan wherein the weight percentage of the xanthan gum in the stabilizing additive is higher than the weight percentage of the iota-carrageenan. The xanthan gum can be reduced pyruvate or non-pyruvylated xanthan. The stabilizing additive can further comprise a galactomannan. The composition can further comprise starch. Also disclosed is a method for making a fermented milk product comprising adding the stabilizing additive to milk and fermenting the milk or adding the stabilizing additive to already fermented milk. Fermented milk products comprising the additive can include, e.g., yogurt, drinkable yogurt, kefir or Ymer.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present description provide a blend for use in a personal care product having a modified xanthan gum and a galactomannan, wherein the modified xanthan gum is a non-pyruvylated xanthan gum, and the modified xanthan gum and the galactomannan are present in the blend in a ratio from about 1:99 to about 99:1 by weight. Also provided in embodiments of the present description are personal care products having blends of modified xanthan gums and galactomannans, methods for product formulation, and use thereof.

Abstract: A new method to produce formulations of bacterial cellulose that exhibit improved viscosity-modifying properties particularly with low energy applied to effectuate viscosity changes therewith is provided. Such a method includes the novel co-precipitation with a water soluble co-agent that permits precipitation in the presence of excess alcohol to form an insoluble fiber that can than be utilized as a thickener or suspension aid without the need to introduce high energy mixing. Such bacterial cellulose properties have been available in the past but only through highly labor and energy intensive processes. Such an inventive method as now proposed thus provides a bacterial cellulose-containing formulation that exhibits not only properties that are as effective as those for previous bacterial celluloses, but, in some ways, improvements to such previous types. Certain end-use compositions and applications including these novel bacterial cellulose-containing formulations are also encompassed within this invention.

Abstract: Compositions are provided that are suitable for safe consumption by a patient with dysphagia. In one embodiment, the compositions include a modified xanthan gum in an amount suitable to provide a viscous, free-flowing solution having gel-like properties. The modified xanthan gum comprises a non-pyruvylated xanthan gum, a reduced-pyruvylated xanthan gum, or a combination thereof. The composition desirably has a viscosity of greater than about 2000 cP and is characterized as having a shape retention of greater than about 50%. Also provided are methods for their preparation and use.

Abstract: PHB-deficient Sphingomonas strains having improved sphingan yield are provided. Certain of the Sphingomonas strains are diutan-producing strains that exhibit a dramatic improvement in productivity and yield due to a combination of certain genetic modifications that affect PHB and sphingan synthesis. Moreover, the sphingans produced from such strains have superior characteristics including improved filterability, clarity, and improved rheology-modifying characteristics. The sphingans provided are, thus, highly desirable in a variety of commercial and industrial uses, including personal care items, cement applications, and oilfield applications.

Abstract: The present invention provides a composition of matter where gelatin-like gels with little thermal hysteresis and syneresis are prepared from water, low acyl gellan gum, and tamarind seed xyloglucan. The composition may further include salts up to an amount equivalent to the ionic strength of 30 mM. The gel exhibits a thermal hysteresis as defined as the difference between gel setting and melting temperatures typically less than about 5° C. and no appreciable syneresis. Methods for preparing gels having storage modulus values in the order of 100 Pa and 1,000 Pa and melting temperatures of about 30° C. and 40° C., respectively, are also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention is an improved form of a rheologically modified fluid which is capable of suspending various particulates including polysaccharides, hydrocolloids, and other food approved items, in a pumpable oil-based carrier fluid. The modified fluid can be thickened such that it can be used as a lubricant or a food item. The modified fluid preferably contains food approved ingredients. A representative system comprises a carrier fluid, a thickening or gelling hydrocolloid, and an oil-thickening compound. A preferred carrier fluid is vegetable oil, a preferred hydrocolloid is xanthan gum, and a preferred oil thickening compound is fumed silica.

Abstract: A new method to produce formulations of bacterial cellulose that exhibit improved viscosity-modifying properties particularly with low energy applied to effectuate viscosity changes therewith is provided. Such a method includes the novel co-precipitation with a water soluble co-agent that permits precipitation in the presence of excess alcohol to form an insoluble fiber that can than be utilized as a thickener or suspension aid without the need to introduce high energy mixing. Such bacterial cellulose properties have been available in the past but only through highly labor and energy intensive processes. Such an inventive method as now proposed thus provides a bacterial cellulose-containing formulation that exhibits not only properties that are as effective as those for previous bacterial celluloses, but, in some ways, improvements to such previous types. Certain end-use compositions and applications including these novel bacterial cellulose-containing formulations are also encompassed within this invention.

Abstract: A new method to produce formulations of bacterial cellulose that exhibit improved viscosity-modifying properties particularly with low energy applied to effectuate viscosity changes therewith is provided. Such a method includes the novel co-precipitation with a water soluble co-agent that permits precipitation in the presence of excess alcohol to form an insoluble fiber that can than be utilized as a thickener or suspension aid without the need to introduce high energy mixing. Such bacterial cellulose properties have been available in the past but only through highly labor and energy intensive processes. Such an inventive method as now proposed thus provides a bacterial cellulose-containing formulation that exhibits not only properties that are as effective as those for previous bacterial celluloses, but, in some ways, improvements to such previous types. Certain end-use compositions and applications including these novel bacterial cellulose-containing formulations are also encompassed within this invention.

Abstract: The invention relates to a modified gellan gum in which the total acyl content as well as the ratio of acyl substituent groups to glycerate substituent groups per linear saccharide repeat unit is altered to be higher than 1. The invention further relates to a process for the modification of a gellan gum to alter its acyl content in which the gum is treated with a weak base such as sodium or potassium carbonate or a suitable phosphate. The process enables “tailor made” gums having appropriate setting temperatures and theological properties to be made. Novel compositions containing them are also claimed.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for clarifying an aqueous xanthan gum solution comprising treatment of the xanthan solution with at least one chelating agent, surfactant, organic acid, or a mixture thereof, and with a protease enzyme or a lysozyme and a protease enzyme. Also disclosed is a highly purified solid xanthan gum and compositions containing the same, wherein the gum is obtained from the clarified xanthan gum solution.