Abstract: A device and a method for rapidly determining the effectiveness of sterilization or disinfection processes are provided. The method involves contacting a biological indicator containing a known number of live spores to a sterilization or disinfection process. When the spores are killed, the minerals in the spores are released. Water is contacted with the dead spores to form an aqueous solution. A parameter related to the concentration of a mineral in the aqueous solution is measured. The effectiveness of the germicidal process is determined from the parameter and the initial number of spores in the biological indicator. Measuring the parameter by measuring the conductivity of the aqueous solution is particularly effective and sensitive.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a composition for a food or beverage containing a butyric acid bacterium which produces butyric acid and is excellent in intestinal regulation and cellooligosaccharide which serves as a substrate for the butyric acid bacterium and facilitates the production of butyric acid, enhancing an amount of butyric acid produced in intestine and being excellent in functions to improve an enteric environment and protect against an infectious disease.

Abstract: The present invention provides an adjunctive agent for lavaging the alimentary canal which is able to reduce a dose of oral cleaning agent for lavaging the alimentary canal, and is capable of realizing an excellent cleaning effect at the time of use of the aforementioned oral cleaning agent for lavaging the alimentary canal. The means for solving the problem is an adjunctive agent for lavaging the alimentary canal which is comprising butyric acid bacterium (for example, Clostridium butyricum and the like) and/or lactic acid bacterium (for example, the lactic acid bacterium belonging to the genus Lactobacillus and the genus Bifidobacterium, and the like).

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions and methods for ablating tumor cells in a subject having at least one tumor site. More specifically, the method comprises contacting the tumor cells in at least one tumor with a lytic agent in vivo, under lytic conditions, forming a treated tumor; and applying a sufficient in vivo stimulus to the treated tumor forming a stimulated tumor. Compositions and methods are included for shrinking a local tumor or a distal metastatic tumor, or both in a subject. In a preferred embodiment, the method for shrinking a tumor in a subject comprises: contacting a stimulated tumor cells in vivo with a lytic agent. The stimulus directed toward the tumor cells is capable of increasing the level of chaperone proteins in the tumor cells. The combination of lytic agents and tumor cell stimulus leads to shrinkage of the tumors that were treated directly, wherein the stimulus is either applied simultaneously or sequentially.

Abstract: The object of the invention is to provide a TLR4 transcription factor activity suppressor which suppresses TLR4 transcription factor and is effective in inducing or maintaining remission of ulcerative colitis. A TLR4 transcription factor activity suppressor comprising butyric acid bacteria, a metabolite of butyric acid producing bacteria, a metabolite of butyric acid bacteria, or butyric acid is provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition which includes naturally occurring, non-transgenic isolated bacteria from the group of Lactococcus and Acinetobacter or fragments thereof or mixtures thereof, to such a bacterium as a medicament for the prevention and/or treatment of allergic or chronic inflammatory disorders and to a process for producing this composition.

Abstract: Described herein is a microbial composition used to enhance anti-cancer drugs. Specifically, microbial compositions that comprise a part of or an entire microorganism having surface lectins specific to carbohydrate moieties on tumor surface combined with an oncolytic agent.

Abstract: The invention includes a method of treating gastrointestinal diseases associated with species of genus Clostridium such as clostridium deficit in human patients with gastrointestinal disorders having an etiological component such as a microbial agent producing a toxin where treated with an antimicrobial composition an amount effective to inhibit or eliminate the microbial agent. The antimicrobial composition in a form of probiotic mixture can be administrated alone or in combination with an antimicrobial agent, such as a bacteriophage which is specific for a bacterium producing toxin or antibiotics which are then used to eliminate or inhibit the clostridial species overgrown in a patient's gastrointestinal tract. Disorders that can be treated by the method of the invention include diarrhea or inflammatory bowel diseases such as colitis or Crohn's disease.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of lowering feces toxin levels and treating digestive disorders (e.g., Irritable Bowel Syndrome or diarrhea) with a composition containing a live beneficial bacterium, a prebiotic, or both. This method includes first identifying a subject in need thereof and then administering to the subject an effective amount of the composition. Also within the scope of this invention is a composition including both a live beneficial bacterium and a prebiotic.

Abstract: A method for treating, preventing, controlling, or impeding a disease in a human and non human wherein said method comprises administering to said human a composition comprising a material selected from the group consisting of oxalate-degrading microbes and oxalate-degrading enzymes. A composition for treating, preventing, controlling, or impeding a disease in a human and non human wherein said composition comprises a material selected from the group consisting of oxalate-degrading microbes and oxalate-degrading enzymes formulated in a food product for human oral consumption.

Abstract: This invention relates to using live beneficial bacteria for treating mouth ulcer.

Abstract: Current chemotherapeutic approaches for cancer are in part limited by the inability of drugs to destroy neoplastic cells within poorly vascularized compartments of tumors. We have here systematically assessed anaerobic bacteria for their capacity to grow expansively within avascutar compartments of transplanted tumors. Among 26 different strains tested, one (Clostridium novyi) appeared particularly promising. We created a strain of C. novyi devoid of its lethal toxin (C. novyi-NT) and showed that intravenously injected C. novyi-NT spores germinated within the avascular regions of tumors in mice and destroyed surrounding viable tumor cells. When C. novyi-NT spores were administered together with conventional chemotherapeutic drugs, extensive hemorrhagic necrosis of tumors often developed within 24 hours, resulting in significant and prolonged anti-tumor effects. This strategy, called combination bacteriolytic therapy (COBALT), has the potential to add a valuablle dimension to the treatment of cancer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a vaccine for the prevention of lactic acidosis in a vertebrate, said vaccine comprising at least one isolated microorganism, or fragment or fragments thereof, wherein said microorganism is capable of producing lactic acid within the gut of said vertebrate, and wherein said microorganism is selected from the group consisting of: Clostridium-like species, Prevotella-like species, Bacteroides-like species, Enterococcus-like species, Selenomonas species, non-dextran slime producing Streptococcus species and non-slime producing lactic acid bacterial isolates.

Abstract: Recombinant anaerobic bacterial compositions that under anaerobic conditions present in a solid tumor and produce an enzyme capable of catalyzing the conversion of a prodrug to its cytotoxic product in situ are described. Methods of treating tumors using the composition are also described.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a multicomponent low dose vaccine comprising a safe and immunogenically effective combination of a protective antigen component or components of clostridial organism, a protective antigen component of a non-clostridial organism and an adjuvant.

Abstract: A genetically-engineered anaerobic organism is provided which, under anaerobic conditions present in a solid tumor, produces an enzyme capable of catalyzing the conversion of a prodrug to its highly cytotoxic product in situ and methods of treating tumors using same.

Abstract: Recombinant anaerobic bacterial compositions that under anaerobic conditions present in a solid tumor and produce an enzyme capable of catalyzing the conversion of a prodrug to its cytotoxic product in situ are described. Methods of treating tumors using the composition are also described.