Probiotic

• US 5,589,168 A
• Filed: 09/02/1994
• Issued: 12/31/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Quest International B.V.. (Givaudan SA)
• Original Assignee: Unilever Patent Holdings BV (Unilever PLC)
• Inventors: Allen, William D., Linggood, Margaret A., Porter, Philip
• Primary Examiner(s): Bleutge, John C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Harrison, Robert H.
• Application Number:
  US08/300,207
• Time in Patent Office: 851 Days
• Field of Search: 424/439, 424/93.44, 424/93.48, 424/93.4, 426/61, 426/71
• US Class Current: 424/93.4
• CPC Class Codes: A23C 9/1203 Addition of, or treatment with, enzymes or microorganisms other than lactobacteriaceae
• CPC Class Codes: A23C 9/1236 using Leuconostoc, Pediococcus or Streptococcus sp. other than Streptococcus Thermophilus; Artificial sour buttermilk in general A23C9/1234 and A23C17/02 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A23C 9/127 using microorganisms of the genus lactobacteriaceae and other microorganisms or enzymes, e.g. kefir, koumiss A23C9/13 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A23D 7/0056 Spread compositions
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 2/52 Adding ingredients adding preservatives A23L2/44
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 33/135 Bacteria or derivatives thereof, e.g. probiotics
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2400/21 Streptococcus, lactococcus
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 35/744 Lactic acid bacteria, e.g. enterococci, pediococci, lactococci, streptococci or leuconostocs
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 1/00 Drugs for disorders of the alimentary tract or the digestive system
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 1/12 Antidiarrhoeals
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 1/205 Bacterial isolates
• CPC Class Codes: C12R 2001/46 Streptococcus ; Enterococcus; Lactococcus
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 435/822 using bacteria or actinomycetales

Abstract

A novel strain of Enterococcus faecium, deposited as NCIMB 40371, has valuable probiotic properties and is particularly effective in alleviating symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome in human patients. The novel strain can be used in the manufacture of human foodstuffs.

Claims

1. Organisms of Enterococcus faecium selected from the group consisting of strain NCIMB 40371 and IBS-alleviating mutants thereof.

2. Organisms of claim 1 in viable form.

3. Organisms of claim 1 in lyophilized form.

4. Enterococcus faecium strain NCIMB 40371.