Bacterial Strains Having an Outstanding Ability to Produce Menaquinone

Abstract

The invention relates to bacterial strains having an outstanding ability to produce menaquinone and to applications thereof.

1 . Use of a strain selected from the group consisting of
 the strain deposited under the Budapest Treaty on 24th of February 2009 at the CNCM under number CNCM I-4128, or a variant thereof,   the strain deposited under the Budapest Treaty on 24th of March 2010 at the DSMZ under number DSM 23476, or a variant thereof,   the strain deposited under the Budapest Treaty on 24th of March 2010 at the DSMZ under number DSM 23477, or a variant thereof,   the strain deposited under the Budapest Treaty on 24th of March 2010 at the DSMZ under number DSM 23478, or a variant thereof, and   the strain deposited under the Budapest Treaty on 24th of March 2010 at the DSMZ under number DSM 23479, or a variant thereof,   
       for producing menaquinone. 
     
     
         2 . A strain selected from the group consisting of
 the strain deposited under the Budapest Treaty on 24th of February 2009 at the CNCM under number CNCM I-4128, or a variant thereof,   the strain deposited under the Budapest Treaty on 24th of March 2010 at the DSMZ under number DSM 23476, or a variant thereof,   the strain deposited under the Budapest Treaty on 24th of March 2010 at the DSMZ under number DSM 23477, or a variant thereof,   the strain deposited under the Budapest Treaty on 24th of March 2010 at the DSMZ under number DSM 23478, or a variant thereof, and   the strain deposited under the Budapest Treaty on 24th of March 2010 at the DSMZ under number DSM 23479, or a variant thereof,   
       for use in a method for treatment of the human or animal body. 
     
     
         3 . The strain or variant thereof according to  claim 2 , wherein said method for treatment is a method for treatment of a disease selected from the group comprising bone diseases such as osteoporosis; vascular diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, blood pressure dysfunctions and blood clotting; and skin diseases, such as loss of skin elasticity. 
     
     
         4 . Use of a strain selected from the group consisting of
 the strain of deposited under the Budapest Treaty on 24th of February 2009 at the CNCM under number CNCM I-4128, or a variant thereof,   the strain deposited under the Budapest Treaty on 24th of March 2010 at the DSMZ under number DSM 23476, or a variant thereof,   the strain deposited under the Budapest Treaty on 24th of March 2010 at the DSMZ under number DSM 23477, or a variant thereof,   the strain deposited under the Budapest Treaty on 24th of March 2010 at the DSMZ under number DSM 23478, or a variant thereof, and   the strain deposited under the Budapest Treaty on 24th of March 2010 at the DSMZ under number DSM 23479, or a variant thereof,   
       for preparing a product selected from the group consisting of a dietary supplement, a pharmaceutical preparation, a food preparation and a feed preparation. 
     
     
         5 . A product comprising a strain selected from the group consisting of
 the strain deposited under the Budapest Treaty on 24th of February 2009 at the CNCM under number CNCM I-4128, or a variant thereof,   the strain deposited under the Budapest Treaty on 24th of March 2010 at the DSMZ under number DSM 23476, or a variant thereof,   the strain deposited under the Budapest Treaty on 24th of March 2010 at the DSMZ under number DSM 23477, or a variant thereof,   the strain deposited under the Budapest Treaty on 24th of March 2010 at the DSMZ under number DSM 23478, or a variant thereof, and   the strain deposited under the Budapest Treaty on 24th of March 2010 at the DSMZ under number DSM 23479, or a variant thereof.   
     
     
         6 . The product according to  claim 5 , wherein said product is selected from the group consisting of a dietary supplement, a pharmaceutical preparation, a food preparation and a feed preparation. 
     
     
         7 . The product according to  claim 5 , wherein said product is a dairy product selected from the group comprising a fermented milk, a yogurt, a matured cream, a cheese, a fromage frais, a milk drink, a dairy product retentate, a processed cheese, a cream dessert, a cottage cheese or an infant milk. 
     
     
         8 . The product according to  claim 7 , wherein said dairy product comprises milk of animal and/or plant origin. 
     
     
         9 . A method for enriching the menaquinone content of a product comprising the step of adding to said product a strain selected from the group consisting of
 the strain deposited under the Budapest Treaty on 24th of February 2009 at the CNCM under number CNCM I-4128, or a variant thereof,   the strain deposited under the Budapest Treaty on 24th of March 2010 at the DSMZ under number DSM 23476, or a variant thereof,   the strain deposited under the Budapest Treaty on 24th of March 2010 at the DSMZ under number DSM 23477 or a variant thereof,   the strain deposited under the Budapest Treaty on 24th of March 2010 at the DSMZ under number DSM 23478 or a variant thereof, and   the strain deposited under the Budapest Treaty on 24th of March 2010 at the DSMZ under number DSM 23479 or a variant thereof.   
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein said product is selected from the group consisting of a dietary supplement, a pharmaceutical preparation, a food preparation and a feed preparation. 
     
     
         11 . A strain selected from the group consisting of
 the strain deposited under the Budapest Treaty on 24th of February 2009 at the CNCM under number CNCM I-4128, or a variant thereof,   the strain deposited under the Budapest Treaty on 24th of March 2010 at the DSMZ under number DSM 23476, or a variant thereof,   the strain deposited under the Budapest Treaty on 24th of March 2010 at the DSMZ under number DSM 23477, or a variant thereof,   the strain deposited under the Budapest Treaty on 24th of March 2010 at the DSMZ under number DSM 23478, or a variant thereof, and   the strain deposited under the Budapest Treaty on 24th of March 2010 at the DSMZ under number DSM 23479, or a variant thereof,   
       for use in a method for improving calcium fixation on the bones, maintaining or improving the bone structure and/or resistance, and/or improving the bone development. 
     
     
         12 . A strain of  Lactococcus lactis  subsp.  cremoris  deposited under the Budapest Treaty on 24th of February 2009 at the CNCM under number CNCM I-4128, or a variant thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The strain or the variant thereof according to  claim 12 , wherein said variant produces at least 7 μg, particularly at least 9 μg, more particularly at least 11 μg of menaquinone per 100 g of milk fermented with said strain or variant thereof when measured in a Test A. 
     
     
         14 . The strain or the variant thereof according to  claim 12 , wherein said variant produces at least 200 μg, particularly at least 230 μg, more particularly at least 260 μg of menaquinone per 100 g of freeze-dried cells when measured in a Test B. 
     
     
         15 . The product according to  claim 6 , wherein said product is a dairy product selected from the group comprising a fermented milk, a yogurt, a matured cream, a cheese, a fromage frais, a milk drink, a dairy product retentate, a processed cheese, a cream dessert, a cottage cheese or an infant milk. 
     
     
         16 . The product according to  claim 15 , wherein said dairy product comprises milk of animal and/or plant origin. 
     
     
         17 . The strain or the variant thereof according to  claim 13  wherein said variant produces at least 200 μg, particularly at least 230 μg, more particularly at least 260 μg of menaquinone per 100 g of freeze-dried cells when measured in a Test B.