Sialic acid producing bacteria

Abstract

The present invention generally relates to the field of sialic acids, in particular to the field of sialic acid enriched food products and their uses. One embodiment of the present invention relates to a food product enriched with food-grade sialic acid producing bacteria and/or a fraction thereof containing sialic acid.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of fortifying a foodstuff with sialic acid, the method comprising adding a naturally occurring sialic acid producing food grade bacteria or at least one fraction thereof containing sialic acid to the foodstuff to fortify the foodstuff with sialic acid. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the bacteria or the at least one fraction thereof are used in an amount sufficient to obtain in the food product a sialic acid content increase of 0.05-2 dry weight-%. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the bacteria is lactobacilli that produces N-acetylneuraminate aldolase. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the bacteria is selected from the group consisting of  Lactobacillus sakei, Lactobacillus plantarum  and  Lactobacillus salivarius.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the bacteria is selected from the group consisting of  Lactobacillus sakei  NCC 121,  Lactobacillus sakei  NCC 2935,  Lactobacillus sakei  NCC 2934,  Lactobacillus sakei  NCC 166,  Lactobacillus sakei  NCC 170,  Lactobacillus sakei  NCC 1393,  Lactobacillus sakei  NCC 1428,  Lactobacillus sakei  NCC 1511,  Lactobacillus sakei  NCC 2937,  Lactobacillus plantarum  NCC 2936,  Lactobacillus plantarum  NCC 252 and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the bacterial fraction is obtainable by a process comprising the following steps: growing cells in a growth medium; harvesting the cells; hydrolysing the cells under acidic conditions; and collecting a supernatant which contains the sialic acid. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the sialic acid has the following formula: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         R1=H, acetyl, lactyl, methyl, sulfate, phosphate, anhydro, sialic acid, fucose, glucose, or galactose 
         R2=N-acetyl, N-glycolyl, amino, hydroxyl, N-glycolyl-O-acetyl, or N-glycolyl-O-methyl 
         R3=H, galactose, N-acetylglucosamine, N-acetylgalactosamine, sialic acid, or N-glycolylneuraminic acid. 
       
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the sialic acid is N-acetylneuraminic acid (R1=H, R2=N-acetyl, R3=H). 
     
     
         9 . A sialic acid fortified foodstuff comprising naturally occurring sialic acid producing food grade bacteria or a fraction thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The sialic acid fortified foodstuff in accordance with  claim 9  for use in providing nutrition to a subject. 
     
     
         11 . A method for counterbalancing a lack of endogeneous sialic acid production comprising administering to an individual in need of same a composition comprising salic acid fortified foodstuff comprising naturally occurring sialic acid producing food grade bacteria or a fraction thereof. 
     
     
         12 . A method for the treatment or prevention of neurodegeneration, comprising administering to an individual in need of same a composition comprising sialic acid fortified foodstuff comprising naturally occurring sialic acid producing food grade bacteria or a fraction thereof. 
     
     
         13 . A method for supporting the immune system, comprising administering to an individual in need of same a composition comprising sialic acid fortified foodstuff comprising naturally occurring sialic acid producing food grade bacteria or a fraction thereof. 
     
     
         14 . A method for improving cognitive performance and/or in supporting brain development comprising administering a composition comprising sialic acid fortified foodstuff comprising naturally occurring sialic acid producing food grade bacteria or a fraction thereof. 
     
     
         15 . Sialic acid producing food grade bacteria selected from the group consisting of  Lactobacillus sakei  NCC 121,  Lactobacillus sakei  NCC 2935,  Lactobacillus sakei  NCC 2934,  Lactobacillus sakei  NCC 166,  Lactobacillus sakei  NCC 170,  Lactobacillus sakei  NCC 1393,  Lactobacillus sakei  NCC 1428,  Lactobacillus sakei  NCC 1511,  Lactobacillus sakei  NCC 2937,  Lactobacillus plantarum  NCC 2936 and  Lactobacillus plantarum  NCC 252. 
     
     
         16 . Sialic acid obtained from food grade bacteria.