Chr Hansen, Tokyo researchers investigate lactic acid genes

Natural ingredients manufacturer Chr Hansen and researchers in Japan are transforming biological data with the help of mathematical models to understand why bacteria perform the way they do. Called bioinformatics, the science will use DNA to help determine the scope of lactic acid bacteria activity, leading to better probiotic food products, like fermented milk, and dietary supplements for consumers around the world. The $1.8 million project includes Roskilde University, CLC bio and other researchers in Denmark.

“We hope new more advanced methods will be developed within the four-year duration of the project” says Martin Pedersen, group leader, Genomics, Chr Hansen. “It will help us to better understand and develop our probiotic strains for future products with beneficial effect on human health.”