Composition for use in promoting brain development and functioning

Abstract

The present invention relates to compositions comprising Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis in an effective amount for use in increasing production of at least one polyamine and / or its metabolite, and / or gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), by the gut microbiota of a young individual to promote brain development and / or brain functioning in a young individual.

Description

[0001] COMPOSITION FOR USE IN PROMOTING BRAIN DEVELOPMENT AND FUNCTIONING

[0002] FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The present invention relates to compositions for use in promoting brain development and / or brain functioning in a young individual. The present invention relates to compositions comprising Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis in an effective amount for use in increasing production of at least one polyamine and / or its metabolite, and / or gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), by the gut microbiota of a young individual to promote brain development and / or brain functioning in a young individual.

[0004] BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0005] Breast feeding is considered as the ideal source of nutrition and is the preferred choice for feeding infants up to at least 6 months of age. Consequently, human milk (HM) has long been considered as the model for the design of infant formulas (IF). Even if many improvements in the nutrient composition of IF have been made during the last decades, there are still important differences in composition as well as in functional benefits conveyed by HM.

[0006] Identifying the potential relationship between human breast milk components and early brain development and associated functions has gained substantial interests in recent years.

[0007] Nutritional deficiencies have been associated with hypomyelination, altered myelin composition, or decreased myelin synthesis.

[0008] The relationship between human breast milk composition and its impact on brain development and functioning in infants, toddlers and / or young children remains unclear.

[0009] The human brain undergoes rapid development during the first few years of life, with the majority of brain growth occurring during the first year. This period is critical for the establishment of neural connections and the development of cognitive, motor, language and social-emotional skills. However, many factors can negatively impact neurodevelopment in infants, including malnutrition, environmental toxins, and genetic disorders.

[0010] Impaired brain development and functioning in infants can lead to a range of diseases and conditions, including: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) that is a developmental disorder that affects communication, social interaction, and behavior; Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) that is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects attention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity; Intellectual Disability that is a condition characterized by significant limitations in intellectual functioning and adaptive behavior; Epilepsy that is a neurological disorder characterized by recurrent seizures; Schizophrenia that is a severe mental disorder that affects thinking, emotions, and behavior; Depression and Anxiety; Language delay that is a condition in which a child's language development is slower than expected fortheir age; Specific Language Impairment (SLI) that is a language disorder that affects the development of language skills, including grammar, vocabulary, and sentence structure; Dyslexia that is a learning disorder that affects reading skills; Speech Sound Disorder that is a condition in which a child has difficulty producing speech sounds correctly; Stuttering that is a speech disorder characterized by interruptions in the flow of speech; Cerebral Palsy that is a group of disorders that affect movement and posture; Hypotonia that is a condition in which a child has low muscle tone, which can affect their ability to move and control their body; Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) that is a condition in which a child has difficulty with motor coordination and movement; Ataxia that is a condition in which a child has difficulty with balance and coordination.

[0011] Overall, impaired neurodevelopment during early childhood can have significant and long- lasting effects on a child's health and well-being. Early intervention and support can help mitigate the effects of impaired neurodevelopment and improve its outcomes.

[0012] Further, the gastrointestinal or “gut” microbiome during infancy can play a significant role in the health and brain development and functioning of the infant both during infancy and later on in life (see e.g., Tanaka and Nakayama. 2017. Allergol. Int. 66(4): 515-522). Various factors, including diet, can significantly influence the microbiome structure and thus influence the health and brain development and functioning of an infant both during infancy and later in life.

[0013] During infancy, a mammal, including a human, will transition from a diet that is composed of all or primarily a mother’s milk to one of solid foods. This is referred to as the “transitional period”, “transitional feeding period”, or “weaning”. As this occurs, significant changes in the gut microbiome structure can take place due to the change in diet and other stressors during that time (see e.g., Vatanen et al., 2019. Nature Microbiology. 4:470-479; Dizzell et al., 2021. PLOS ONE. https: / / doi.org / 10.1371 / journal.pone.0248924; Moore and Townsend. 2019. Open Biol. Sep; 9(9): 190128; Magne et al. 2006. FEMS Microbiology Ecology, 58(3): 563-571 ; and Edwards C.A. Ann Nutr Metab 2017;70:246-250). The change in microbiome structure can in turn impact the physiologic, cognitive, anatomical, health or other state or characteristic of the mammal. Although several studies have and are currently investigating the gut microbiome during infancy and young childhood, the gut microbiome and its impact on the immediate and lifelong health and well-being of the infant is far from being well characterized. Paralleling the lack of characterization and understanding of the gut microbiome in infancy and young childhood is also a paucity of compositions and formulations capable of facilitating a healthy gut microbiome appropriate for infant or young child use.

[0014] Thus, there is a need to identify nutrients and compositions that can promote healthy brain development and functioning in young individuals, in particular in those who are undergoing weaning period.

[0015] By supporting healthy brain growth and function, these nutrients or compositions could help prevent neurodevelopmental disorders or diseases, improve performance, and enhance overall quality of life. As such, there is a growing need for innovative solutions that can identify such nutrients and compositions and optimize the use of them in young individual’s nutrition.

[0016] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0017] The inventors have surprisingly found that Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis is capable to increase production by the gut microbiota of specific polyamines and / or their metabolites, as well as gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), that are associated with promoting brain development and functioning in infants, toddlers and children, specifically those who are undergoing weaning period.

[0018] The present invention provides composition comprising Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis in an effective amount for use in increasing production of at least one polyamine and / or its metabolite by the gut microbiota of a young individual. In an embodiment, the composition is for use in increasing production of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA).

[0019] In an embodiment, the Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis has an Average Nucleotide Identity (AN I) of at least 98.1 % with at least one Bifidobacterium longum strain selected from the group consisting of CNCM I-5942, CNCM I-5683, CNCM I-5684, CNCM I-5685, CNCM I-5686, CNCM I-5687, CMCC-P0001 (ATCC BAA-2753), and any combination thereof.

[0020] In an embodiment, the Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis has an Average Nucleotide Identity (ANI) of at least 99% compared to the B. longum strain deposited with the CNCM under deposit number CNCM I-5942. Suitably, the B. longum subsp. iuvenis has at least one identifying characteristic of the B. longum transitional strain deposited under deposit number CNCM I-5942, as described herein.

[0021] In an embodiment, the Bifidobacterium longum subps. iuvenis is referred to herein as NCC 5025; and was deposited with the Collection Nationale de Cultures de Micro-organisms (CNCM), Institute Pasteur by SOCIETE DES PRODUITS NESTLE S.A according to Budapest Treaty on the 29th of March 2023 receiving the deposit number CNCM I-5942. In an embodiment, the composition for use comprises Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis, optionally further comprising 2-FL, 3-FL, Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis and / or Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis.

[0022] In a further embodiment, the composition for use comprises Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis and 2-FL, optionally further comprising 3-FL, Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis, and / or Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis.

[0023] In a further embodiment, the composition for use comprises Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis and 3-FL, optionally further comprising 2-FL, Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis, and / or Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis.

[0024] In a further embodiment, the composition for use comprises Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis, 2-FL and 3-FL, optionally further comprising Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis and / or Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis.

[0025] In a further embodiment, the composition for use comprises Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis, 2-FL, 3-FL and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis, optionally further comprising Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis.

[0026] In a further embodiment, the composition for use comprises Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis, 2-FL, 3-FL and Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis, optionally further comprising Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis.

[0027] In a further embodiment, the composition for use comprises Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis, 2-FL, 3-FL and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis.

[0028] In a further embodiment, the composition for use comprises Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis, 2-FL, 3-FL and Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis.

[0029] In a further embodiment, the composition for use comprises Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis, 2-FL, 3-F, Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis, and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis.

[0030] In an embodiment, the composition for use consists of Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis, 2-FL and 3-FL.

[0031] In a further embodiment, the composition for use consists of Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis, 2-FL, 3-FL and Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis. In a further embodiment, the composition for use consists of Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis, 2-FL, 3-FL and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis.

[0032] In a further embodiment, the composition for use consists of Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis, 2-FL, 3-F, Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis, and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis.

[0033] In a further embodiment, the Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis is Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis LMG 11588 or has an Average Nucleotide Identity (ANI) of at least 99.9% to Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis LMG 11588, and the Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis is Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis CNCM 1-3446 or has an Average Nucleotide Identity (ANI) of at least 99.9% ANI to Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis CNCM 1-3446.

[0034] In an embodiment, the at least one polyamine comprises agmatine, putrescine, spermidine, spermine, and / or cadaverine.

[0035] In an embodiment, the metabolite comprises at least one acetylagmatine, acetylputrescine, N1 -acetylspermidine, N1 ,N8-diacetylspermidine, N1 -acetylspermine, N1 ,N12- diacetylspermine, N-Acetylcadaverine, N6-Acetyl-L-lysine, N2-Acetylornithine, and / or N-acetyl agmatine.

[0036] In an embodiment, the composition further comprises at least one source of polyamine precursors, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) precursors, prebiotics and / or probiotics.

[0037] In an embodiment, the composition comprises the at least one source of polyamine precursors, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) precursors, prebiotics and / or probiotics in an effective amount for use in promoting brain development and / or brain functioning in a young individual.

[0038] In an embodiment, the composition comprises the at least one source of polyamine precursors wherein the polyamine precursors comprises ornithine, arginine, citrulline, methionine, lysine, glutamate, and / or glutamine.

[0039] In an embodiment, the composition is for use in promoting brain development and / or brain functioning in a young individual.

[0040] In an embodiment, brain development comprises social-emotional, motor, language and / or cognitive development, increasing brain structural maturation and / or increasing brain functional maturation. In an embodiment, brain functioning comprises regulating stress, sleep, hormones, motor, language, social-emotional and / or cognitive skills, increasing learning, increasing memory and / or increasing brain connectivity.

[0041] In an embodiment, the composition is for use in preventing or / and treating conditions and / or disorders induced by impaired brain development and / or brain functioning in a young individual.

[0042] In an embodiment, the conditions and / or disorders induced by impaired brain development and / or brain functioning include autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), intellectual disability, epilepsy, depression, anxiety, language delay, specific language impairment (SLI), dyslexia, speech sound disorder, stuttering, cerebral palsy, hypotonia, developmental coordination disorder (DCD), and / or ataxia.

[0043] In an embodiment, the young individual is an infant, a young child or a child.

[0044] In an embodiment, the composition is administered to the young individual from birth to about 5 years of age, preferably from about 4 to about 12 weeks.

[0045] In an embodiment, neurodevelopment and / or brain functioning is promoted in the young individual from birth to about 5 years of age, preferably from birth to about 24 months of age, more preferably between the age of about 6 to about 12 months.

[0046] In an embodiment, the composition is a nutritional composition selected from an infant formula, a starter infant formula, a follow-on or follow-up formula, a baby food, an infant cereal composition, a growing-up-milk, a fortifier such as a human milk fortifier, or a supplement.

[0047] Additional features and advantages are described herein and will be apparent from the following figures and detailed description.

[0048] Studies employing animal models have elucidated key neural circuits, such as the vagus nerve’s role in transmitting gut-derived GABA signals to brain regions implicated in mood and cognition, with evidence from vagotomy experiments demonstrating causality in anxiety modulation (Zou et al., 2024) (Bravo et al., 2011). Transcriptomic analyses reveal overlapping GABA receptor subunit expression in gut and brain tissues, suggesting conserved signaling pathways (Belelli et al., 2024). These findings provide a mechanistic basis for gut-brain communication via GABAergic signaling. Multiple studies establish the vagus nerve as a key conduit for gut-derived GABA signaling impacting brain regions such as the amygdala, hippocampus, and prefrontal cortex, mediating mood and behavioral responses (Zou et al., 2024) (Bravo et al., 2011) (Conn et al., 2024). GABAergic receptor expression changes in brain areas are widely reported (Bravo et al., 2011) (Dalziel et al., 2023).

[0049] Multi-omics and metabolomic studies have identified microbial taxa capable of producing GABA and related metabolites, linking these to neurotransmitter modulation and behavioral outcomes (Mayneris-Perxachs et al., 2021) (Strandwitz et al., 2019). The identification of bioactive compounds such as quercetin and glutamic acid alongside GABA highlights complex chemical signaling within the gut-brain axis (Tyagi et al., 2025). Exosome-mediated signaling from intestinal cells activated by GABA further expands the repertoire of communication mechanisms (Inotsuka et al., 2020). Consensus that gut microbiota produce GABA influencing host GABAergic signaling via receptor modulation (GABA_A, GABA_B receptors) and exosome- mediated signaling (Belelli et al., 2024) (Inotsuka et al., 2020) (Braga et al., 2024) (Bravo et al., 2011). The interplay of microbial metabolites such as SCFAs alongside GABA is also recognized (Tyagi et al., 2025) (Mousavi et al., 2022).

[0050] Robust preclinical evidence demonstrates that gut-derived GABA influences anxiety- and depression-like behaviors, with probiotic interventions showing anxiolytic and antidepressant effects mediated by modulation of GABAergic receptors and neurotrophic factors such as BDNF (Kim et al., 2024) (Yunes et al., 2020) (Bravo et al., 2011). Clinical studies suggest potential benefits of oral GABA supplementation on stress and mood regulation, supported by EEG and behavioral data (Almutairi et al., 2024) (Liwinski et al., 2023). Experimental models show that GABA-producing bacteria can enhance cognitive reactivity and memory performance, with correlations between gut microbial composition, hippocampal GABA levels, and cognitive outcomes (Casertano et al., 2024) (Mao et al., 2020). Dose-dependent effects on GABA receptor expression in brain regions associated with cognition have been reported (Jin et al., 2025). These findings underscore the potential of microbiota-targeted strategies to modulate cognitive functions. There is general agreement that gut-produced GABA influences mood regulation, reducing anxiety and depressive-like behaviors in animal models and human studies (Tyagi et al., 2025) (Lozano et al., 2024) (Kim et al., 2024) (Liwinski et al., 2023) (Tette et al., 2022). Cognitive effects such as memory improvements are linked to GABA via gut microbiota interventions (Mao et al., 2020) (Jin et al., 2025).

[0051] Identification of key GABA-producing taxa such as Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, and Bacteroides provides targets for probiotic development (Duranti et al., 2020) (Strandwitz et al., 2019) (Altaib et al., 2021). Studies demonstrate that microbial community composition correlates with fecal GABA levels and mental health status, supporting the role of microbial diversity in GABAergic signaling (Wang et al., 2025) (Altaib et al., 2021). Multi-strain probiotic formulations show promise in modulating depressive behaviors (Yunes et al., 2020). Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, Bacteroides, and Escherichia are repeatedly identified as key GABA-producing or modulating gut microbes (Strandwitz et al., 2019) (Duranti et al., 2020) (Wang et al., 2025) (Jin et al., 2025) (Altaib et al., 2021). SCFAs and amino acids such as proline and glutamate interact with GABA metabolism and signaling (Tyagi et al., 2025) (Mayneris-Perxachs et al., 2021) (Chen, 2023).

[0052] Emerging evidence links gut-derived GABA dysregulation to neuropsychiatric conditions including depression, schizophrenia, autism spectrum disorder, and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s (Conn et al., 2024) (Wang et al., 2025) (Wang et al., 2023) (Zhuang et al., 2020). Multi-omics approaches reveal altered GABA metabolism and receptor expression associated with disease phenotypes, suggesting therapeutic potential for microbiota-targeted interventions (Liwinski et al., 2023) (Tette et al., 2022). The use of integrative multi-omics, animal models, and human cohort studies provides a comprehensive framework to investigate gut- produced GABA mechanisms (Mayneris-Perxachs et al., 2021) (Wang et al., 2023) (Ignacio et al., 2025). Advanced techniques such as transcriptomics, metabolomics, and neuroimaging enhance mechanistic insights. There is broad consensus that gut-derived GABA and its microbiota producers hold promise as therapeutic targets or adjuncts for neuropsychiatric disorders, including depression, anxiety, ASD, schizophrenia, and neurodegeneration (Braga et al., 2024) (Liwinski et al., 2023) (Tette et al., 2022) (Ignacio et al., 2025). Strategies include probiotics, dietary interventions, and FMT.

[0053] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

[0054] Figure 1 is a graph showing the increase in putrescine and spermidine production as well as increase in production of acetylated polyamines, such as acetylputrescine, acetylspermidine, diacetylspermidine by gut microbiota of a young individual when Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis strains NCC5002, NCC5004 (Internationally recognized deposit numbers CNCM I-5685, CNCM I-5687; respectively) is inoculated. The experiments were performed using in-vitro short colon batch fermentation set up.

[0055] Figure 2 is a graph showing a positive correlation between the concentration of N1 ,N8- diacetylspermidine at 4 weeks and the degree of social-emotional outcomes on ASQ-SE when at 24 months of the young individual as described in the Example. Figure 3 is a graph showing a positive correlation between the concentration of putrescine at 6 weeks and the degree of motor development at 6 months of the young individual as described in the Example.

[0056] Figure 4 is a graph showing a positive correlation between the concentration of putrescine at 6 weeks and spermidine at 4 weeks and the degree of cognitive development at 24 months of the young individual as described in the Example.

[0057] Figure 5 is a graph showing a positive correlation between the concentration of ornithine at 6 weeks and the degree of language scores on Bayleys at 6 months of the young individual as described in the Example.

[0058] Figure 6 is a graph showing a positive correlation between the concentration of arginine at 4, 6 and 12 weeks and the degree of language scores on Bayleys at 12 months of the young individual as described in the Example.

[0059] Figure 7 is a graph showing the increase in GABA production by the gut microbiome of young individuals when Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis strains NCC5002, NCC5004 are inoculated. The experiments were performed using in-vitro short colon batch fermentation set up.

[0060] Figure 8 A) Example brain extraction from a single subject (B003); B) ROIs used for volumetric analysis; C) ROIs used for diffusion analysis.

[0061] Figure 9 Absolute volume of ROIs (mm3) at 8 weeks postnatal. A) Left caudate. B) Right caudate. C) Substantia Nigra

[0062] Figure 10 Relative regional volumes expressed as a percentage of ICV (i.e. , normalized to total intracranial volume). A) Left caudate. B) Right caudate. C) Right internal capsule. D) Thalamus. E) Substantia Nigra.

[0063] Figure 11 are graphs showing the increase in N1-N12- Diacetyl spermine production by the gut microbiome of young individuals when Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis strain NCC5025 (Internationally recognized deposit number CNCM I-5942) is inoculated with A) 2-FL, 3-FL and Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis and B) GOS, FOS and 3-FL. The experiments were performed using in-vitro short colon batch fermentation set up.

[0064] Figure 12 are graphs showing the increase in A) Indole-lactic acid and B) Indole-propionic acid production by the gut microbiome of young individuals when Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis strain NCC5025 (Internationally recognized deposit number CNCM I-5942) is inoculated with GOS, FOS and 3-FL. The experiments were performed using in-vitro short colon batch fermentation set up.

[0065] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0066] Various preferred features and embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of non-limiting examples. The skilled person will understand that they can combine all features of the invention disclosed herein without departing from the scope of the invention as disclosed.

[0067] Any reference to prior art documents in this specification is not to be considered an admission that such prior art is widely known or forms part of the common general knowledge in the field. All publications mentioned in the specification are herein incorporated by reference.

[0068] Definitions

[0069] As used in this specification, the words “comprises”, “comprising”, and similar words, are not to be interpreted in an exclusive or exhaustive sense. In other words, they are intended to mean “including, but not limited to“. The terms “comprises”, “comprising”, and similar words also include the term “consisting of“. Nevertheless, the compositions disclosed herein may lack any element that is not specifically disclosed herein. Thus, a disclosure of an embodiment using the term “comprising” includes a disclosure of embodiments “consisting essentially of’ and “consisting of’ the components identified.

[0070] The practice of the present invention will employ, unless otherwise indicated, conventional techniques which are within the capabilities of one of ordinary skill in the art. Such techniques are explained in the literature. Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art.

[0071] As used herein, a prophylactically or therapeutically “effective amount” is an amount that prevents a deficiency, treats a disease or medical condition in an individual, or, more generally, reduces symptoms, manages progression of the disease, or provides a nutritional, physiological, or medical benefit to the individual.

[0072] The terms “about” or “approximatively” as used herein when referring to a measurable value such as a parameter, an amount, a temporal duration, and the like, are meant to encompass variations of and from the specific value, such as the variation of 1 / -10% or less, 1 / -5% or less, 1 / -1% or less, and + / 0.1% or less of and from the specific value, insofar such variations are appropriate to perform in the disclosed invention. It is to be understood that the value to which the modifier “about” or “approximately” refers is itself also specifically, and preferably, disclosed.

[0073] As used in this disclosure and the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to “a vitamin” or “the vitamin” encompass both an embodiment having a single vitamin and an embodiment having two or more vitamins.

[0074] The terms “at least one of” and “and / or” used in the respective context of “at least one of X or Y” and “X and / or Y” should be interpreted as “X,” or “Y,” or “X and Y.” For example, “at least one of resistance or recovery” and “resistance and / or recovery” should be interpreted as “resistance,” or “recovery,” or “both resistance and recovery.”

[0075] Where used herein, the terms “example” and “such as,” particularly when followed by a listing of terms, are merely exemplary and illustrative and should not be deemed to be exclusive or comprehensive. As used herein, a condition “associated with” or “linked with” another condition means the conditions occur concurrently, preferably means that the conditions are caused by the same underlying condition, and most preferably means that one of the identified conditions is caused by the other identified condition.

[0076] The term “infant” means a human subject under the age of 12 months or an age equivalent non-human animal.

[0077] The terms “young child” or “toddler” as used herein may mean a human subject aged between 12 months and 5 years of age. Suitably, a “young child” may refer to an age equivalent non-human animal.

[0078] The term “child” means a child aged between three and twelve years. Preferably, the term “child” means a child aged between three and six years. Suitably, a “child” may refer to an age equivalent non-human animal.

[0079] A "preterm" or "premature" means an infant or young child who was not born at term. Generally it refers to an infant or young child born prior 36 weeks of gestation.

[0080] By the expression "small for gestational age" or "SGA" it is referred to an infant or young child who is smaller in size than normal for their gestational age at birth, most commonly defined as a weight below the 10th percentile for the gestational age. In some embodiments, SGA may be associated with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), which refers to a condition in which a foetus is unable to achieve its potential size.

[0081] A "preterm" or "premature" means an infant or young child who was not born at term. Generally, it refers to an infant or young child born prior 37 weeks of gestation.

[0082] An "infant having a low birth weight" means a preterm having a body weight below 2500g (5.5 pounds) either because of preterm birth or restricted fetal growth. It therefore encompasses:

[0083] - infant or young child who has / had a body weight from 1500 to 2500 g at birth (usually called "low birth weight" or LBW)

[0084] - infant or young child who has / had a body weight from 1000 to 1500 g at birth (called "very low birth weight" or VLBW)

[0085] - infant or young child who has / had a body weight under 1000 g at birth (called "extremely low birth weight" or ELBW).

[0086] Within the context of the present invention, the terms “ingredient” or “ingredients” indicate an edible substance or mixture of substances which comprise or is essentially consisting of a nutrient for the human body.

[0087] The terms “promote”, “promoting” and “promotion” can be used interchangeably. They should be understood as comprising support or help to the health of an individual, for example to support or help the development or growth of an individual. The individual may not suffer from a disease but may be susceptible to the development of unhealthy conditions, for example, later in life.

[0088] The expression “reducing the risk of experiencing” comprises a decreased frequency and / or intensity of certain behavioral traits that are involved in temperament or sociability in the presence of a nutrient or number of nutrients.

[0089] Within the context of the present invention, the expressions “in the prevention of’, “to prevent” or “for the prevention of’ can be used interchangeably. They should be understood as comprising the decrease of the severity of a disease process. These expressions also encompass the relief of the symptoms of induced by a disease, such as stress and / or decrease of complications caused by the disease. The expressions “composition” or “nutritional composition” refer to any kind of composition or formulation that provides a nutritional benefit to an individual and that may be safely consumed by a human or an animal. A nutritional composition may be in solid (e.g., powder), semi-solid or liquid form and may comprise one or more macronutrients, micronutrients, food additives, water, etc. For instance, the nutritional composition may comprise the following macronutrients: a source of proteins, a source of lipids, a source of carbohydrates and any combination thereof. Furthermore, the nutritional composition may comprise the following micronutrients: vitamins, minerals, fiber, phytochemicals, antioxidants, prebiotics, probiotics, bioactives, metabolites (e.g., butyrate, Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), Gamma-Linolenic acid (GLA)) and any combination thereof. The composition may also contain food additives such as stabilizers (when provided in liquid or solid form) or emulsifiers (when provided in liquid form). The amount of the various ingredients (e.g., the oligosaccharides) can be expressed in g / 100 g of composition on a dry weight basis when it is in a solid form, e.g., a powder, or as a concentration in g / L of the composition when it refers to a liquid form (this latter also encompasses liquid composition that may be obtained from a powder after reconstitution in a liquid such as milk, water, e.g., a reconstituted infant formula or follow-on / fol low-up formula or infant cereal product or any other formulation designed for infant or young child nutrition). Generally, a nutritional composition can be formulated to be taken enterally, orally, parenterally, or intravenously, and it usually includes one of more nutrients selected from: a lipid or fat source, a protein source, and a carbohydrate source. Preferably, a nutritional composition is for oral use.

[0090] In a particular embodiment, the nutritional composition is a “synthetic nutritional composition”. The expression “synthetic nutritional composition” means a mixture obtained by chemical and / or biological means.

[0091] The expression "infant formula" as used herein refers to a foodstuff intended for particular nutritional use by infants during the first months of life and satisfying by itself the nutritional requirements of this category of person (Article 2(c) of the European Commission Directive 91 / 321 / EEC 2006 / 141 / EC of 22 December 2006 on infant formulae and follow-on formulae). It also refers to a nutritional composition intended for infants and as defined in Codex Alimentarius (Codex STAN 72-1981) and Infant Specialities (incl. Food for Special Medical Purpose). The expression "infant formula" encompasses both “starter infant formula” and “follow-up formula” or “follow-on formula”. A “follow-up formula” or “follow-on formula” is given from the 6thmonth onwards. It constitutes the principal liquid element in the progressively diversified diet of this category of person.

[0092] The expression “baby food” means a foodstuff intended for particular nutritional use by infants or young children during the first years of life.

[0093] The expression “infant cereal composition” means a foodstuff intended for particular nutritional use by infants or young children during the first years of life.

[0094] The expression “growing-up milk” (or GUM) refers to a milk-based drink generally with added vitamins and minerals, that is intended for young children or children.

[0095] The terms “fortifier” refers to liquid or solid nutritional compositions suitable for fortifying or mixing with human milk, infant formula, growing-up milk or human breast milk fortified with other nutrients. Accordingly, the fortifier can be administered after dissolution in human breast milk, in infant formula, in growing-up milk or in human breast milk fortified with other nutrients or otherwise it can be administered as a stand-alone composition. The composition of the invention may be a supplement.

[0096] The expression “mother’s milk” should be understood as the breast milk or the colostrum of the mother.

[0097] The supplement may be in the form of tablets, capsules, pastilles or a liquid for example. The supplement may further contain protective hydrocolloids (such as gums, proteins, modified starches), binders, film forming agents, encapsulating agents / materials, wall / shell materials, matrix compounds, coatings, emulsifiers, surface active agents, solubilizing agents (oils, fats, waxes, lecithins etc.), adsorbents, carriers, fillers, co compounds, dispersing agents, wetting agents, processing aids (solvents), flowing agents, taste masking agents, weighting agents, jellifying agents and gel forming agents. The supplement may also contain conventional pharmaceutical additives and adjuvants, excipients and diluents, including, but not limited to, water, gelatine of any origin, vegetable gums, lignin-sulfonate, talc, sugars, starch, gum arabic, vegetable oils, polyalkylene glycols, flavouring agents, preservatives, stabilizers, emulsifying agents, buffers, lubricants, colorants, wetting agents, fillers, and the like.

[0098] Further, the supplement may contain an organic or inorganic carrier material suitable for oral or parenteral administration as well as vitamins, minerals trace elements and other micronutrients in accordance with the recommendations of Government bodies such as the USRDA.

[0099] The term “probiotic” means microbial cell preparations or components of microbial cells with a beneficial effect on the health or well-being of the host. (Salminen S, Ouwehand A. Benno Y. et al. “Probiotics: how should they be defined’ Trends Food Sci. Technol. 1999:10 107-10). The microbial cells are generally bacteria or yeasts.

[0100] The term “prebiotic” means non-digestible carbohydrates that beneficially affect the host by selectively stimulating the growth and / or the activity of healthy bacteria such as bifidobacteria in the colon of humans (Gibson GR, Roberfroid MB. Dietary modulation of the human colonic microbiota: introducing the concept of prebiotics. J Nutr. 1995;125:1401-12).

[0101] Examples of prebiotics that can be used in the infant formula include galactooligosaccharides (GOS), sialo-oligosaccharides (SOS), fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS), human milk oligosaccharides (HMO), isomalto-oligosaccharides (IMO), xylo-oligosaccharides (XOS), arabino-xylo oligosaccharides (AXOS), mannan oligosaccharides (MOS), oligosaccharides of soy, glycosylsucrose (GS), lactosucrose (LS), sialyl-lactose (SL), Fucosy l-lactose (FL), Lacto-N- Neotetraose (LNNT), lactulose (LA), palatinose-oligosaccharides (PAO), malto-oligosaccharides, gums and / or hydrolysates thereof, pectins, starches, and / or hydrolysates thereof.

[0102] The “oligosaccharide” may refer to a carbohydrate that has greater than 2 but relatively few monosaccharide units (typically 3, 4, 5, 6, and up to 10). Exemplary oligosaccharides include, but are not limited to, fructo-oligosaccharides, galacto-oligosaccharides (raffinose, stachyose, verbascose), maltooligosaccharides, gentio-oligosaccharides, cellooligosaccharides, milk oligosaccharides (e.g., those present in secretions from mammary glands), isomaltooligosaccharides, lactosucrose, mannooligosaccharides, melibiose-derived oligosaccharides, pectic oligosaccharides, xylo-oligosaccharides.

[0103] The term “polysaccharide” may refer to a carbohydrate that has more than ten monosaccharide units. Exemplary polysaccharides include, but are not limited to, starch, arabinogalactan, arabinan, beta-glucan, laminarin, chrysolaminarin, xylan, arabinoxylan, mannan, fucoidan, rhamnogalacturonan, and galactomannan. It is to be understood that there is not a precise cut-off or distinction between the terms oligosaccharide and polysaccharide, nor is such a distinction necessary to practice the invention. The term “glycosaminoglycan” (GAG) or mucopolysaccharide refers to long linear polysaccharides consisting of repeating disaccharide units (i.e., two-sugar units). The repeating two-sugar unit consists of a uronic sugar and an amino sugar, with the exception of keratan, where in the place of the uronic sugar it has galactose. GAGs are classified into four groups based on core disaccharide structures.

[0104] “Mucins”, as used herein, may refer to a family of high molecular weight, heavily glycosylated proteins (glycoconjugates). Mucins' key characteristic is their ability to form gels; therefore, they are a key component in most gel-like secretions, serving functions from lubrication to cell signaling to forming mechanical and chemical barriers.

[0105] Galactooligosaccharides (GOS) as used herein typically consist of [3-linked galactose moieties with galactose or glucose at the reducing end. Such GOS contains [3-(1— >2), [3-(1— >3), [3-(1— >4), or p-(1 — >6) linked galactose moieties and may have a degree of polymerization (DP) of 2-8 galactose units. The term GOS is therefore preferably referred to as oligosaccharide(s) comprising at least three galactose units, more preferably as oligosaccharide(s) comprising at least four galactose units, preferably having a degree of polymerization (DP) of 3-8 galactose units.

[0106] Galactooligosaccharides (GOS) are defined as polymers of galactose with a terminal [3- linked galactose or glucose monomer. GOS is a commonly-added prebiotic substrate or produced in situ from hydrolysis of lactose by the action of a [3-galactosidase, for example as commercially available in the form of Vivinal-GOS (sold by Friesland Campina of the Netherlands), King- prebiotics® GOS (sold by Azelis), Bimuno® GOS (sold by Clasado Biosciences) or in the form of Bovine Milk-derived Oligosaccharides (BMOS) (Estorninos et al., Am J Clin Nutr., 2022,115: 142- 153). BMOS in particular promote the selective growth Bifidobacterium species such as Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis (Roberfroid et al., 2010, British Journal of Nutrition, 104(S2): S1-S63).

[0107] In some embodiments, the galactose source is selected from galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS), Bovine Milk-derived Oligosaccharides (BMOS) and combinations thereof.

[0108] In a particular embodiment, the nutritional composition according to the invention can comprise BMOS. BMOS may be oligosaccharide preparations derived from bovine milk and / or whey fractions. One route to increasing oligosaccharides in bovine milk derived fractions is to transform part of the lactose in such fractions to GOS. BMOS can typically be obtained from concentrating whey permeate to obtain a concentrated bovine milk oligosaccharide composition and either adding GOS or generating the GOS in situ from hydrolysis of lactose by the action of a p-galactosidase (Duncan et al., Nutrients, 2020, 12: 2007).

[0109] In an embodiment, the composition according to the invention comprises GOS formed by the process described in WO 2018210820.

[0110] In a particular embodiment, the nutritional composition comprises an oligosaccharide mixture (“BMOS”) that comprises from 0.1 to 4.0 wt% of N-acetylated oligosaccharide(s), from 92.0 to 98.5 wt% of the galacto-oligosaccharide(s) and from 0.1 to 4.0 wt% of the sialylated oligosaccharide(s).

[0111] The term “HMO” or“HMOs” refers to human milk oligosaccharide(s). These carbohydrates are highly resistant to enzymatic hydrolysis, indicating they may display essential functions not directly related to their caloric value. It has been especially illustrated they play a vital role in the early development of infants and young children, such as the maturation of the immune system. Many different kinds of HMOs are found in the human milk. Each individual oligosaccharide is based on a combination of glucose, galactose, sialic acid (N-acetylneuraminic acid), fucose and / or N-acetylglucosamine with many and varied linkages between them, thus accounting for the enormous number of different oligosaccharides in human milk - over 130 such structures have been identified so far. Almost all of them have a lactose moiety at their reducing end while sialic acid and / or fucose (when present) occupy the terminal position at the non-reducing ends. Depending on the presence of fucose and sialic acid in the oligosaccharide structure, the HMOs can be divided as non-fucosylated (neutral) or fucosylated (neutral) and sialylated (acidic) and non-sialylated molecules, respectively.

[0112] The expression “fucosylated oligosaccharide” refers to an oligosaccharide having a fucose residue. It has a neutral nature. Some examples are 2’fucosyllactose (2’-FL), 3-fucosyllactose (3- FL), difucosyllactose (DiFL), lacto-N-fucopentaose (e.g., lacto-N-fucopentaose I, lacto-N- fucopentaose II, lacto-N-fucopentaose III, lacto-N-fucopentaose V), lacto-N-fucohexaose, lacto- N-difucohexaose I, fucosyllacto-N-hexaose, fucosyllacto-N-neohexaose, difucosyllacto-N- hexaose I, difucosyllacto-N-neohexaose II and any combination thereof. Fucosylated oligosaccharides represents the largest fraction of human milk with 2’-FL constituting up to 30% of the total HMOs. Fucosylated oligosaccharides are thought to reduce the risk of infections and inflammations and to boost growth and metabolic activity of specific commensal microbes reducing inflammatory response. The expression “N-acetylated oligosaccharide(s)” encompasses both “N-acetyl- lactosamine” and “oligosaccharide(s) containing N-acetyl-lactosamine”. They are neutral oligosaccharides having an N-acetyl-lactosamine residue. Suitable examples are LNT (lacto-N- tetraose), para-lacto-N-neohexaose (para-LNnH), LNnT (lacto-N-neotetraose), DSLNT (disialyllacto-N-tetraose), and any combinations thereof. Other examples are lacto-N-hexaose, lacto-N-neohexaose, para- lacto-N-hexaose, para-lacto-N-neohexaose, lacto-N-octaose, lacto-N- neooctaose, iso- lacto-N-octaose, para- lacto-N-octaose and lacto-N-decaose.

[0113] The expressions “at least one fucosylated oligosaccharide” and “at least one N-acetylated oligosaccharide” should be understood as “at least one type of fucosylated oligosaccharide” and “at least one type of N-acetylated oligosaccharide”.

[0114] The term “sialylated oligosaccharide” refers to an oligosaccharide having a charged sialic acid residue. It has an acidic nature. Some examples are 3’-sialyllactose (3’-SL), 6’-sialyllactose (6’-SL), sialyllacto-N-tetraose (Lst - e.g., Lst-a, Lst-b or Lst-c).

[0115] The term fibers is used herein to refer to carbohydrates that are indigestible by a human or animal. Such fibers are also discussed in relation to carbohydrates herein. Suitably, the fiber can be fermented by the present Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis strain. As used herein, the expressions “fiber” or “fibers” or “dietary fiber” or “dietary fibers” within the context of the present invention indicate the indigestible portion in small intestine, that reaches the large intestine, of food derived from plants which comprises two main components: soluble fiber, which dissolves in water and insoluble fiber. Mixtures of fibers are comprised within the scope of the terms above mentioned. Soluble fiber is readily fermented in the colon into gases and physiologically active byproducts and can be prebiotic and viscous. Insoluble fiber does not dissolve in water, is metabolically inert and provides bulking, or it can be prebiotic and metabolically ferment in the large intestine. Chemically, dietary fiber consists of carbohydrate polymers with three or more monomeric units which are not hydrolyzed by endogenous enzymes in the small intestine or the upper tract of the digestive system, such as arabinoxylans, cellulose, and many other plant components such as resistant starch, resistant dextrins, inulin, lignin, chitins, pectins, arabinans, arabinogalactans, galactans, xylans, beta-glucans, and oligosaccharides. Non-limiting examples of dietary fibers are: prebiotic fibers such as Fructooligosaccharides (FOS), inulin, galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS), fruit fiber, vegetable fiber, cereal fiber, resistant starch such as high amylose corn starch. As used herein, “added fiber” or “added dietary fiber” indicates an ingredient mainly or totally constituted by fiber which is added to the complementary nutritional composition and whose content in fiber contributes to the total fiber content of the composition. The total fiber content of the complementary nutritional composition is provided by the sum of amount of fiber naturally present in ingredients used in the recipe (for example from whole grain cereal flour) plus amount of added fiber.

[0116] Suitably, the present composition may be a probiotic composition.

[0117] The term “cfu” should be understood as colony forming unit.

[0118] The “gut microbiota” is the composition of microorganisms (including bacteria, archaea and fungi) that live in the digestive tract.

[0119] The term “gut microbiome” may encompass both the “gut microbiota” and their “theater of activity”, which may include their structural elements (nucleic acid, proteins, lipids, polysaccharides), metabolites (signaling molecules, toxins, organic and inorganic molecules) and molecules produced by coexisting hosts and structured by the surrounding environmental conditions (Berg, G., et al., 2020. Microbiome, 8(1), pp.1 -22).

[0120] The term “stress”, in the context of treating and / or preventing stress and / or a mood disorder in a subject, may refer to a state of emotional or psychological strain. Stress may be caused by adverse or demanding circumstances.

[0121] The term “stress resilience” may refer to the ability to adapt successfully when faced with stress. Hence, the individual may avoid symptoms associated with stress.

[0122] The term “mood” may refer to a positive or negative emotional state of varying intensity that changes in response to life’s circumstances (Polak et al., (2015) Nutrition for brain health and cognitive performance, 95-122). Mood, like emotion, is an affective state or ‘a feeling’ and has different aspects such as alertness / fatigue, anxiety, and stress. Moods can be distinguished from emotions in terms of duration and the (in)ability to describe the trigger. Moods are often undifferentiated, slow to change, can last from days to weeks, and are ‘object-less’ in that people may not know the cause or the source of the mood (J. A. Russell, (2003, Psychological review, 110: 145-172). Emotions have clear focus (i.e., a self-evident cause) and are short in duration, i.e. , seconds to minutes. Moods and emotions are closely linked, it is common for bad moods to be accompanied by negative emotions, and good moods to accompany positive emotions. The term “mood disorder” may refer to a category of illnesses that describe a significant and serious change in mood. Mood disorders include: anxiety disorder, depression, bipolar disorder and SAD (seasonal affective disorder). In some embodiments, the mood disorder is anxiety disorder or depression. In some embodiments, the mood disorder is anxiety. In some embodiments, the mood disorder is depression.

[0123] The term “anxiety” may refer to a feeling of unease, such as worry, nervousness, or fear, that can be mild or severe, particularly about something which is about to happen or may happen in the future.

[0124] The term “anxiety disorder” may refer to a condition of intense, excessive and persistent worry and fear about everyday situations. The symptoms can interfere with daily activities such as schoolwork and relationships. There are several types of anxiety disorders, including generalized anxiety disorder, separation anxiety disorder, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, and various phobia-related disorders.

[0125] The term “depression” (also known as major depressive disorder) may refer to a condition of persistently low mood (feeling sad, irritable, empty or loss of pleasure / interest). The symptoms can interfere with daily activities such as schoolwork and relationships.

[0126] The term “bipolar disorder” may refer to a condition that causes extreme mood swings that include emotional highs (mania) and lows (depression). Mania can be characterised by euphoria, hyperactivity, over inflated ego and unrealistic optimism.

[0127] “Promoting relaxation” may refer to enhancing the sensation of being relaxed, e.g., increasing calmness.

[0128] “Increasing production of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) by the gut microbiota of an infant, young child and / or child” may refer to enhancing the biosynthesis of GABA by the gut microbiota of an infant, young child or child administered the combination or nutritional composition of the invention compared to the biosynthesis of GABA by the gut microbiota of an infant, young child or child not administered the combination or nutritional composition of the invention.

[0129] The Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development is a standard series of measurements used primarily to assess the development of infants and toddlers, ages 1—42 months. It predominantly measures the major areas of development including cognitive, language, motor, social-emotional, and adaptive functioning.

[0130] Within the context of the present invention, the term “brain development” or “neurodevelopment” relates to the process by which the nervous system develops and matures, from the formation of neural cells to the establishment of neural networks and the development of cognitive, motor, language and social-emotional skills.

[0131] Within the context of the present invention, the term “brain structural maturation” may refer to the process by which the physical structure of the brain develops and matures over time. This includes the growth and organization of neurons and non-neuronal cells as well as the formation of neural connections.

[0132] Within the context of the present invention, the term “brain functional maturation” may refer to the development and refinement of the brain's functional abilities and processes. This includes the maturation of cognitive functions such as attention, perception, language, executive functions, and problem-solving, as well as the development of emotional regulation and social skills.

[0133] Within the context of the present invention, the term “learning” may refer to the process of acquiring knowledge, skills, attitudes, or behaviors through study, experience, or teaching. It involves the encoding, processing, and integration of new information into existing knowledge or understanding.

[0134] Within the context of the present invention, the term “memory” may refer to the ability to encode, store, and retrieve information or experiences. It involves the processes of acquiring, retaining, and recalling information.

[0135] Within the context of the present invention, the term “brain connectivity” may refer to the network of connections and pathways between different regions of the brain, which is composed of myelinated axons. It involves the communication and integration of information across various brain regions, allowing for coordinated functioning and processing. Brain connectivity is crucial for various cognitive processes and functions.

[0136] Within the context of the present invention, the expression “brain functioning” refers to cognition, memory and learning that are linked to the major inhibitory and major excitatory neurotransmitters such as to Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). Within the context of the present invention, the expressions “social-emotional development” or social-emotional skills” relates to social-emotional skills that develop from birth onwards allowing for increasing autonomy, self-regulation, and relationships. Social-emotional development can be assessed and monitored behaviorally using clinical interviews, direct behavior observations, and rating systems as well as parent-and teacher-report questionnaires (Schneider N et al. Child Development 2022:93:359-371. Doi:10.1111 / cdev.13649).

[0137] Within the context of the present invention, the expression “cognitive development” refers to the process by which a child's thinking, problem-solving, and reasoning abilities develop and mature over time. This process begins in infancy and continues throughout childhood and adolescence, with significant changes occurring during each stage of development.

[0138] Within the context of the preset invention, the expression “motor development” refers to the process by which a child's ability to move and control their body develops and matures over time. During early childhood, motor development is characterized by the development of gross motor skills, such as crawling, walking, and running, as well as fine motor skills, such as grasping and manipulating objects. As children grow older, they begin to develop more complex motor skills, such as throwing, catching, and riding a bike.

[0139] Within the context of the present invention, the expression “language development” refers to the process by which a child's ability to communicate through language develops and matures over time. During early childhood, language development is characterized by the development of receptive language skills, such as understanding words and sentences, and expressive language skills, such as using words and sentences to communicate. As children grow older, they begin to develop more complex language skills, such as grammar, vocabulary, and narrative skills.

[0140] Within the context of the present invention, the term “nutrient” or “nutrients” is intended to comprise both macronutrients (for example carbohydrates, proteins or fats) and micronutrients (for example minerals or vitamins) and components thereof (e.g. fatty acids, amino acids) for the human body.

[0141] Within the context of the present invention, the expression “improve social-emotional skills” indicates an amelioration in social-emotional competences or behaviors in an infant, a toddler or a young child. The objective of the present invention is hence to enrich or improve the state of the art and in particular to provide a nutrient or a nutritional composition for use in promoting neurodevelopment and brain functioning in a young individual.

[0142] The publications discussed herein are provided solely for their disclosure prior to the filing date of the present application. Nothing herein is to be construed as an admission that such publications constitute prior art to the claims appended hereto. lndole-3-propionic acid (IPA) lndole-3-propionic acid (IPA) is a gut-microbiota-derived tryptophan metabolite with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, receptor-mediated and neurotrophic actions that protect neurons, and improves cognitive and behavioral outcomes.

[0143] Neuroprotective mechanisms

[0144] IPA influences neuronal survival and cellular stress responses through multiple complementary mechanisms, tying biochemical activity to improved histology and behavior in preclinical models.

[0145] • Antioxidant scavenging IPA acts as a free-radical scavenger and reduces lipid peroxidation and DNA oxidative damage in ischemic hippocampus, with oral IPA preserving CA1 neurons and lowering markers of lipid peroxidation after transient forebrain ischemia in gerbils (10.3390 / molecules30173628,

[0146] • Anti-inflammatory action IPA reduces NF-KB signaling and proinflammatory cytokines and limits NLRP3 inflammasome formation in CNS models, thereby decreasing glial activation and inflammatory mediator release (10.3390 / molecules30173628, 10.1002 / ctm2.70053). IPA improves cognitive function and suppresses neuroinflammation in obese mice(https: / / doi.org / 10.1016 / j.fbio.2025.106742)

[0147] • Modulation of other neuroprotective metabolites Oral IPA raises brain kynurenic acid (KYNA) levels several-fold in rat frontal cortex and via microdialysis, suggesting IPA can amplify KYNA-dependent neuroprotection in vivo (10.3390 / molecules30173628,

[0148] • Promotion of repair and synaptic stability IPA reduces glial overactivation, supports neurogenesis, and restores appropriate synaptic transmission in disease models (detailed under pathways), linking cellular protection to circuit function (10.1186 / s40168-023- 01656-1) Effects on brain development

[0149] Animal experiments demonstrate IPA influences microglial maturation, synaptic pruning and circuit balance during early life.

[0150] Postnatal IPA supplementation rescued ASD-like behaviors and hippocampal pathology in an intrauterine growth-restriction (IUGR) rat model: prenatal caffeine exposure reduced gut IPA, caused hippocampal microglial hyperactivation and excessive synaptic pruning, and these developmental / behavioral abnormalities were reversed by postnatal IPA administration (10.1186 / s40168-023-01656-1)

[0151] In genetic neurodevelopmental models, oral IPA restored social behavior and hippocampal inhibitory synaptic transmission in 16p11.2 microdeletion mice by increasing ERK1 phosphorylation, linking reduced microbial IPA to altered inhibitory / excitatory balance and impaired social / cognitive development ( 10.1186 / s40168-024-01755-7)

[0152] Impact on cognitive function and neurological health

[0153] • Ischemic stroke and peri-ischemic protection Oral IPA reduced infarct-related injury and improved neurological outcomes in mouse MCAO models and decreased ischemia-induced neuronal death, DNA damage and lipid peroxidation in hippocampal ischemia models (10.3390 / molecules30173628)

[0154] • Cognitive impairment and neuroinflammation In an LPS-induced cognitive impairment model, IPA reduced neuronal apoptosis and oxidative damage in neuronal lines, decreased microglial inflammation in vitro, promoted neurogenesis, preserved BBB integrity, remodeled gut microbiota and improved memory; mechanistically IPA inhibited RAGE-JAK2-STAT3 signaling in that model (10.1021 / acs.jafc.4c08548)

[0155] • Alzheimer’s disease models Microbiota-derived indoles including IPA activated AhR, suppressed NF-KB / NLRP3 neuroinflammation and mitigated Ap and tau pathology, restoring synaptic plasticity and cognition in APP / PS1 m i ce (htps: / / doi.org / 10.3390 / molecules30173628) . lndole-3-lactic acid lndole-3-lactic acid has shown ability to modulate neurite growth, glial activation, synaptic plasticity, and inflammation. Mechanisms in brain

[0156] ILA influences neuronal and glial signaling through defined molecular pathways and receptors. In PC12 cells ILA potentiated NGF-induced neurite outgrowth via increased TrkA, ERK1 / 2 and CREB and acted as an aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) agonist to evoke neuritogenesis through Ras / ERK signaling (10.3390 / MICROORGANISMS8030398). In models of amyloidopathy and ischemia, ILA reduced pathological changes by activating AhR in microglia / astrocytes and, in ischemic brain, by engaging AhR together with Nrf2 to upregulate SLC7A11 and GPX4 and reduce ferroptotic lipid peroxidation (10.3390 / MICROORGANISMS8030398, 10.1016 / j.chom.2023.12.009). ILA can corrects gut microbiome metabolic imbalances associated with remyelination and neuroinflammation. (10.1101 / 2024.10.27.620437).

[0157] Effects on neurodevelopment

[0158] Cellular data indicate ILA can promote neuronal differentiation; ILA markedly enhanced NGF-induced neurite outgrowth in PC12 cells in a dose-dependent manner with a peak effect reported near 100 nM, accompanied by increased acetylcholinesterase activity and TrkA / ERK / CREB signaling, implying a capacity to support neurite extension and differentiation in vitro (10.3390 / MICRGORGANISMS8030398)

[0159] Cognitive function and behavior

[0160] Preclinical models link ILA or microbiota that produce ILA to changes in cognition and affective behavior, with effects that depend on context and metabolite balance

[0161] • Memory and AD models ILA supplementation (with tryptophan or via synbiotics) prevented Ap accumulation and preserved cognition in AD model mice 10.3390 / nu14040735, 10.1016 / j.nbd.2021.105403, 10.1016 / j.bbi.2024.08.051).

[0162] Mood and depression models Imbalanced ILA (relative to other indole metabolites) associated with depressive-like behaviors and altered synaptic structure; some psychobiotic effects depend on ILA production (10.1016 / j.chom.2023.12.009).

[0163] Embodiments of the invention

[0164] The invention will be now described in further details. The present invention provides composition comprising Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis in an effective amount for use in increasing production of at least one polyamine and / or its metabolite by the gut microbiota of a young individual.

[0165] In an embodiment, the Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis has an Average Nucleotide Identity (AN I) of at least 98.1 % with at least one Bifidobacterium longum strain selected from the group consisting of CNCM I-5942, CNCM I-5683, CNCM I-5684, CNCM I-5685, CNCM I-5686, CNCM I-5687, CMCC-P0001 (ATCC BAA-2753), and any combination thereof. Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis and are also known in the art as B. longum transitional. Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis strains NCC 5000, NCC 5001 , NCC 5002, NCC 5003 and NCC 5004 were deposited with the Collection nationale de cultures de micro-organisms (CNCM), Institute Pasteur (INSTITUT PASTEUR, 25 RUE DU DOCTEUR ROUX, F-75724 PARIS CEDEX 15, FRANCE) by SOCIETE DES PRODUITS NESTLE S.A according to Budapest Treaty on 11th of May 2021 receiving the deposit numbers CNCM CNCM I-5683, CNCM I-5684, CNCM I-5685, CNCM I-5686 and CNCM I-5687, respectively.

[0166] In a preferred embodiment, Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis strain is NCC 5025; and was deposited with the Collection Nationale de Cultures de Micro-organisms (CNCM), Institute Pasteur by SOCIETE DES PRODUITS NESTLE S.A according to Budapest Treaty on the 29th of March 2023 receiving the deposit number CNCM I-5942.

[0167] In another embodiment, Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis strain has an Average Nucleotide Identity (ANI) of at least 98.1 % to the B. longum transitional strain deposited with the CNCM under deposit number CNCM I-5942.

[0168] In some embodiments, the B. longum transitional strain has an ANI of at least at least 99.0%, at least 99.1 %, at least 99.2%, at least 99.3%, at least 99.4%, at least 99.5%, at least 99.6%, at least 99.7%, at least 99.8%, or at least 99.9%, compared to the B. longum strain deposited with the CNCM under deposit number CNCM I-5942.

[0169] In US provisional patent application 63 / 216127, it was shown that the Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis (B. longum transitional microorganisms) are greater in relative abundance during the transitional feeding period (e.g. weaning period) than either B. longum subsp. infantis (B. infantis) or B. longum subsp longum. Indeed, the relative abundance of B. longum subsp. infantis decreases at the beginning of the transitional feeding period until the end of the transitional feeding period while B. longum subsp. longum begins to increase in abundance. Vatanen et al. demonstrated that this distinct Bifidobacterium longum clade expanded with introduction of solid foods and harbored enzymes for utilizing both breast milk and solid food substrates (Vatanen et al. 2022, Cell 185, 1-18; published online 1 November 2022; https: / / doi.Org / 10.1016 / j.cell.2022.10.011).

[0170] In some embodiments, a Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis has an Average Nucleotide Identity (ANI) of at least 96% with at least one Bifidobacterium longum strain selected in the group consisting of CNCM I-5942, CNCM I-5683, CNCM I-5684, CNCM I-5685, CNCM I- 5686, CNCM I-5687, and CMCC-P0001 (ATCC BAA-2753), and any combination thereof. In some embodiments, a Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis has an ANI of about 96%, 96.1 %, 96.2%, 96.3%, 96.4%, 96.5%, 96.6%, 96.7%, 96.8%, 96.9%, 97%, 97.1 %, 97.2%, 97.3%, 97.4%, 97.5%, 97.6%, 97.7%, 97.8%, 97.9%, 98%, 98.1%, 98.2%, 98.3%, 98.4%, 98.5%, 98.6%, 98.6 %, 98.7 %, 98.8 %, 98.9 %, 99 %, 99.1 %, 99.2 %, 99.3 %, 99.4 %, 99.5 %, 99.6 %, 99.7 %, 99.8 %, 99.9 %, or 100 % with at least one Bifidobacterium longum strain selected in the group consisting of CNCM I-5942, CNCM I-5683, CNCM I-5684, CNCM I-5685, CNCM I-5686, CNCM I-5687 and CMCC-P0001 (ATCC BAA-2753), and any combination thereof. In some embodiments, a Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis has an ANI of at least 96%, of at least

[0171] 96.1 %, of at least 96.2%, of at least 96.3%, of at least 96.4%, of at least 96.5%, of at least 96.6%, of at least 96.7%, of at least 96.8%, of at least 96.9%, of at least 97%, of at least 97.1 %, of at least 97.2%, of at least 97.3%, of at least 97.4%, of at least 97.5%, of at least 97.6%, of at least 97.7%, of at least 97.8%, of at least 97.9%, of at least 98%, of at least 98.1 %, of at least 98.2%, of at least 98.3%, of at least 98.4%, of at least 98.5%, of at least 98.6%, of at least 98.6 %, of at least 98.7 %, of at least 98.8 %, of at least 98.9 %, of at least 99 %, of at least 99.1 %, of at least

[0172] 99.2 %, of at least 99.3 %, of at least 99.4 %, of at least 99.5 %, of at least 99.6 %, of at least 99.7 %, of at least 99.8 %, of at least 99.9 % with at least one Bifidobacterium longum strain selected in the group consisting of CNCM I-5942, CNCM I-5683, CNCM I-5684, CNCM I-5685, CNCM I-5686, CNCM I-5687 and CMCC-P0001 (ATCC BAA-2753), and any combination thereof.

[0173] Methods for sequencing microbial genomes are well known in the art (see e.g. Segerman; Front. Cell. Infect. Microbiol.; 2020; 10; Article 527102 & Donkor; Genes; 2013; 4(4); 556-572). By way of example, metagenomics methods may be used. Suitable metagenomics methods may be performed using shotgun sequencing data, for example. Suitable metogenomics methods are known in the art and include MetaPhlAn 3.0, for example (see Beghini et al.; eLife 2021 ;10: e65088; https: / / huttenhower.sph.harvard.edu / metaphlan). The “Average Nucleotide Identity (ANI)” is a term of art that refers to a distance-based approach to delineate species based on pair-wise comparisons of their genome sequences and is an in silica alternative to the traditional DNA-DNA hybridization (DDH) techniques that have been used for phylogenetic definition of a species (Goris et al., 2007, “DNA-DNA hybridization values and their relationship to whole-genome sequence similarities”, Int. J. Syst. Evol. Microbiol. 57: 81-91). Based on DDH, strains with greater than 70% relatedness would be considered to belong to the same species (see e.g., Wayne et al., 1987, Report of the Ad-Hoc- Committee on Reconciliation of Approaches to Bacterial Systematics. Int J Syst Bacteriol 37: 463- 464). ANI is similar to the aforementioned 70% DDH cutoff value and can be used for species delineation. ANI has been evaluated in multiple labs and has become the gold standard for species delineation (see e.g., Kim et al., 2014, “Towards a taxonomic coherence between average nucleotide identity and 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity for species demarcation of prokaryotes”, Int. J. Syst. Evol. Mier. 64: 346-351 ; Richter et al., 2009, “Shifting the genomic gold standard for the prokaryotic species definition”, P Natl Acad Sci USA 106: 19126-19131 ; and Chan et al. , 2012, “Defining bacterial species in the genomic era: insights from the genus Acinetobacter”, Bmc. Microbiol. 12)).

[0174] The ANI of the shared genes between two strains is known to be a robust means to compare genetic relatedness among strains, and that ANI values of about 95% correspond to the 70% DNA-DNA hybridization standard for defining a species. See, e.g., Konstantinidis and Tiedje, Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, 102(7):2567-72 (2005); and Goris et al., Int Syst Evol Microbiol. 57(Pt 1 ):81-91 (2007). The ANI between two bacterial genomes is calculated from pair- wise comparisons of all sequences shared between any two strains and can be determined, for example, using any of a number of publicly available ANI tools, including but not limited to OrthoANI with usearch (Yoon et al. Antonie van Leeuwenhoek 110:1281-1286 (2017)); ANI Calculator, JSpecies (Richter and Rossello-Mora, Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 106:19126-19131 (2009)); and JSpeciesWS (Richter et al., Bioinformatics 32:929-931 (2016)). Other methods for determining the ANI of two genomes are known in the art. See, e.g., Konstantinidis, K. T. and Tiedje, J. M., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., 102: 2567-2572 (2005); and Varghese et al., Nucleic Acids Research, 43(14):6761 -6771 (2015). In a particular embodiment, the ANI between two bacterial genomes can be determined, for example, by averaging the nucleotide identity of orthologous genes identified as bidirectional best hits (BBHs). Protein-coding genes of a first genome (Genome A) and second genome (Genome B) are compared at the nucleotide level using a similarity search tool, for example, NSimScan (Novichkov et al., Bioinformatics 32(15): 2380- 23811 (2016)). The results are then filtered to retain only the BBHs that display at least 70% sequence identity over at least 70% of the length of the shorter sequence in each BBH pair. The ANI of Genome A to Genome B is defined as the sum of the percent identity times the alignment length for all BBHs, divided by the sum of the lengths of the BBH genes. These and ANI determination techniques are known in the art.

[0175] Suitably, a Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis selected from the group consisting of CNCM I-5942, CNCM I-5683, CNCM I-5684, CNCM I-5685, CNCM I-5686, CNCM I-5687 and CMCC-P0001 (ATCC BAA-2753), represents the reference genome to which a microbial genome is compared.

[0176] Genome sequences for Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis strains NCC 5025 (CNCM I-5942), NCC 5000 (CNCM I-5683), NCC 5001 (CNCM I-5684), NCC 5002 (CNCM I-5685), NCC 5003 (CNCM I-5686) and NCC 5004 (CNCM I-5687) are available via Joint Genome Project (JGI) Study number: Gs0156595 (https: / / genome.igi.doe.gov / portal / ). Analysis project numbers and taxon numbers for each genome are as follows:

[0177] In some embodiments, the Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis for use in the present invention is isolated from a human.

[0178] In some other embodiments, the Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis is not of the subspecies B. longum subsp. longum or B. longum subsp. infantis.

[0179] In some embodiments, the Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis is provided as a probiotic. In some embodiments, the Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis is provided in a composition. The composition or combination according to the invention may contain from 103to 1012cfu of the Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis, more preferably between 107and 1012cfu such as between 108and 101° cfu of the Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis per g of composition or combination on a dry weight basis. Suitably, the Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis is administered to the subject in an amount of at least about 106cfu / day, at least about 107cfu / day, or at least about 108cfu / day. Suitably, the Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis is administered to the subject in an amount of about 1012cfu / day or less, about 1011cfu / day or less, or about 1010cfu / day or less.

[0180] In one embodiment, the Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis is viable.

[0181] Antibiotic resistance

[0182] Suitably, the B. longum subsp. iuvenis strain does not harbor transferable antibiotic resistance to one or more antibiotics, preferably one or more European Food Standard Agency (EFSA) relevant antibiotics (see European Food Safety Authority. 2012. Guidance on the assessment of bacterial susceptibility to antimicrobials of human and veterinary importance. EFSA J 10:2740).

[0183] Antibiotic resistance refers to the ability of microorganisms to withstand antibiotic treatments. The overuse or misuse of antibiotics has been linked to the emergence and spread of microorganisms which are resistant to them, rendering treatment ineffective and posing a serious risk to public health. In addition, the wide-spread use of antibiotics means that it is increasingly challenging to provide bacterial strains that do not have transferrable resistance to one or more EFSA relevant antibiotics.

[0184] It is known that a single gene may instill antibiotic resistance against a particular antibiotic, and that bacteria can transfer genes through horizontal gene transfer via conjugation, transduction or transformation. Accordingly, it is known that antibiotic resistance may be transferred between bacteria via horizontal gene transfer; including in the gut microbiome.

[0185] It is therefore advantageous that the present B. longum subsp. iuvenis strain does not harbor transferrable antibiotic resistance to one or more antibiotics as this reduces the risk of the antibiotic resistance being transferred to other components of the microbiome when the present B. longum subsp. iuvenis strain is used as a probiotic. Antibiotics resistance has been well-described and antibiotic resistance may be determined using any suitable assay known in the art. By way of example, phenotypic and / or genetic methods may be used. Phenotypic methods typically involve measuring the growth of a test bacteria in the presence of a suitable concentration of the antibiotic under consideration. In addition, a number of genes mediating antibiotic resistance are known. Accordingly, genetic methods for determining antibiotic resistance comprise determining the presence of one or more antibiotic resistance genes in the genome of the test bacteria (for example by PCR, DNA microarray, whole-genome sequencing and metagenomics, and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry). Suitably, phenotypic antibiotic testing of may be performed according to the recommendations made by EFSA (EFSA J 16, e05206, doi: 10.2903 / j.efsa.2018.5206 (2018)); for example following the official method ISO 10932. An illustrative method for determining antibiotic resistance is detailed in the present Examples.

[0186] Antibiotic resistance and underlying genes present in Bifidobacterium are known in the art (see e.g. Duranti et al. Appl Environ Microbiol. 2017 Feb 1 ; 83(3): e02894-16.). As such, the skilled person is able to determine whether a test Bifidobacterium is resistant to one or more antibiotics.

[0187] Suitably, the present B. longum subsp. iuvenis strain is not resistant to at least 1 , at least 2, at least 3, at least 4, at least 5, at least 6, or at least 7 EFSA relevant antibiotics.

[0188] Suitably, the B. longum subsp. iuvenis strain is not resistant to any one of tetracycline and erythromycin.

[0189] Suitably, the B. longum subsp. iuvenis strain is not resistant to any one of tetracycline, erythromycin, clindamycin and ampicillin.

[0190] Suitably, the B. longum subsp. iuvenis strain is not resistant to any of tetracycline, erythromycin, clindamycin, ampicillin, gentamycin, streptomycin, chloramphenicol and vancomycin.

[0191] Resistance to tetracycline may be afforded by tet(W) or tet(Q) genes which encode ribosomal protection proteins. Suitably, the present B. longum subsp. iuvenis strain may lack a tet(W) gene. Suitably, the present B. longum subsp. iuvenis strain may lack a tet(W) gene encoding a polypeptide shown as SEQ ID NO: 1 or a variant which shares at least 80% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 1 . Suitably, the variant may share at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98% or at least 99% identity with SEQ ID NO: 1 .

[0192] SEQ ID NO: 1

[0193] MKIINIGILAHVDAGKTTLTESLLYASGAISEPGSVEKGTTRTDTMLLERQRGITIQAAVTS FQWHRCKVNIVDTPGHMDFLAEVYRSLAVLDGAILVISAKDGVQAQTRILFHALRKMNIPTVIFIN KIDQAGVDLQSWQSVRDKLSADIIIKQTVSLSPEIVLEENTDIEAWDAVIENNDKLLEKYIAGEPI SREKLVREEQRRVQDASLFPVYYGSAKKGLGIQPLMDAVTGLFQPIGEQGSAALCGSVFKVEY TDCGQRRVYLRLYSGTLRLRDTVALAGREKLKITEMRIPSKGEIVRTDTAYPGEIVILPSDSVRLN DVLGDPTRLPRKRWREDPLPMLRTSIAPKTAAQRERLLDALTQLADTDPLLRCEVDSITHEIILS FLGRVQLEWSALLSEKYKLETWKEPTVIYMERPLKAASHTIHIEVPPNPFWASIGLSVTPLPLG SGVQYKSRVSLGYLNQSFQNAVRDGIRYGLEQGLFGWNVTDCKICFEYGLYYSPVSTPADFRS LAPIVLEQALKESGTQLLEPYLSFTLYAPREYLSRAYHDAPKYCATIETVQVKKDEWFTGEIPAR CIQAYRTDLAFYTNGQSVCLTELKGYQAAVGKPVIQPRRPNSRLDKVRHMFSKIT

[0194] Suitably, the present B. longum subsp. iuvenis strain may lack a tet(Q) gene. Suitably, the present B. longum subsp. iuvenis strain may lack a tet(Q) gene encoding a polypeptide shown as SEQ ID NO: 2 or a variant which shares at least 80% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 2. Suitably, the variant may share at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98% or at least 99% identity with SEQ ID NO: 2.

[0195] SEQ ID NO: 2

[0196] MRFDNASNVVYYCLIQMNIINLGILAHIDAGKTSVTENLLFASGATEKCGRVDNGDTITD SMDIEKRRGITVRASTTSIIWNGVKCNIIDTPGHMDFIAEVERTFKMLDGAVLILSAKEGIQAQTKL LFNTLQKLQIPTIIFINKIDRAGVNLERLYLDIKTNLSQDVLCMQTWDGSVYPVCSQTYIKEEYKE FVCDHDDNILERYLADSEIPPTDYWNTIIALVAKAKVYPVLHGSAMFNIGINELMDAITSFILPPAS VSDRLSAYLYKIEHDPKGHKRSFLKIIDGSLRLRDWRINDSEKSIKIKNLKTIYQGREINVDEVGA NDIAIVEDMEDFRIGDYLGAEPCLIQGLSHQHPALKSSVRPDKPEERSKVISALNTLWIEDPSLSF SINSYSDELEISLYGLTQKEIIQTLLEERFSVKVHFDEIKTIYKERPIKKVNKIIQIEVPPNPYWATIG LTLEPLPLGAGLQIESDISYGYLNHSFQNAVFEGIRMSCQSGLHGWEVTDLKVTFTQAEYYSPV STPADFRQLTPYVFRLALQQSGVDILEPMLYFELQIPQEASSKAITDLQKMMSEIEDISCNNEWC HIKGKVPLNTSKDYASEVSSYTKGLGIFMVKPCGYQITKDGYSDNIRMNEKDKLLFMFQKSMSL K Resistance to erythromycin may be afforded by the erm(49) gene which encodes a rRNA methylase. Suitably, the present B. longum subsp. iuvenis strain may lack a erm(49) gene. Suitably, the present B. longum subsp. iuvenis strain may lack of erm(49) gene encoding a polypeptide shown in SEQ ID NO: 3or a variant which shares at least 80% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 3. Suitably, the variant may share at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98% or at least 99% identity with SEQ ID NO: 3.

[0197] SEQ ID NO: 3

[0198] MRNIKDTQNFLHSKELVRHLIGICNIKLDDWIEIGPGKGIITNELAHKARKWAIEFDEELY EKLKNKFQSNNKVDIIYGDILNYTPRIPSYCVFSNIPFNITSEILNKFLSDKKNEKMFLIMQYEPFIK YAGNPYGAETLRSMLYKPFFDMDLKYRFDPSDFKPAPQARIVLASFERKQFPDVKKEEEKLYK DFLAYIYTNKGETFFAKIKTLFSSNQIKRVWGQIKIDKTTKISEVPYESILKVFKLFFLYGTDANKQ LWNSFNNMNKQNNKLQKNHRNNSKAKSWNSNRKRKPYHRNNV

[0199] Resistance to erythromycin and clindamycin may be afforded by the erm(X) gene which encodes a ribosomal protection protein. Suitably, the present B. longum subsp. iuvenis strain may lack an erm(X) gene. Suitably, the present B. longum subsp. iuvenis strain may lack an erm(X) gene which encodes a protein comprising SEQ ID NO: 4 or a variant which shares at least 80% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 4. Suitably, the variant may share at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98% or at least 99% identity with SEQ ID NO: 4.

[0200] SEQ ID NO: 4

[0201] MSAYGHGRHENGQNFLTNHKIINSIIDLVKQTSGPIIEIGPGSGALTHPMAHLGRAITAVE VDAKLAAKLTQETSSAAVEVVHDDFLNFRLPATPCVIVGNIPFHLTTAILRKLLHAPAWTDAVLL MQWEVARRRAGVGASTMMTAQWSPWFTFHLGSRVPRTAFRPQPNVDGGILVIRRVGDPKIPI EQRKAFQAMVHTVFTARGRGIGEILRRAGLFSSRSETQSWLRSRGIDPATLPPRLHTNDWIDLF QVTGSSLPHHRPISPSGSSQRPPQQKNRSRRR

[0202] Resistance to streptomycin may be afforded by a mutation within the rpSL gene which encodes a ribosomal S12 protein. More specifically, a mutation at nucleotide position 128, replacing an A residue to a G residue was shown to provide streptomycin resistance (see Kiwaki & Sato; Int J Food Microbiol. 2009 Sep 15;134(3):211-5). Suitably, the present s. longum subsp. iuvenis strain may have an A residue a position 128 of the rpSL gene. Suitably, the present s, longum subsp. iuvenis strain does not comprise a G128A mutation in the rpSL gene. An illustrative rpSL gene sequence comprising an A at position 128 is shown as SEQ ID NO: 5.

[0203] SEQ ID NO: 5

[0204] TTGCCTACTATTGAACAGCTCGTCCGTAAGGGACGTCAGGCAAAGCCGAAGAAGTC CAAGACTTTGGCCCTGAAGGGCAGCCCGCTGCGTCGCGGCGTGTGCACCCGTGTCTACA CCACCACCCCGAAGAAGCCGAACTCGGCTCTGCGTAAGGTCGCTCGTGTGCGCCTGTCCT CGGGCATCGAAGTCACCGCCTACATTCCGGGCGAGGGCCACAACCTGCAGGAGCACTCC ATCGTGCTCGTGCGCGGCGGCCGTGTGAAGGATCTCCCGGGTGTGCGTTACCACATCGT GCGTGGCGCGCTCGATACCCAGGGTGTCAAGGACCGTAAGCAGGGTCGTTCCCTGTATG GAGCAAAGAAGGCGAAGTAA

[0205] Resistance to chloramphenicol may be afforded by the crmX gene which encodes a ribosomal protection protein. Suitably, the present 8. longum subsp. iuvenis strain may lack a crmX gene. Suitably, the present 8. longum subsp. iuvenis strain may lack a crmX gene encoding a polypeptide comprising SEQ ID NO: 6 or a variant which shares at least 80% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 6. Suitably, the variant may share at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98% or at least 99% identity with SEQ ID NO: 6.

[0206] SEQ ID NO: 6

[0207] MPFALYMLALAVFVMGTSEFMLAGLLPAIATELDVSVGTAGLLTSAFAVGMWGAPVMA AFARRWPPRLTLIVCLLVFAGSHVIGAMTPVFSLLLITRVLSALANAGFLAVALSTATTLVPANQK GRALSILLSGTTIATWGVPAGALLSTALGWRTTFWAIAILCIPAAVGVIRGVTNNVGRSETSATS PRLRVELSQLATPRLILAMALGALNNGGTFAAFTFLAPIVTETAGLAEAWVSVALVMFGIGSFLG VTIAGRLSDQRPGLVLAVGGPLLLTGWIVLAWASHPVALIVLVLVQGFLSFGVGSTLITRVLYAA SGAPTMGGSYATAALNIGAAAGPVLGALGLATGLGLLAPVWVASVLTAIALVIMLLTRRALTKTA AEAN

[0208] Carbohydrate-Active Enzymes (CAZymes)

[0209] Suitably, the 8. longum subsp. iuvenis encodes a specific profile of Carbohydrate-Active Enzymes (CAZymes). Carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes) are responsible for the synthesis and breakdown of glycoconjugates, oligo- and polysaccharides. They typically correspond to 1 -5% of the genes in the living organism. Glycoconjugates, oligo- and polysaccharides play essential roles in many biological functions, for example as structure and energy reserve components and in many intra- and intercellular events. The Carbohydrate Active Enzyme (CAZy) classification is a sequence-based family classification system that correlates with the structure and molecular mechanism of CAZymes (www.cazy.org).

[0210] CAZymes include glycoside hydrolyases (GH), glycosyltransferases (GT), polysaccharide lyases (PL), carbohydrate esterases (CE), and carbohydrate-binding module families (CBM).

[0211] Suitably, the CAZyme may be a glycoside hydrolyase (GH). GHs catalyze the hydrolysis of glycosidic bonds between two or more carbohydrates or between a carbohydrate and a noncarbohydrate moiety. In most cases, the hydrolysis of the glycosidic bond is catalyzed by two amino acid residues of the enzyme: a general acid (proton donor) and a nucleophile / base. Depending on the spatial position of these catalytic residues, hydrolysis occurs via overall retention or overall inversion of the anomeric configuration.

[0212] A GH classification system is provided by the CAZy classification. Herein, GHs are divided into families based on molecular function (e.g., GH1 , GH2, GH3, GH4, etc.). These families are then further divided into subfamilies based on subgroups found within a family that share a more recent ancestor and, typically more uniform in molecular function (e.g., GH13_1 , GH13_2, GH13_3, GH13_4, etc.).

[0213] Suitably, the present B. longum subsp. iuvenis strain encodes a glycosyl hydrolase family 43_17 (GH43_17) enzyme. GH43_17 comprises both a-L-arabinofuranosidase (EC 3.2.1.55) and endo-[3-1 ,4-xylanase (EC 3.2.1.8) activities, with capacity to breakdown complex carbohydrates like arabinan, arabinogalactan, and arabinoxylan. Suitably, the GH43_17 gene comprises SEQ ID NO: 7 or a sequence with at least 60% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 7. Suitably, the GH43_17 gene comprises a sequence with at least 60%, at least 70%, at least 80%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 98% or at least 99% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 7.

[0214] SEQ ID NO: 7

[0215] ATGAAACGAACTGACATCCACCTGCGCGATCCGTTCGTCCTGCCTCACGACGGTGT

[0216] CTATTACCTGTATGGCACCCGCGCTGATAACGTGTGGGGCGCGATGGATGGTTTTGATTG CTACACCAGCCGCGACCTTGACAATTGGGAGGGTCCGTTCGAGGTGTTCCACAAGCCGGA TGAATTCACGGCCGACCGTGCTTACTGGGCGCCCGAATGCTACGAGCGAGACGGTGTATT CCACCTGATTGCCACGCTCGGCGAGCCGGACGGGCGCAAAAGCGTGCACATGCTACGCG CTGATAGTCCGCTTGATCCGTTCGAATATGTCTGCCGGCTGACCGATCCGAATCAGTCCTG CATTGACGGAACTCTGCATGGTGAAGGTACCGATATGTGGCTTGTCTACTCGCATTCCTTG GAGGATGTGCCCGCCGGAGACATGGATGCCGTACGTCTGTCCTCCGACCTGACTCGGAC GGTGGGGGAGAGCATGACATTGTTCCAGGCCTCGGATGCGCCGTGGGCGGTGCCGGTGC CGTTCGCGAAAGCGGAATTCGGCATCGACGAGGACGCCTACTTCTCCGATGGTCCCTGCC TGTGCAGGCTTTCCAACGGACGGCTGGCGATGCTGTGGTCGAGCTGGTCGACGGAAGGC GGATATGCAGTCGGCCAGGCCATCAGCGAATCAGGGTCGATTGCTGGGCCTTGGACGCA ATGCCCCGAGCCTCTGCTTAGCCACGGCGGCCACGGCATGCTGTTCAACGGTCTCGATGG CGTGCTGCGTTACGCGGTCCACTCGCCCAACGACCCCGGCCAGGAACGGCCTACGTTTTT GTGCGTCGAAGAACAAGACGGGCTGCTGACGATTACGGAATAG

[0217] Suitably, the GH43_17 gene may encode a protein shown as SEQ ID NO: 8 or a sequence with at least 80% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 8. Suitably, the protein may comprise a sequence with at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 98% or at least 99% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 8.

[0218] SEQ ID NO: 8

[0219] MKRTDIHLRDPFVLPHDGVYYLYGTRADNVWGAMDGFDCYTSRDLDNWEGPFEVFHK PDEFTADRAYWAPECYERDGVFHLIATLGEPDGRKSVHMLRADSPLDPFEYVCRLTDPNQSCI DGTLHGEGTDMWLVYSHSLEDVPAGDMDAVRLSSDLTRTVGESMTLFQASDAPWAVPVPFA KAEFGIDEDAYFSDGPCLCRLSNGRLAMLWSSWSTEGGYAVGQAISESGSIAGPWTQCPEPL LSHGGHGMLFNGLDGVLRYAVHSPNDPGQERPTFLCVEEQDGLLTITE

[0220] Suitably, the present B. longum subsp. iuvenis strain comprises a glycosyl hydrolase family 43_22 (GH43_22) gene. Suitably, the GH43_22 gene comprises SEQ ID NO: 9 and / or 10, or a sequence with at least 60% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 9 or 10. Preferably, the present B. longum subsp. iuvenis strain comprises a GH43_22 gene with at least 60% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 9 and a GH43_22 gene with at least 60% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 10. Suitably, the GH43_22 gene comprises a sequence with at least 60%, at least 70%, at least 80%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 98% or at least 99% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 9 or 10. SEQ ID NO: 9

[0221] GTGAAGCATTGGAAGAAGATGGCAGCATCGTTGGTTGCAATATCAACGATGATGGC

[0222] AGTAGTTCCGACGACGTATGCCATGGAATCGGAAGATTCCCAACCACAGACAACCGATAC

[0223] CGCGACAGTGCAGACTACTAAGGCTGCTGAACCGACGCTGCTCGCCAGCTGGGACTTCAC

[0224] GGGCAAAAACGGCACCACGAACAGCGCGATTGCCGATTCGACCGGCAAGTACAACCTGAC

[0225] GCTGAAGGACGGCGCCAAGATCGAACAGTACGGTGACCGCAGCACCAACGAGGCGCTCT

[0226] CACTGCGCGGCGATGGCCAGTACGCCCAGATCGATGACCAGCTGTTCAAGGATGCGGGC

[0227] GACTCCTTCACTCTGGAGTTCGCGTCCAAGACTCGTCACGACGACAGCGGCAAGTTCTTCT

[0228] CGTTCATCGTCGGCAAGGACGGCTCGAACGACGCCAACACCACCGATCAGGCCAACGCC

[0229] AACAAGTACCTGATGTTCTACAACAGCAAGACCGCCATCAAGGGCGTTATCTCAAACAACA

[0230] ACTGGGGTAACGAACAGGGATCCAAGGTCACCGTTTCCGGCAACGACAACAGCTGGGCC

[0231] GATTACAAGATTGTCGTGGACGGCACCAACCTTGCCGTGTTCCGCAACAATGCCCTGATTA

[0232] TTTTCAAGGCCAACACCGGCATCAAGATGAGCGATCTCGGTGCGACCACCGCCTACATCG

[0233] GCAAGTCGTTCTACTCCGTCGATGAGTACTGGAATGGTGCAATGGATGATATCAAGGTCTA

[0234] CAGGGGCGCTGACCTGACCATGCCGACCGCCGTTGCGATTTCCGGTACCGGTGTGGTGA

[0235] ACAACAAGCTCACCCTGATTGAGAAGGACTCCACCAAGCTCACCGCCACCGTCACTCCGG

[0236] ACGACGCCGTGAGCAAGAACGTCACCTGGTCCTCCTCCGATGAGTCCGTGGCCAAGGTC

[0237] GCCGCAGACGGTACTGTAACCGGCGTCAAGGCTGGTACTGCCACCATCACCGCCACCACT

[0238] GAGCTGGGTGGTGTGAAGGCCGAACTGCCCGTCACCGTTGAGCCGATGAACGCCCAGAA

[0239] CGCCGCCGCAGCCGACCTCGATGCCGCGATTGCTGCGCTGAAAGTTCCGGCGGCCGAGA

[0240] ATCTGCCGCTAGTCGCCAAGGGCACCAAGAACGGCTCGGCGATTACGTGGAAGTCCTCG

[0241] GACGAGAAGCTCATTACGTCCACTAACGAGAAGTACGAAAACAAGACCACTGGTGCCGAT

[0242] GACCCGTATCGTGGTGCTGGCATCATCAATCGTCCGGCCTACGGCGACGGTGATTCCAAG

[0243] CCGGTTACGCTGACCGCCACCGCTTCCTACAACGGCGGTGAGAAGGTCACCAAGACCATC

[0244] GAGGTCACTGTCAAGGAGAAGACCCGCATCGCGCCTGACACCGGCTATGCGGCCGTCAC

[0245] TTTTGAGAGCGACAGCAACGGTGGAGAAAAGGCCTGGGTGGCTTCCACTGAGAAGAACGA

[0246] TTTCTTCACGTTTAAGACTCGCAACAATGGCCAGGCGGTACTTACCAATGATGCAGACACG

[0247] GGTGGCTTGCGTGACATGTTCGTGCTGCGTTCCCACGAAGGCGACAAGTACTACCTGATT

[0248] GCCACTGATCTCAAGGTCTCGTCAATGGGCTGGAGCCAGAACCAGGTTAACGGTTCTCGG

[0249] AAAGTTGAGGTCTACGAGTCCACCGATATGATGAACTGGACCCGTACCAACGGCGACGGC

[0250] AACGGCGGCATCACCATCAACACGCCGAACGCCGGTATGACCTGGGCGCCGGAAGCTTA

[0251] CTGGGATGATGACCTGAACGCTTACGTGGTGTTCTTCTCTTCCCGCATGTTCACTGATGAC

[0252] ACCCGTACCACTCCGGTCAAGAACGACAAAACCGGCAATAGCTCCTATGCTCAGGTGCGT TACGCCATCACCCGCGACTTCGTGAACTTCACCGAGCCGCAGATGTGGCAGGACACCGGC

[0253] TACTCGCGCATTGATTCCACCGTGCGTAAGATCGGTGGCTACTACTACCGATTCACCAAGA

[0254] ATGAGCAGGGCGGTGCCGCTGGCGATTACATCACCACTGGTAAGAGCATCTTCCTTGAGC

[0255] GTTCCAAGGTGCTGACTGCACCGACCACCGAGGCATCTCCGGGTCAGGACCCGAACACC

[0256] GGTTGGCAGTGCTCGAGCAGGCGTTGCTGCCGTTCGAAGGACCAGAGACCATCAAGCTCA

[0257] ACAAGGATGACGAACTCAACACGAAGGACGACGACGGCTACATTCTGCTGTCCGACAACT

[0258] TCGCCTACCGTGCATTTATGACCACGGGTGCCGAGCTTTCCAAGACCACGTGGGACAACC

[0259] CGATGACCAAGCGTTACCCGGACTTCAACAACGAAAAGAAGCCGGTCAAAGCCGAGCCGG

[0260] GCGCTCAGGGCTACATCACTCAGGGTGCTAACGGCGGTCTGCCGGACAAGGTGCGTCAC

[0261] GGTGCGTTCGTGAACGTGCCTGAGTCTGTGCTCAAGGTGACGAAGTCCTGGACCGCTGCC

[0262] AACCCGACGCACATCGAGGCTGTTGACTCCACCACCAAGGCCGTGTACAACGCCGGCACC

[0263] CGCGAGCTCACCGCCACGGTGACCGCCGCCGATAAGGGCACGCTCGCCGGTTCGGTGAA

[0264] GTTCTCTGCTGGCGACTGGTCCAAGACCGTGAAGCTCGACGCCGAAGGCAAGGCCACTGT

[0265] GACCCTCCCGGCCAGCGTCTCTGGCACTGTTGCGGTTGCTTACGACGGCTACACCGATGG

[0266] TTTGGTCAATCCATCCGATACTACGGTTGACGGCATTGAACAGGGCAAGGTCGATTTGGCT

[0267] GAGCTCAACAAGCAGATCGCTGCCGCCGAAGCGCTCAAGGAATCCGACTACACGGCCGAT

[0268] TCCTGGGCCAAGCTTGCCGCCGCGCTGAAGACTGCCAAGGCCGCGCTCGCCGCTGAGAA

[0269] TCAGGGCGAGGTCGATACCGCCGCAGCCGACCTTAAGACCGCAATCGAAGCCCTGCAGA

[0270] AGGCTCCGACCAATCCGGGCGAAGGTGACGGAGATAAGGGCGACGGCAATAAGCCGACT

[0271] ACCCCGACCACCGGCGACAAGACCAACGTCAACAAGCCCGGCAGCGCGCTGAGCAATAC

[0272] CGGTACGGCCGTGCTCGGCCTGGGTGGTGCCGTGGTAGTACTCGCCATCGCCGGCATCT

[0273] CCCTAACCCTCTGGCGCAAGCGTCGCGCCTGA

[0274] SEQ ID NO: 10

[0275] ATGGGAAAGCTGATACGAAAGGCAACCGGACTCACGGTCGGCGTGGCAACACTGC

[0276] TCGCTGGTCTGGTGCTGCCGATGACGGCCAGTGCCGAGAGCGCATCGCCAATCGATGCC

[0277] AGTCCGATCATCCACTATTCATTCGATAACGCACTGACGTCCAAGACCATCGCCAACGAGG

[0278] GCAGCGCGGCCAACAGCGATGCCACCCTATCCGGCGACGCCACGGTGGCCAATGGCCAG

[0279] ATCAACCTGACCGGCTCGCAAACCATTAGCGTGCCGACCACGGCCATCGCCGGTAAGAAG

[0280] GACGTCACCGTCTCCATCTGGCTCAAGAACAATTACGGCAACGGCAATACCGCCGCCGCG

[0281] TACATCGGCGCGGCCAAGACCGGCAATTATCCGGCCAACGGTTACTGGCTGCTCAACCCG

[0282] GCCAACCCGAGTGGCTACGCGAAATCCGTAATGACCAATGCCACTGCGGCCGACCCGAAT

[0283] AACAGCCCGTGGGGCACCGAAGTCGGCCCTGGATCGACGAACGCCGCCATCACCGGCAC

[0284] CAAGGCCACCAGCGATTTGGCTCTGTACACCACCGTCATCAACGGCACCAACAGCACTAT GAGCTTCTACCTCAACGGCAAGCAGGTTGGAGACGCCACCTACGCCATTCCGGCCGGTG

[0285] GCCTGACCAATTACGGCGATCTCGTCGCCTACATTGGCAAGTCCTCCTACGCTGACCCGA

[0286] ACTCCAAGCTCGACGTGGACGATTACGCCGTATACGACACTGCCATCAGCGCCGCAGACG

[0287] TGACCAAGCTGTATGACGTTCAGGTGCTCGACAAGGCCGAGGCCGCTGTCAAGGCCGCT

[0288] GTGCCCGCATCCGCTACCGAGGACTTCACCCTGCCGACCAGCGCCGCTGGTGTGAGCGT

[0289] CGCGTGGAAGTCGGACAACGCAGCCATCGCCGTTGACAACGCCACCGGCAAGGCCACGG

[0290] TCACTCGTCCGGCCGCAACCGCAGCTGATGCCGAGGTGACCCTCACCGTCACGTTCGGC

[0291] AACAACGCCAAAACCGCCGCCTACACGGTCCTCGTGCCGAAGCAGCTCTCCGATGCCGAG

[0292] CAAGCCAAGGCCGACCTTGACGCCATCACCATCGAGGACTCCGACGACATCCGTAGCAAC

[0293] TTCTCCGTGCCCACCAAGGGCAACAATGGTTCGACCATCTCGTGGGGAGTGACCGGTGGC

[0294] AAGGATATCGCCACACTAGGCGAAGGCGTGAGCGACAAATCTCGAACGGTCACTGTTAAG

[0295] CGCCCTGCCGCCGGTAGCGATGCCGCCACTGTGACGCTCAAAGCCACTGCCAAGTACGA

[0296] TACCGCCACTGAAACTAAGACCTTCACCGTCACCATTCAGCCGATGCCTGCCGCCGAAGA

[0297] GAAGGACGAGGCCTACGTGTGGGCGTTCTTCACCGGCGAGGGCGTGGGCGGCGAGAAAA

[0298] TCAGCCTCGCGGCCTCCAAGGGCAACGATGCGCTCGACTGGAACACGCTGAACAACGGC

[0299] ACGCCGATATTCACTTCCGAGTTTGGCGAGAAGGGTTTGCGCGATCCGTTCATCATGAAGT

[0300] CCAAGGACGGCGACAAGTTCTACATGCTCGCCACCGATCTGAAGATTGACGGTCGTGCCC

[0301] CCCTCAACGGGCTGAATGGCTTTGCTGGTGCACAGGCTAACGGTTCCAAGTACATTGAGA

[0302] TCTGGAAGTCCGACGATCTGGTCAACTGGTCCAAGCAAAGCCACGTCAAAGTGAGCTCTG

[0303] ATTACGCAGGCAACACTTGGGCGCCTGAGGCCTACTACGACGAGGAAATCGGCAAGTACG

[0304] TGGTCTATTGGGCCTCGAACCTGTACGACAACACCGACGAGAACAGCCGCAAGCAGCTGA

[0305] CCTACAACCGCATGGTGTACGTCACCACCGATGACTTCGTCAACTTCTCCGACCCGACAGT

[0306] GTGGATTGACGTTGATCGCCGAGGCGGTGCAGGCAGTGGATCCATCGATGTGACCGTGC

[0307] AAAAGGTAGGGGATACCTACTACCGCATCTACAAAGATGAAAACACGATGTCTTTGCGTCA

[0308] GGAGAAGTCCACAGATTTGACTGCCGCAATTGGTGGTGCCGGCGTGAAGAACTACGCCGA

[0309] TGCGCTTAAGGGTAGTGCATGGAGCGAAGTTGCCACGAACATCGGTAAAGGCCAGGCTAA

[0310] CGGTTACGGTAAAACCTTCACTTCCGGCGAAGGTCCATCGCTATTCAAGGCCAACGATGG

[0311] CGATGTGAACGGCTACCAGTACTACCTGTTCGCCGACCAGCCGAGCTATCATCAAGGTCC

[0312] AAACCACTATGTGCCGATGGCGACTGAGGATATCGCCAGCGGTCAGTGGACCGTTATCGG

[0313] CAATAAGATGCCTGAGGCGAACTTCCCGACCAACTCCGATGGCGGCAAGCCGCGCCACG

[0314] GAACCGTGCTGCCCGTGACCCGCGCCCAGTACCAGAAGGTGCTGGAGGCATACGCCCCG

[0315] GCTGTGGCTGTGAAGTCCGTTGACGCGCTGTCTGCCGAGACAACGGTTGGTGTGGCTCC

[0316] GACGCTGCCGGAGACCGCGCATCTGACTCATGCGGACGGTTCCGTTTCTGACGTTGCAGT

[0317] TGAGTGGGATGCCATTGACGCATCTTTCTACGCCAAGACCGGCACCTTCACCGTCAAGGG CATCACCCAAGACGATTCCCGTATGCCGGTTGAGGCTACCGTCATTGTGAACGGCATCGA CCTCTCCAAGGCGACCGTCACCGTCGAACCCAACGAGTTCACCGCAGACGGCGCTGCCA AGGAACCAGCCGTGACCGTTGTACTCGATGGCGCGACGCTCAAGGAAGGCGCCGACTAT ACGGTGGCCTATACGAACAACGTCGAACCTGGCACTGCCACAGTGACCGTAACCGGCGCT GGCAAGTACTCCGGTACTGTCTCGGCAACGTTCACCATCAAGGCCGCCGAGCCCGGCTCC ACGCTGGACAAGTCCAAGTTGCAGGCGCTTGTCGATAAGGTGAAGGGCTATAACAAGGCT GATTACCAGTCTGGTTGGGATGCTTTCGCCGTCGCGCTCGCCGACGCGCAGCAGGTGTTG CAGAACTCCACCGACCAGCAGGAAGTGGACAAGGCGTTGTCTCGGCTCCAGTCCGCCGT CGACAAGCTGGTCAAGAAGTCCGGCGATTCCGGCAAGACCGATGGCAAGGATGACGGCA CGCAAAAGCCCGCCGCCAAGCCGGGCAGCGCTCTGTCCAACACCGGCGCCTCGGTGTTC GGTGTGGGTATCACCGCGGTCATACTGCTCGCCGCCGCCGGCGCCGCCTACGCCTTCCG CAAGCGCCGCGCCTGA

[0318] Suitably, the GH43_22 gene may encode a protein shown as SEQ ID NO: 11 or 12, or a sequence with at least 80% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 11 or 12. Preferably, the B. longum subsp. iuvenis strain comprises a GH43_22 gene encoding a protein shown as SEQ ID NO: 11 or a sequence with at least 80% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 11 m and a GH43_22 gene encoding a protein shown as SEQ ID NO: 12, or a sequence with at least 80% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 12. Suitably, the protein may comprise a sequence with at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 98% or at least 99% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 11 or 12

[0319] SEQ ID NO: 11

[0320] M KH WKKM AASLVAI STM M AVVPTTYAM ES E DSQ PQTTDTATVQTTKAAE PTLLAS WD FTGKNGTTNSAIADSTGKYNLTLKDGAKIEQYGDRSTNEALSLRGDGQYAQIDDQLFKDAGDS FTLEFASKTRHDDSGKFFSFIVGKDGSNDANTTDQANANKYLMFYNSKTAIKGVISNNNWGNE QGSKVTVSGNDNSWADYKIWDGTNLAVFRNNALIIFKANTGIKMSDLGATTAYIGKSFYSVDEY WNGAMDDIKVYRGADLTMPTAVAISGTGWNNKLTLIEKDSTKLTATVTPDDAVSKNVTWSSS DESVAKVAADGTVTGVKAGTATITATTELGGVKAELPVTVEPMNAQNAAAADLDAAIAALKVPA AENLPLVAKGTKNGSAITWKSSDEKLITSTNEKYENKTTGADDPYRGAGIINRPAYGDGDSKPV TLTATASYNGGEKVTKTIEVTVKEKTRIAPDTGYAAVTFESDSNGGEKAWVASTEKNDFFTFKT RNNGQAVLTNDADTGGLRDMFVLRSHEGDKYYLIATDLKVSSMGWSQNQVNGSRKVEVYES TDMMNWTRTNGDGNGGITINTPNAGMTWAPEAYWDDDLNAYWFFSSRMFTDDTRTTPVKN DKTGNSSYAQVRYAITRDFVNFTEPQMWQDTGYSRIDSTVRKIGGYYYRFTKNEQGGAAGDYI TTGKSIFLERSKVLTAPTTEASPGQDPNTGWQLLEQALLPFEGPETIKLNKDDELNTKDDDGYIL LSDNFAYRAFMTTGAELSKTTWDNPMTKRYPDFNNEKKPVKAEPGAQGYITQGANGGLPDKV RHGAFVNVPESVLKVTKSWTAANPTHIEAVDSTTKAVYNAGTRELTATVTAADKGTLAGSVKFS AGDWSKTVKLDAEGKATVTLPASVSGTVAVAYDGYTDGLVNPSDTTVDGIEQGKVDLAELNKQ IAAAEALKESDYTADSWAKLAAALKTAKAALAAENQGEVDTAAADLKTAIEALQKAPTNPGEGD GDKGDGNKPTTPTTGDKTNVNKPGSALSNTGTAVLGLGGAWVLAIAGISLTLWRKRRA

[0321] SEQ ID NO: 12

[0322] MGKLIRKATGLTVGVATLLAGLVLPMTASAESASPIDASPIIHYSFDNALTSKTIANEGSA ANSDATLSGDATVANGQINLTGSQTISVPTTAIAGKKDVTVSIWLKNNYGNGNTAAAYIGAAKTG NYPANGYWLLNPANPSGYAKSVMTNATAADPNNSPWGTEVGPGSTNAAITGTKATSDLALYT TVINGTNSTMSFYLNGKQVGDATYAIPAGGLTNYGDLVAYIGKSSYADPNSKLDVDDYAVYDTA ISAADVTKLYDVQVLDKAEAAVKAAVPASATEDFTLPTSAAGVSVAWKSDNAAIAVDNATGKAT VTRPAATAADAEVTLTVTFGNNAKTAAYTVLVPKQLSDAEQAKADLDAITIEDSDDIRSNFSVPT KGNNGSTISWGVTGGKDIATLGEGVSDKSRTVTVKRPAAGSDAATVTLKATAKYDTATETKTFT VTIQPMPAAEEKDEAYVWAFFTGEGVGGEKISLAASKGNDALDWNTLNNGTPIFTSEFGEKGL RDPFIMKSKDGDKFYMLATDLKIDGRAPLNGLNGFAGAQANGSKYIEIWKSDDLVNWSKQSHV KVSSDYAGNTWAPEAYYDEEIGKYWYWASNLYDNTDENSRKQLTYNRMVYVTTDDFVNFSD PTVWIDVDRRGGAGSGSIDVTVQKVGDTYYRIYKDENTMSLRQEKSTDLTAAIGGAGVKNYAD ALKGSAWSEVATNIGKGQANGYGKTFTSGEGPSLFKANDGDVNGYQYYLFADQPSYHQGPN HYVPMATEDIASGQWTVIGNKMPEANFPTNSDGGKPRHGTVLPVTRAQYQKVLEAYAPAVAV KSVDALSAETTVGVAPTLPETAHLTHADGSVSDVAVEWDAIDASFYAKTGTFTVKGITQDDSRM PVEATVIVNGIDLSKATVTVEPNEFTADGAAKEPAVTWLDGATLKEGADYTVAYTNNVEPGTA TVTVTGAGKYSGTVSATFTIKAAEPGSTLDKSKLQALVDKVKGYNKADYQSGWDAFAVALADA QQVLQNSTDQQEVDKALSRLQSAVDKLVKKSGDSGKTDGKDDGTQKPAAKPGSALSNTGAS VFG VG I TAVI LLAAAG AAYAF R KR RA

[0323] Suitably, the present B. longum subsp. iuvenis strain comprises a glycosyl hydrolase family 43_27 (GH43_27) gene. Suitably, the GH43_27 gene comprises SEQ ID NO: 13 or a sequence with at least 60% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 13. Suitably, the GH43_27 gene comprises a sequence with at least 60%, at least 70%, at least 80%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 98% or at least 99% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 13.

[0324] SEQ ID NO: 13 ATGACAACCAAACCATCGATAGGCAAACGCCTGCTCGGCGCGATGCTGGCAGTGC

[0325] CGATGGCGCTCGCCGGCATGGGAATCGGCGCGACCACGGCGGTCGCGGCCGATACCGT

[0326] TCCGACCAATAATCTCATCGCCGCCTACGACTTCACCACGAAGCCAAGTGACGGCAAGAC

[0327] CGTGGCCAACAGTGCGCCGAACGCTACGCTTGGCGCGGCCGAAGTACAGAACTCCGCCG

[0328] ACTCGCTTTGGGCCGATGATGCCCTCACCCTTTCCGGCGGTGCCAAGACCGGCACCGGC

[0329] GACTGGGTCAAGCTGCCCTCGAATCTGCTGTCCGGCAAGGACGCCGCCACGGTGCAGTT

[0330] GGAGGTCAAAGCGGATTCCAGCATGCTCAATGCTTTCCATTTCCTGTGGAACATCGGTAAC

[0331] GACAGCTCCGATACGGAGTATTTCTTCGCCACGCTCAACTGCGGCAGTTCGCGTAACCCG

[0332] CTCGTCGGCCTGAAATCGGGCGGTACGGAGACGCTCGTGCAGTCCAGCTCCTGCGTGGC

[0333] CAAGGCCGACCAATGGTTGTCGGTGACCGCCACCATTGATGGCACCGCCGCGAAACTGTA

[0334] CATCGACGGCACGCAGGTGGCATCCGGCACCGTGCCGGCCAAACTGTCCAGCGTCAAGG

[0335] ACCAGTCGCTCAACACCATCGGCCGTTCGCCGTGGCCCGACAACCTGTTCAAGGGCGCG

[0336] GTCTCGAACTTCCGCGTATACGATGCCGCGCTCACCGCCGATCAGGTCGCCGCGATCAGC

[0337] ACTGCCGATGCCTCAATTCATGCCGGTGAACTCACCGGTTCCGTGCTGAACGGCATCATC

[0338] ATCCCCACGACGGTCGACGATCCGTTCATTTCGCTGCCCACTGCGAACGGCGTGACGTGG

[0339] GCGTCCTCCGATAGCAGCGTCATCGCGACTGACGGCACGGTCAACCAGCCCGCCAAGGG

[0340] CGAGGCAGCCAAGACTGTCACGCTGACCGCCGCCGTCACGATCCGTGGCCAGACCGCTA

[0341] CGAAGGAATTCACGGTCACAGTCAACCCGACCACGAAAACTGCCGCTGAACAGCTCAAGG

[0342] AAGCCGCGGCCGGCTACGTGATCCCGTCCGTCGTGCGTTCCGGAGACGCCCTCCCGGCG

[0343] GCTGTGAATGGCACTACCGTCACGGTTACGTCCACTAAGGACGTAGCCGTCGAGGATGGC

[0344] AAGATCACCATCGATGGCGACGAGGCCACGACCGGTACCATCACCGTCGAGTTCTCCAAG

[0345] AACGGTCTCGCCGGCATCGAGCCCATTACCAAGGTCTTCACCGTAAAGGTGCTGCCCGCC

[0346] GCGAAGTCCGCGACCATCGCCGCCTATGATTGCAACGCCACCAGCGCCGACGAGGCCAA

[0347] CAACGGCGACATCGCCTACAGCATGCACCTCGCGTTGCAGAACGCTGACGGTTCGTACAC

[0348] CCCGTACAACGAGAATTACGGTATCTTCTTCGCACGTTCGCCGAAGGCGCAGAATCTCAAC

[0349] GAGAACCTCGACGGCAATGATTACCGCAGTCTCAAGGATCCGAGCCTGCTCCGCATGGCC

[0350] GACGGCACCTATGGCGTGATTTCCGTGCGTACCAACCGCGGCACCGCCACCGGTGACTC

[0351] CACCGCGAAGTCCAGCGTGCTCATCGCCACCTCCGAAGACCTGCTCACCTATAGCGAACA

[0352] GGAGAACTCCGGTTCCATCGTCGACCTTGGCGAGACCAACGGCGTCAACGCTCCGTACGC

[0353] CGTGTACGACACCGCCAGCAAGCAGTATGTTGTCGGCTGGGCCGATGACAACGGCGTGG

[0354] CCAAGTACACCACGTTCGATTCGCTCAAGGGCTCCGCGTCCAAGCATGGCAGCGTACTGT

[0355] ACGGTTCCATCGCCAAGTCCGGCGTACTCGATGCCGACGGCGTGCAGGGCATCGCGAAC

[0356] TTCCGCTCCGGTGCCACCATCGCGGTGGACGAGGCGACCGTCAAGGCGCTCAACACCCG

[0357] TTACGGCCGCTCTGAGAACACCGGCACGAGCAATCTCACTGACATCACCGTCGAGAAAGG TTCCTCGATTGATGAGATGACCTCGCAGCTGCCGAAGAACGTGGACCTCACTTACTCCGAC GGTTCTACCGGCTCCCTGCCGATTTCCTCATGGAACACTGAGGGTATAGATCTGACGAAG GTGGGTGATTACACTGTCACCGGCACCGTCAAGCAGACCGAATACCAGATTCCGTTCGCC GAGGACCGCGCCGATCCATCGGTGTATAAGTGGCAGTGGACGCATGAGGTCGACGGCAA GGAAGTCACCGAAACCAAGTTCCTGATGATCGCTTCCAACGACATCCAAGGTGATGTCACT TGGCAGCATGGTTCGCCCCACATGCCGTTCCGCATGGCCGACACGATTTCCGGTCTCGCC GACGAGCCGGGCAACCCGAATGCCCTGATTCAGTCGAACGGCTACAACAACAAGGAGGT GTCGCTGCTCAAGGCTGGCGACAAGGACTCCGAGGGTAATGCCATCATGCACAGCTTCTG GGCTCCAGAAATTCATGAGATTGATGGTAGGCTCACGATTCTGTTCATGGCCGGATACGGC AACACATGGTCCAACGGCAAGTCGGTGTACATGCAGCTCAAGCAGGATGCCGACGGTCAT GACCTCGACCCGACCGACCCCGATAACTGGACTGTGCCGACACCGATCTACCGCAATGAC GCCTCGCTGCTCAACGGTAACAAGCAGCTCGCAGCCACAGCGTCCGGCGGAGTGGGCAT GTCGCTCGACATGACCTATTTCCAGGATGCCGACGGCAGGTCCTACTACGCCTGGCAGCA GCTCGGCGCCACCTACATCGCCACGATGGATCCGAAGGACCCGGCCCATGTGACCAGCT CCCCGGTGCGCATCGTCACCCCGGAGTATGCGTGGAACGCCGCCATAGCCGAAGGTCCG AACGTGACCCTGCGCGACGGCAAGCTGTACCTCATGTTCTCCGGTTCCGGCGTGGGTAAG ACATACACCACTGGGCTGGCCGTAGCGGATGCCTCCGGTACTGACCTGACCGACCCGGC CAGTTGGACGGTGCTCAACTACCCGATTCAGAAGTCCGGTCCGTTCAACGGTGAGATGCA GCTCGGCACCGGTCACGGCATGTGGAGCGAGGACGAAGATGGCAACCAGATCTACGTGT TCCACGCCTATGCCACGAAGAATCTCGGATCCGTGAATGCTGCCGGCCGCGACATGTTCG TGCGCCGTGTGCACTGGGCCGCCGACGGCATGCCGGTGTTCGACATGAGCTCTTCCGAG GAGCTGGCGAACAAGATCGTTTCCGTTACGGTGCATGTGGTTGACGATGCGGTTGCGGTC GATAAGTCTGGTTTGTCCAAGGCGCTTGCGTCCGCCAAGCAGCTGCACGGGTCCGACTAC ACCGCCGCCTCGTGGAAGGCGTTTGCCACGATGCTGGCCTCCGCTGAGAAGGTCTATGC CGACGATACTGCTACGCAGAAGGACGTCGATGACACGACCGTCGCGTTGGTCAAGGCGC AGGCTGCGTTAGTGAAGATTGATGGTTCCGATTCAGGCGATGGCTCGGGCGATTCGACTA AGCCGAGCGACGGTTCGAGCGTCGATGCGGGAGATAAGACGTGCAACAATCTTGGTTTGT CCAAGACCGGTGCGGCTGTGCTTAGTCTTAGCGGCGTAGCCGTGGCGCTTGCTGTCGCC GGTATCGCTCTGACTCTCCAGCGCAAGCGTCGCGCCTGA

[0358] Suitably, the GH43_27 gene may encode a protein shown as SEQ ID NO: 14 or a sequence with at least 80% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 14. Suitably, the protein may comprise a sequence with at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 98% or at least 99% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 14. SEQ ID NO: 14

[0359] MTTKPSIGKRLLGAMLAVPMALAGMGIGATTAVAADTVPTNNLIAAYDFTTKPSDGKTV ANSAPNATLGAAEVQNSADSLWADDALTLSGGAKTGTGDWVKLPSNLLSGKDAATVQLEVKA DSSMLNAFHFLWNIGNDSSDTEYFFATLNCGSSRNPLVGLKSGGTETLVQSSSCVAKADQWL SVTATIDGTAAKLYIDGTQVASGTVPAKLSSVKDQSLNTIGRSPWPDNLFKGAVSNFRVYDAAL TADQVAAISTADASIHAGELTGSVLNGIIIPTTVDDPFISLPTANGVTWASSDSSVIATDGTVNQP AKGEAAKTVTLTAAVTIRGQTATKEFTVTVNPTTKTAAEQLKEAAAGYVIPSWRSGDALPAAVN GTTVTVTSTKDVAVEDGKITIDGDEATTGTITVEFSKNGLAGIEPITKVFTVKVLPAAKSATIAAYD CNATSADEANNGDIAYSMHLALQNADGSYTPYNENYGIFFARSPKAQNLNENLDGNDYRSLKD PSLLRMADGTYGVISVRTNRGTATGDSTAKSSVLIATSEDLLTYSEQENSGSIVDLGETNGVNA PYAVYDTASKQYWGWADDNGVAKYTTFDSLKGSASKHGSVLYGSIAKSGVLDADGVQGIANF RSGATIAVDEATVKALNTRYGRSENTGTSNLTDITVEKGSSIDEMTSQLPKNVDLTYSDGSTGS LPISSWNTEGIDLTKVGDYTVTGTVKQTEYQIPFAEDRADPSVYKWQWTHEVDGKEVTETKFL MIASNDIQGDVTWQHGSPHMPFRMADTISGLADEPGNPNALIQSNGYNNKEVSLLKAGDKDSE GNAIMHSFWAPEIHEIDGRLTILFMAGYGNTWSNGKSVYMQLKQDADGHDLDPTDPDNWTVP TPIYRNDASLLNGNKQLAATASGGVGMSLDMTYFQDADGRSYYAWQQLGATYIATMDPKDPA HVTSSPVRIVTPEYAWNAAIAEGPNVTLRDGKLYLMFSGSGVGKTYTTGLAVADASGTDLTDP ASWTVLNYPIQKSGPFNGEMQLGTGHGMWSEDEDGNQIYVFHAYATKNLGSVNAAGRDMFV RRVHWAADGMPVFDMSSSEELANKIVSVTVHWDDAVAVDKSGLSKALASAKQLHGSDYTAA SWKAFATMLASAEKVYADDTATQKDVDDTTVALVKAQAALVKIDGSDSGDGSGDSTKPSDGS SVDAGDKTCNNLGLSKTGAAVLSLSGVAVALAVAGIALTLQRKRRA

[0360] Suitably, the present B. longum subsp. iuvenis strain comprises a glycosyl hydrolase family 43_29 (GH43_29) gene. Suitably, the GH43_29 gene comprises SEQ ID NO: 15 or a sequence with at least 60% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 15. Suitably, the GH43_29 gene comprises a sequence with at least 60%, at least 70%, at least 80%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 98% or at least 99% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 15.

[0361] SEQ ID NO: 15

[0362] ATGAGTTTCCATGTATCCGCGCAATCGGTTCGCGCGGTGGCCGGTGGACTCGTCG CCGCAGCGACATTGCTGTCAGGCCTTGCCCTTGCGCCGACCGCAATGGCCGCCGATTCA GCCACCGCTGACAACGCGCCCAGCGTTGCCGGTCACGCGTATAACGAACTGCCGTATAAC AATCCTGATGTCACCGTCACCCAAATCGACAATAGCGCACTGCCCAGCTACATGCGCAACC CCATCGGGCAGAACGAGGGTATTGACACCCCGAACGATCTTTCGCAGAACTACTACTCTG

[0363] CAGATGCATCCGCGCTGAGCTATGACGGCAAACTCTTCGTCTTCACCGGTCACGATGAGG

[0364] CTTCGCCCGACTACGGCTCCTTCAACATGAAGGACTGGGGCGTATACGTCACCGATGAAG

[0365] ACGGCCTGAATCAAGGCAAATGGACACATTACAAGACCATCGCCAAGGCAGACCTGTTCA

[0366] GCTGGGCCACCGGCGATGGCGCGTACGCCGGCCAAGTCGTAGCCGACGATAACGGCACC

[0367] CCGAGCGACACTTCCGATGATTGGTTCTACTACTACGTGCCGGTGAAGGACAAGGCTTCT

[0368] GAGGCGGCTGGACAGGACCCGTTCGCCATCGGCGTGGCCAAGTCGAAGAGTCCGCTCGG

[0369] CCCGTGGAAGGATACCATCGGCAAGCCGCTGCTCACCACATCGCAAACCCAGATTGAAAC

[0370] CATCGATCCGGCATTCTTTGTGGACGAGGATGGCACCGGATATTTGCACTTTGGTACGTTC

[0371] GGCACTCAGCTCGCCATCAAGATGAAGAAGGACGCCACAACCGGCCGCACCTCATACACC

[0372] GAGGTGGAAACCAAGGCTGATGGCACCACGCCGAACCTCCACACCATGAAGGACGCGGA

[0373] CAGCAACGCGAACGGCCCGAAGGGATTCTTCGAGGCGGCGTGGGTGTTCCGTAAGGGCG

[0374] ATACCTATTACAACGTGTACGACGGCGGTAAGCCCGGTTCGGGCACGGCCACCTGCGTGG

[0375] AATCGAACTATCAAGCTTGCATCCAGTACTCCACTTCCGACAGCCCGCTCGGCCCATGGAA

[0376] GTACCAAGGCGTAATCGTGCCTTCTGGCTCGGCCACCACGATGCACCCCTCGGTGCTCCA

[0377] GTTCGGCGACAAATGGTATGTGACCTATCACACCGGCGACAAGGAAGGCGGCACCGATTT

[0378] CCGCCGTGCCGTGTGCATTGATGAAGTCGATTGGACCGCCGACGGCCAGATGGTTTCCAC

[0379] CGCCCATCCAACCAAGGCCGAGAAAACGCAGCCCTCCACCAACGTGGCTCCGTACGCAAA

[0380] GGTGAGCGCCACGTTCACTGAAACGCCTGCTTGGAAGGGTTCGGTGAACGACGGCCGTG

[0381] TGTTGCAAACCGCTGTGGTCCCGCCGAATCACTGGACCAACTACCGTTCTATCCCGCAATC

[0382] GCAGTCCGGCGATTCTCTGGTCTACCAATGGGATGGCACTGTGCGCGTCAACTCGTCTAA

[0383] GGTTTGGTTCGACGTGGATTCCAACGCTCTGCGCGCGCCCGCCTCGTGGAAGATTCAGTA

[0384] CTTGGACGCGGACGGCACATGGAAGGATGTCATCAACCCGAGTGCCTATACAACGACCAC

[0385] AGGCAAGGCCAACCCCAACGCCGTCACCTTCGATGCGGTGACCACTACTGCCTTAAAGCT

[0386] CGACATGACCGGTCAAGCTGTGGATGGCGGCTATGCCTCCGTGGCCGTTGCTGAATGGG

[0387] AAGTCGGCTCCGACTCCAGCGAATCGCCGGCAATCACTGCGCCGAAGAGCGTGACCACC

[0388] GCCACCGGTACTGCGCCTACTCTGCCGGCCACAGTGGATGTGAAGTACGGGAACCCAAC

[0389] CGTTGCCTCCCCAGTAATTTGGCGTCCAGTTGATGCTTCCTCGTATGCCAAGGTCGGTTCG

[0390] TTTACGGCCTACGGCGTGGTCGCCGGCGTGCCCGGTGAGGCAAGCGAGCAGGGCAATGT

[0391] GTCGGTAAATGTCACCGTGCAGGACGGCTACCAGCCTGCCGCTGATACCACGAAGCCGAC

[0392] TGTAACCGTTGCCGTTACTGCTAACGCAGGCAATAGCGAGTGGCTCACCACCGCTCCGTT

[0393] CGCCACCGTGCAGGCCACGGACGACACCGCACCTATCGCCAAGCTGGAGATTTCCGCTG

[0394] ATCAAGGCAAGAGCTGGACCACCATCGCCGCGAATGCAAACGCGGCCATTGCCACGCTTT

[0395] CCCAGCAGGGCGATGTCGAAGTGTGGGCTCGCGCCACCGATCAGGCCGGCAACGTTTCC GACGTGGCCAAGGCCGGCGGCAAGGTGGACTCCGCCGCGCCAACCGTGACCGCCGCCG CCGATAAGGAGGAGCGCACGCTGACCTTGACCGCTGATGACGGCACCGGTTCCGGTGTC GCATCAATTGAATACCGCATTGGCACAGACGGTCAATGGGCCACGTACAGCAAGCCGATT GCTGCACCGAGCGCGTCGCGCGCCACCGTGTACTACCGCGCCACCGATAAGGCCGGCAA CGTGTCCGCTTCGGCGAAAACCGACATTCCATCCGACACTTCCGTGCCGCTGACCGGCTA CATTGAGGGCGATGCCACCGCCACCGATGTGGACGGCAAGGCATCCGGCTGGGTCAAGG GTGCCGCCGCGTTGAACGACGGCAAGATCATTCCCGATATCACCATTGCCAACGAGGATG TCTGGGGCACTTGGCCCAACACCGGTGAGATGCGCCTCGACTACGAGTGGGACCGTGAA GTGACTATCGACTCTAGCCGCGTGCAATTCACCTCGGATGATGGCGGATTGGGTATTCCG GCATCGTGGGAATTGCAGTACTGGGACGCCTTGGCGAACAACGGTGCCGGCAACTTCGTG GATATTCCCGACGCCACCTACACTGTGACCGCCAATTCACCGTCTGCTGGCTGGGCCACC GGCGATGCCAAGGGGTGGTCTGATGGCACGTGGAACACTCCGGTCAAGACTACCAAGTTG CGTATGGTTATCACGTCCGGCTCGGCTTCTCCGGCTGTTGCCGAATGGCAGGTTCATGCC ATTGACGACAGTACGCCTGAGCCGCCTGAGCCCACACCGATCGACAAGACCGAGCTCAAG CAGGCGCTCGCTGACTCGCCTAAGGCTGACGATGCCTCCAAGTACACCGAGACTTCATGG GCGGAGTACGCGGCGGTATTGGATTCGGCGCAGCAGGTGTATAAGGCTGAGGATGCCAC CGAAGCTGCGGTGGTGGATGCCGCAACCCAGCTGAAGCAGGCAGCGAAGAAGCTGGTGC TTGTAGCTACGGTGCAAGATCGTGCCGCGCTGAGCGCTCAGCTCGATGCCGCTGCTGCC GTGGATCGCACAAAGTGGACTGATGAATCGCTGGCCGTGCTTGATTCGGCAGTCGCTACG GCGAATGCGCTGACGAGTGATGGTCAGGCCGCCCAGTCTGACGTACAGGCTGCGACTGA GGCAATCAGCGATGCCATCGCGGGTCTGGTTGAGAAGAGCACCACGAAGCCTGGCCAGG GTGGCGATAAGCCCGGTTCCGGCACGGACAAGCCCAACCAAGGCAACGATTCCAACCAG AACAAGGGTGATGCAGACTCCGGCAAGCACAAGAAGATACCTGACACCGGTGCAGCCGTG CTTGGTGTTGGCATCCTCGCCGTGGTACTTGCTGTTGCGGGTGTAATCATCCTCAAGCGC CGCAAGTCCGGTACCTGCTAG

[0396] Suitably, the GH43_29 gene may encode a protein shown as SEQ ID NO: 16 or a sequence with at least 80% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 16. Suitably, the protein may comprise a sequence with at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 98% or at least 99% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 16.

[0397] SEQ ID NO: 16

[0398] MSFHVSAQSVRAVAGGLVAAATLLSGLALAPTAMAADSATADNAPSVAGHAYNELPYN

[0399] NPDVTVTQIDNSALPSYMRNPIGQNEGIDTPNDLSQNYYSADASALSYDGKLFVFTGHDEASP DYGSFNMKDWGVYVTDEDGLNQGKWTHYKTIAKADLFSWATGDGAYAGQWADDNGTPSDT SDDWFYYYVPVKDKASEAAGQDPFAIGVAKSKSPLGPWKDTIGKPLLTTSQTQIETIDPAFFVD EDGTGYLHFGTFGTQLAIKMKKDATTGRTSYTEVETKADGTTPNLHTMKDADSNANGPKGFFE AAWVFRKGDTYYNVYDGGKPGSGTATCVESNYQACIQYSTSDSPLGPWKYQGVIVPSGSATT MHPSVLQFGDKWYVTYHTGDKEGGTDFRRAVCIDEVDWTADGQMVSTAHPTKAEKTQPSTN VAPYAKVSATFTETPAWKGSVNDGRVLQTAWPPNHWTNYRSIPQSQSGDSLVYQWDGTVR VNSSKVWFDVDSNALRAPASWKIQYLDADGTWKDVINPSAYTTTTGKANPNAVTFDAVTTTAL KLDMTGQAVDGGYASVAVAEWEVGSDSSESPAITAPKSVTTATGTAPTLPATVDVKYGNPTVA SPVIWRPVDASSYAKVGSFTAYGWAGVPGEASEQGNVSVNVTVQDGYQPAADTTKPTVTVA VTANAGNSEWLTTAPFATVQATDDTAPIAKLEISADQGKSWTTIAANANAAIATLSQQGDVEVW ARATDQAGNVSDVAKAGGKVDSAAPTVTAAADKEERTLTLTADDGTGSGVASIEYRIGTDGQ WATYSKPIAAPSASRATVYYRATDKAGNVSASAKTDIPSDTSVPLTGYIEGDATATDVDGKASG VWKGAAALNDGKIIPDITIANEDVWGTWPNTGEMRLDYEWDREVTIDSSRVQFTSDDGGLGIP ASWELQYWDALANNGAGNFVDIPDATYTVTANSPSAGWATGDAKGWSDGTWNTPVKTTKLR MVITSGSASPAVAEWQVHAIDDSTPEPPEPTPIDKTELKQALADSPKADDASKYTETSWAEYAA VLDSAQQVYKAEDATEAAWDAATQLKQAAKKLVLVATVQDRAALSAQLDAAAAVDRTKWTDE SLAVLDSAVATANALTSDGQAAQSDVQAATEAISDAIAGLVEKSTTKPGQGGDKPGSGTDKPN QG N DS NQ N KG DADSG KH KKI P DTG AAVLG VG I LA WLAVAG VI I LKR RKSGTC

[0400] Suitably, the present B. longum subsp. iuvenis strain comprises a glycosyl hydrolase family 121 (GH121) gene. Suitably, the GH121 gene comprises SEQ ID NO: 17 or a sequence with at least 60% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 17. Suitably, the GH121 gene comprises a sequence with at least 60%, at least 70%, at least 80%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 98% or at least 99% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 17.

[0401] SEQ ID NO: 17

[0402] ATGCATCAATCAACACGAAAGCGGTGGCTTGCGTCAATCGGCGCGGTTGCAGCGG TCGCCACACTGGCCACCGGCGGTGCAGTCACCGCGCAGGCAGCCGATGCGCCCGTCATC AAGAATGCGGATGTGGCATATCCGTCGTTCAAGGGATCTGATGATCCGATGAAGACGGCG GCGAACAACACCACATATAACCCTGCCGTCAGCTATCTGCAGGAGACATTCGATAACGACG TGAAGAACCTGGCCGGCATCGACACCGACCATGACTTCTGGATCGATAAGATTCTCACCC GTACTGGTGCACAGCCAACTGGTAAAGGCACGAACGACAAGGGTGCTTACTCGTATGAAG GCTCCGACGGCAACAACTACCTGTTCACCCGTGGTCGCGCCGCCTACATGTACACGCACA CGCCTAATCAGCTCGGTTTTGTGGGTGATACCGCCTACTGGGACCAGACCAGCAGGAGCG GCTTCACCGTTACCGTAAACGCTGATGGATCAAACCAGACCCTTAACGAAGACGCCTCCCA

[0403] GCGCAAGCAGACGCCGAGCTACTTCACCTCCCTGTTCCAGACCGGTGGCAAGAGCCTCAA

[0404] GATCAAGGAAGTCAAGTACATCACCTACAACAACGTGATGGTTGCGAACCTCACCGTGGAA

[0405] AGCACGCAGGACCGCGATGTCACACTGACCACGGCCTCGCCGTTCGCCGCCGAGGGTGC

[0406] TGATGGTGCCACCGAACTTACTGGCCGCGTGAACGTCAAGAACAACCTGACGACCATCTA

[0407] TCCGCGCTTCTCCGCCAACAACCAGGACGGTTCCAACTGGATCGTCAGCGGTGGCAAACT

[0408] CACCAGCACGTTGAGCCTCAAGGCCAACGAACCGCAGACCGTCAAGATTCAGCTCGGCCT

[0409] GATCGCCAACGAACTGCCTGACTCCACCAAGGAATATGAGGCCCGTTACACCGGCGACCT

[0410] TAAGGATGCTGCCGCCTCCTACAAGGATTCCGTGACCACCTACAACAAGTGGTGGGTCGA

[0411] TAACGCTCCCTACGTGGACACTCCGGAAGACAATATCGATAAGACCGTGGTCTACCGCTG

[0412] GTGGCTGAGCCGTTTCAACATGCTCGACGCCAACATGCCTGGCAACACCTTCCAGTACCC

[0413] GACCTCCATCGAGGGTGTGCTCGGCTACAACAACCAAATCGTGCTCACCTCCGGCATGTT

[0414] CATGATGGACCCCAAGTGGTTCCGCAACCCCGAGTACTCCTACGGCACCTGGCTTTCCGC

[0415] CGGCGATACCGCCAAGAAGAGCAAGGCGGGCTATTACTACTACCACGACAATCCGGGCGA

[0416] CCCGGCCAACTGGAACCATAGCTACACGCAGTACATCACGCGCGCCGGCTGGGACTCCTA

[0417] CAAGGTGCACGGCGGTCCGTCCACCGTGGCCGAGGAGCTGGCCGACCAGGGTGCCGAG

[0418] GACGTGCAAGGTCTACTCGCTTCCAAGAGCGAGCCGGACAACAACGACAACCAGAACAAC

[0419] AATGACAACAGCTTGATTGACTGGTCCTGGTGGTCGATGACCGGTAACGATGCCGACGCC

[0420] GTTTCCTTCTCTGAGCCGGGTCGCTCCGGCCAGCGCATGGATCGCGCCGATGGTTCCGC

[0421] CAATATGTGGGCCAACGCCAATGCGGCTGCTCAGGCCTACAAGGCCGCTGGCGATACCG

[0422] CCAACGCCGAGAAGATGCAGGCCATCGCCGACAAGATCCAGAAAGAAGTCACCACTGAAC

[0423] TGTGGGACAAGTCCGACAACCTGCTCAAGCACAAGTGGCTGAACGACGGTGCTTTCGCCA

[0424] AGTACAAGGAGATCAATAACTACTACCCGTACTCCGAAGGCCTGATGCCTACCGGCAACG

[0425] AAGATTACAACAAGGCTCTGCGCCTGTTCGAGGATTCCAACGAGTTCCCGATCTTCCCGTT

[0426] CTTCACCGCCAACCAGGCGGACAAGGCGGCGCTGAACTTCCCCGGTTCCAACAACTTCTC

[0427] CATTATCAACGCACAGCCGCTGCTGCAGGTCTATTCAGCCGGCATCCGCAATTACGATGCA

[0428] GCCAAGAACGGTTACATCACCAATGAGCAGTTCAAGAAACTGCTGTACTGGGTGGCGTTC

[0429] GCGCACTATCAGGGCGGCGATAACAACTACCTTGATCAAAACGAGTTCTGGAACGAGGAT

[0430] AACAACAACGTCGGCGATGTAAACGGTGACGGCGTGATCAACAACCTCGACAAGAACCTT

[0431] GACGCCGCACAGAACGGCGGCAAGATCACCTACCGCTCCTGGATCCACCACACCCAGCT

[0432] CGGCACCACGAACTGGACGATGGTCGAGGACGTAGCCGGTATGGTGCCGCGCGAGGATA

[0433] ACAAGATTGAGCTGAACCCGATTGAGATCCCCGGCTGGAACTACTTCACGGTGAACAACCT

[0434] GAGCTACCACGGTCAAGATGTTTCCATCGTGTGGGATAAGGACGGCAGCCACTATGGTGG

[0435] ACCTGCTGGCTACAGCCTGTACGTGGGGGGCAAGCTCGCCTTCACTTCCGACAAGCTCGC ACACCTCATTTACGATCCGTCCACGGGCACCGTTGAGGATGCCGACAAGGCCGGCGTAAC

[0436] CATCACCAATGCCGCTGGTTCTGATATCAAGGCCGCCAACCAGGTTGCCTTCACCGCCGA

[0437] CCAGCGTGTGACCGACCTGTTCGCCAAGTCCGGTGCCAACGTCGACTCCGCTTCCAAGTC

[0438] CACCACGAATGTGGCCAAGGACGCGGACGTGACCGGTACCACCTACGCCGAGAAGGACA

[0439] CCAACTACCCGGCCAAGAACGCGGTGGACGGCAAGACCGTGATGGAATCGTTCTGGGGT

[0440] ACCAAGGGTTCTGAGAACAAGACCGACACGCTCAATATCAAGTTCAAGGACGGCAAGCAG

[0441] AAGATCGACGACCTCCGCTTGTACTTCTACCAGAGCTCGTCCAGCCAGACCATCTCCGGC

[0442] TATGCCGAGCCCGCCAACTACAAGTTGGAGTACCAGAAGGATGACGGCACATGGGCCCC

[0443] GATTGCGGATCAGGTGCGCACCCCGAACTACGCGGGCGCGAACTACAACCGTATCCAGTT

[0444] CACTCCGGTGGAGACCACGACTATCCGCGTCACCTTCACGCCGCAGGCCGGCATGGCCG

[0445] TCGGTGTCAAGGAGATCGAAGCCTACAACACCGGTATCAAGGCTGACGGCACTTCCGAGA

[0446] ACCAGGCTCCGCAGGTGGATGCTTACGTGTCTTCCAGCACCTCATCCGGTGCCAAGCTCG

[0447] TCGGTACGGTGAAGGATGACGGTCTGCCCGCAGAAGGCGACGTCACCACCAAGTGGGAG

[0448] CTGGTTTCCGGCCCCGAGGGCGGTACCGCGAAGTTCGTGGACGATACTGCTGCCAGCAC

[0449] CACCGTCACCTTCAACAAGGAAGGCGACTACGTTCTGAAGCTCACCGCTTCCGATGGCGA

[0450] GAAGGAAGGCTCCAAGGAAATCACCGTTCACGGCATCCCCTCTGACGGTACCGTGAACGT

[0451] AGCCCCGCAGTCGAGCGCCTCTGCCAGCTACACCAACGGCTACCAGCCGAAGGACAACG

[0452] CCAAGAAGGTCATCGACGGTCAGGTGGTATACACCAACACGCCGAACGAGACCTGGAACA

[0453] ACTGGGGCGACAACACTGGTGTGGAGCCGTGGCTGCAACTGAAGTGGGCCGGCAAGGTG

[0454] CCACTGAAGAAGGCCAAGGTCTTCTTCTGGACCGATGGCGGTGGCGTGCCGATGGCCTCA

[0455] TCTTGGAAGCTCCAGTACGCTGACGCTGACGGTAACTGGCAGGATGTGAAGCTGGCTGAC

[0456] GGCCAGTCCTACACGGTCAATCAGAACGAAGGCAACGAAGTGAAGTTCGCCGACACCGTC

[0457] GAAACCGACAAGCTGCGCGTGGTCTTCCCGAAGGGCGCCATCGTGGGTGCTTCCGAGTT

[0458] CGAGGCGTACGCCATCGAGCCGGTGAGCGTGGACGAAGTCAACCGACTGGTGCAGACCG

[0459] GTTCCAAGGCCGATGATCTGAAGCTGCCCTCCACCGTGAGCGCCGTATACACCGACGGTT

[0460] CTCGCCGTGACCTCGCCGTCACGTGGGATAAGGTGACCGACGCTCAGCTGGCCGCCGAT

[0461] GCCGTATTCGATGTCAAGGGCATCGTCGCTGGTGCGCTGAGCGGTACGGTTGCACACATC

[0462] GCAGCTCGTTCCGATACCGCATTGCAGACCGTGGGTAATGCGCAGCCGGTTGAGCAGACC

[0463] GTCTACCAGAACGCCAAGTCCATCGACCTGCCCGCCACGGTTCCGGTGAAGTTCCCGAAC

[0464] GGATACAACGACGACCGCAAGGTCACGTGGAAGGATGCCGACATCAAGGCCATCGACCT

[0465] GACCAAGGTTGGTGACTACGAGGTGGCTGGTACCGTCGACGACGGTTCGTCTTCCGCAGC

[0466] TGCCAAGCTCACTGTCCACGTGGTTGCCGACCCGAACGGTTCCTCCACTCCTGAGCCTGA

[0467] GCCTGAGCCGTTGGTCGGTTGGATTGAAGGCAAGGCGACCAAGACCACCATTTCGCCTGA

[0468] TTCCGAGGCGACCTGGTCACCGGCCGAAGGCAAGCTCAACGACGGCGTAGTCGTCGATG ATACTTGGCCGACCACGGATGATCAGAACGTCAACGACAAGGTCTGGGGTTCTTGGGGCA AGGCAAAGGACGGCATGTACGCCCAGTACGACTTCGGTCAGTCCGTGACCGTTGACCAGA GCCGCGCCCAGTTCTGGGCCAACTTCGCTGAGACTGACGATTCGAAGGGTGGTCTGGAA GTCCCGGACGCTTGGAAGATTCAGTACCTCGCCGAGGATGGTTCTTGGAAGGATGTCGAG CCCACCGAGGATTACACCATTGTGCGTAACTCGCCGGCTTCTCGTGCGGATACCGATGCC AAAGGTTGGAGCACTGTGACCTTCAAGCCGGTCGCCACCAAGTCGCTGCGACTCGTGCTC ACTCCGCACACCGGCAGCAGCACCTTCGGGGCCGCCGTGGCCGAGTGGGGCGTGCATG GTATTGACGGCACCGAGCCTGAACCTACCCCGGTCGACAAGACCGCGCTCGAGTCGGCT CTTGACACAGCCAACGGCCTCGATGCAAGCCGCTACACCGCCGCTTCATGGGCTGAGTTC CAGCAAATCATTGACGCTGCCCAGGCTGTGTACGACGATGCCAACGCCACCGCAGAACAG GTCGCCGAGCAGGTGACCAAGCTCGAGGACGGCCAGAAGGCACTCGTTGCGCTCGCCAC CGACGTGGAGAAGTCCACGTTGCAGGCGGCCATCGATGCGGCCAAAGCCGAGGCCGCTT CCGGCAAGTACACGGATAAGAGTGTCGAGGCCTTGAACAAGGCCATCGAGGCTGCGGAA GGTGTGCTCAAGGTCGGTGAGGTCGGTGAGGTCACTCAGGCCGCCGTCCAGGAAGCGTC CGCTTCGCTGAACAAGGCCGTCAAGGCCTTGGAAGAGAAGCCCGCCGCCGAAACGGTGA AGAAGGAGTCCCTCGAGGCTTCCATCGAGCAGGCCAAGAAGGCTGACAAGTCGAAGTACA CCGAGGAGGCATGGCAGGCTCTGCAGAGCCAGATTGCCGCCGCTCAGAAGGTGTACGAC GACAAGGATGCCAAGCAGGCCGATGTCGATGCCGCACAGGATGCCCTTGACAAGGCATTT TGGGCCACCAAGGTTGAGCAGAAGCCCGGCTCCCAGCAGCCTGGTGTGACCGACACTGA TAAGGATGATAAGGACAACAAGGGTGATCGTGTGCCTCCGACTGGTGCCGCGGTTTCCGT AGTTGCTGCGGCTGCCGTGCTGCTCACCGCCGCAGGCGTGACCATCCTGAAGCGTCGCC AGTCCGGCGACCACGGTTCGGCTCGCCACTCGGCCTGA

[0469] Suitably, the GH121 gene may encode a protein shown as SEQ ID NO: 18 or a sequence with at least 80% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 18. Suitably, the protein may comprise a sequence with at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 98% or at least 99% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 18.

[0470] SEQ ID NO: 18

[0471] MHQSTRKRWLASIGAVAAVATLATGGAVTAQAADAPVIKNADVAYPSFKGSDDPMKTA ANNTTYNPAVSYLQETFDNDVKNLAGIDTDHDFWIDKILTRTGAQPTGKGTNDKGAYSYEGSD GNNYLFTRGRAAYMYTHTPNQLGFVGDTAYWDQTSRSGFTVTVNADGSNQTLNEDASQRKQ TPSYFTSLFQTGGKSLKIKEVKYITYNNVMVANLTVESTQDRDVTLTTASPFAAEGADGATELT GRVNVKNNLTTIYPRFSANNQDGSNWIVSGGKLTSTLSLKANEPQTVKIQLGLIANELPDSTKEY EARYTGDLKDAAASYKDSVTTYNKWWVDNAPYVDTPEDNIDKTVVYRWWLSRFNMLDANMP

[0472] GNTFQYPTSIEGVLGYNNQIVLTSGMFMMDPKWFRNPEYSYGTWLSAGDTAKKSKAGYYYYH

[0473] DNPGDPANWNHSYTQYITRAGWDSYKVHGGPSTVAEELADQGAEDVQGLLASKSEPDNNDN

[0474] QNNNDNSLIDWSWWSMTGNDADAVSFSEPGRSGQRMDRADGSANMWANANAAAQAYKAA

[0475] GDTANAEKMQAIADKIQKEVTTELWDKSDNLLKHKWLNDGAFAKYKEINNYYPYSEGLMPTGN

[0476] EDYNKALRLFEDSNEFPIFPFFTANQADKAALNFPGSNNFSIINAQPLLQVYSAGIRNYDAAKNG

[0477] YITNEQFKKLLYWVAFAHYQGGDNNYLDQNEFWNEDNNNVGDVNGDGVINNLDKNLDAAQN

[0478] GGKITYRSWIHHTQLGTTNWTMVEDVAGMVPREDNKIELNPIEIPGWNYFTVNNLSYHGQDVSI

[0479] VWDKDGSHYGGPAGYSLYVGGKLAFTSDKLAHLIYDPSTGTVEDADKAGVTITNAAGSDIKAA

[0480] NQVAFTADQRVTDLFAKSGANVDSASKSTTNVAKDADVTGTTYAEKDTNYPAKNAVDGKTVM

[0481] ESFWGTKGSENKTDTLNIKFKDGKQKIDDLRLYFYQSSSSQTISGYAEPANYKLEYQKDDGTW

[0482] APIADQVRTPNYAGANYNRIQFTPVETTTIRVTFTPQAGMAVGVKEIEAYNTGIKADGTSENQAP

[0483] QVDAYVSSSTSSGAKLVGTVKDDGLPAEGDVTTKWELVSGPEGGTAKFVDDTAASTTVTFNK

[0484] EGDYVLKLTASDGEKEGSKEITVHGIPSDGTVNVAPQSSASASYTNGYQPKDNAKKVIDGQW

[0485] YTNTPNETWNNWGDNTGVEPWLQLKWAGKVPLKKAKVFFWTDGGGVPMASSWKLQYADAD

[0486] GNWQDVKLADGQSYTVNQNEGNEVKFADTVETDKLRWFPKGAIVGASEFEAYAIEPVSVDEV

[0487] NRLVQTGSKADDLKLPSTVSAVYTDGSRRDLAVTWDKVTDAQLAADAVFDVKGIVAGALSGTV

[0488] AHIAARSDTALQTVGNAQPVEQTVYQNAKSIDLPATVPVKFPNGYNDDRKVTWKDADIKAIDLT

[0489] KVGDYEVAGTVDDGSSSAAAKLTVHWADPNGSSTPEPEPEPLVGWIEGKATKTTISPDSEAT

[0490] WSPAEGKLNDGVWDDTWPTTDDQNVNDKVWGSWGKAKDGMYAQYDFGQSVTVDQSRAQ

[0491] FWANFAETDDSKGGLEVPDAWKIQYLAEDGSWKDVEPTEDYTIVRNSPASRADTDAKGWSTV

[0492] TFKPVATKSLRLVLTPHTGSSTFGAAVAEWGVHGIDGTEPEPTPVDKTALESALDTANGLDASR

[0493] YTAASWAEFQQIIDAAQAVYDDANATAEQVAEQVTKLEDGQKALVALATDVEKSTLQAAIDAAK

[0494] AEAASGKYTDKSVEALNKAIEAAEGVLKVGEVGEVTQAAVQEASASLNKAVKALEEKPAAETVK

[0495] KESLEASIEQAKKADKSKYTEEAWQALQSQIAAAQKVYDDKDAKQADVDAAQDALDKAFWATK

[0496] VEQKPGSQQPGVTDTDKDDKDNKGDRVPPTGAAVSWAAAAVLLTAAGVTILKRRQSGDHGS

[0497] ARHSA

[0498] Suitably, the B. longum subsp. iuvenis strain comprises a GH43_17 gene and one or more genes selected from a GH43_22, GH43_27, GH43_29 and GH121 gene as defined herein.

[0499] Suitably, the B. longum subsp. iuvenis strain comprises a GH43_17, GH43_22, GH43_27, GH43_29 and GH121 gene as defined herein. Suitably, one or more of the arabinan-degrading GHs described herein comprises a signal peptide. A ‘signal peptide’ may refer to a short amino acid sequence, typically present at the N- terminus of a polypeptide, which allows the polypeptide to be secreted out of abacterial cell. Without wishing to be bound by theory, this may advantageously allow the present B. longum subsp. iuvenis strain to act as a primary degrader of complex structures of arabinan when present in high molecular weight, usually in the diet. Suitably, a ‘primary degrader’ may refer to a bacterium that is capable of depolymerizing specific polysaccharides to mono-, di-, and oligosaccharides that they can take up and ferment themselves to acidic end products such as acetate or lactate. Suitably, the GH43_22, GH43_27, GH43_29, GH_121 , GH43_24 and / or GH30_5 enzyme may comprise a signal peptide. Suitably, each of the GH43_22, GH43_27, GH43_29, GH_121 , GH43_24 and GH30_5 enzymes may comprise a signal peptide.

[0500] Suitably, the present B. longum subsp. iuvenis strain comprises a glycosyl hydrolase family gene that encodes a CAZyme that targets arabinogalactans.

[0501] Suitably, the present s, longum subsp. iuvenis strain comprises a glycosyl hydrolase family 43_24 (GH43_24) gene. Suitably, the GH43_24 gene comprises SEQ ID NO: 19 or a sequence with at least 60% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 19. Suitably, the GH43_24 gene comprises a sequence with at least 60%, at least 70%, at least 80%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 98% or at least 99% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 19.

[0502] SEQ ID NO: 19

[0503] ATGAAGATAAACAATAAGGGCAAGGGCGCTCTTATCGCGGCAATTACCGCCGCGG CAACGCTATTGTCATGCGGGCTGGCCGCTGCAAGTGCCAGTGCGGCAGGTGTGAATTACC TGCCTACCATCGGCCAAGTGCCGACATACACCAAGTTCCAGCCCACAGCCGATCCGGGCA AGAACGCTAGCGATTACTTCCAGCCATATTGGTATGCCAAGAACGCCAATGATAATGGCGG CACACACATCCAAGCGCACGGTGGCCAAGTGGTCAAGGTTGGCGACGCCTACTACTGGTA TGGCGAAGACCGTTCTAACGGTTACGACAACAGCCCCGGTGTTCATGCTTATATGTCGACA GATCTATACAACTGGACCGATCTTGGTGTGGCGCTGCGTGCGGTGACCAGCAAATCTCAG TTGACGGATAAGAGCAATGCCGATTACGCCTACTTCGACAAGGCCTACAACCTGACCAAGT CCGACGGCAGTGTGGACGCTGCCAAGGCCGACGCAATCTTCCCGTACCTCAACACCAACC CCGATCAGGATGGTGATGGCGCGGTTGATTCCGTACAGGGCATTTTCGAGCGTCCGAAGA TCATCTACAACAAGAAGAACAAGCAATACGTGCTGTGGTGGCATTCCGATGGAAGCACCAC GCCGGGCGGTTCCAACTATGCACGTGCACTTGCGGGCGTGGCTGTTTCCGACAATCCGG CGGGCCCGTTCACTATGGTGGGTGCCTATCGTTTGCCTAACCAGAACAATTGGAAAGAAG

[0504] CCGCAGGTAACCCCAGCTGGGGTGAGAACGGTGACAGCCGCGATATGACTGTGTTCGTG

[0505] GACCCGAAGGACGACAGTGCCTATGTACTGTATTCTTCCGAAGCCAATGCCACGCTGTACA

[0506] TCGCCAAGCTCAACGATGATTACACCAATGTAGTCAAGACCACGAATGTGGACCAGTCCGA

[0507] GGGACAAAAGCAGTACTCTGCTGACGGGCAGTACCCATACATTCTTGCAGACGCTACTAC

[0508] GGATGCCCCGGTGCGTGGCGAAGATTTCCAAATCGTCAAACAAAATGGTTCGCTGGAAGC

[0509] TCCTGCCGTATTCCAATATGACGGGCGTTACAACATCATCGCATCTGGTGCAACCGGCTGG

[0510] GCCCCGAACAAGCAGACCTACTACACCGCCGACTCCATGCTGGGAAGCTGGACCCGTGG

[0511] CGTGGAAAAGGACGATATCAACGAGAACACGTGGTACAACAACATGCCGGAAGGCGCGGA

[0512] TGGTCTGTTGTCCGTGGGCGATACCCGCGGCACCACATTCGGTTCGCAGTCGGCTAGTGT

[0513] GCTCGCAGTAGACCAGGAGAAAGGTCACTTCATCTACCTTGGTGACCGTTGGGATTCCGG

[0514] TAAAGCCGATTCCACCTATGTTTGGCTGCCGCTGACCATCGGTGAGAACGGCACCATCGA

[0515] AATGCACAATCCTGCTCAAGAAGGCGAGCCCGACGGTTGGGATCTGAGCTATTGGGGCAA

[0516] CCATGGTAGCGCCAAGGGCAAGCTGGTCAACTGGACTGTGGAAACCGGCGATGATCTCCC

[0517] GAAGACCGTGAACACGGGCGGAACCGTTACTCTGCCGGACACCGTCAACGTCAAGGAAG

[0518] GCGACGATACCATTGCTACCAAGGTGACATGGAATGTGGAAGGCGGTACGGCAGTCAGCA

[0519] AGTCGACCAAGGCTGCTGGTAACACCTACGCATTCAATGTGCCGGGAACCTACACCATTAC

[0520] GGGCACTCTTGCCGAGAGCAGTAACTTCAATCCGGGCCGTACATTCCGTAGAACCATCGA

[0521] TGTTTCCTGCTCCAACCCAATTTCCGGAAGTTGGAAGGAAGCTCATTGGAAGGGCGGCAG

[0522] CGCGTGCCAGGTTTCTGCGTCCGGCGGTGCTTATGACTTCACGATTACGGACAACGCCAA

[0523] TCGGGGCGTCTGGACGGATCGCAACGAGGGCAGTGCGGTGTACCAGCCTGATGCCCTGG

[0524] ACGTGAACGAAATGCTGGAAACCACGGTCAAGCCGCTCGACTTGGGCGGTAATGGCGATC

[0525] CGCGCGCCGGTCTGGTGGTCCGTAACGGTCTTACTGGCGCTAACGGCGGCAAGGGATAT

[0526] GCCACGTTACTTGCCAGCCCAAGCGGCGTTTACATGCAGTACGATTCCAATGCCGATGGC

[0527] TACATCGATAAGGAAACATCGCATGTTGGTACCGGCTTCGGCGACCAAGTGCAGCTCAAG

[0528] CTGGAGCGCACCTCAACCGATACTCTGAAAGGCTACTGGCGTGCTTCCGCGAACGATGAA

[0529] TGGCAGGATGTCGCTACGGTAACGCTGACCGGTGCGGACGTAACCGGGCTCGATGCCGG

[0530] TGCTTTCGCCACGTCGAACAGCAATGCCGGCGCATTCACCGTGGCCTTCAACGGCACTGC

[0531] GTTCGGTTCGCAGACTGCTGCTGTGGAGTCCATCGCGGCCAAGGGCCCTGAAGCCACTAT

[0532] CGCCAAGAGGCAGACGCTCGCGCATAAGGACGTGACGGTTACCGCTACGCTCACCAATG

[0533] GCAAGACGCGTGTACTGGAGCCAGATGAATACACGTTGGAAGGCTTCGACACCACCAAAT

[0534] TGGGCGAGCAAACCGTGACGGTACGCCTTGTCACTGATTCTTCAGTAACTGCCACGCTCA

[0535] CCGTGACTGTGGAAAGCAACCTTGCCCGGTTGTTCTGCTCGTCCGCCGCAGCCTCGAAGT

[0536] ATGAGCCGGCCAGCAGCTGGGCCTCCGCTTCTACGGCCGACCTGACTTGCGACAACAATC TGAGCACCAACTGGTCGAACTGGGGCACCGGCGACACCTCGCCGTGGCTCAGCTACACC TTCGATAAGGCATATCAGCTGGGCAAGCTCAGCGTTGCGGTGGATAAGGCCAAGGGCGAG GCCGCTCCGAAGAGCTTCACTGTATCGTACCTAGCTGAAGACAACGCCACGTGGACTGAT GCCACGCTGCCGGCAGTCACTGTGAATGGTGCTGCTGGAGCCGTGACGGAAGCCGATGT GAGCGCTCTGCCCGCCACCAAGGGCATTCGCCTCAACTTCACCTACGCCGATGGCAATGA CTATGCCAAGATCGCTGAAGTACGCATCGCCGAAGGTGAAGCAACGCCAAAGCCGCAGCC GTCTAGTAACGCCAATCTTGCTGATCTGACTGTGGATGGCAAGACGGTTGACGGATTCTCC GCGGATATCACCGAATATGCCGGTGCGCTGGCCGGAGACGCTGCTTCTTACCCGACGGT GGAGGCGACTGCTGCTGACGCGAAGGCTACGGTGCAGGTGGAGCAGGCTTCGACCGAGA ACAGCGGCGTGGCCACGGTGACTGTAACTGCTGAGGATGGCACGGCGGAAACCTACACA GTGACATTCGGCGAACTGCCTCAGTTGGCCGAGCTTGCTGTGGAAGTGACCAAGGATTCC TATCAGGTAGGCGATAAGTTCAACGCTGCCGATGTGAAGGTATCCGCCATTTACAAAGTCG GCGATACCGAAACGCTGCGCAAGCTGATTGATCCAACTGATGGTGATCTGAAGTTCACTG GCTTTGATTCTGCCACCGCAGGCACGAAGACCATCACCGTCTCTTATCGTGGCGTGAACG CGACGTTCGAAGTCACGGTCACGGCCACGGAGGTCACTCCCGGCCCTGGAGAGCAGAAG CCCGGCGATACCAACAATCCTGGCAACACTGCTAAGCCCGGTAACACTGCCACGAATAAG CCGGCTGCTAATGGCGCTGCGCCCCTTTCGAATACGGGTGTTGCCGTGGCTGCCATTGCG GTCGTGGTTGTGGTGCTGACAGCTGCGGCTGGTGCCTTGCTCGTCATCCGCAAACGCCGC GCATAA

[0537] Suitably, the GH43_24 gene may encode a protein shown as SEQ ID NO: 20 or a sequence with at least 80% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 20. Suitably, the protein may comprise a sequence with at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 98% or at least 99% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 20.

[0538] SEQ ID NO: 20

[0539] MKINNKGKGALIAAITAAATLLSCGLAAASASAAGVNYLPTIGQVPTYTKFQPTADPGKN ASDYFQPYWYAKNANDNGGTHIQAHGGQWKVGDAYYWYGEDRSNGYDNSPGVHAYMSTD LYNWTDLGVALRAVTSKSQLTDKSNADYAYFDKAYNLTKSDGSVDAAKADAIFPYLNTNPDQD GDGAVDSVQGIFERPKIIYNKKNKQYVLWWHSDGSTTPGGSNYARALAGVAVSDNPAGPFTM VGAYRLPNQNNWKEAAGNPSWGENGDSRDMTVFVDPKDDSAYVLYSSEANATLYIAKLNDDY TNWKTTNVDQSEGQKQYSADGQYPYILADATTDAPVRGEDFQIVKQNGSLEAPAVFQYDGR YNIIASGATGWAPNKQTYYTADSMLGSWTRGVEKDDINENTWYNNMPEGADGLLSVGDTRGT TFGSQSASVLAVDQEKGHFIYLGDRWDSGKADSTYVWLPLTIGENGTIEMHNPAQEGEPDGW DLSYWGNHGSAKGKLVNWTVETGDDLPKTVNTGGTVTLPDTVNVKEGDDTIATKVTWNVEGG TAVSKSTKAAGNTYAFNVPGTYTITGTLAESSNFNPGRTFRRTIDVSCSNPISGSWKEAHWKG GSACQVSASGGAYDFTITDNANRGVWTDRNEGSAVYQPDALDVNEMLETTVKPLDLGGNGD PRAGLVVRNGLTGANGGKGYATLLASPSGVYMQYDSNADGYIDKETSHVGTGFGDQVQLKLE RTSTDTLKGYWRASANDEWQDVATVTLTGADVTGLDAGAFATSNSNAGAFTVAFNGTAFGSQ TAAVESIAAKGPEATIAKRQTLAHKDVTVTATLTNGKTRVLEPDEYTLEGFDTTKLGEQTVTVRL VTDSSVTATLTVTVESNLARLFCSSAAASKYEPASSWASASTADLTCDNNLSTNWSNWGTGD TSPWLSYTFDKAYQLGKLSVAVDKAKGEAAPKSFTVSYLAEDNATWTDATLPAVTVNGAAGAV TEADVSALPATKGIRLNFTYADGNDYAKIAEVRIAEGEATPKPQPSSNANLADLTVDGKTVDGF SADITEYAGALAGDAASYPTVEATAADAKATVQVEQASTENSGVATVTVTAEDGTAETYTVTFG ELPQLAELAVEVTKDSYQVGDKFNAADVKVSAIYKVGDTETLRKLIDPTDGDLKFTGFDSATAG TKTITVSYRGVNATFEVTVTATEVTPGPGEQKPGDTNNPGNTAKPGNTATNKPAANGAAPLSN TGVAVAAIAWVWLTAAAGALLVIRKRRA

[0540] Suitably, the present s, longum subsp. iuvenis strain comprises a glycosyl hydrolase family 127 (GH127) gene. Suitably, the GH127 gene comprises SEQ ID NO: 21 or a sequence with at least 60% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 21. Suitably, the GH127 gene comprises a sequence with at least 60%, at least 70%, at least 80%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 98% or at least 99% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 21.

[0541] SEQ ID NO: 21

[0542] ATGAACGTTACAATCACTTCCCCGTTCTGGAAGCGGCGTCGCGACCAGATTGTCGA ATCCGTCATCCCCTACCAGTGGGGCGTGATGAACGACGAAATCGACACCACAGTGCCCGA CGACCCGGCCGGTAACCAGCTGGCTGACAGCAAAAGCCACGCGGTCGCCAATCTGAAGG TTGCCGCCGGCGAATTGGACGACGAATTCCACGGCATGGTGTTCCAGGATTCCGACGTCT ACAAGTGGCTTGAGGAAGCCGCTTATGCGCTGGCCTACCATCCGGATCCCGAACTCAAGG CGCTGTGCGATCGCACGGTCGATCTCATCGCCCGCGCTCAGCAGCCGGACGGCTACTTG GACACTCCGTACCAGATCAAGTCCGGCGTATGGGCCGACCGCCCGCGCTTCAGCCTGATT CAGCAAAGCCACGAGATGTATGTGATGGGTCACTACATCGAAGCCGCCGTCGCCTACCAT CAGGTGACCGGCAACGAGCAGGCCCTTGAAGTCGCCAAGAAGATGGCCGACTGCCTGGA TGCCAACTTCGGGCCCGAAGAAGGCAAGATTCATGGCGCCGACGGCCACCCGGAAATCG AACTCGCCCTCGCCAAACTGTACGAGGAAACCGGCGAAAAGCGTTACCTGACGCTCTCCC AATACCTCATCGACGTGCGCGGCCAAGACCCTCAGTTCTACACCAAGCAGCTGAAGGCCC TGAACGGCGACAACATCTTCCCCGACCTCGGCTTCTACAAGCCCACCTACTTCCAGGCCG CCGAACCTGTGCGCGACCAGCAGACCGCGGATGGCCACGCCGTGCGCGTCGGCTACCTG TGCACTGGTGTGGCCCATGTGGGCCGACTGCTCGGCGATCGGGGACTGATCGACACCGC CAAGCGTTTCTGGACGAACATCGTCGCCCGTCGTATGTATGTCACCGGCGCGATTGGTTC CACCCACGTGGGCGAGTCGTTCACCTACGACTATGATCTGCCGAACGACACGATGTACGG TGAGACCTGTGCTTCCGTGGCTATGAGCATGTTCGCCCAGCAGATGCTCGACCTCGAGCC CAAGGGCGAATACGCCGACGTGCTGGAGAAGGAACTGTTCAACGGTTCCATTGCCGGCAT CTCGCTCGACGGCAAGCAGTACTACTACGTCAATGCACTGGAGACCACGCCTGACGGACT GGATAACCCGGACCGTCACCACGTGCTCTCCCACCGCGTCGACTGGTTCGGCTGCGCCT GCTGCCCGGCCAACATCGCCCGACTCATCGCCTCCGTGGACCGCTACATCTACACCGAGC GCGACGGCGGCAAGACCGTGCTGAGCCACCAGTTCATCGCCAACACAGCCGAATTCGCTT CCGGCCTGACGGTCGAGCAGCGTTCGAACTTCCCGTGGGATGGCCATGTGGAATACACG GTGAGCCTGCCCGCCAGCGCCACTGACAGCTCGGTCCGTTTCGGACTGCGCATCCCCGG CTGGTCGCGGGGCTCCTACACGCTGACCGTGAACGGCAAGCCCGCAGTGGGTTCGCTGG AAGACGGCTTCGTATACCTTGTGGTCAACGCCGGCGATACGTTGGAGATTGCGCTCGAGC TCGACATGTCCGTGAAGTTCGTGCGCGCCAACTCCCGCGTGCGCTCCGATGCCGGTCAG GTGGCCGTGATGCGCGGACCGCTGGTCTACTGCGCCGAACAGGTCGATAATCCCGGTGA TTTGTGGAACTATCGTCTGGCCGATGGCGTCACCGGTGCGGATGCCGCTGTGGCTTTCCA GGCCGACTTGCTGGGTGGAGTCGATACCGTTGATTTGCCGGCAGTGCGCGAGCACGCCG ACGAGGATGACGCGCCGCTGTACGTGGATGCCGACGAACCGCGTGCGGGTGAGCCCGC GACGCTGCGCTTGGTGCCGTACTACTCGTGGGCCAACCGCGAGATAGGCGAGATGCGTG TCTTCCAGCGTCGATAA

[0543] Suitably, the GH127 gene may encode a protein shown as SEQ ID NO: 22 or a sequence with at least 80% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 22. Suitably, the protein may comprise a sequence with at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 98% or at least 99% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 22.

[0544] SEQ ID NO: 22

[0545] MNVTITSPFWKRRRDQIVESVIPYQWGVMNDEIDTTVPDDPAGNQLADSKSHAVANLK VAAGELDDEFHGMVFQDSDVYKWLEEAAYALAYHPDPELKALCDRTVDLIARAQQPDGYLDTP YQIKSGVWADRPRFSLIQQSHEMYVMGHYIEAAVAYHQVTGNEQALEVAKKMADCLDANFGP EEGKIHGADGHPEIELALAKLYEETGEKRYLTLSQYLIDVRGQDPQFYTKQLKALNGDNIFPDLG FYKPTYFQAAEPVRDQQTADGHAVRVGYLCTGVAHVGRLLGDRGLIDTAKRFWTNIVARRMY VTGAIGSTHVGESFTYDYDLPNDTMYGETCASVAMSMFAQQMLDLEPKGEYADVLEKELFNG SIAGISLDGKQYYYVNALETTPDGLDNPDRHHVLSHRVDWFGCACCPANIARLIASVDRYIYTE RDGGKTVLSHQFIANTAEFASGLTVEQRSNFPWDGHVEYTVSLPASATDSSVRFGLRIPGWSR GSYTLTVNGKPAVGSLEDGFVYLWNAGDTLEIALELDMSVKFVRANSRVRSDAGQVAVMRGP LVYCAEQVDNPGDLWNYRLADGVTGADAAVAFQADLLGGVDTVDLPAVREHADEDDAPLYVD ADEPRAGEPATLRLVPYYSWANREIGEMRVFQRR

[0546] Suitably, the present B. longum subsp. iuvenis strain comprises a glycosyl hydrolase family 30_5 (GH30_5) gene. Suitably, the GH30_5 gene comprises SEQ ID NO: 23 ora sequence with at least 60% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 23. Suitably, the GH30_5 gene comprises a sequence with at least 60%, at least 70%, at least 80%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 98% or at least 99% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 23.

[0547] SEQ ID NO: 23

[0548] ATGAAGGTACTGAGCAAATCGCTTGCTGCAATGGTTGCGGCGGCAACACTAGTGG GAGGAGGGGCGTTTGCGGTTGCCGGCACTGCGTATGCGGCTGATAACGATGCCATTACC GTGACCCCGAACCCGTGGTATGCCAACAGTTTCGATGGCTGGGGCACCTCGCTGGCTTGG TTCGCCAACGCCACCGGCAGCCTCGGCGAGGAATCGGCCATCACCACCAATCTCGGCGA TGACGCTTCCAAGGCTAAGGCTGTGGAATACGGCAAACAGCTGCGCGAACAGTTCTACCA GTCCATCTTCGGTGATGAAGGACTGGACCTGAACATGGCCCGCTACAACGTGGGCGGCG GCAATGCCTCCGATGTTGCCTACGGCTACCCATTCATGCGCCAAGGCGCTGCCGTGCCTG GCACGTGGAAAGATGACGCCACCGGCTCCGGCACGTATGGCAATGGCGTAACCACCAAG CAGGCCGACAAAGACAAGCTGGCTGCGGCATTCGACCCGACTGACGACAACCAGTATGAC TTCTCCAAGTCCGCCGCCCAAGACTGGTGGATTGAGCGCGGTGCCACCGGCGATAACCCT GACATCACCGACGTAGAGGCCTTCGCCAACTCCGCTCCGTGGTTCCTGACCAACAGCGGT TACGCCACTGGTGGACGTAACTCCGGTAGCAATAATCTTGCAAACCCTGAGAAATTCGCTC AGTACATGGCCAAGAACGTCGAGCACCTCGAAAGCCTTGGCGCAAACGTTGACACGGTCG AGCCGTTCAACGAGTCCGAGACCAGTTACTGGGGCACTCCGGGCGACATGGCTTCGAAGT ACACCGATGAGAGCGATGACAACACCAAGCTCATTAACAACTACTGGGATAAGTACTACTC CGACAAAGATAAGTCCGTCACCCCATACGCCAACGCGCTGAAGAAGCCGCAGGAGGGTAT GCATGTCAGCAACGCCCAGCAGCAGCAGACGATTACCGCACTCGCTGAGGCGCTCAAGG ACAATGATGACACCATCATCGCAGCCACCGATGCCACGAACTCCGCCGACTTCGTCAAGT CGTACAACCAGTACCCGCAGGCGATCAAGGACCTTATCGGCCAGTACAACGTTCACGCCT ACTCCGACAGCAACCAGATGCAGTCGCGCGATATCGCTCAGGCAGACGGCAAGAAGCTGT CGATGAGCGAGGTGGACGGCTCCTGGCAGTCTGGCTCCTACAACCCGTACGGTTTCGACA ACGCGCTGGGCATGATGAGCAAGATCAGCTCCAACGTCACCCGCCTGCAGTCCAAGGACT

[0549] TCACCTTCTGGCAGGTGGTCGAGGACCTCTACAACATGCAGATGGGCTCGAATGTGAATC

[0550] CGGCCGGTGAGAACACCAACTGGGGCACCGTGCTCATCGACTTCGACTGCACCGTGGCT

[0551] GGCATGGACGGCAAGCTCTACTCCGAGCGCCGCGTGAACAACAACGGCGGTACCACCGA

[0552] TGGACTTGAACCGTGCACGGTTATTGCAAACGCCAAGTACAACGGCGTCAAGGCCATCAC

[0553] CCACTTCATCCACGCGGGCGACAAGGTCATCGCCAACAACGATGAAGACAACAACATGAC

[0554] TGCCACCTCCGACGATGGCAAGACACAGACCGTCATCCACCGCAACTCCGGCACCTCTGA

[0555] CCAGACCTTCGTCATCGACCTGTCGAAGTACGGCGAGATTGCCGACAACGCTTACGGTGA

[0556] GCTCTACCTGACCACCGAAACCTCTGCCGAAGACAAGAACGCGGGTGTCGATTCCGCCAC

[0557] TCCGGAAGTCTTCGCCAAGACCAGCAACGTCAAGCAAGCTGAAGGCTCTGTGATGATTGA

[0558] CAAGGCTGCCAAGACCGCTACGGTCACTGTGCCCGCCCGTTCTATCGCCTCCATCCAGCT

[0559] CACTGGCGTGACCGGCTACGCCAAGGATGCTGCCGTCGAGACCGGCGACACTTACCAGC

[0560] TCGTTGGTAAGCAGTCCGGCAAGGCCGTGGCTGATACCACTTCTGGTGATTCCGCGCTGT

[0561] CCCTGGCCAACGTCGCTTCCGATGCCGAGAACGCCAAGAAGCAGACTTGGACCTTTACCC

[0562] AGATCGAGCAGCCCGCCGACTCCGAGCGCCCTGATCTCAAGGTTTATGTGATTACTAACG

[0563] CCGAAGGCAAGGTGCTGGTGTCCAAGGATGGCACGAACGCGCTTTCCAACGAAACGGTTG

[0564] AGGCCGCTAAGTCCGACCCGGCTGCCAAGTGGATTCTCAACACTTCCGATGGTTCGACCT

[0565] ACCAGCTGCTCAATGCCGCGACTAAGACGAACCTCGATGTGGATAACTCTGGTACCACAG

[0566] TCGGCACGAAGGTTGGCTTGTGGCAGTCACCGAGCGGCACTTCGCCGTCCGCCAACCAG

[0567] ACATGGACTCTACGCAATGTAACGCCGACCAGCCAGAAGACCGTGAACGTGCAGACCGCC

[0568] GTTAACGAGAAGGCCGCGCTGCCGACCGAAGTCACGCTCTACTACACCTGGGGCGAAGG

[0569] CAAGGCCACGGTTGCCAACTGGGATACTTCCAAGGTCGATGTGGCCAAGGAAGGCACCTA

[0570] CGAAGCCACCGCTACCGCCACCGATGTGTACGGCAACGAGTTCAATGTCGCCGCTACGGT

[0571] CTACGTTGGCGCGCTCACCGTTTCCGATCCGGTATCGGCTACAGTGCTGGCCGGCACCAG

[0572] TGCGAGCGAGGCGAAGGCCGCGCTTGAGGCTGCGCCGGTGTATCTGCACGTCAAGGCAT

[0573] CGCCTGCATTCGAGGGCGATGCGGCTAAGGTTACGTGGAACTTCGATGGGCTTGATACCA

[0574] AGCTCGCCGATGCCAAGGCTGGCGACAACATTGCCGTGACCGGTACTTACCAGCTGGACG

[0575] ACGCGACCACGATTGCGCTGAAGGGCGCGATCTATGTCACCGCCGCCACGCCTGAGAAT

[0576] GTGGCCGACACTGCTTCCAGCCTGACCGTGACCAACCAGCAGACGGAATACAGCAAGGG

[0577] CGATCAGTGGAAGAAGCTCACCGATGGTGACACGTCAGCTGAAGCCTGGGTGACGTGGAA

[0578] CTCTGCTGGTGACTATTCCGCCAGCCCGACCGCCACGATTGACTTCGGCTCTGAGTGTGA

[0579] GCTTAGCAGCGTGACCATTACGTATGGTGACAAGGCTCCGGCTTCCGCCAAGGCCGAGTA

[0580] CACCACTGATGGCGAGACGTGGATGCAATTCGGTAGCGATGTTAAGCCTGCCGCAGGCCA

[0581] GACGGTGACGTTCAAGGCCGATAAGGGCACAGTGAATGCCACGAAGGTGCGCATTGTGAA CACCGTGAACAACGACTACATGAACGCCACCGAAATTCAGGCATTCGTGACGCCGGTTCA GGGTGCTGCGAAGAACATCGCCGCGGCCTCTGGCACGAACTTCTCGGTGAACTTCCAGGA GGGTGCCTCCGCTTCCAAGGCCATCGATGGTGACACTACGTCAAAGGGTTGGTCCACTTG GGCTTCCACCGCCTCGACGGTGGACCCGGTCGCCACGTTCACCTTCGACGAAGCTCAGA CCATCACCGAAGTGAAGACCTTCTTCTACTACGATGGTCGTGCGTCTTGGCCGAAGAGCC AGACGCTGGAATACCAGGATGAGGCTGGCGAATGGCATGGAGTCGGTACCAAGGATGGC TGGAAGATACAGGCCGGCGATGCCGGCTCTGGCTCCGACGGCATCACCGCCGCCGACAC CCCGACCGTTGACTTCGTGCTCGGCACCCCGGTAAAGGCCAAGGCCATCCGCCTGACTAA CACATTGCAGGACACCAAGGTGTACATCAACGTGGCTGAGATCCAGGTGTTCGCACAAGA CAGCACGGTACTCACCCCGCAGCCAGCATCCGATGCCACGCTGGGCGACCTGCGTCTTG ACGGCGAAACCGTTGAAGGCTTCGACCCGGCCAAGACCGACTACACGGTTGATCTGCCG GTCGACGCCGAGGCAAACCCGGTGCTGCAGGCCTTCGCCACCGACAATGCCGCCGCCGT CAAGGTGACTGGCGACGCGGTTGAGAACGGCCAGCTTGGCGGCAAGGCCGCCATTACGG TGACCTCAGCCGACGAGTCTGAGACGAAGACCTACACGGTGACCTTCAACGCCTTCACTTT GGCTTCGCTCAAGGTGATCGGACCCACGAAGACCGAGTACGCCATCGGCGACAAGCTCG ATACCGCCGGTCTGAAGGTGACTGCCGTCTACCAGAGTGGCGACAAGACCAAGGAAGTGC CGGTCGCTCTTGACGACCCGCAGCTTGCGATTGGCTCGTTCGACTCCACCACCGCAGGCA AGAAGGCGATTACCGTCTCCTACCGTGGTGTGACCGCGACCTTCAACGTCACGGTCAAGG CCAACGCAGTCGCCCCTGGCCCTGAAGAACAGAAGCCCGGCAACACCAACAAGCCCGGT GCCACCGGCAGCGGCAACAAGAACACGGTGGCCAACACCGGTTCCAGTGTTGCCGCCAT CGCTGGCGCTGTCGCTCTGCTGGCCGCTGCCGCGGGTGCACTGTTCATGCTGCGCAAGC GTGCATAG

[0582] Suitably, the GH30_5 gene may encode a protein shown as SEQ ID NO: 24 ora sequence with at least 80% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 24. Suitably, the protein may comprise a sequence with at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 98% or at least 99% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 24.

[0583] SEQ ID NO: 24

[0584] MKVLSKSLAAMVAAATLVGGGAFAVAGTAYAADNDAITVTPNPWYANSFDGWGTSLA

[0585] WFANATGSLGEESAITTNLGDDASKAKAVEYGKQLREQFYQSIFGDEGLDLNMARYNVGGGN

[0586] ASDVAYGYPFMRQGAAVPGTWKDDATGSGTYGNGVTTKQADKDKLAAAFDPTDDNQYDFSK SAAQDWWIERGATGDNPDITDVEAFANSAPWFLTNSGYATGGRNSGSNNLANPEKFAQYMA KNVEHLESLGANVDTVEPFNESETSYWGTPGDMASKYTDESDDNTKLINNYWDKYYSDKDKS VTPYANALKKPQEGMHVSNAQQQQTITALAEALKDNDDTIIAATDATNSADFVKSYNQYPQAIK DLIGQYNVHAYSDSNQMQSRDIAQADGKKLSMSEVDGSWQSGSYNPYGFDNALGMMSKISS NVTRLQSKDFTFWQWEDLYNMQMGSNVNPAGENTNWGTVLIDFDCTVAGMDGKLYSERRV NNNGGTTDGLEPCTVIANAKYNGVKAITHFIHAGDKVIANNDEDNNMTATSDDGKTQTVIHRNS GTSDQTFVIDLSKYGEIADNAYGELYLTTETSAEDKNAGVDSATPEVFAKTSNVKQAEGSVMID KAAKTATVTVPARSIASIQLTGVTGYAKDAAVETGDTYQLVGKQSGKAVADTTSGDSALSLANV ASDAENAKKQTWTFTQIEQPADSERPDLKVYVITNAEGKVLVSKDGTNALSNETVEAAKSDPA AKWILNTSDGSTYQLLNAATKTNLDVDNSGTTVGTKVGLWQSPSGTSPSANQTWTLRNVTPT SQKTVNVQTAVNEKAALPTEVTLYYTWGEGKATVANWDTSKVDVAKEGTYEATATATDVYGN EFNVAATVYVGALTVSDPVSATVLAGTSASEAKAALEAAPVYLHVKASPAFEGDAAKVTWNFD GLDTKLADAKAGDNIAVTGTYQLDDATTIALKGAIYVTAATPENVADTASSLTVTNQQTEYSKGD QWKKLTDGDTSAEAWVTWNSAGDYSASPTATIDFGSECELSSVTITYGDKAPASAKAEYTTDG ETWMQFGSDVKPAAGQTVTFKADKGTVNATKVRIVNTVNNDYMNATEIQAFVTPVQGAAKNIA AASGTNFSVNFQEGASASKAIDGDTTSKGWSTWASTASTVDPVATFTFDEAQTITEVKTFFYY DGRASWPKSQTLEYQDEAGEWHGVGTKDGWKIQAGDAGSGSDGITAADTPTVDFVLGTPVK AKAIRLTNTLQDTKVYINVAEIQVFAQDSTVLTPQPASDATLGDLRLDGETVEGFDPAKTDYTVD LPVDAEANPVLQAFATDNAAAVKVTGDAVENGQLGGKAAITVTSADESETKTYTVTFNAFTLAS LKVIGPTKTEYAIGDKLDTAGLKVTAVYQSGDKTKEVPVALDDPQLAIGSFDSTTAGKKAITVSY RGVTATFNVTVKANAVAPGPEEQKPGNTNKPGATGSGNKNTVANTGSSVAAIAGAVALLAAAA GALFMLRKRA

[0587] Suitably, the present B. longum subsp. iuvenis strain comprises a glycosyl hydrolase family 43_32 (GH42_32) gene. Suitably, the GH42_32 gene comprises SEQ ID NO: 25 or a sequence with at least 60% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 25. Suitably, the GH42_32 gene comprises a sequence with at least 60%, at least 70%, at least 80%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 98% or at least 99% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 25.

[0588] SEQ ID NO: 25

[0589] ATGACCGCAACCATCAGCAACGGTGTATCCGCCAGCTACAGCCCTGCGGAAGACG AGCTCGGCGCAGCTGACCCCACCGCCTTGCTTGCCGAATCTGGCGATTTGAAGCCGCTGG CCGAACGCACTTATACGAATCCGGTTCCATATGCGGACGGTAAGTCCCATACCGCGCCCG ACCCGTTCGTGCTCAAATACCGCGACCTCTACTACTGCTATGCCACCGACGAGCACGGCA TTCTGGTCTCCACCTCACCGGACATGGTGCACTGGACCTCACATGGATTCTGCTACACCGA

[0590] AGCCGGACGCAGAAACTTCTGGGCCCCATCGGTGATTCTCATCAACGGCGTCTTTCACAT

[0591] GTACTTCTCGAATATGCCGGCCGAGGAGACCGACACCCACACGGAAATCATGCGTGTGGC

[0592] CGTGAGCGAGGATCCGCTCGGCCCGTTCGAAAAGAAAGCGGAGCTGTTCAACACCTTCGC

[0593] CATCGACTCCCAAGTGGTCTATGGCGATGACGGCCAGTTGTACTTGCTTTACGCCGACAAT

[0594] CAGGTCACCGGCCTGAGCGATGACCGGCCCGGAACCTCCGTGATGATCGATCGCCTTGT

[0595] GACCCCGTATTCGCGTGAGAACAAACCGCGCCCGCTCATCGTGCCCACCATGGACGAGG

[0596] AGATCTTTGCCCGCAACCGTTTCGGCGATGGCCGCGACTGGCACACCGTAGAAGGCGCC

[0597] ACATACTTCGCCTACCGTGACCGCGCGTTCATCACCTACTCGGCCAACGCCTACGAGCAT

[0598] GAGGACTACTTCGTCGGATACTCGTACGCACAGCTGCCGAATAAGCAGGCCGACGCCCAC

[0599] ATCGATCAGCTCGATTGGACGAAACAGCTCAACGAGAACCGCTTCGATCCGCTGCTTATCC

[0600] GCAGCCCAAAGGTTGAAGGCACGGGCCACAACTCCATAGTCAAAGCGCCCAATGCCGTTG

[0601] ATGACTGGATTGTCTACCACGGCCGTAACGCCGATGACGAGCTGTATGTGGGCACCGAAC

[0602] AGCGCGTAATGCGCATCGACCCGCTGTACTACGCCGAAGGAGGGCTCGACACCCCAGGA

[0603] CCTACCGCCGCCGCTCAAAGCGCACCGCTGTATGGCACTGTGCATGATGATTTTGCGGAT

[0604] GGCCTGAACGCCGGATGGTCGGTTATTTCCGGTGCGGCCCACACCGAATCCGATGTGGA

[0605] CGGTCACGCGCTTGTTGCCGACGAATCCAGTGTATTCATCGCTGTGTCGGGCAAATCGTC

[0606] CGCAACCCAAGTGATTGACGTCTGGGCCAAAGCTCCCGTCACCCCACTGGGCGCACGATT

[0607] CGGTATCGTGGTGCGGTACCAGGATGCCAACAACCTCACCAAACTCGAGGTGGATGCTGG

[0608] CCGTCAGGTAATTAGCGTGGTCGATGTGATCGGCGGCGTTGCCTCCGAACGCGTGACCAA

[0609] TGCCGACCTCCATGACTTCGATTCCCATGCCTGGCATGAGTACCGGCTTGAGCGCCGCTA

[0610] CTGCAGGCTGGAGATCCGCATTGATGGCCGTTTCGCCGCGTCCTGCACCATCAGTGATAA

[0611] GCCCGGTCGGGCGGGATTGTTCTCGTTGCGAACGGGGGCCGCGTTCAGCGCATATGCGG

[0612] CCACTGAACATGTGAATCTGTGGGGTGCCGGATTGCGGGATCTCGGTCGAGAATTGCATG

[0613] CTGACCGCCGACTCGTCATCGACGGCGGCGTGAGGTCCAGCGGCGTGTGTCCGGTAACA

[0614] CTCGAACTGGCATACCCGCTGGTCAGCAACCGTTTCGTCCTTGATTTCGCTGGGCAGACG

[0615] AGCCGTGGGCAGGCGCTGTTGTCTCTTGGCGAATACCGTTTGTCCGGCACGGCATCATCC

[0616] GTGGAGTTCATGCGCAACGGCAAGTCTCTGCCTTCCACCCCGGAGCCGGCCAGGCTGCG

[0617] TGTCTTTGAAGACAACGTCCGCCGTGACCGTTCGGGCCGAGCCGTGCTCACCATCCGTAT

[0618] CGAAGCTCTGAACGGCACGATGCGACTGCACCTACGTGGCAAAACCTGGCAGGTGCCGTT

[0619] TGCGGACAATGCGGCCCGTGCCCGTATCACTCTTGATCGCGCATCCCTGACCGGATACGA

[0620] GAGGACATCGCTGGAATCCAGCATCGAGGAAAGGAGTGCGTCCGGCAATTGA Suitably, the GH42_32 gene may encode a protein shown as SEQ ID NO: 26 or a sequence with at least 80% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 26. Suitably, the protein may comprise a sequence with at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 98% or at least 99% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 26.

[0621] SEQ ID NO: 26

[0622] MTATISNGVSASYSPAEDELGAADPTALLAESGDLKPLAERTYTNPVPYADGKSHTAPD PFVLKYRDLYYCYATDEHGILVSTSPDMVHWTSHGFCYTEAGRRNFWAPSVILINGVFHMYFS NMPAEETDTHTEIMRVAVSEDPLGPFEKKAELFNTFAIDSQVVYGDDGQLYLLYADNQVTGLS DDRPGTSVMIDRLVTPYSRENKPRPLIVPTMDEEIFARNRFGDGRDWHTVEGATYFAYRDRAFI TYSANAYEHEDYFVGYSYAQLPNKQADAHIDQLDWTKQLNENRFDPLLIRSPKVEGTGHNSIV KAPNAVDDWIVYHGRNADDELYVGTEQRVMRIDPLYYAEGGLDTPGPTAAAQSAPLYGTVHD DFADGLNAGWSVISGAAHTESDVDGHALVADESSVFIAVSGKSSATQVIDVWAKAPVTPLGAR FGIWRYQDANNLTKLEVDAGRQVISWDVIGGVASERVTNADLHDFDSHAWHEYRLERRYCR LEIRIDGRFAASCTISDKPGRAGLFSLRTGAAFSAYAATEHVNLWGAGLRDLGRELHADRRLVI DGGVRSSGVCPVTLELAYPLVSNRFVLDFAGQTSRGQALLSLGEYRLSGTASSVEFMRNGKSL PSTPEPARLRVFEDNVRRDRSGRAVLTIRIEALNGTMRLHLRGKTWQVPFADNAARARITLDRA SLTGYERTSLESSIEERSASGN

[0623] Suitably, the B. longum subsp. iuvenis strain comprises one or more genes selected from a GH43_24, GH127, GH30_5, and GH 43_32 gene as defined herein.

[0624] Suitably, the B. longum subsp. iuvenis strain comprises a GH43_17 gene and one or more selected from a GH43_24, GH127, GH30_5, and GH 43_32 gene as defined herein.

[0625] Suitably, the B. longum subsp. iuvenis strain comprises a GH43_17, GH43_24, GH127, GH30_5, and GH 43_32 gene as defined herein.

[0626] Suitably, the B. longum subsp. iuvenis strain comprises a

[0627] GH43_17, GH43_22, GH43_27, GH43_29, GH121 , GH43_24, GH127, GH30_5, and GH 43_32 gene as defined herein.

[0628] Suitably, the B. longum subsp. iuvenis strain comprises a

[0629] GH43_17, GH43_22, GH43_27, GH43_29, GH121 , GH43_24, GH127, GH30_5, GH 43_32, as defined herein. GH43 17 gene cluster

[0630] Suitably, the B. longum subsp. iuvenis strain may comprise one or more genes encoding for a family 31 glucosidase (GH31), an ABC transporter, a Lac-I type regulator, a MFS transporter and / or an AraC family transcriptional regulator.

[0631] Suitably, the present B. longum subsp. iuvenis strain comprises a glycosyl hydrolase family 31 (GH31) gene. Suitably, the GH31 gene comprises SEQ ID NO: 27 or a sequence with at least 60% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 27. Suitably, the GH31 gene comprises a sequence with at least 60%, at least 70%, at least 80%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 98% or at least 99% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 27.

[0632] SEQ ID NO: 27

[0633] ATGACAACTTCATTCACCATCGACGGCAACGCCCTGATCTGGACCGGGGACGGCG AAACCCTGCGCATCGAACCTTGGGAAGAGAACAGCGTACGTGTACGCGCCACCCGCAACC GTGGCTTCGGCCCGGTCGATTGGGCGCTTCTGGAACCGAAGAATGAATCCGGCCGTGTC GCAGACATCGCCGTCGGCGAGGACGGCGAACACGCCAGCCTGACCAACGGCAGCATCAC CGTTAAAGCGGATTCGAATCATGCTCCATTGCTGTCTGCCGGATATGAAACCTTCCGGTGT GACCTGAGCTTCTGGAACGCCGAAGGCGAACTCCTGTTCCGCGAATATCCACAAGGTGGG TCGCTTTTGCTCAAGGCGCGTGACTACACTCCGGTGTCCGGTGAAAGCTTCGCCGTGACC ACGTCTTTCAGCGCCGATCCCAAAGAACGGCTGTATGGCATGGGCGAATACCAACAGGAC GTGCTTGACCTCAAAGGCTCCACCTTTGAACTTGCGCACCGTAATTCCCAAGCCTCCGTGC CGTTCGTCGTCTCCTCCAAGGGGTACGGCTTCCTGTGGCACAATCCGGCTATTGGCCGCG CCACTTTTGGACGCAACCGAACCGAATGGGCGGCTCAGTCCACTGACCAGATTGACTACT GGGTCACCGCCGGTGACTCCTACGCGCAGATCGAATCGCAATATGCCGACGCCACCGGA CATGCGCCAGTCATGCCTGAATGGGGTATGGGCTTCTGGCAGTGCAAGCTGCGTTACTGG AACCAGGAACAATTGCTTGACGTGGCCCGAGGCTTCAAATCCCGGAACATCCCGCTAGAC CTCATCGTCATTGACTTCTTTCACTGGCCTCATTTGGGCGACTATAAGTTCGAGGACGAATT CTGGCCTGATCCCGAGGCCATGGTCGCCGAGCTCAACAGCATGGGCGTCAAGCTCATGG TGTCTGTGTGGCCGCAGGTCTCGGTCTCATCCGAGAACTTCGTGGAGATGAAGCGCAACA ACTATCTGGTAAGCGCTGAAGCTGGGCTCAATCTTGACATGATGTTCGAAGAGCCGTGCGT CAACTATGATCCCACCAACCCGGGAGCTCGCAAATTTGTGTGGGACAAGTGCAAGGCCAA CTATTGGGACAAGGGCGTGCGCGCCTTCTGGCTGGATGAGGCCGAACCCGAATATGGTGT CTACGATTTTCGCAACTACCGCTACCACATGGGCAGCGACCTCAACGTGGGTAACGTCTAT CCGCAGGCTTACAACCGCGGATTCTACGAGGGGCAGATAGAAGCCGGCATGGAAGGCGA GATCGTTAACCTGACTCGATGTGCGTGGGCTGGATCTCAACGTTACGGATCGTTGGTCTG GTCTGGAGACGTTGGCTCCACATTCGCCGATCTGAAATCGCAGATTACCTGTGCTATTCAC ATGGGTATGGCTGGCATCCCTTGGTTCACTACAGACATGGGCGGCTTCCATGATGGGGTG ATCGATTCGGATTCATTCAAGGAGCTGCTGGCCCGCTGGTGCGCGTTCTCCTGCTTCCTG CCCGTCATGCGCAACCATGGTGACCGCAGCCTGGGGGAGTCGACCGGCAAGCAAACCAT CACCAAGGCAACCGGTGAGCACCGTTCGCCTTCGGGCGCGGACAACGAGCCATGGAGCT ATGGCCCTGAAATGGAGTCCATATTCCGTAAATACATCGCCGTGCGCGAGGTCATGCGCC CGTATACCCGTGAACTGTTCCAGTCTGCCCATGAGCAGGGTCAGCCGTTGGTGCGAGGAC TGTTCTACGAGTTTCCGACCGATGAACACGTGGCCGACATTGCGGACGAATACCTGTACG GTCCTGACATTCTTGTGGCTCCCGTAGTCGAGGCCGGTGCTGCTTCCCGTAGCGTCTACC TTCCTGGCGATGAGACGACCACTTGGACTGATTTGCGAGACGGTGCCGTATACGCGGGTG GGCAGAGCATCGAGTCGTCTGCAGCAATCGACACGGTCCCTGCCTTTGCGCGAGATGGTC GGGACCATGGTTTGATTGGTCTGTTGTAG

[0634] Suitably, the GH31 gene may encode a protein shown as SEQ ID NO: 28 or a sequence with at least 80% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 28. Suitably, the protein may comprise a sequence with at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 98% or at least 99% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 28.

[0635] SEQ ID NO: 28

[0636] MTTSFTIDGNALIWTGDGETLRIEPWEENSVRVRATRNRGFGPVDWALLEPKNESGRV ADIAVGEDGEHASLTNGSITVKADSNHAPLLSAGYETFRCDLSFWNAEGELLFREYPQGGSLLL KARDYTPVSGESFAVTTSFSADPKERLYGMGEYQQDVLDLKGSTFELAHRNSQASVPFWSS KGYGFLWHNPAIGRATFGRNRTEWAAQSTDQIDYWVTAGDSYAQIESQYADATGHAPVMPE WGMGFWQCKLRYWNQEQLLDVARGFKSRNIPLDLIVIDFFHWPHLGDYKFEDEFWPDPEAMV AELNSMGVKLMVSVWPQVSVSSENFVEMKRNNYLVSAEAGLNLDMMFEEPCVNYDPTNPGA RKFVWDKCKANYWDKGVRAFWLDEAEPEYGVYDFRNYRYHMGSDLNVGNVYPQAYNRGFY EGQIEAGMEGEIVNLTRCAWAGSQRYGSLVWSGDVGSTFADLKSQITCAIHMGMAGIPWFTTD MGGFHDGVIDSDSFKELLARWCAFSCFLPVMRNHGDRSLGESTGKQTITKATGEHRSPSGAD NEPWSYGPEMESIFRKYIAVREVMRPYTRELFQSAHEQGQPLVRGLFYEFPTDEHVADIADEY LYGPDILVAPWEAGAASRSVYLPGDETTTWTDLRDGAVYAGGQSIESSAAIDTVPAFARDGRD HGLIGLL Suitably, the present B. longum subsp. iuvenis strain comprises one or more ABC transporter genes. Suitably, the ABC transporter genes comprise SEQ ID NO: 29-31 or sequences with at least 60% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 29-31. Suitably, the ABC transporter gene comprises a sequence with at least 60%, at least 70%, at least 80%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 98% or at least 99% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 29-31. Suitably, the present B. longum subsp. iuvenis strain comprises a gene with at least 60% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 29, a gene with at least 60% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 30 and a gene with at least 60% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 31 .

[0637] SEQ ID NO: 29

[0638] ATGACGCATCGTAGCACCTGGTGGAAAACCGCTCTCGGCATCATATTGACGCTCAT CATGATGTTTCCTGTCTACTGGATGATCAACATCTCGTTCACTGGTAAGGCATCCATTCGTT CCGGCGACCTGTGGCCCAAGGATTTCACCTTTGACAACTACGCCCGCGTAATCGCCGACC AAATGCCCTATCTGGGCACTTCCATCCTCGTAGCGGTATGCTGCGTGATTCTAACGCTGGT CATCGCACTGCCTGCCGCCTACGCACTGGCTTTGCTGCGCTGTCCAGGCAGCGGCGCGC TCAGCTTCCTGCTCATCGTGGCTCAGATGATTCCCGCCGTCGTGATGTCGCTCGGCTTCTA CGAGATTTATAACAACATTGGTCTGCTCGATACGTTGCCCGGCCTGATCCTCGCCGACTCG ACCATTGCGGTGCCGTTCGCGGTCATGCTCCTGACTTCTTTCATGGCCGGCATCCCGCGG TCCCTGCTTGAGGCCGCCGAAGTGGATGGAGCCTCACGTACCCGTCGCTTCTTTTCCATT GTCATCCCGTTATCGCGCAATTCGATCGTGACCGTCTCCCTGTTCGCTTTCCTATGGTCTT GGAGCGACTTCCTGTTCGCTTCCACCCTTGACTCCGGCGGCGGCAAGATGCGCCCGATCA CTATGGGTCTGTACAACTATATCGGTGCGCAGACCCAGGAATGGGGGCCGATGATGGCCA CCGCAGTGCTTGCATCCATTCCCGCGACCATCCTGCTTGTCTTCGCCCAGAAGTACGTCG CCGCAGGCGTGACCGCCGGTGCTGTTAAGGACTAA

[0639] SEQ ID NO: 30

[0640] ATGACAGCCTCAACAACAAGCCCCGTTCGCCGGGCAAAGTCCGGCACTCCGGTCC GGGCCAAACTGGCCATCGCCGGATTCATTGCCCCACTGATTATCTACTTGGTAATCTTTTA CGCGTTCCCGCTCATCCAGAACGTGTCAATGAGCCTGCACCGATACACGCGACGAACCTT CGTTACCGGAGATGCGCTGTTCGTGGGTCTCGACATCTACAAGGAAGTCATTTCCTCCGTG GAGTTCTGGCCGGTTGTGGGGCAGACCTTCGTGTTCGTGGTCGTCTCGCTGATATTCCAA TATGTAATCGGCTTGGCCCTGGCGGTGTTCTTCAACGATAACTTCAAGCTCTCTGGTGTGC TGCGCGGCATCATGCTGGTTCCGTGGCTGTTGCCGCTGATTGTTTCTGGAACCGTCTGGC AGTGGATGATGGACCCTGACTCCGGCATCCTCAACATGTTCCTCGGTCTGTTTGACATCGA

[0641] ACCCATCTGGTGGCTCCAGGCGGATAACTCGCTGTGGGCCGTCATCATCGCCAACATCTG

[0642] GCTGGGAATCCCCTTCAACCTCGTGATCCTGTATTCCGGCCTACAGAACATCAGCGGCGA

[0643] CCTGTATGAAGCCGCCTCCCTCGATGGCTGCAACGCCTGGCAGCGCTTCTGGAAGATCAC

[0644] CTTCCCTCTCCTGAAGCCCGTCACTTCGATCACCCTGTTGCTCGGCTTCGTCTATACATTG

[0645] AAGGTCGTTGACGTGATCTGGATGATGTCCCAGGGAACCGGCACCTCGCGTACCCTCGCC

[0646] ACCTGGGCCTATTCGATGGCATTTGGCAAGGGAACTTCAATGACTATCAAATACTCGGAGG

[0647] CTTCGGTGCTCGGCACGATTCTCATCATCGTGGCGTTGATTTTCGGACTGATTTACCTGCG

[0648] GGTCCAGAAGACCCAGGAAACCTGCTAA

[0649] SEQ ID NO: 31

[0650] ATGAAGTCCAATACCGCTCTTAAGATAACCGCCGCATTATGCTCCTGCGCCATGCT

[0651] TGTCGGCGTCAGCGCCTGTGGTTCGAGCAACAGCACCACGGATGATAAGGTGATCGAATG

[0652] GTGGGATGACTGGACCCGCCACGAGGATGGCTCCGAGTTCGACAAACTGGTCAAGGCGT

[0653] GTGCGCCCGAAGGCTACACAATTGAGCGCCAAGCCATCGCCACTTCCGACCTGCTCAACA

[0654] ACCTCACCACCGCAATCAAGGAAGACAATGGCCCGGATGTTGCGGTCATCGACAACCCGA

[0655] TGATTCCGTCCGCCGTCGATGCGGGTTTGGTTGCTGGTTCCGACGAAACTGGTCTTGACG

[0656] TTTCTGCCTGGGATGAGAACCTTGAGGCTCCGGGCGTAGTGGACGGCCAGGCATATGGC

[0657] GTGCCGCTGGGCGGATCCAACACGTTGGGTCTTATGTACAACCCCACCATCATTGAGGCA

[0658] GCCGGTGTGGATGTATCCACCATCACCGATTGGGATTCGCTCAACGCGGCCATCAAGAAG

[0659] GTCGTTGACGCCGGATACAAGGGCATTACGTTCTCGGGCATCTCGGGTGAGGAAGGCGTC

[0660] TTCCAGTTCCTGCCTTGGTTCTGGGGCGCAGGTGGTGATCTGTCCAAGCTTGACTCCCAG

[0661] GCGCAGAAGGACGCCGAAGACCTGCTTTCCGGGTGGATCAGCAAGGGATGGGCTCCCAA

[0662] GTCCGCCACGACCAACACCCAGTCGGCCTCCTGGGATCTGTTCCTGGCTGGCGACTACG

[0663] GATTTGCTGAAATCGGCACCTGGATGCAGTCCGAGGCAGACGAGGCCGGAGCCAAACTTA

[0664] TTCCGATCCCCGCAAAGGATGGCGGCGTGGCCACCGTGCCGACCGGTGGCGAGTTCGCC

[0665] ATGGTCGCCTACCACAAGAAGGATGCGGAATCCCACTACAAGCTCGCCAATCAGGTTATC

[0666] GAATGTCTTTCCGAGGACGAGACTCTGCTTAAGGTAAGCAACGCTCTGAGCAACCTCGCT

[0667] GCCAAGAAGGCCGTGCGTGCCGAGCAGCTCGCGGCTAGCGACGGCTTGGCTCAGTGGAA

[0668] GGAATCCATCGAGAACGCCGCCGGCCGTACCTCCGACTTGGGTCTCAAATACGAGGAAGC

[0669] CTCCGCAAGCATCTCCGAATCCCTGCTGGCGGCCCTTAACGCGGCTTGA

[0670] Suitably, the ABC transporter genes may encode a proteins shown as SEQ ID NO: 32-34 or polypeptide with at least 80% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 32-34. Suitably, the gene may encode a polypeptide with at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 98% or at least 99% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 32. Suitably, the gene may encode a polypeptide with at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 98% or at least 99% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 33. Suitably, the gene may encode a polypeptide with at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 98% or at least 99% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 34.

[0671] SEQ ID NO: 32

[0672] MTHRSTWWKTALGIILTLIMMFPVYWMINISFTGKASIRSGDLWPKDFTFDNYARVIADQ MPYLGTSILVAVCCVILTLVIALPAAYALALLRCPGSGALSFLLIVAQMIPAWMSLGFYEIYNNIGL LDTLPGLILADSTIAVPFAVMLLTSFMAGIPRSLLEAAEVDGASRTRRFFSIVIPLSRNSIVTVSLFA FLWSWSDFLFASTLDSGGGKMRPITMGLYNYIGAQTQEWGPMMATAVLASIPATILLVFAQKY VAAGVTAGAVKD

[0673] SEQ ID NO: 33

[0674] MTASTTSPVRRAKSGTPVRAKLAIAGFIAPLIIYLVIFYAFPLIQNVSMSLHRYTRRTFVTG DALFVGLDIYKEVISSVEFWPWGQTFVFWVSLIFQYVIGLALAVFFNDNFKLSGVLRGIMLVPW LLPLIVSGTVWQWMMDPDSGILNMFLGLFDIEPIWWLQADNSLWAVIIANIWLGIPFNLVILYSGL QNISGDLYEAASLDGCNAWQRFWKITFPLLKPVTSITLLLGFVYTLKWDVIWMMSQGTGTSRT LATWAYSMAFGKGTSMTIKYSEASVLGTILIIVALIFGLIYLRVQKTQETC

[0675] SEQ ID NO: 34

[0676] MKSNTALKITAALCSCAMLVGVSACGSSNSTTDDKVIEWWDDWTRHEDGSEFDKLVK ACAPEGYTIERQAIATSDLLNNLTTAIKEDNGPDVAVIDNPMIPSAVDAGLVAGSDETGLDVSAW DENLEAPGWDGQAYGVPLGGSNTLGLMYNPTIIEAAGVDVSTITDWDSLNAAIKKWDAGYKG ITFSGISGEEGVFQFLPWFWGAGGDLSKLDSQAQKDAEDLLSGWISKGWAPKSATTNTQSAS WDLFLAGDYGFAEIGTWMQSEADEAGAKLIPIPAKDGGVATVPTGGEFAMVAYHKKDAESHYK LANQVIECLSEDETLLKVSNALSNLAAKKAVRAEQLAASDGLAQWKESIENAAGRTSDLGLKYE EASASISESLLAALNAA

[0677] Suitably, the present B. longum subsp. iuvenis strain comprises a Lac-I type regulator gene. Suitably, the Lac-I type regulator gene comprises SEQ ID NO: 35 or a sequence with at least 60% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 35. Suitably, the Lac-I type regulator gene comprises a sequence with at least 60%, at least 70%, at least 80%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 98% or at least 99% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 35.

[0678] SEQ ID NO: 35

[0679] ATGGTGACCATCAACGACGTGGCGCGGGAGGCAGGAGTCTCCAAAACCACGGTCT CATTCGTGCTTTCGGGCTCGCGCCCCGTTGCTGCAGCCACCGAACAACGTATCCGTGAGG CAATGGACAGACTCGGCTATACCGTCAATCATGCCGCCCGCAGCTTGTCCACTTCGAAGA CCATGACCATAGCCGTGGTGACCAGCAACCGGCAGGACGCCTACTTTGACATTGCCCGTG GCACATACATCAACGGCTTATCCCGAGCAGCCGCCGAAACCGGCTACGACATGCTCATCA CTAACGATCCAGACGGCTCCGCTACGGAGAACGCCTGCCAATCACACAAGGCGGATGGG CTGGTTTTTTTAGACGTCAGGCAGAACGATCCGCGTGTGCCGATTGCCGCTGAATCCGGC ATTCCAACAGTCTCGCTAGGAGTCCCAGTCAATCCAATGAATCTTGATGTGGTCGACACCG ACTTCACGGACATGGCGGCCTCGACCATGCGTACACTGCACGATGCCGGACACCGCCGC GTCAGCGTCATCACGCTCAGTAGCCGGGTGATTGCCGAACAACTCAACGACACCGCTCGA TTCCTCAGGGAAATCGAACGTTCCGGAGAACGACTTGGCATGCATGCCACTATCCGACATT GCTCTACAAGGCCCGGAATCATCGACACAGACATCGCTCGCATTCTTGACGGTCGAGGTG AGGACACCGCATTCGTCATCCATAATGAATCGGCCGTATTGGTGTTCAGACGGGCAGTGG AACATCGCGGACTGCGCATCCCCGAGGATATCTCCGTCATCGCCATCAATGAAAAGCAGA TGTCGGACGCTCTGTATCTGCCATATTCCGCCTACGAAAACGACGTGGAACTGGTCACCCA ATCTGCCGTCAATACGCTTGTGGACCGTATCGAACATCCCGAGCTGACGCCGACACGAAC GTTGATCAAGGCCTCGTACATAGATCGAGACTCCGTGGCCAATATCTGA

[0680] Suitably, the Lac-I type regulator gene may encode a protein shown as SEQ ID NO: 36 or a sequence with at least 80% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 36. Suitably, the protein may comprise a sequence with at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 98% or at least 99% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 36.

[0681] SEQ ID NO: 36

[0682] MVTINDVAREAGVSKTTVSFVLSGSRPVAAATEQRIREAMDRLGYTVNHAARSLSTSKT MTIAWTSNRQDAYFDIARGTYINGLSRAAAETGYDMLITNDPDGSATENACQSHKADGLVFLD VRQNDPRVPIAAESGIPTVSLGVPVNPMNLDWDTDFTDMAASTMRTLHDAGHRRVSVITLSS RVIAEQLNDTARFLREIERSGERLGMHATIRHCSTRPGIIDTDIARILDGRGEDTAFVIHNESAVL VFRRAVEHRGLRIPEDISVIAINEKQMSDALYLPYSAYENDVELVTQSAVNTLVDRIEHPELTPTR TLIKASYIDRDSVANI Suitably, the present B. longum subsp. iuvenis strain comprises a facilitator superfamily (MFS) gene. Suitably, the MFS gene comprises SEQ ID NO: 37 or a sequence with at least 60% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 37. Suitably, the MFS gene comprises a sequence with at least 60%, at least 70%, at least 80%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 98% or at least 99% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 37.

[0683] SEQ ID NO: 37

[0684] ATCGCCGAGTTCCATTACGCTATCGGGCATTTTCATTGTGCCGGTCATCGGATTGG TTGCTCAGGCATTCCCGGACAGCTCGCTCTCCAGCGTGCAGATGATTGTTTCGGCATCACT CTGACCGCACTGGTTGGCGCTTGGCTGACCGGCAAACTCGCCAGCATTCTATCCCGGAAG ACCGTGGCACTGATTGGTGCAGGCGGCATGCTGCTGTTCGGTCTGCTGCCGTACTTCGTG CATTCCAGTCTGGCTGCAGTCATCGCGTTTTCCGCGTTGATGGGCGTATGCCTAGGCTTTA TCAACAACGTGCTGCCTACTTTGATCTCCGTGCACTACGAGGGCGATGAGCGACAGTCGA TTATGGGTCAGCAGGTTGCCGTGGCCAGCATCGGTGCGATGGTGTTCATGACCGTGGCCG GCAAACTCGCCACCGCACAGTGGTATCACGCCTACCTCATCTACTTGTTCGCCGCCGTGG TGCTGGTGGTCTGCGCATTCACGCTGCCCACCAAGAATGGTGAGACGGACGAAGCCGGC CGGATTCAGGGAACGGGGCCTTCCGCGTCGATTCGCGAGGTTATGACCGGCAAACTGTG GTTCTTGGTTGTTGCCGGCTTCTTCTTCCTTCTGGCGAACAATGCCTACAGCAACAACTTGT CCCTGTTGGTCGAGCAGCGCGGCTTGGGCGATGCCGGAACCGCTGGACTGATTTCCACC ATCGGACAGTTCGGCGGACTGCTGGCTGGTTTGTGCGTCGGTCTTATGGTCCGATTCGTG AAGAACCATTTGCTGATGGTCGGCTTCATTGTCGAGGGCCTGTCTTTGCTGCTGCTTGGCT GCTCGGCCAGCCTGCCACTGCTCATCATCGGCAGTTTCTTTGCCGGAGCCGGCCTGAGCA TCTACTATGCGCAGGCGCCATTCCTCGTCACCGTCATCGAAAAGCCCTACCTCATCCCGCT GGGCATTGCTGCCATGACCACGGCCAACGCACTGGGCGGATTTGCCAGCCCTGTGCTCG TCAACGCGATTAACGGACTGTTTGGTTCGCACGCGGCCGGCGCGATGTTCATCGGTGCCG CGATTGCTCTGGCCGGAGCGGTGGCTCTCGGTGTGAGCGGATTCCAAAAGAAGTGCCTC GAAAGCGCGAAGTGA

[0685] Suitably, the MFS gene may encode a protein shown as SEQ ID NO: 38 or a sequence with at least 80% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 38. Suitably, the protein may comprise a sequence with at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 98% or at least 99% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 38.

[0686] SEQ ID NO: 38 MAEFHYAIGHFHCAGHRIGCSGIPGQLALQRADDCFGITLTALVGAWLTGKLASILSRKT VALIGAGGMLLFGLLPYFVHSSLAAVIAFSALMGVCLGFINNVLPTLISVHYEGDERQSIMGQQV AVASIGAMVFMTVAGKLATAQWYHAYLIYLFAAWLWCAFTLPTKNGETDEAGRIQGTGPSASI REVMTGKLWFLWAGFFFLLANNAYSNNLSLLVEQRGLGDAGTAGLISTIGQFGGLLAGLCVGL MVRFVKNHLLMVGFIVEGLSLLLLGCSASLPLLIIGSFFAGAGLSIYYAQAPFLVTVIEKPYLIPLGI AAMTTANALGGFASPVLVNAINGLFGSHAAGAMFIGAAIALAGAVALGVSGFQKKCLESAK

[0687] Suitably, the present B. longum subsp. iuvenis strain comprises an AraC family transcriptional regulator gene. Suitably, the AraC gene comprises SEQ ID NO: 39 or a sequence with at least 60% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 39. Suitably, the AraC gene comprises a sequence with at least 60%, at least 70%, at least 80%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 98% or at least 99% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 39.

[0688] SEQ ID NO: 39

[0689] ATGGAGCGCGATGCTTTCCGGCTGCCGGGCCTCACCGCCGGCGATGACAACCAGT ATGCCGATCACACGCTCACCGGCATGGCAGCCGATGCGGCGAACGTCATAGCCGCAGGC GGTCCCGCCCCGCTGACTAGCTTCGGCACTGTCGCTCAAGCCGCCCATCTCAATCCAGAT GACGGCTTCGGCATCATTGGCCATGATCTTGCACACCCATCGCACCTACACCGGCATGAC TATATGGAAATCACGCACGCCATCGCCGGTACGGTACTGGTCTGGGTCGAAGGAGAGACC AACGTGCTGACACAGGGCGGCACCATACTCATCAAGCCTGGAGCCCGTCATCTCATCTCC CCCATCATCGAATACGGGCAAACACCACACGAGGCGGACATCCTGATTAAACCCGAGCTC ATCAGGCAATGCCGCATTCCGATTCTGGAAGCAGCCGGCGCCGACCGGATGTTCATTAGC TGGCTTGACGATGACCGGCAGACCCACTGCCTGCTGGCAGCCGGCAAGCACCACGCCGG CGAGGCCGCTATCAGCCGCATGTTCATCGCCTACTGCATCAACGCAACCTACAGGCCAGA CTTCACCGTCATCGGCAACCTGCTCGAGCTGTTCCACGAAACGTCCCGAGTCTTGGAACA CCAGCCACGTACCGATCCGCTGATCGCCGCCATCATCGAAACCATCACGGCAGATCCCGC CACGGCCCACAACCAGGCCATAGCGGACACACTTGGATACAGCGTGGGATATCTGTCCCG GTACGCGCGCAAGCACAGCGGGCACACACTCGGCCAACTCATCAACGAGGAAAGGCTCC GACTCGGCGCCGAACTGCTCGTCACCACCGACGACACCATTGCCGAAATCACCCGAACCA TTGGCTACGAAAGTCCAGCCTATTTCCATAAACTCTTCCGCAGCCGCTACCTCATTACCCC CGACCGCTACCGCAACGACTTCCGTATCGCATTACGTTGCGGATGA

[0690] Suitably, the AraC gene may encode a protein shown as SEQ ID NO: 40 or a sequence with at least 80% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 40. Suitably, the protein may comprise a sequence with at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 98% or at least 99% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 40.

[0691] SEQ ID NO: 40

[0692] MERDAFRLPGLTAGDDNQYADHTLTGMAADAANVIAAGGPAPLTSFGTVAQAAHLNP DDGFGIIGHDLAHPSHLHRHDYMEITHAIAGTVLVVWEGETNVLTQGGTILIKPGARHLISPIIEYG QTPHEADILIKPELIRQCRIPILEAAGADRMFISWLDDDRQTHCLLAAGKHHAGEAAISRMFIAYCI NATYRPDFTVIGNLLELFHETSRVLEHQPRTDPLIAAIIETITADPATAHNQAIADTLGYSVGYLSR YARKHSGHTLGQLINEERLRLGAELLVTTDDTIAEITRTIGYESPAYFHKLFRSRYLITPDRYRND FRIALRCG

[0693] Suitably, the B. longum subsp. iuvenis strain comprises a MFS transporter and an AraC family transcriptional regulator gene.

[0694] Suitably, the B. longum subsp. iuvenis strain comprises a GH43_17, a MFS transporter and an AraC family transcriptional regulator gene. Suitably, the GH43_17, MFS transporter and AraC family transcriptional regulator genes are comprised in a gene cluster.

[0695] As used herein, a ‘gene cluster’ may refer to a group of genes that are located next to each other in a chromosome.

[0696] Suitably, the B. longum subsp. iuvenis strain comprises each of a GH31 , an ABC transporter, a Lac-I type regulator, a MFS transporter and / or an AraC family transcriptional regulator gene.

[0697] Suitably, the B B. longum subsp. iuvenis strain comprises a GH43_17, a MFS transporter, an AraC, a GH31 , an ABC transporter, and a Lac-I type regulator gene. Suitably, the GH43_17, MFS transporter, AraC family transcriptional regulator, GH31 , ABC transporter, and Lac-I type regulator genes are comprised in aa gene cluster as described above.

[0698] Suitably, the B. longum subsp. iuvenis strain further comprises a xylulose kinase gene and / or a xylose isomerase gene. Suitably, the xylulose kinase gene and / or xylose isomerase genes are comprised in a gene cluster as defined above.

[0699] Suitably, the xylulose kinase gene comprises SEQ ID NO: 41 or a sequence with at least 60% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 41. Suitably, the xylulose kinase gene comprises a sequence with at least 60%, at least 70%, at least 80%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 98% or at least 99% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 41.

[0700] SEQ ID NO: 41

[0701] ATGACGAGAGTACTGGTTGCCGGCGTAGATACGTCAACTCAATCAACAAAGGTCCG CATTACGGACGCCGCCACCGGCGAACAGGTTCGGTTCGGGCAGGCCAAGCACCCGGATG GCACCTCGGTCAACCCGGAATTCTGGTGGGAGGCCTTCACCAAGGCCGCCGAGCAGGCC GGCGGGCTTGACGATGTCGCGGCCCTCGCGGTTGGCGGCCAGCAGCATGGCATGGTCAT TCTCGACAAGCAGGGCAACGTGATTCGCGATGCGATGCTCTGGAATGACACCAGTTCCGC CCCGCAGGCCGCCGCCCTGATCGACAAGCTCGGTGCAACTCCGGCCGAGGGCGACGAAC CGGACGACGTGACCGCCCGCGGCAAGCAGCGCTGGGTCAAGGCCGTCGGGTCCTCCCC CGTCGCTTCCTACACGCTGACCAAGGTGGCGTGGGTGGCCGAGAACGAGCCTGAGAACG CCAAGAAGATTGCCGCCGTCTGTCTGCCGCACGATTGGCTGAGCTGGCGTATCGCCGGCT ATGGCCCGGTGGCCGAGGGCGAGGACGCTCATCTCGAAGCCCTGTTCACCGACCGTTCC GACGCTTCCGGCACCATTTACTACGATGCCGCGCATGACGAGTACCGCCGCGATCTCATC GCCATGGTGCTGACCCCCGCCGAGGGCGAGGAAGCCGCCAAGGCCCACGCCGACGCCA TTGTGCTGCCCACCGTGCTGGGCCCGCATGAGGCAGCCGCCGTCAAGGCCGACCCCGCC ATTGCCGGCAAGGACGTTGAAGGCGGCTGCATCATCGGCCCCGGCGGCGGAGACAATGC CATGGCCTCGCTGGGCCTCGGCATGGCCGTGGGCGATGTGTCCGTATCGCTCGGCACCT CCGGCGTGGCCGCGGCCATCGCTGAAAACCCGGTGTACGACCTGACCGGAGCGATTTCT GGCTTTGCCGACTGCACCGGTCATTATCTGCCGCTTGCCTGCACCATCAACGGTTCGCGC ATTCTGGACGCCGGTCGCGCCGCCCTTGGCGTGGACTACGACGAGCTGGCCGAACTGGC CTTTAAGGCCGAGCCGGGTGCCGGCGGCATCACCCTGGTGCCGTACTTCGACGGCGAGC GTACGCCGAACCGTCCGGACGCCACCGCCTCGCTGACTGGCCTGACCCTGCACAACACC ACCAAGGAGAATCTGGCTCGTGCGTTCGTCGAAGGCCTGCTGTGTTCCCAGCGCGACTGC CTCGAGCTGATTCGTTCGCTGGGTGCCGAGATCAACCGCATCCTGCTCATTGGCGGTGGC GCGAAGTCCGTGGCCATCCGCACGCTGGCCCCCTCAATCCTCGGCATGGACGTGACCCG TCCGGCCACCGACGAATATGTGGCCATCGGCGCCGCCCGTCAGGCCGCCTGGGTGCTGT CCGGCGAGGCCGAACCGCTGACCTGGCAACTCACCATCGAGGGCGTGGAGACCGGCGA

[0702] GCCCACCGAAGCCGTGTACGAGGCATACGCCAAGGCGCGCGGCTGA

[0703] Suitably, the xylulose kinase gene may encode a protein shown as SEQ ID NO: 42 or a sequence with at least 80% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 42. Suitably, the protein may comprise a sequence with at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 98% or at least 99% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 42.

[0704] SEQ ID NO: 42

[0705] MTRVLVAGVDTSTQSTKVRITDAATGEQVRFGQAKHPDGTSVNPEFWWEAFTKAAEQ AGGLDDVAALAVGGQQHGMVILDKQGNVIRDAMLWNDTSSAPQAAALIDKLGATPAEGDEPD DVTARGKQRWVKAVGSSPVASYTLTKVAWVAENEPENAKKIAAVCLPHDWLSWRIAGYGPVA EGEDAHLEALFTDRSDASGTIYYDAAHDEYRRDLIAMVLTPAEGEEAAKAHADAIVLPTVLGPH EAAAVKADPAIAGKDVEGGCIIGPGGGDNAMASLGLGMAVGDVSVSLGTSGVAAAIAENPVYD LTGAISGFADCTGHYLPLACTINGSRILDAGRAALGVDYDELAELAFKAEPGAGGITLVPYFDGE RTPNRPDATASLTGLTLHNTTKENLARAFVEGLLCSQRDCLELIRSLGAEINRILLIGGGAKSVAI RTLAPSILGMDVTRPATDEYVAIGAARQAAWVLSGEAEPLTWQLTIEGVETGEPTEAVYEAYAK ARG

[0706] Suitably, the xylose isomerase gene comprises SEQ ID NO: 43 or a sequence with at least 60% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 43. Suitably, the xylose isomerase gene comprises a sequence with at least 60%, at least 70%, at least 80%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 98% or at least 99% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 43.

[0707] SEQ ID NO: 43

[0708] ATGGGTCTGTGGGATGTTGACAAGATCGAGTACGTCGGCCGCGCCAAAGGACCGA AGGAAGACTTCGCCTTCCATTACTACGATGCCGACAAGGTCGTTGCCGGCAAGAAGATGA AGGATTGGCTGCGCTTCGGCGTTGCTTGGTGGCACACCTTCAACCAGGAACTGGTTGATC CGTTCGGCACCGGCACCGCGCACCGCCCGTACTACAAGTACACCGATCCGATGGACCAG GCTCTGGCCAAGGTCGACTACGCCTTCGAGCTGTTCCAGAAGCTGGGCGTCGAGTACTTC TGCTTCCACGATCGTGACATCGCCCCCGAAGGCGACACCCTGCGCGAGACCAACGCCAA CCTCGACAAGGTCGTTGACAAGATCGACGAGAATATGAAGTCCACCGGTGTCAAGCTGCT GTGGAACACCTCCTCCCTGTTCACCAACCCGCGCTTCGTGTCCGGCGCCGCCACTTCTCC GTTCGCCGACATCTACGCCTACGCCGGTGGCCAGCTCAAGAAGAGCTTGGAGATCGGCAA GCGCCTGGGCGCCGAGAACTACGTGTTCTGGGGTGGCCGCGAAGGCTACGAGAACCTGT GGAACACCGAGATGAAGCGCGAGACCGACCACATCGCCAAGTTCTTCCACATGTGCGCAG ATTACGCCAAGGAAATCGGCTTTGAGGCCCAGTTCCTGATCGAGCCGAAGCCGAAGGAGC CGACGCTGCACCAGTACGACTTCGATGCCGCCACCGCCATCGAGTTCCTGCGCAACCACG ACCTGACCGACGTCTTCAAGCTGAACTTGGAAGGCAACCACGCCAACCTGGCCGGCCACA CCTACCAGCACGAGATCCGCGTGGCCCGCGAGTCCGGCTTCCTCGGTTCCCTCGACGCC AACCAGGGCGACAAGCTCATCGGCTGGGATATGGACGAGTTCCCGACCGATCTGTACGAG ACCGTCGCCGTCATGTGGGAAGTCCTGCAGGCCGGCTCCATCGGACCTCACGGTGGTCT GAACTTCGACGCCAAGCCGCGCCGTACCTCCTTCTACGAGGAGGACCTGTTCCGCTCCCA CATCGCCGGCATGGATGCCTACGCCGCCGGCCTGCTGGTTGCCGACAAGATGAACCAGG ACGGCTTCATCCAGAATCTTCAGGCCGAGCGCTACAGCTCCTACGACTCCGGCATCGGCA AGGACATCGACGAGGGCAACGTCACCTTGGCCGACCTCGAAGCCTACAGCCTCGACAAG CCGCAGTCCGAGCTCATCGCCGCCACCAAGTCCGATCACCTCGAGTCCGTCAAGGCCACC ATCAACAACTACATCATTGATGCCCTGGCTGAGGTCGAGTGA

[0709] Suitably, the xylulose isomerase gene may encode a protein shown as SEQ ID NO: 44 or a sequence with at least 80% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 44. Suitably, the protein may comprise a sequence with at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 98% or at least 99% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 44.

[0710] SEQ ID NO: 44

[0711] MGLWDVDKIEYVGRAKGPKEDFAFHYYDADKWAGKKMKDWLRFGVAWWHTFNQEL VDPFGTGTAHRPYYKYTDPMDQALAKVDYAFELFQKLGVEYFCFHDRDIAPEGDTLRETNANL DKWDKIDENMKSTGVKLLWNTSSLFTNPRFVSGAATSPFADIYAYAGGQLKKSLEIGKRLGAE NYVFWGGREGYENLWNTEMKRETDHIAKFFHMCADYAKEIGFEAQFLIEPKPKEPTLHQYDFD AATAIEFLRNHDLTDVFKLNLEGNHANLAGHTYQHEIRVARESGFLGSLDANQGDKLIGWDMD EFPTDLYETVAVMWEVLQAGSIGPHGGLNFDAKPRRTSFYEEDLFRSHIAGMDAYAAGLLVAD KMNQDGFIQNLQAERYSSYDSGIGKDIDEGNVTLADLEAYSLDKPQSELIAATKSDHLESVKATI NNYIIDALAEVE

[0712] Human milk oligosaccharide

[0713] Suitably, the present B. longum subsp. iuvenis strain preferentially utilizes 3- fucosyllactose (3-FL) compared to other B. longum subsp. iuvenis strains as demonstrated by a better growth.

[0714] Suitably, the present B. longum subsp. iuvenis strain may have a growth rate of at least 0.6 k when cultured in the presence of 3-FL. Suitably, the present B. longum subsp. iuvenis strain may have a growth rate of at least 0.7 k, at least 0.8 k or at least 0.9 k when cultured in the presence of 3-FL. Growth rate may be calculated by culturing a bacterium on a given substrate, or mixture of substrates, for a period of time and modelling the growth curve using a logistic growth model, to obtain the relative growth rate k. Without wishing to be bound by theory, preferential growth on 3-FL is considered to be advantageous as levels of 3-FL rise in human breastmilk during the weaning period. Preferential growth on 3-FL indicates that the present B. longum subsp. iuvenis strain may be particularly adapted to survive and grow in the microbiome during the weaning phase.

[0715] Suitably, the present s, longum subsp. iuvenis strain comprises a glycosyl hydrolase family 25 (GH25) gene. Suitably, the GH25 gene comprises SEQ ID NO: 45 or a sequence with at least 60% sequence identity to SEQ I D NO: 45. Suitably, the GH25 gene comprises a sequence with at least 60%, at least 70%, at least 80%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 98% or at least 99% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 45.

[0716] SEQ ID NO: 45

[0717] ATGAGCAATCCAACAAATGATGGTATCAACTTGAATTACCTCGCAAACGTGCGTCCC TCGTCGCGACAGCTTGTCTGGCAGCGTATGGAGATGTATGCCTTCATACACTTCGGCATGA ATACCATGACAGACAGGGAATGGGGTCTTGGGCATGAGGATCCGGCGCTGTTCGATCCAC AGAATGTAGATGTGGAACAGTGGATGGATGCGCTGGTGGCTGGTGGAATGACTGGTGTCA TCTTGACGTGCAAGCATCATGATGGATTCTGCCTGTGGCCATCGCGTTACACGCAGCATAC CGTTGCCGCCTCGCCGTGGAGGGACGGAAAAGGGGATCTCGTTCGTGAGGTCAGTGAGT CCGCCAGACGTCATGGACTGAAGTTCGGCGTATACCTGTCTCCGTGGGATCGAACCGAAG AATCCTATGGCAAAGGCAAGGCATATGACGATTTCTACGTCGGACAATTGACTGAGTTGCT CACCCAGTACGGACCGATTTTCTCCGTATGGCTGGATGGTGCCAATGGTGAGGGCAAGAA CGGCAAGACTCAGTATTACGACTGGGATCGTTACTACAACGTCATTCGTTCGCTTCAACCC AATGCGGTGATATCCGTATGCGGTCCCGACGTTCGCTGGGCTGGAAATGAAGCCGGACAT GTACGTGACAACGAATGGAGTGTCGTGCCCCGACGACTGCGTTCGGCGGAACTGACTATG GAAAATTCACAGCAGGAGGACGATGCGTCCTTTGCTTCTACGGTTCGCTCTCAAGATGACG ACCTTGGAAGTCGTGAGGCGGTTTCCGGATACGGGGATGACGTCTGTTGGTACCCAGCTG AGGTCGATACCTCCATTCGCCCTGGATGGTTCTATCACAAGTATGAAGACGACAAGGTCAT GAGCGCAGATCAGCTTTTTGACCTCTGGCTTTCCGCAGTCGGCGGTAATTCGTCTCTTCTG CTCAATATTCCTCCGTCTCCAGAAGGACTGTTCGCAGAACCGGATGTGGAGTCGCTCAAG GGGCTGGGAAGCCGTATCAATGAATTCCGCAAAGCATTGGCTTCGTCTTGTTGCGAGGTC AAGACCAGCAGCGCGGACGAAACTGCAATGCGACTTCTCGATGGGAATCAGGACACGTAT TGGTCTCCTGATGCCAATGACGTGGCCCCTGCCGTCACGCTCACTTTCCCGCAGCTGACG ACGATCAATGCCGTTGTGGTTGAAGAGGCCATAGAGTATGGGCAGCGCATTGAACATATG CGCGTTACTGGTGTGCTATCTGATGGTACTGAGTGTGTACTCGGCCAGTTCGGCACAGTG GGATACCGCAGGATACTCCGCTTCGACGATGTCGAAGTATCTTCGGTTACCCTACATGTGG ATGATTCAAGGTTCACGCCAATGATCAGCCGTGCAGCTGCGGTGCGGATATAA

[0718] Suitably, the GH25 gene may encode a protein shown as SEQ ID NO: 46 or a sequence with at least 80% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 46. Suitably, the protein may comprise a sequence with at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 98% or at least 99% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 46.

[0719] SEQ ID NO: 46

[0720] MSNPTNDGINLNYLANVRPSSRQLVWQRMEMYAFIHFGMNTMTDREWGLGHEDPALF DPQNVDVEQWMDALVAGGMTGVILTCKHHDGFCLWPSRYTQHTVAASPWRDGKGDLVREV SESARRHGLKFGVYLSPWDRTEESYGKGKAYDDFYVGQLTELLTQYGPIFSVWLDGANGEGK NGKTQYYDWDRYYNVIRSLQPNAVISVCGPDVRWAGNEAGHVRDNEWSWPRRLRSAELTM ENSQQEDDASFASTVRSQDDDLGSREAVSGYGDDVCWYPAEVDTSIRPGWFYHKYEDDKVM SADQLFDLWLSAVGGNSSLLLNIPPSPEGLFAEPDVESLKGLGSRINEFRKALASSCCEVKTSS ADETAMRLLDGNQDTYWSPDANDVAPAVTLTFPQLTTINAWVEEAIEYGQRIEHMRVTGVLSD GTECVLGQFGTVGYRRILRFDDVEVSSVTLHVDDSRFTPMISRAAAVRI

[0721] Suitably, the present s, longum subsp. iuvenis strain comprises a glycosyl hydrolase family 95 (GH95) gene. Suitably, the GH95 gene comprises SEQ ID NO: 47 or a sequence with at least 60% sequence identity to SEQ I D NO: 47. Suitably, the GH95 gene comprises a sequence with at least 60%, at least 70%, at least 80%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 98% or at least 99% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 47.

[0722] SEQ ID NO: 47

[0723] ATGAAACTCACATTCGATGGAATCTCTTCGTGCTGGGAAGAAGGCATCCCGCTCGG CAACGGACGCATGGGAGCGGTCCTGTGTTCCGAACCGGAAACCGACGTGCTGTATCTCAA CGACGACACCCTTTGGTCAGGATATCCACACGCGGAAACCTCGCCGGTGACGCCGGAGAT TGTGGCCAAGGCACGCCAGGCGTCGTTGCAGGACGACTACACCGCCGCCACGCGAATCA TCAAGGAAGCCACACTGCAGGAAAAGGACGAACAGATTTACGAGCCATTCGGAACGGCCC GTATTCAGTACTCGACCCCTGCAGACGGCCGTGAGAGCATGAAACGCCAGCTGGATCTTG CAAGGGCGCTCGCCGGTGAAACATTCCAGATGGGTGATGCCAACGTTCATGTCGACGCAT

[0724] GGTGCAGCGAGCCTGATGACCTGTTGGTCTACAGGATGTCATCGGATGCGCCGGTTGATG

[0725] TGAACATCAGTGTCGCCGGCACTTTCCTCAAACAATCGCGCGCCTCGTTGGAAACGGTATC

[0726] CGACGGTCATCGGGCCACACTCGTCGTCATGGGCCGGATGCCTGGACTCAACATCGGGC

[0727] TCCTCCCTCATCCTTCCGAACATCCTTGGGAAGATGAGCAGGACGGAACCGGAATGGCGT

[0728] ACGCCGGTGCGTTCTCCCTTACCGTCACAGGTGGCGACATCAATGTGGACGACAACAGTC

[0729] TGCAATGTTCGCACATCACCGGATTATCGCTCCGCTTCCGCAGTATGAGCGGATTCAAGG

[0730] GAAGCGACCAGCAGCCGGAACGAAGCATGACGGTTATCGCCGACCATCTGGAGAAAACCA

[0731] TCGACGAGTGGTCGACCGACCTGCAGACCATGCTCGACCGCCATATCGCGGACTACCGCA

[0732] GATATTTCGACAGGGTGGCCATCCATCTCGGTTCAGCCCATGATGACGATACGGAACTACC

[0733] GTTCTCGGCGATCCTTCGCTCGGATGAGAACAAAGAACCGCATCGTCTGGAGATGCTGGC

[0734] GGAGGCAATGTTCGATTTCGGCCGGTATATGCTTATCTCCTCGTCCAGGCCACACACCCA

[0735] GCCGGCGAATCTGCAGGGGATTTGGAACCATAAGGACTTCCCAAACTGGTACAGCGCCTA

[0736] CACGACGAACATCAACGTCGAGATGAACTATTGGATGACCGGCCCCTGCGCGCTCAAGGA

[0737] GCTCATCGAGCCGCTCGTCTCCATGAATGAGGAGCTGCTGGCACCGGGGCACGATGCCG

[0738] CTGACAGGATTCTCGGCTGCCGAGGATCGGCTGTCTTCCATAATGTCGATCTCTGGCGTA

[0739] GGGCCCTTCCTGCGAACGGCGATCCGATGTGGGCGTTCTGGCCGTTCGGCCAGGCATGG

[0740] ATGTGCCGGAACCTGTTCGATGAATATCTGTTCAACCAGGATGCATCGTACCTGGCCCGCA

[0741] TCTGGCCGATCATGCGGGACAACGCGCGATTCTGCATGGATTTCCTATCGGAGACAGAGC

[0742] ATGGGCTGGCCCCGTCCCCTGCAACATCACCGGAGAACTGTTTCCTGGTGAACGGAGAAC

[0743] CGGTATCCGTTGCGCAAAGCAGTGAGAATGCCACGGCCATCGTGCGTAATCTGCTTGATG

[0744] ATTTGATTCAGGCTTCTCACGATCTGGAAAACCTTGACGAAGAGGACAGAAATCTGGTCCG

[0745] TGAAGCGGAATCCGTCCGTTCCCAACTGGCTGAAACGCGATTGGGAGCTGATGGAAGAGT

[0746] CCTTGAATGGAACGACGAATTCATCGAATCCGATCCACAGCACCGCCATCTGTCCCACCTT

[0747] TACGAACTGCATCCTGGTGCAGGCATCACGTCTAAGACTCCGCGTCTGGAGGAAGCCGCG

[0748] AGAAAATCCCTCGAAGTGCGTGGCGATGATGGTTCCGGTTGGAGCATCGTATGGCGCATG

[0749] ATCATGTGGGCACGTCTGCGTGATGCGGAACACGCCAAACGAATCATAGGCATGTTCCTA

[0750] CGGCCGGTGGATGCGAACGCTGAAACCAATCTGCTGGGCGGAGGAGTGTACGACAGCGG

[0751] ATTATGCGCCCACCCGCCGTTCCAGATCGACGGGAACCTTGGATTCCCGGCGGCCTTGTC

[0752] GGAGATGCTCGTCCAAAGCCACGATGGCTGGATTCGCGTTCTTCCGGCCCTGCCGGAGG

[0753] ATTGGCATGAGGGAAGCTTCCATGCGCTCCGCGCAAGAGGTGGAATCCAAGTGGATGCGA

[0754] CCTGGACGGATCAGACAGTGGAATATACGTTGCGCTGTTCGAAGCCCACGGAGATTACGC

[0755] TGAACGTTCTGGGGACTGATATGGGACGTGTCGCATTGTCTCCGGATAAGCCATTCAAGG

[0756] GAACCATCCGGCGTTAA Suitably, the GH95 gene may encode a protein shown as SEQ ID NO: 48 or a sequence with at least 80% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 48. Suitably, the protein may comprise a sequence with at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 98% or at least 99% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 48.

[0757] SEQ ID NO: 48

[0758] MKLTFDGISSCWEEGIPLGNGRMGAVLCSEPETDVLYLNDDTLWSGYPHAETSPVTPE IVAKARQASLQDDYTAATRIIKEATLQEKDEQIYEPFGTARIQYSTPADGRESMKRQLDLARALA GETFQMGDANVHVDAWCSEPDDLLVYRMSSDAPVDVNISVAGTFLKQSRASLETVSDGHRAT LWMGRMPGLNIGLLPHPSEHPWEDEQDGTGMAYAGAFSLTVTGGDINVDDNSLQCSHITGLS LRFRSMSGFKGSDQQPERSMTVIADHLEKTIDEWSTDLQTMLDRHIADYRRYFDRVAIHLGSA HDDDTELPFSAILRSDENKEPHRLEMLAEAMFDFGRYMLISSSRPHTQPANLQGIWNHKDFPN WYSAYTTNINVEMNYWMTGPCALKELIEPLVSMNEELLAPGHDAADRILGCRGSAVFHNVDLW RRALPANGDPMWAFWPFGQAWMCRNLFDEYLFNQDASYLARIWPIMRDNARFCMDFLSETE HGLAPSPATSPENCFLVNGEPVSVAQSSENATAIVRNLLDDLIQASHDLENLDEEDRNLVREAE SVRSQLAETRLGADGRVLEWNDEFIESDPQHRHLSHLYELHPGAGITSKTPRLEEAARKSLEV RGDDGSGWSIVWRMIMWARLRDAEHAKRIIGMFLRPVDANAETNLLGGGVYDSGLCAHPPFQ IDGNLGFPAALSEMLVQSHDGWIRVLPALPEDWHEGSFHALRARGGIQVDATWTDQTVEYTLR CSKPTEITLNVLGTDMGRVALSPDKPFKGTIRR

[0759] Suitably, the present B. longum subsp. iuvenis may comprise a GH25 and a GH95 gene as defined herein.

[0760] Polyamines

[0761] In an embodiment, the at least one polyamine comprises agmatine, putrescine, spermidine, spermine, and / or cadaverine.

[0762] Polyamines are small polycationic molecules with a wide array of biological functions including gene regulation, stress resistance, cell proliferation and differentiation, and are associated to both eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells.

[0763] Spermidine, putrescine and spermine are the dominate polyamines in eukaryotes. These polyamines regulate important cellular functions, including growth and proliferation, RNA and DNA stability, RNA-to-protein translation, autophagy and immune responses. As it was found by the inventors, specific polyamines and / or metabolites thereof are associated with promoting neurodevelopment, in particular development of cognitive, social- emotional, language and motor skills in infants, toddlers and children.

[0764] In an embodiment, putrescine promotes motor development in a young individual (see fig. 3). In an embodiment, putrescine is administered to the young individual in an amount of from at least about 0.31 nmol / L to 2121.33 nmol / L. Preferably, putrescine is administered to the young individual at age of about 6 weeks and the increase of motor development is reached at age of about 6 months.

[0765] In an embodiment, putrescine and / or spermidine promote cognitive development in a young individual (see fig. 4). In an embodiment, putrescine is administered to the young individual in an amount of from at least about 0.31 nmol / L to 2121.33 nmol / L, and / or spermidine is administered to the young individual in an amount of from at least about between 2,539.68 nmol / L to 19,972.57 nmol / L Preferably, putrescine is administered to the young individual at age of about 6 weeks, and / or spermidine is administered to the young individual at age of about 4 weeks, and the increase of motor development is reached at age of about 24 months.

[0766] The polyamines and metabolites thereof identified by the inventors have not previously been reported to be associated with neurodevelopmental outcomes in young individuals.

[0767] In an embodiment, the metabolite comprises at least one acetylagmatine, acetylputrescine, N1 -acetylspermidine, N1 ,N8-diacetylspermidine, N1 -acetylspermine, N1 ,N12- diacetylspermine, N-Acetylcadaverine, N6-Acetyl-L-lysine, N2-Acetylornithine, and / or N-acetyl agmatine.

[0768] In an embodiment, N1 ,N8-diacetylspermidine promotes social-emotional development in a young individual (see fig. 5). In an embodiment, N1 ,N8-diacetylspermidine is administered to the young individual in an amount of from at least about 0.83 nmol / L to 6.99 nmol / L. Preferably, N1 ,N8-diacetylspermidine is administered to the young individual at age of about 4 weeks and the increase of social-emotional development is reached at age of about 24 months.

[0769] In an embodiment, the composition further increases production of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) by the gut microbiota of a young individual.

[0770] Increasing production of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) by the gut microbiota of a young individual may refer to enhancing the biosynthesis of GABA by the gut microbiota of an infant, young child or child administered the combination or nutritional composition of the invention compared to the biosynthesis of GABA by the gut microbiota of an infant, young child or child not administered the combination or nutritional composition of the invention.

[0771] There is clinical and preclinical evidence of the effect of exogenous GABA in relieving stress and promoting the sensation of feeling relaxed (Abdou et al., 2006, BioFactors, 26:201- 208). Probiotics producing GABA have been shown to alleviate gut discomfort triggered by stress in preclinical studies (Pokusaeva et al., 2016, Neurogastroenterol. Motil., 29:e12904). The effect of oral GABA administration on stress is reviewed by Hepsomali et al. (Hepsomali et al., (2020), Front. Neurosci., 14: 923). GABA has been shown to reduce salivary cortisol in humans (Kanehira T et al., (2011), J Nutr Sci Vitaminol (Tokyo), 57:9-15). However, no nutritional solution has previously been shown to naturally increase the synthesis of GABA by the microbiota of an infant, and / or young child and / or child exposed to the nutritional solution.

[0772] Suitably, the biosynthesis of GABA by the gut microbiota of the subject; preferably the infant, young child and / or child is increased from 1.1 to 20-fold, such as by 1.2 to 11 -fold, preferably by 4-fold to 11-fold. Suitably, the biosynthesis of GABA by the gut microbiota of the subject is increased by at least 1.1 -fold, such as by 1.2-fold, 1.3-fold, 1.4-fold, 1.5-fold, 2-fold, 3- fold, 4-fold, 5-fold, 6-fold, 7-fold, 8-fold, 9-fold, 10-fold, 15-fold or 20-fold.

[0773] Suitably, the base-2 logarithm of the ratio between the value of GABA for the combination or composition according to the invention and the value of GABA for a corresponding milk control is increased by from 0.2 to 5, suitably from 0.25 to 3.8.

[0774] The amount of GABA secreted (i.e. GABA biosynthesis) by the gut microbiota of the subject; preferably the infant, young child and / or child may be measured by methods known in the art. Suitably, the amount of GABA in fresh fecal samples from a subject treated with a Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis strain according to the invention may be compared to samples from a subject not exposed to a Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis strain according to the invention (Altaib et al., (2021), Microorganisms, 9:378).

[0775] Without wishing to be bound by theory, by altering the microbiota to increase biosynthesis of GABA, amongst other impacts, the present Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis strain may be capable of influencing neurotransmission in the paraventricular hypothalamus, the central nucleus of the amygdala, and the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis. All three of these regions are involved in the processing of emotions related to anxiety and mood. In an embodiment, the composition further comprises at least one source of polyamine precursors, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) precursors, prebiotics and / or probiotics.

[0776] In an embodiment, the composition comprises the at least one source of polyamine precursors, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) precursors, prebiotics and / or probiotics in an effective amount for use in promoting brain development and / or brain functioning in a young individual.

[0777] In an embodiment, the composition comprises prebiotics, wherein the prebiotics are one or more human milk oligosaccharides.

[0778] In an embodiment, the human milk oligosaccharides are fucosylated oligosaccharides.

[0779] In an embodiment, the human milk oligosaccharides are fucosylated oligosaccharides preferably comprising 2’FL and / or 3’FL, preferably 3’FL.

[0780] In an embodiment, the human milk oligosaccharides are 3’FL.

[0781] Polyamine precursors are molecules that are involved in the biosynthesis of polyamines. They are typically amino acids or amines that are converted into polyamines through a series of enzymatic reactions. For example, the amino acid ornithine is a precursor to putrescine, while the amino acid arginine is a precursor to both putrescine and spermidine.

[0782] Polyamine precursors can be obtained from the diet or synthesized within the body. Foods that are rich in polyamine precursors include meat, fish, dairy products, and soybeans. In addition, the body can synthesize polyamine precursors from other amino acids, such as arginine, glutamate and methionine.

[0783] In an embodiment, the composition comprises the at least one source of polyamine precursors comprising ornithine, arginine, citrulline, methionine, lysine, glutamate, and / or glutamine.

[0784] The precursors of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) include glucose, glutamate, glutamine or pyruvate.

[0785] In an embodiment, the composition is for use in increasing brain structural maturation in a young individual.

[0786] In an embodiment, the composition is for use in increasing brain functional maturation in a young individual. In an embodiment, the composition is for use in increasing learning in a young individual.

[0787] In an embodiment, the composition is for use in increasing memory in a young individual.

[0788] In an embodiment, the composition is for use in increasing brain connectivity in a young individual.

[0789] In an embodiment, the composition additionally comprises at least one HMO, wherein it is for use in increasing brain structural maturation in a young individual.

[0790] In an embodiment, the composition additionally comprises at least one HMO, wherein it is for use in increasing brain functional maturation in a young individual.

[0791] In an embodiment, the composition additionally comprises at least one HMO, wherein it is for use in increasing learning in a young individual.

[0792] In an embodiment, the composition additionally comprises at least one HMO, wherein it is for use in increasing memory in a young individual.

[0793] In an embodiment, the composition additionally comprises at least one HMO, wherein it is for use in increasing brain connectivity in a young individual.

[0794] In an embodiment, the composition additionally comprises 3’FL, wherein it is for use in increasing brain structural maturation in a young individual.

[0795] In an embodiment, the composition additionally comprises 3’FL, wherein it is for use in increasing brain functional maturation in a young individual.

[0796] In an embodiment, the composition additionally comprises 3’FL, wherein it is for use in increasing learning in a young individual.

[0797] In an embodiment, the composition additionally comprises 3’FL, wherein it is for use in increasing memory in a young individual. In an embodiment, the composition additionally comprises 3’FL, wherein it is for use in increasing brain connectivity in a young individual.

[0798] In an embodiment, the composition is for use in promoting brain development and / or brain functioning in a young individual.

[0799] In an embodiment, brain development comprises social-emotional, motor, language and / or cognitive development.

[0800] In an embodiment, brain functioning comprises regulating stress, sleep, hormones, motor, language, social-emotional and / or cognitive skills.

[0801] In an embodiment, the composition is for use in preventing or / and treating conditions and / or disorders induced by impaired brain development and / or brain functioning in a young individual.

[0802] The young individual can be an infant, a young child, or a child born by C- section.

[0803] The young individual can be an infant, a young child, or a child born preterm.

[0804] The young individual can be an infant, a young child, or a child born small for gestational age (SGA). The subject can be an infant, a young child, or a child born with a low, very low, or extremely low weight at birth (LWB, VLBW, or ELBW) .

[0805] The nutritional composition for use according to the invention may also be used in a young individual that was born by C-section or that was vaginally delivered.

[0806] In some embodiments, the young individual was born by C- section and / or preterm, and / or small for gestational age (SGA) and / or with a low, very low, or extremely low weight at birth (LWB, VLBW, or ELBW) and / or experienced intra-uterine growth retardation (IUGR). Those young individuals typically experience lower levels of polyamine and GABA production resulting in impaired brain development and / or brain functioning.

[0807] In some embodiments the composition for use according to the invention can be for use before and / or during the weaning period.

[0808] In some embodiments the composition for use according to the invention is for use in a young individual at risk and / or in need. In some embodiments, the composition for use according to the invention is for use in preventing or / and treating conditions and / or disorders induced by impaired brain development and / or brain functioning in a young individual.

[0809] In an embodiment, the composition for use according to the invention comprises Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis in an effective amount for use in preventing or / and treating conditions and / or disorders induced by impaired brain development and / or brain functioning in a young individual.

[0810] In an embodiment, the composition for use according to the invention comprises Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis in an effective amount for use in increasing production of at least one polyamine and / or its metabolite by the gut microbiota of a young individual and thereby preventing or / and treating conditions and / or disorders induced by impaired brain development and / or brain functioning in a young individual.

[0811] In an embodiment, the composition for use according to the invention comprises Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis and at least one HMO in an effective amount for use in preventing or / and treating conditions and / or disorders induced by impaired brain development and / or brain functioning in a young individual.

[0812] In an embodiment, the composition for use according to the invention comprises Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis and at least one HMO in an effective amount for use in increasing production of at least one polyamine and / or its metabolite by the gut microbiota of a young individual and thereby preventing or / and treating conditions and / or disorders induced by impaired brain development and / or brain functioning in a young individual.

[0813] In an embodiment, the composition for use according to the invention comprises Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis in an effective amount for use in preventing or / and treating conditions and / or disorders induced by impaired brain development and / or brain functioning in a young individual, wherein the conditions and / or disorders induced by impaired brain development and / or brain functioning include autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), intellectual disability, epilepsy, depression, anxiety, language delay, specific language impairment (SLI), dyslexia, speech sound disorder, stuttering, cerebral palsy, hypotonia, developmental coordination disorder (DCD), and / or ataxia. In an embodiment, the composition for use according to the invention comprises Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis in an effective amount for use in increasing production of at least one polyamine and / or its metabolite by the gut microbiota of a young individual and thereby preventing or / and treating conditions and / or disorders induced by impaired brain development and / or brain functioning in a young individual, wherein the conditions and / or disorders induced by impaired brain development and / or brain functioning include autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), intellectual disability, epilepsy, depression, anxiety, language delay, specific language impairment (SLI), dyslexia, speech sound disorder, stuttering, cerebral palsy, hypotonia, developmental coordination disorder (DCD), and / or ataxia.

[0814] In an embodiment, the composition for use according to the invention comprises Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis and at least one HMO in an effective amount for use in preventing or / and treating conditions and / or disorders induced by impaired brain development and / or brain functioning in a young individual, wherein the conditions and / or disorders induced by impaired brain development and / or brain functioning include autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), intellectual disability, epilepsy, depression, anxiety, language delay, specific language impairment (SLI), dyslexia, speech sound disorder, stuttering, cerebral palsy, hypotonia, developmental coordination disorder (DCD), and / or ataxia.

[0815] In an embodiment, the composition for use according to the invention comprises Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis and at least one HMO in an effective amount for use in increasing production of at least one polyamine and / or its metabolite by the gut microbiota of a young individual and thereby preventing or / and treating conditions and / or disorders induced by impaired brain development and / or brain functioning in a young individual, wherein the conditions and / or disorders induced by impaired brain development and / or brain functioning include autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), intellectual disability, epilepsy, depression, anxiety, language delay, specific language impairment (SLI), dyslexia, speech sound disorder, stuttering, cerebral palsy, hypotonia, developmental coordination disorder (DCD), and / or ataxia.

[0816] The young individual at risk and / or in need may be bottle-fed and / or formula-fed. The young individual at risk and / or in need may be an infant, young child or child born by C- section and / or preterm, and / or small for gestational age (SGA) and / or with a low, very low, or extremely low weight at birth (LWB, VLBW, or ELBW) and / or experienced intra-uterine growth retardation (IUGR), a stunted infant, young child or child, and / or a young individual who has impaired brain development and / or brain functioning.

[0817] In one embodiment the composition for use according to the invention is given to the young individual as a supplementary composition to the mother's milk. In some embodiments the subject receives the mother's milk during at least the first 2 weeks, first 1 , 2, 4, 6 or 12 months. In one embodiment the composition for use according to the invention is given to the young individual after such period of mother's nutrition or is given together with such period of mother's milk nutrition. In another embodiment the composition for use according to the invention is given to the young individual as the sole or primary nutritional composition during at least one period of time, e.g. after the 1st, 2ndor 4thmonth of life, during at least 1 , 2, 4, 6 or 12 months. In one embodiment the composition of the invention is a complete nutritional composition (fulfilling all or most of the nutritional needs of the young individual). In another embodiment the composition for use according to the invention is a supplement or a fortifier intended for example to supplement human milk or to supplement an infant formula or a follow-on formula.

[0818] The methods and uses for promoting brain development and / or brain functioning in a young individual according to the present invention are therapeutic or non-therapeutic.

[0819] In some embodiments the methods and uses for promoting brain development and / or brain functioning in a young individual according to the present invention are therapeutic.

[0820] In some embodiments the methods and uses in for promoting brain development and / or brain functioning in a young individual according to the present invention are non-therapeutic.

[0821] In an embodiment, the conditions and / or disorders induced by impaired brain development and / or brain functioning include autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), intellectual disability, epilepsy, depression, anxiety, language delay, specific language impairment (SLI), dyslexia, speech sound disorder, stuttering, cerebral palsy, hypotonia, developmental coordination disorder (DCD), and / or ataxia.

[0822] In an embodiment, the young individual is an infant, a young child or a child.

[0823] In an embodiment, the composition is administered to the young individual from birth to about 5 years of age, preferably from about 4 to about 12 weeks.

[0824] In an embodiment, neurodevelopment and / or brain functioning is promoted in the young individual from birth to about 5 years of age, preferably from birth to about 24 months of age, more preferably between the age of about 6 to about 12 months. In an embodiment, the composition is a nutritional composition selected from an infant formula, a starter infant formula, a follow-on or follow-up formula, a baby food, an infant cereal composition, a growing-up-milk, a fortifier such as a human milk fortifier, or a supplement.

[0825] The inventors have surprisingly found that specific polyamine precursors are associated with promoting neurodevelopment, in particular development of language skills in infants, toddlers and children.

[0826] In an embodiment, ornithine and / or arginine promotes language development in a young individual. In an embodiment, ornithine is administered to the young individual in an amount of from at least about 1000 nmol / L to 10000 nmol / L and / or arginine is administered to the young individual in an amount of from at least about 1655.43 nmol / L to 40973.21 nmol / L. Preferably, ornithine is administered to the young individual at age of about 6 weeks and the language development is promoted at age of about 6 months. Preferably, arginine is administered to the young individual at age of about 4, 6 and / or 12 weeks and the language development is promoted at age of about 12 months.

[0827] The further probiotic microorganisms most commonly used are principally bacteria and yeasts of the following genera: Lactobacillus spp., Lacticaseibacillus spp, Limosilactobacillus spp, Streptococcus spp., Enterococcus spp., Bifidobacterium spp. and Saccharomyces spp.

[0828] In some particular embodiments, the probiotic is a probiotic bacterial strain. In some specific embodiments, it is particularly Bifidobacteria and / or Lactobacilli.

[0829] Suitable probiotic bacterial strains include Lactobacillus rhamnosus ATCC 53103 available from Valio Oy of Finland under the trademark LGG, Lactobacillus rhamnosus CGMCC 1.3724, Lactobacillus paracasei CNCM 1-2116, Lactobacillus johnsonii CNCM 1-1225, Streptococcus salivarius DSM 13084 sold by BLIS Technologies Limited of New Zealand under the designation KI2, Bifidobacterium lactis CNCM 1-3446 sold inter alia by the Christian Hansen company of Denmark under the trademark Bb 12, B. longum CNCM 1-2618 (B. longum NCC2705), Bifidobacterium breve sold by Danisco under the trademark Bb-03, Bifidobacterium breve sold by Morinaga under the trade mark M-16V, Bifidobacterium infantis sold for example by Procter & Gamble Co. under the trademark Bifantis and Bifidobacterium breve sold by Institut Rosell (Lallemand) under the trademark R0070, Bifidobacterium longum subsp. Infantis LMG 11588 (also known as ATCC 17930), B. kashiwanohense (JCM 15439) and / or B. kashiwanohense (DSM 21854).

[0830] The nutritional composition or combination according to the invention may contain from 10e3 to 10e12 cfu of the at least one (further) probiotic strain, more preferably between 10e7 and 10e12 cfu such as between 10e8 and 10e10 cfu of probiotic strain per g of composition on a dry weight basis.

[0831] In one embodiment, the probiotics are viable. In another embodiment, the probiotics are non-replicating or inactivated. There may be both viable probiotics and inactivated probiotics in some other embodiments. Probiotic components and metabolites can also be added.

[0832] B. kashiwanohense was isolated from healthy infant faeces. For example, this bacterium has previously been characterized by determining its phenotypic and biochemical features and phylogenetic positions based on partial 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis (Morita et al., International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology, 2011 , 61 : 2610-2615). The GenBank / EMBL / DDBJ accession numbers for the 16S rRNA and partial hsp60 gene sequences of two strains of B. kashiwanohense are (i) AB491757 and AB578933 and (ii) are AB425276.2 and AB491759.2, respectively. One strain of B. kashiwanohense is publicly available from two collections with the accession numbers JCM 15439 and DSM 21854 (Morita et al., International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology, 2011 , 61 : 2610-2615).

[0833] The B. kashiwanohense may be a B. kashiwanohense having at least 99% (suitably, at least 99.9%) Average Nucleotide Identity (ANI) to any B. kashiwanohense known to the skilled person.

[0834] As used herein the term “Average nucleotide identity (ANI)” refers to a distance-based approach to delineate species based on pair-wise comparisons of their genome sequences. ANI is an in silico approach for phylogenetic definition of a species and has become the gold standard for species delineation (Goris et al., 2007, Int. J. Syst. Evol. Microbiol. 57: 81-91 ; Kim et al., 2014, Int. J. Syst. Evol. Mier. 64: 346-351 ; Richter et al., 2009, P Natl Acad Sci USA 106: 19126-19131 ; and Chan et al., 2012, Bmc. Microbiol. 12).

[0835] The ANI of the shared genes between two strains is known to be a robust means to compare genetic relatedness among strains. Strains with ANI values of at least about 96% can be considered to belong to the same species (Konstantinidis and Tiedje, 2005, Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, 102(7):2567-72; and Goris et al., 2007, Int Syst Evol Microbiol. 57(Pt 1):81 -91), while ANI values of at least about 99% indicate that the bacterial genomes belong to the same strain. The ANI between two bacterial genomes is calculated from pair-wise comparisons of all sequences shared between any two strains and can be determined, for example, using any of a number of publicly available ANI tools, including but not limited to OrthoANI with usearch (Yoon et al., 2017, Antonie van Leeuwenhoek 110:1281-1286); ANI Calculator, JSpecies (Richter and Rossello-Mora, 2009, Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 106:19126-19131); and JSpeciesWS (Richter et al., 2016, Bioinformatics 32:929-931). Other methods for determining the ANI of two genomes are known in the art (Konstantinidis, K. T. and Tiedje, 2005, J. M., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., 102: 2567-2572; and Varghese et al., 2015, Nucleic Acids Research, 43(14):6761 -6771).

[0836] Suitably, the B. kashiwanohense has at least 99% (suitably, at least 99.1 %, at least 99.2%, at least 99.3%, at least 99.4%, at least 99.5%, at least 99.6%, at least 99.7%, at least 99.8%, at least 99.9%) ANI to B. kashiwanohense JCM 15439 and / or B. kashiwanohense DSM 21854. Preferably, the B. kashiwanohense has at least 99.9% ANI to B. kashiwanohense JCM 15439 and / or B. kashiwanohense DSM 21854.

[0837] In an embodiment, the young individual is an infant, a young child or a child.

[0838] In an embodiment, the composition is administered to the young individual from birth to about 5 years of age, preferably from birth to about 24 months of age. Yet in another embodiment, the composition is administered to the young individual at age of about 1 to about 4 months.

[0839] In an embodiment, neurodevelopment and / or brain functioning is promoted in the young individual from birth to about 5 years of age, preferably from birth to about 24 months of age, more preferably between the age of about 6 to about 12 months.

[0840] Benefits from this improvement are in preventing impaired neurodevelopment and / or brain functioning, thus, preventing and / or treating neurodevelopmental or brain functioning conditions, disorders and / or diseases.

[0841] The composition of the present invention can be in solid (e.g. powder), liquid or gelatinous form.

[0842] The composition according to the present invention advantageously promotes neurodevelopment and / or brain functioning, including social-emotional, motor, language and / or cognitive development.

[0843] It supports or promotes healthy brain development and functioning in infants and prevents or addresses developmental or functional problems, disorders or diseases that may arise if infants have difficulties with social-emotional, motor, language and / or cognitive development.

[0844] The conditions, disorders or diseases related to impaired neurodevelopment include: autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), intellectual disability, epilepsy, depression, anxiety, language delay, specific language impairment (SLI), dyslexia, speech sound disorder, stuttering, cerebral palsy, hypotonia, developmental coordination disorder (DCD), ataxia.

[0845] The composition of the invention can be administered (or given or fed) at an age and for a period that depends on the possibilities and needs.

[0846] Since the composition of the invention is also used for prevention purposes (prevention of a later in life health disorder), it can be for example given immediately after birth of the infants. The composition of the invention can also be given during the first week of life of the infant, or during the first 2 weeks of life, or during the first 3 weeks of life, or during the first month of life, or during the first 2 months of life, or during the first 3 months of life, or during the first 4 months of life, or during the first 6 months of life, or during the first 8 months of life, or during the first 10 months of life, or during the first year of life, or during the first two years of life or even more. In some particularly advantageous embodiments of the invention, the nutritional composition is given (or administered) to an infant within the first 4 or 6 months of birth of said infant.

[0847] In some other embodiments, the composition of the invention is given few days (e.g. 1 , 2, 3, 5, 10, 15, 20...), or few weeks (e.g. 1 , 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10...), or few months (e.g. 1 , 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10... ) after birth. This may be especially the case when the infant is premature, but not necessarily.

[0848] In one embodiment the composition of the invention is given to the infant or young child as a supplementary composition to the mother’s milk. In some embodiments the infant or young child receives the mother’s milk during at least the first 2 weeks, first 1 , 2, 4, or 6 months. In one embodiment the nutritional composition of the invention is given to the infant or young child after such period of mother’s nutrition, or is given together with such period of mother’s milk nutrition. In another embodiment the composition is given to the infant or young child as the sole or primary nutritional composition during at least one period of time, e.g. after the 1st, 2nd or 4th month of life, during at least 1 , 2, 4 or 6 months.

[0849] In a preferred embodiment, the composition is orally administered to the infant or toddler in an infant formula. The infant formula may contain a protein source in an amount up to 4.0 g / 100kcal, preferably up to 3.0 g / 100kcal, more preferably up to 2.0 g / 100kcal, most preferably 1.8 to 2.0 g / 100kcal. In some embodiments, over 50% by weight of the protein source is whey. In one embodiment, the protein content is between 30% and 80% whey proteins. Protein sources based on whey, casein and mixtures thereof may be used, as well as protein sources based on soy. For whey proteins, the protein source may be based on acid whey or sweet whey or mixtures thereof and may include alpha-lactalbumin and beta-lactoglobulin in desired proportions.

[0850] The proteins may be intact or hydrolysed or a mixture of intact and hydrolysed proteins. Partially hydrolysed proteins (degree of hydrolysis between 2 and 20%) may be particularly beneficial for infants believed to be at risk of developing cows' milk allergy. If hydrolysed proteins are required, the hydrolysis process may be carried out as desired and as is known in the art. For example, a whey protein hydrolysate may be prepared by enzymatically hydrolysing the whey fraction in one or more steps. If the whey fraction used as the starting material is substantially lactose free, the protein suffers much less lysine blockage during the hydrolysis process, which enables the extent of lysine blockage to be reduced from about 15% by weight of total lysine to less than about 10% by weight of lysine; for example about 7% by weight of lysine, which greatly improves the nutritional quality of the protein source.

[0851] The infant formula may contain a carbohydrate source. Any carbohydrate source conventionally found in infant formulae, such as lactose, saccharose, maltodextrin, starch and mixtures thereof, may be used; although the preferred source of carbohydrates is lactose. Preferably the carbohydrate sources contribute between 35% and 65% of the total energy of the formula. In a preferred embodiment, the carbohydrates comprise rice carbohydrates, for example rice carbohydrates in an amount of at least 5% at least 10%, at least 25% or at least 50%, at least 70%, at least 90%, or about 100% of the carbohydrates (w / w), which can bring a substantial benefit in the sleep pattern. The higher the content in rice carbohydrates, the higher the possible sleep improvement.

[0852] The infant formula may contain a source of lipids. The lipid source may be any lipid or fat which is suitable for use in infant formulas. Preferred fat sources include palm olein, high oleic sunflower oil and high oleic safflower oil. The essential fatty acids linoleic and a-linolenic acid may also be added as may small amounts of oils containing high quantities of preformed arachidonic acid and docosahexaenoic acid such as fish oils or microbial oils. In total, the fat content preferably contribute between 30 to 55% of the total energy of the formula. The fat source preferably has a ratio of n-6 to n-3 fatty acids of about 5:1 to about 15:1 ; for example about 8:1 to about 10:1.

[0853] The infant formula may optionally contain one or more vitamins. For example, the infant formula may contain all vitamins and minerals understood to be essential in the daily diet and in nutritionally significant amounts. Minimum requirements have been established for certain vitamins and minerals. Examples of additional minerals and vitamins optionally present in the infant formula include vitamin A, vitamin B12, vitamin E, vitamin K, vitamin C, vitamin D, folic acid, inositol, niacin, biotin, pantothenic acid, choline, calcium, phosphorous, iodine, magnesium, manganese, chloride, potassium, sodium, selenium, chromium, molybdenum, taurine, and L- carnitine. Minerals are usually added in salt form. The presence and amounts of specific additional minerals and vitamins will vary depending on the intended infant population.

[0854] If necessary, the infant formula may contain emulsifiers and stabilizers such as soy lecithin, citric acid esters of mono- and di-glycerides, and the like. The infant formula may optionally contain other substances which may have a beneficial effect such as fibres, lactoferrin, nucleotides, nucleosides, and the like. For example, the infant formula may contain a probiotic bacterial strain in an amount of 103 to 1012 cfu / g infant formula, more preferably 106 to 109 cfu / g formula.

[0855] The infant formula described above may be prepared in any suitable manner. For example, they may be prepared by blending together the protein, the carbohydrate source, and the fat source in appropriate proportions. If used, the emulsifiers may be included at this point. The vitamins and minerals may be added at this point but are usually added later to avoid thermal degradation. Any lipophilic vitamins, emulsifiers and the like may be dissolved into the fat source prior to blending. Water, preferably water which has been subjected to reverse osmosis, may then be mixed in to form a liquid mixture. The temperature of the water is conveniently about 50°C to about 80°C to aid dispersal of the ingredients. Commercially available liquefiers may be used to form the liquid mixture. The liquid mixture is then homogenised; for example in two stages.

[0856] The liquid mixture may then be thermally treated to reduce bacterial loads, by rapidly heating the liquid mixture to a temperature in the range of about 80°C to about 150°C for about 5 seconds to about 5 minutes, for example. This may be carried out by steam injection, autoclave or by heat exchanger; for example a plate heat exchanger. Then, the liquid mixture may be cooled to about 60°C to about 85°C; for example by flash cooling. The liquid mixture may then be again homogenised; for example in two stages at about 10 MPa to about 30 MPa in the first stage and about 2 MPa to about 10 MPa in the second stage. The homogenised mixture may then be further cooled to add any heat sensitive components; such as vitamins and minerals. The pH and solids content of the homogenised mixture are conveniently adjusted at this point.

[0857] The homogenised mixture may be transferred to a suitable drying apparatus such as a spray drier or freeze drier and converted to powder. The powder should have a moisture content of less than about 5% by weight. A probiotic bacterial strain may optionally be added at this stage by dry-mixing. The powder may then be packaged in unit dosage form. The powder may be reconstituted in a diluent, such as water or milk, prior to the administration to the infant or toddler.

[0858] The combination may be administered to the infant or toddler in a unit dosage form, wherein the unit dosage form comprises an amount of the combination effective for increasing levels of propionate in the infant or toddler. The unit dosage form may be a predetermined amount of a powder comprising the combination, and the method comprises reconstituting the powder in a diluent to form a nutritional composition in which the combination is orally administered to the infant or toddler.

[0859] Suitably, the composition of the invention may be intended for administration twice daily. Thus, the nutritional composition may be formulated to provide two servings per day.

[0860] Suitably, the composition of the invention may be provided in a serving size of 31 g or 36 g total dry weight.

[0861] In some embodiments, the composition of the invention may be administered once daily. In other embodiments, the composition of the invention is administered in multiple servings, for example in two servings (unit doses) per day. When the nutritional composition is provided in the form of unit doses (or “servings”) it is particularly useful to define the amount of oligosaccharides and probiotics in terms of the daily dose to be administered to the infant, or young child or child.

[0862] Non-therapeutic use In some embodiments, the invention provides use of the composition of the invention to promote the production of at least one polyamine and / or its metabolite by the gut microbiota of a young individual, in the gastrointestinal tract of a young individual.

[0863] In some embodiments, the invention provides a composition comprising Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis in an effective amount for use in increasing brain structural maturation in a young individual.

[0864] In some embodiments, the invention provides a composition comprising Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis in an effective amount for use in increasing production of at least one polyamine and / or its metabolite by the gut microbiota of a young individual and thereby increasing brain structural maturation

[0865] In a further embodiment, the invention provides use of the composition of the invention for increasing production of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the gastrointestinal tract of a young individual.

[0866] In a further embodiment, the invention provides a method of promoting the production of at least one polyamine and / or its metabolite by the gut microbiota of a young individual, in the gastrointestinal tract of a subject, the method comprising administering to the young individual the composition or combination of the invention.

[0867] In a further embodiment, the invention provides a composition comprising Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis in an effective amount for use in increasing brain functional maturation in a young individual. In a further embodiment, the invention provides a composition comprising Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis in an effective amount for use in increasing production of at least one polyamine and / or its metabolite by the gut microbiota of a young individual and thereby increasing brain structural maturation. In a further embodiment, the invention provides a composition comprising Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis in an effective amount for use in increasing learning in a young individual. In a further embodiment, the invention provides a composition comprising Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis in an effective amount for use in increasing production of at least one polyamine and / or its metabolite by the gut microbiota of a young individual and thereby increasing learning.

[0868] In a further embodiment, the invention provides a composition comprising Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis in an effective amount for use in increasing memory in a young individual.

[0869] In a further embodiment, the invention provides a composition comprising Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis in an effective amount for use in increasing production of at least one polyamine and / or its metabolite by the gut microbiota of a young individual and thereby increasing memory.

[0870] In a further embodiment, the invention provides a composition comprising Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis in an effective amount for use in increasing brain connectivity in a young individual.

[0871] In a further embodiment, the invention provides a composition comprising Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis in an effective amount for use in increasing production of at least one polyamine and / or its metabolite by the gut microbiota of a young individual and thereby increasing brain connectivity.

[0872] In a further embodiment, the invention provides a composition comprising Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis and at least one HMO in an effective amount for use in increasing brain structural maturation in a young individual.

[0873] In a further embodiment, the invention provides a composition comprising Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis and at least one HMO in an effective amount for use in increasing production of at least one polyamine and / or its metabolite by the gut microbiota of a young individual and thereby increasing brain structural maturation.

[0874] In a further embodiment, the invention provides a composition comprising Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis and at least one HMO in an effective amount for use in increasing brain functional maturation in a young individual.

[0875] In a further embodiment, the invention provides a composition comprising Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis and at least one HMO in an effective amount for use in increasing production of at least one polyamine and / or its metabolite by the gut microbiota of a young individual and thereby increasing brain functional maturation.

[0876] In a further embodiment, the invention provides a composition comprising Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis and at least one HMO in an effective amount for use in increasing learning in a young individual.

[0877] In a further embodiment, the invention provides a composition comprising Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis and at least one HMO in an effective amount for use in increasing production of at least one polyamine and / or its metabolite by the gut microbiota of a young individual and thereby increasing learning.

[0878] In a further embodiment, the invention provides a composition comprising Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis and at least one HMO in an effective amount for use in increasing memory in a young individual.

[0879] In a further embodiment, the invention provides a composition comprising Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis and at least one HMO in an effective amount for use in increasing production of at least one polyamine and / or its metabolite by the gut microbiota of a young individual and thereby increasing memory.

[0880] In a further embodiment, the invention provides a composition comprising Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis and at least one HMO in an effective amount for use in increasing brain connectivity in a young individual.

[0881] In a further embodiment, the invention provides a composition comprising Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis and at least one HMO in an effective amount for use in increasing production of at least one polyamine and / or its metabolite by the gut microbiota of a young individual and thereby increasing brain connectivity.

[0882] In a further embodiment, the invention provides a composition comprising Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis and at least one HMO in an effective amount for use in promoting brain development and / or brain functioning in a young individual. In a further embodiment, the invention provides a composition comprising Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis and at least one HMO in an effective amount for use in increasing production of at least one polyamine and / or its metabolite by the gut microbiota of a young individual and thereby promoting brain development and / or brain functioning.

[0883] In a further embodiment, the invention provides a composition comprising Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis in an effective amount for use in promoting brain development and / or brain functioning in a young individual, wherein brain development comprises social-emotional, motor, language and / or cognitive development

[0884] In a further embodiment, the invention provides a composition comprising Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis in an effective amount for use in increasing production of at least one polyamine and / or its metabolite by the gut microbiota of a young individual and thereby promoting brain development, wherein brain development comprises social-emotional, motor, language and / or cognitive development.

[0885] In a further embodiment, the invention provides a composition comprising Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis and at least one HMO in an effective amount for use in promoting brain development and / or brain functioning in a young individual, wherein brain development comprises social-emotional, motor, language and / or cognitive development

[0886] In a further embodiment, the invention provides a composition comprising Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis and at least one HMO in an effective amount for use in increasing production of at least one polyamine and / or its metabolite by the gut microbiota of a young individual and thereby promoting brain development, wherein brain development comprises social-emotional, motor, language and / or cognitive development.

[0887] In a further embodiment, the invention provides a composition comprising Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis in an effective amount for use in promoting brain functioning in a young individual, wherein brain functioning comprises regulating stress, sleep, hormones, motor, language, social- emotional and / or cognitive skills.

[0888] In a further embodiment, the invention provides a composition comprising Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis in an effective amount for use in increasing production of at least one polyamine and / or its metabolite by the gut microbiota of a young individual and thereby promoting brain functioning, wherein brain functioning comprises regulating stress, sleep, hormones, motor, language, social-emotional and / or cognitive skills. In a further embodiment, the invention provides a composition comprising Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis and at least one HMO in an effective amount for use in promoting brain functioning in a young individual, wherein brain functioning comprises regulating stress, sleep, hormones, motor, language, social-emotional and / or cognitive skills. In a further embodiment, the invention provides a composition comprising Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis and at least one HMO in an effective amount for use in increasing production of at least one polyamine and / or its metabolite by the gut microbiota of a young individual and thereby promoting brain functioning, wherein brain functioning comprises regulating stress, sleep, hormones, motor, language, social-emotional and / or cognitive skills.

[0889] The use or method of the present invention may be referred to as a non-therapeutic use or method. In some embodiments, the young individual is a healthy young individual.

[0890] Those skilled in the art will understand that they can freely combine all features of the present invention disclosed herein. In particular, features described for the product of the present invention may be combined with the method of the present invention and vice versa. Further, features described for different embodiments of the present invention may be combined. Where known equivalents exist to specific features, such equivalents are incorporated as if specifically referred to in this specification.

[0891] Further advantages and features of the present invention are apparent from the figure and non-limiting examples. EXAMPLES

[0892] Example 1

[0893] The inventors analyzed the composition of breast milk at 3 time points in the first 3 months post-partum and investigated the associations with developmental outcomes, such as social and / or emotional development, across the first 2 years of life. The data for these analyses come from the observational arm of a prospective, longitudinal, two-center (Memorial Hospital of Rhode Island and Pennington Biomedical Research Center, USA), study with a 12-month intervention period and follow-up assessments up to 2 years of life. Seven visits occurred: V1 (6 ± 1 week of life), V2 (3 months ± 2 weeks), V3 (6 months ± 2 weeks), V4 (9 months ± 2 weeks), and V5 (12 months ± 2 weeks), V6 (18 months ± 3 weeks), V7 (24 months ± 4 weeks). Exclusion criteria included: a) delayed birth (> 41 weeks + 6 days gestation) as reported in medical record when available, b) Birth Weight < 2000 g or small for gestation age birth weight less than the 10th percentile for the gestational age) or large for gestational age (weight, length, or head circumference that lies above the 90th percentile) as reported in medical record medical record when available, c) any unsafe psychopharmacological treatment of mother using prohibited medications during pregnancy or lactation as assessed by medical interview.

[0894] 60 breastfeeding mothers with their child were followed from 0 to 24 months. Breast milk was sampled from mothers longitudinally at defined study visits, each time between 10 AM-12PM from the right breast using a hospital grade electric breast pump. Additionally, mothers were asked to empty the right breast approximately 2h prior to milk sampling and the time of milk sampling complete breast was emptied using a pump (single full breast milk sampling methodology). Only a fraction of the collected milk will be aliquoted for research and the rest was be returned to mother for feeding the baby at a later time.

[0895] Breast milk samples were taken at 2-5 weeks (V0), 6 weeks (V1), 3 months (V2).

[0896] We tested the effect of the following covariates on each cognitive scale: maternal education, sex, mode of delivery, gestational age, income. We analyzed the three Bayley subscales for cognition, language and motor development. We applied a functional analysis of variance (R package fdANOVA) to test whether the Bayley scales are associated longitudinally with delivery method, child’s gender, income and mother’s education. For gestational age (a continuous variable) we fitted linear mixed models with random intercepts, with each of the Bayley scales as response variable and gestational age.

[0897] Results

[0898] The inventors found a positive correlation between the concentration of N1 ,N8- diacetylspermidine at 4 weeks and the degree of social-emotional outcomes on ASQ-SE when at 24 months of the young individual as described in the Example 1. Additionally, a positive correlation was observed between the concentration of putrescine at 6 weeks and the degree of motor development at 6 months of the young individual as described in the Example 1.

[0899] Additionally, a positive correlation was observed between the concentration of putrescine at 6 weeks and spermidine at 4 weeks and the degree of cognitive development at 24 months of the young individual as described in the Example 1 .

[0900] Additionally, a positive correlation was observed between the concentration of ornithine at 6 weeks and the degree of language scores on Bayleys at 6 months of the young individual as described in the Example 1 .

[0901] Lastly, a positive correlation between the concentration of arginine at 4, 6 and 12 weeks and the degree of language scores on Bayleys at 12 months of the young individual has been described in the Example 1 .

[0902] This finding supports the impact of specific polyamines and metabolites thereof on aspects of neurodevelopment of infants, such as development of social-emotional, motor and / or language skills. This adds important knowledge in a population where nutritional intervention studies are still scarce.

[0903] Example 2

[0904] Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis increase polyamine and GABA production

[0905] Polyamines (i.e putrescine, acetylputrescine, N1 -acetylspermidine, N1 ,N8- diacetylspermidine) and GABA were measured were measured by liquid chromatography- mass spectrometry approach (LC-MS). Results of batch fermentation experiments are shown in Figures 1 and 7. The box plots highlight the dynamic of consumption and production of these metabolites after 48 hours of fermentation of Pea fiber (rich in arabinan) by an infant faecal inoculum (containing gut microbes) supplemented or not by Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis species.

[0906] Significant differences were calculated with Wilcoxon test and highlighted with a star symbol (* p-value<0.05, ** p-value<0.01 , *** p-value<0.001). The figure 1 and figure 7 are proofs of concept that Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis increase the production of polyamines and GABA by the infant gut microbiome.

[0907] Figure 1 shows polyamine production (i.e., N1.N8-Diacetylspermidine, Acetylputrescine, acetylspermidine, putrescine over 48h of batch fermentation with pea fiber (rich in arabinan).

[0908] Figure 7 shows GABA production over 48h of batch fermentation with pea fiber (rich in arabinan).

[0909] Example 3

[0910] Naturally farrowed piglets from a commercial swine herd remained with the sows until postnatal day 2 (PND 2) before being transported to a specialized neonatal pig rearing system at the Piglet Nutrition and Cognition Laboratory (PNCL) on the University of Illinois campus. A total of 20 piglets were randomly assigned to treatment groups by equalizing initial body weight and genetics (i.e., litter of origin) across treatments, such that an equal number of pigs from each litter was assigned to each treatment group in every cohort. The treatment structure included a commercial milk replacer ad libitum without (CON n=10) or with (Bl n=10) 109CFU / d B-luvenis.

[0911] During the initial three days, piglets were administered either that Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis (Bl) or milk replacer (CON) through syringe feeding. Subsequently, until 28 days of age, that Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis was mixed with milk replacer and provided in individual bowls for the remainder of the nursing period.

[0912] On PND 29-56, pigs in the Bl group received a daily dose of that Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis at the beginning of the day (via syringe feeding). As the piglets will be group housed, the feeding procedure will ensure that all probiotic is consumed by each individual pig (i.e. using syringe). Probiotic treatment will not be given on the last day of the experiment (euthanasia day).

[0913] On PND 29-56, pigs was fed a nutritionally adequate solid diet manufactured at the University of Illinois Feed Technology Center starting on PND 28. The diets was manufactured in mash form (i.e., ground to small particle size) for pigs to consume ad libitum. Age-appropriate diets were formulated to maximize the concentrations of arabinan and arabinoxylan found in a natural ingredient matrix, which was accomplished using wheat-based products. These diets also contained dried whey of ovine origin, but no spray-dried porcine plasma, antibiotics, or antibiotic alternatives (e.g., no zinc oxide or copper sulfate), as necessary to support voluntary intake and growth in young pigs.

[0914] Neuroimaging was performed at the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology’s Biomedical Imaging Center using a Siemens MAGNETOM Prisma 3 T scanner. Twenty pigs (n = 10 per control and probiotic groups) were scanned at postnatal week (PNW) 8 to capture structural and microstructural development across early postnatal life.

[0915] Pigs were sedated intramuscularly with a telazol:ketamine:xylazine cocktail (50 mg tiletamine + 50 mg zolazepam reconstituted with 2.5 mL ketamine [100 g / L] and 2.5 mL xylazine [100 g / L]) at 0.03 mL / kg body weight. During imaging, anesthesia was maintained with 2 % isoflurane in 98 % oxygen via endotracheal intubation. Vital parameters (heart rate, SpO2, end-tidal CO2, inhaled / exhaled CO2, and O2partial pressure) were continuously monitored using a LifeWindow LW9x system, with values recorded every 5 min.

[0916] Animals were scanned in a leg-first, left-side-down orientation using a 32-channel spine coil combined with an 18-channel flexible coil. Each imaging session lasted approximately 60 min total per animal.

[0917] Structural MRI Acquisition and Analysis

[0918] T1 -weighted magnetization-prepared rapid gradient-echo (MPRAGE) images were collected in a sagittal orientation. Parameters included: TR = 3000 ms, TE = 1.91 ms, Tl = 1060 ms, flip angle = 9°, FOV = 224 x 224 mm2, base resolution = 320 x 320, and isotropic voxel size = 0.7 mm.

[0919] Skull stripping was performed using PigBET (Li et al., 2025;), which is a deep learning model trained on pig brain MRI data, and applied here to automatically extract brain tissue from the native MPRAGE images. Example brain extraction from a single subject (B003) is shown in Figure 8A.

[0920] Each brain-extracted image was registered to in-house pig brain atlases (Fil et al., 2021). Scans were registered to the 12-week-old pig brain atlas. Linear registration was performed using FSL FLIRT with six degrees of freedom and a normalized-correlation cost function. Non-linear registration was performed using the symmetric normalization (SyN) algorithm implemented in ANTs via antspy. The same atlas provided tissue-probability maps (TPMs) and 28 region-of- interest (ROI) labels shown in Figure 8B. The combined linear and non-linear transforms were applied to bring the atlas ROIs into each subject’s native MPRAGE space.

[0921] Tissue segmentation was performed using FSL FAST with the atlas-derived TPMs as priors. Gray matter (GM), white matter (WM), and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) probability maps were used to calculate total brain volume (TBV) and intracranial volume (ICV) as TBV = GM + WM and ICV =

[0922] GM + WM + CSF. ROI volumes were extracted in native space. Relative ROI volumes were computed as (ROI I ICV) x 100.

[0923] Statistical analysis

[0924] Statistical analyses were performed using Prism 8.0 (GraphPad Software, Inc, https: / / www.qraphpad.com). An unpaired T-test was used. Summary data and graphs were presented as mean ± SEM. Significance levels were defined at P< 0.05.

[0925] Regional Brain Measures Absolute Regional Volumes

[0926] Absolute regional volumes are summarized in Table 1.

[0927]

[0928] Table 1 : Absolute volume of ROIs (mm3) at 8 weeks postnatal

[0929] There was a trend of the majority of brain areas measured having an increase in absolute volume of ROIs, with certain regions having a statistically significant difference compared to the controls; the left caudate, right caudate, and substantia nigra (Figures 9A, 9B and 9C respectively).

[0930] Relative Regional Volumes

[0931] Relative regional volumes expressed as a percentage of ICV (i.e. , normalized to total intracranial volume) are summarized in Table 2.

[0932] Table 2: Relative volume of brain ROIs (% of ICV) at 8 weeks postnatal.

[0933] After normalization to total intracranial volume, regions such as the right internal capsule and thalamus showed significant volume increases in the probiotic group (Figure 10 A-D). The trend continued to be seen in the substantia nigra post-normalization (albeit not significant, likely due to its small size (0.15% of total intracranial volume)) (Figure 10 E).

[0934] The caudate, substantia nigra, internal capsule, and thalamus form interconnected motor cognitive loops: the caudate processes cognitive and goal directed signals, the substantia nigra supplies dopaminergic modulation, the internal capsule routes major projection fibers, and the thalamus relays and gates cortical information. Developmental timing, axon guidance, and microstructural maturation of these nodes shape later motor, cognitive, and neurodevelopmental disorder phenotypes.

[0935] The caudate acts as a major input hub of the striatum and links frontal cortex signals to basal ganglia outputs, so it supports motor planning, learning, memory, reward, and affective processing. It receives dense excitatory input from ipsilateral frontal cortex and thalamus and projects via striatal outputs to globus pallidus and thalamus, closing re-entrant loops back to cortex (Lanciego et al 2024, Steiner et al 2010).

[0936] Multiple longitudinal and cross-sectional studies report positive relationships between larger caudate volume and better outcomes in attention, verbal ability, processing speed and specific neurocognitive tests. For instance, Young et al have shown positive associations between caudate (and putamen) growth and early fine motor performance are reported in a large infant longitudinal MRI study of the first two postnatal years (Young et al 2015). A randomized early-nutrition trial found larger caudate volumes correlate with higher verbal IQ (Loh et al 2020).

[0937] The substantia nigra provides the principal dopaminergic drive that modulates striatal processing and thereby tunes movement initiation, reinforcement learning, and broader cognitive-motivational functions. These dopaminergic modulation of the striatum regulates the balance of facilitation and inhibition within basal ganglia pathways essential for voluntary movement and reward-based learning (Steiner et al 2010, McLaughlin et al 2018, Schroder et al 2020). Nigrostriatal fibers travel through forebrain fields (traversing internal capsule pathways en route) to innervate putamen and caudate, while SNr gives rise to nigrothalamic projections to ventral anterior / ventrolateral thalamic nuclei (McLaughlin et al 2018).

[0938] The internal capsule is a major compact white-matter conduit that separates caudate and putamen and carries corticofugal, thalamo-cortical, and basal ganglia projection fibers; its formation and microstructure critically shape long-range connectivity (Divac et al 1972, Magrinelli et al 2016, Armstrong et al 2021). It conveys descending cortical motor, premotor, and sensory fibers and ascending thalamocortical fibers, effectively routing information between cortex, basal ganglia, brainstem, and spinal cord (McLaughlin et al 2018, Divac et al 1972). While not directly linked to cognition, better myelination and volume in the internal capsule may support faster processing and coordination, indirectly benefiting cognitive functions.

[0939] The thalamus functions as the principal relay and gate for sensorimotor and higher-order cortical interactions, with a developmental program that precedes viability and shapes cortical plate formation and early network oscillations. It relays sensory and motor information, contributes to arousal and sleep regulation, and participates in feedback circuits with basal ganglia and cortex that support motor and cognitive processing (Chesselet et al 2003, Driscoll et al 2021). The thalamus receives basal ganglia output (e.g., ventral anterior and ventrolateral nuclei) and projects back to cortex; intralaminar and other thalamic nuclei interact with striatal circuits to modulate re-entrant processing (Driscoll et al 2021).

[0940] Infant longitudinal mapping found thalamic volume positively associated with both receptive and expressive language measures within the first two postnatal years (Young et al 2015). Moreover, twin-design genetic work reports that among subcortical structures only thalamus volume showed a significant correlation with intellectual ability, with part of that association attributable to shared genetic factors (Alex et al 2024).

[0941] It is therefore well known that the interconnected development of the caudate, substantia nigra, internal capsule, and thalamus plays a crucial role in shaping early motor and cognitive functions. In this example, we clearly demonstrate that animals given B. iuvenis have increased size during development of these key brain areas, and therefore, will also have the benefits as described above known to result from improved growth of these areas; regional brain volume changes particularly in the caudate and thalamus have been consistently linked to improved neurodevelopmental outcomes, emphasizing the importance of early brain growth in these areas. Example 4

[0942] Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis NCC5025 increases polyamine production

[0943] Batch fermentation experiments using faecal inoculum from infants were used to evaluate the impact of ingredients alone or combined with Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis on the production of beneficial gut metabolites. After 24h of fermentation, supernatants were collected and stored at -80 degree until further use. Polyamines and indoles (i.e N1 ,N12-Diacetylspermine, lndole-3-propionic acid and lndole-3-lactic acid) were measured by liquid chromatography- mass spectrometry approach (LC-MS). Results of batch fermentation experiments are shown in Figures 11 and 12. The box plots highlight level of of these metabolites after 24 hours of fermentation using an ingredient blend containing GOS / FOS & 3-FL or2 / 3-FL + Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis by an infant faecal inoculum (containing gut microbes) supplemented or not by Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis species NCC5025.

[0944] Metabolomic annotation accuracy:

[0945] Indole-propionic acid Annotation level 1: match of retention time, mass-to-charge ratio (m / z), and MS / MS fragmentation pattern with a known standard under identical analytical conditions. Indole-lactic acid-> annotation level 2.a: Match of m / z and retention time.

[0946] N1-N12- Diacetyl spermine Annotation level 3: identification by accurate mass alone (with an accepted deviation of 3ppm)

[0947] The P values in Table 3 below refer to a paired t-test comparing the experimental conditions with and without Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis NCC5025 addition.

[0948] Table 3 Figure 11 shows the increase in N1-N12- Diacetyl spermine production when

[0949] Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis strain NCC5025 is inoculated with A) 2-FL, 3-FL and Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis and B) GOS, FOS and 3-FL over 24h of batch fermentation. The experiments were performed using in-vitro short colon batch fermentation set up.

[0950] Figure 12 shows the increase in A) Indole-lactic acid and B) Indole-propionic acid production when Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis strain NCC5025 is inoculated with GOS, FOS and 3-FL over 24h of batch fermentation. The experiments were performed using in-vitro short colon batch fermentation set up.

[0951] In the Figures 11 and 12, “Ingre” term refers to GOS / FOS & 3FL or 2 / 3FL + Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis.

[0952] Embodiments

[0953] Various preferred features and embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the following paragraphs (para).

[0954] 1 . A composition comprising Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis in an effective amount for use in increasing production of at least one polyamine and / or its metabolite by the gut microbiota of a young individual.

[0955] 2. The composition according to para 1 , wherein it further increases production of gamma- aminobutyric acid (GABA) by the gut microbiota of a young individual.

[0956] 3. The composition according to any one of the preceding paras, wherein the Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis has an Average Nucleotide Identity (ANI) of at least 98.1 % with at least one Bifidobacterium longum strain selected from the group consisting of CNCM I- 5942, CNCM I-5683, CNCM I-5684, CNCM I-5685, CNCM I-5686, CNCM I-5687, CMCC- P0001 (ATCC BAA-2753), and any combination thereof.

[0957] 4. The composition according to any one of the preceding paras, wherein the Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis has an Average Nucleotide Identity (ANI) of at least 99% to a B. longum strain deposited with the CNCM under deposit number CNCM I-5942.

[0958] 5. The composition according to any one of the preceding paras, wherein the Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis strain is not resistant to any one of tetracycline and erythromycin.

[0959] 6. The composition according to any one of the preceding paras, wherein the Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis strain is not resistant to any one of tetracycline, erythromycin, clindamycin and ampicillin.

[0960] 7. The composition according to any one of the preceding paras, wherein the Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis strain is not resistant to any of tetracycline, erythromycin, clindamycin, ampicillin, gentamycin, streptomycin, chloramphenicol and vancomycin. 8. The composition according to any one of the preceding paras, wherein the at least one polyamine comprises agmatine, putrescine, spermidine, spermine, and / or cadaverine.

[0961] 9. The composition according to any one of the preceding paras, wherein the metabolite comprises at least one acetylagmatine, acetylputrescine, N1 -acetylspermidine, N1 ,N8- diacetylspermidine, N1 -acetylspermine, N1 ,N12-diacetylspermine, N-Acetylcadaverine, N6-Acetyl-L-lysine, N2-Acetylornithine, and / or N-acetyl agmatine.

[0962] 10. The composition according to any one of the preceding paras, wherein it further comprises at least one source of polyamine precursors, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) precursors, prebiotics and / or probiotics.

[0963] 11. The composition according to para 10, wherein the at least one probiotic comprises Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis and / or Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis.

[0964] 12. The composition according to para 11 , wherein:

[0965] (i) the Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis is Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis LMG 11588 or has an Average Nucleotide Identity (ANI) of at least 99.9% to Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis LMG 11588; and

[0966] (ii) the Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis is Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis CNCM 1-3446 or has an Average Nucleotide Identity (ANI) of at least 99.9% ANI to Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis CNCM 1 -3446.

[0967] 13. The composition according to any one of paras 10 to 12, wherein the at least one further probiotic and / or prebiotic comprises 2-FL and 3-FL, optionally further comprising Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis and / or Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis.

[0968] 14. The composition according to any one of paras 10 to 12, wherein the at least one further probiotic and / or prebiotic comprises 2-FL, 3-FL and Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis, optionally further comprising Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis.

[0969] 15. The composition according to any one of paras 10 to 12, wherein the at least one further probiotic and / or prebiotic comprises 2-FL, 3-FL and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis, optionally further comprising Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis.

[0970] 16. The composition according to any one of paras 10 to 12, wherein the at least one further probiotic and / or prebiotic comprises 2-FL, 3-F, Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis, and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis.

[0971] 17. The composition according to any one of paras 10 to 12, wherein the at least one further probiotic and / or prebiotic consists of 2-FL, 3-FL and Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis. 18. The composition according to any one of paras 10 to 12, wherein the at least one further probiotic and / or prebiotic consists of 2-FL, 3-FL and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis.

[0972] 19. The composition according to any one of paras 10 to 12, wherein the at least one further probiotic and / or prebiotic consists of 2-FL, 3-F, Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis, and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis.

[0973] 20. The composition according to any one of paras 10 to 19, wherein it comprises the at least one source of polyamine precursors, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) precursors, prebiotics and / or probiotics in an effective amount for use in promoting brain development and / or brain functioning in a young individual.

[0974] 21 . The composition according to any one of paras 10 to 20, wherein the prebiotic is a human milk oligosaccharide (HMO).

[0975] 22. The composition according to para 21 , wherein the human milk oligosaccharides are fucosylated and or sialylated oligosaccharides.

[0976] 23. The composition according to para 22, wherein the human milk oligosaccharides are fucosylated oligosaccharides, preferably comprising 2’FL and / or 3’FL, most preferably 3’FL.

[0977] 24. The composition according to any one of paras 20 to 23, wherein the human milk oligosaccharides comprises 3’FL.

[0978] 25. The composition according to any one of paras 10 to 20, wherein the at least one source of polyamine precursors comprises ornithine, arginine, citrulline, methionine, lysine, glutamate, and / or glutamine.

[0979] 26. The composition according to any one of the preceding paras, wherein it is for use in increasing brain structural maturation in a young individual.

[0980] 27. A composition comprising Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis in an effective amount for use in increasing brain structural maturation in a young individual.

[0981] 28. A composition comprising Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis in an effective amount for use in increasing production of at least one polyamine and / or its metabolite by the gut microbiota of a young individual and thereby increasing brain structural maturation.

[0982] 29. The composition according to any one of the preceding paras, wherein it is for use in increasing brain functional maturation.

[0983] 30. A composition comprising Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis in an effective amount for use in increasing brain functional maturation in a young individual. 31. A composition comprising Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis in an effective amount for use in increasing production of at least one polyamine and / or its metabolite by the gut microbiota of a young individual and thereby increasing brain structural maturation.

[0984] 32. The composition according to any one of the preceding paras, wherein it is for use in increasing learning.

[0985] 33. A composition comprising Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis in an effective amount for use in increasing learning in a young individual.

[0986] 34. A composition comprising Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis in an effective amount for use in increasing production of at least one polyamine and / or its metabolite by the gut microbiota of a young individual and thereby increasing learning.

[0987] 35. The composition according to any one of the preceding paras, wherein it is for use in increasing memory.

[0988] 36. A composition comprising Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis in an effective amount for use in increasing memory in a young individual.

[0989] 37. A composition comprising Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis in an effective amount for use in increasing production of at least one polyamine and / or its metabolite by the gut microbiota of a young individual and thereby increasing memory.

[0990] 38. The composition according to any one of the preceding paras, wherein it is for use in increasing brain connectivity.

[0991] 39. A composition comprising Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis in an effective amount for use in increasing brain connectivity in a young individual.

[0992] 40. A composition comprising Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis in an effective amount for use in increasing production of at least one polyamine and / or its metabolite by the gut microbiota of a young individual and thereby increasing brain connectivity.

[0993] 41. The composition according to any one of the preceding paras additionally comprising at least one HMO, wherein it is for use in increasing brain structural maturation.

[0994] 42. A composition comprising Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis and at least one HMO in an effective amount for use in increasing brain structural maturation in a young individual.

[0995] 43. A composition comprising Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis and at least one HMO in an effective amount for use in increasing production of at least one polyamine and / or its metabolite by the gut microbiota of a young individual and thereby increasing brain structural maturation. The composition according to any one of the preceding paras additionally comprising at least one HMO, wherein it is for use in increasing brain functional maturation. A composition comprising Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis and at least one HMO in an effective amount for use in increasing brain functional maturation in a young individual. A composition comprising Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis and at least one HMO in an effective amount for use in increasing production of at least one polyamine and / or its metabolite by the gut microbiota of a young individual and thereby increasing brain functional maturation. The composition according to any one of the preceding paras additionally comprising at least one HMO, wherein it is for use in increasing learning. A composition comprising Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis and at least one HMO in an effective amount for use in increasing learning in a young individual. A composition comprising Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis and at least one HMO in an effective amount for use in increasing production of at least one polyamine and / or its metabolite by the gut microbiota of a young individual and thereby increasing learning. The composition according to any one of the preceding paras additionally comprising at least one HMO, wherein it is for use in increasing memory. A composition comprising Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis and at least one HMO in an effective amount for use in increasing memory in a young individual. A composition comprising Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis and at least one HMO in an effective amount for use in increasing production of at least one polyamine and / or its metabolite by the gut microbiota of a young individual and thereby increasing memory. The composition according to any one of the preceding paras additionally comprising at least one HMO, wherein it is for use in increasing brain connectivity. A composition comprising Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis and at least one HMO in an effective amount for use in increasing brain connectivity in a young individual. A composition comprising Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis and at least one HMO in an effective amount for use in increasing production of at least one polyamine and / or its metabolite by the gut microbiota of a young individual and thereby increasing brain connectivity. The composition according to any one of the preceding paras, wherein it is for use in promoting brain development and / or brain functioning in a young individual. A composition comprising Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis and at least one HMO in an effective amount for use in promoting brain development and / or brain functioning in a young individual. A composition comprising Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis and at least one HMO in an effective amount for use in increasing production of at least one polyamine and / or its metabolite by the gut microbiota of a young individual and thereby promoting brain development and / or brain functioning. The composition according to para 56, wherein brain development comprises social- emotional, motor, language and / or cognitive development. A composition comprising Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis in an effective amount for use in promoting brain development and / or brain functioning in a young individual, wherein brain development comprises social-emotional, motor, language and / or cognitive development A composition comprising Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis in an effective amount for use in increasing production of at least one polyamine and / or its metabolite by the gut microbiota of a young individual and thereby promoting brain development, wherein brain development comprises social-emotional, motor, language and / or cognitive development. A composition comprising Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis and at least one HMO in an effective amount for use in promoting brain development and / or brain functioning in a young individual, wherein brain development comprises social-emotional, motor, language and / or cognitive development A composition comprising Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis and at least one HMO in an effective amount for use in increasing production of at least one polyamine and / or its metabolite by the gut microbiota of a young individual and thereby promoting brain development, wherein brain development comprises social-emotional, motor, language and / or cognitive development. The composition according to para 56, wherein brain functioning comprises regulating stress, sleep, hormones, motor, language, social-emotional and / or cognitive skills. A composition comprising Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis in an effective amount for use in promoting brain functioning in a young individual, wherein brain functioning comprises regulating stress, sleep, hormones, motor, language, social-emotional and / or cognitive skills. A composition comprising Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis in an effective amount for use in increasing production of at least one polyamine and / or its metabolite by the gut microbiota of a young individual and thereby promoting brain functioning, wherein brain functioning comprises regulating stress, sleep, hormones, motor, language, social- emotional and / or cognitive skills. A composition comprising Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis and at least one HMO in an effective amount for use in promoting brain functioning in a young individual, wherein brain functioning comprises regulating stress, sleep, hormones, motor, language, social- emotional and / or cognitive skills. A composition comprising Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis and at least one HMO in an effective amount for use in increasing production of at least one polyamine and / or its metabolite by the gut microbiota of a young individual and thereby promoting brain functioning, wherein brain functioning comprises regulating stress, sleep, hormones, motor, language, social-emotional and / or cognitive skills. The composition according to any one of the preceding paras, wherein it is for use in preventing or / and treating conditions and / or disorders induced by impaired brain development and / or brain functioning in a young individual. A composition comprising Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis in an effective amount for use in preventing or / and treating conditions and / or disorders induced by impaired brain development and / or brain functioning in a young individual. A composition comprising Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis in an effective amount for use in increasing production of at least one polyamine and / or its metabolite by the gut microbiota of a young individual and thereby preventing or / and treating conditions and / or disorders induced by impaired brain development and / or brain functioning in a young individual. A composition comprising Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis and at least one HMO in an effective amount for use in preventing or / and treating conditions and / or disorders induced by impaired brain development and / or brain functioning in a young individual. A composition comprising Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis and at least one HMO in an effective amount for use in increasing production of at least one polyamine and / or its metabolite by the gut microbiota of a young individual and thereby preventing or / and treating conditions and / or disorders induced by impaired brain development and / or brain functioning in a young individual. The composition according to any one of paras 69 to 73, wherein the conditions and / or disorders induced by impaired brain development and / or brain functioning include autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), intellectual disability, epilepsy, depression, anxiety, language delay, specific language impairment (SLI), dyslexia, speech sound disorder, stuttering, cerebral palsy, hypotonia, developmental coordination disorder (DCD), and / or ataxia.

[0996] 75. A composition comprising Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis in an effective amount for use in preventing or / and treating conditions and / or disorders induced by impaired brain development and / or brain functioning in a young individual, wherein the conditions and / or disorders induced by impaired brain development and / or brain functioning include autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), intellectual disability, epilepsy, depression, anxiety, language delay, specific language impairment (SLI), dyslexia, speech sound disorder, stuttering, cerebral palsy, hypotonia, developmental coordination disorder (DCD), and / or ataxia

[0997] 76. A composition comprising Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis in an effective amount for use in increasing production of at least one polyamine and / or its metabolite by the gut microbiota of a young individual and thereby preventing or / and treating conditions and / or disorders induced by impaired brain development and / or brain functioning in a young individual, wherein the conditions and / or disorders induced by impaired brain development and / or brain functioning include autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), intellectual disability, epilepsy, depression, anxiety, language delay, specific language impairment (SLI), dyslexia, speech sound disorder, stuttering, cerebral palsy, hypotonia, developmental coordination disorder (DCD), and / or ataxia.

[0998] 77. A composition comprising Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis and at least one HMO in an effective amount for use in preventing or / and treating conditions and / or disorders induced by impaired brain development and / or brain functioning in a young individual, wherein the conditions and / or disorders induced by impaired brain development and / or brain functioning include autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), intellectual disability, epilepsy, depression, anxiety, language delay, specific language impairment (SLI), dyslexia, speech sound disorder, stuttering, cerebral palsy, hypotonia, developmental coordination disorder (DCD), and / or ataxia.

[0999] 78. A composition comprising Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis and at least one HMO in an effective amount for use in increasing production of at least one polyamine and / or its metabolite by the gut microbiota of a young individual and thereby preventing or / and treating conditions and / or disorders induced by impaired brain development and / or brain functioning in a young individual, wherein the conditions and / or disorders induced by impaired brain development and / or brain functioning include autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), intellectual disability, epilepsy, depression, anxiety, language delay, specific language impairment (SLI), dyslexia, speech sound disorder, stuttering, cerebral palsy, hypotonia, developmental coordination disorder (DCD), and / or ataxia.

[1000] 79. The composition as claimed in any of the preceding paras, wherein the young individual is an infant, a young child or a child.

[1001] 80. The composition according to any one of the preceding paras, wherein it is administered to the young individual from birth to about 5 years of age, preferably from about 4 to about 12 weeks.

[1002] 81 . The composition according to any one of the preceding paras, wherein neurodevelopment and / or brain functioning is promoted in the young individual from birth to about 5 years of age, preferably from birth to about 24 months of age, more preferably between the age of about 6 to about 12 months.

[1003] 82. The composition according to any one of the preceding paras, wherein the composition is a nutritional composition selected from an infant formula, a starter infant formula, a follow- on or follow-up formula, a baby food, an infant cereal composition, a growing-up-milk, a fortifier such as a human milk fortifier, or a supplement.

[1004] It should be understood that various changes and modifications to the presently preferred embodiments described herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present subject matter and without diminishing its intended advantages. It is therefore intended that such changes and modifications be covered by the appended claims.

Claims

1. CLAIMS1 . A composition comprising Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis in an effective amount for use in increasing production of at least one polyamine and / or its metabolite by the gut microbiota of a young individual.

2. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein it further increases production of gamma- aminobutyric acid (GABA) by the gut microbiota of a young individual.

3. The composition according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis has an Average Nucleotide Identity (ANI) of at least 98.1 % with at least one Bifidobacterium longum strain selected from the group consisting of CNCM I-5942, CNCM I-5683, CNCM I-5684, CNCM I-5685, CNCM I-5686, CNCM I- 5687, CMCC-P0001 (ATCC BAA-2753), and any combination thereof.

4. The composition according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the Bifidobacterium longum subsp. iuvenis strain is not resistant to any one of tetracycline, erythromycin, clindamycin and ampicillin; preferably wherein the B. longum transitional strain is not resistant to any of tetracycline, erythromycin, clindamycin, ampicillin, gentamycin, streptomycin, chloramphenicol and vancomycin.

5. The composition according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one polyamine comprises agmatine, putrescine, spermidine, spermine, and / or cadaverine.

6. The composition according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the metabolite comprises at least one acetylagmatine, acetylputrescine, N1 -acetylspermidine, N1 ,N8- diacetylspermidine, N1 -acetylspermine, N1 ,N12-diacetylspermine, N-Acetylcadaverine, N6-Acetyl-L-lysine, N2-Acetylornithine, and / or N-acetyl agmatine.

7. The composition according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein it further comprises at least one source of polyamine precursors, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) precursors, prebiotics and / or probiotics.

8. The composition according to claim 7, wherein it comprises the at least one source of polyamine precursors, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) precursors, prebiotics and / or probiotics in an effective amount for use in promoting brain development and / or brain functioning in a young individual.

9. The composition according to any one of claims 7 or 8, wherein the prebiotic is a human milk oligosaccharide (HMO).

10. The composition according to any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein the at least one source of polyamine precursors comprises ornithine, arginine, citrulline, methionine, lysine, glutamate, and / or glutamine.11 . The composition according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein it is for use in promoting brain development and / or brain functioning in a young individual.

12. The composition according to claim 11 , wherein brain development comprises social- emotional, motor, language, cognitive development, increasing brain structural maturation and / or increasing brain functional maturation.

13. The composition according to claim 11 , wherein brain functioning comprises regulating stress, sleep, hormones, motor, language, social-emotional, cognitive skills, increasing learning, increasing memory and / or increasing brain connectivity.

14. The composition according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein it is for use in preventing or / and treating conditions and / or disorders induced by impaired brain development and / or brain functioning in a young individual.

15. The composition according to claim 14, wherein the conditions and / or disorders induced by impaired brain development and / or brain functioning include autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), intellectual disability, epilepsy, depression, anxiety, language delay, specific language impairment (SLI), dyslexia, speech sound disorder, stuttering, cerebral palsy, hypotonia, developmental coordination disorder (DCD), and / or ataxia.

Images