(19)

(11)

EP 0 748 375 A1

(12)

(43) Date of publication: 18.12.1996 Bulletin 1996/51 (21) Application number: 95909066.0 (22) Date of filing: 28.02.1995

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC):  C12Q 1/ 70( . ) A61K 39/ 12( . ) C12N 7/ 00( . ) A61K 35/ 76( . ) A61P 31/ 04( . ) C12N 7/ 02( . ) (86) International application number: PCT/GB1995/000409 (87) International publication number: WO 1995/023848 (08.09.1995 Gazette 1995/38)

(84) Designated Contracting States: DE ES FR GB IT NL (30) Priority: 01.03.1994 EP 19940301524 (71) Applicant: MERCK PATENT GmbH 64293 Darmstadt (DE)	(72) Inventors: STEWART, Gordon Sydney Anderson Birnie Loughborough LE11 0QL (GB) DENYER, Stephen Paul East Sussex BN7 3NA (GB) JASSIM, Sabah Abdel Amir University of Guelph Dairy Microb. Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1 (CA) (74) Representative: Privett, Kathryn Louise, et al  Stevens, Hewlett & Perkins, 1 Serjeants' Inn, Fleet Street London EC4Y 1LL London EC4Y 1LL (GB)