Reference to sequence listing

This application contains a Sequence Listing in computer readable form. The computer readable form is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to detergent compositions comprising combinations of pro- teases that show synergistic effect on protein stain removal.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The ability of a detergent to remove stains from the surface of textiles is an obvious care- about for the consumer and there is a constant need for improved proteases and/or improved effect of already available proteases.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention discloses combinations of proteases comprising the protease of SEQ ID NO:1 , wherein the 1 :1 mixture of the proteases shows synergistic effect on stain removal compared to the use of the protease having SEQ ID NO:1 alone.

Accordingly, the present invention discloses a detergent composition comprising a first protease and one or more additional proteases, wherein the first proteases has at least 60% identity to the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:1 and the one or more additional proteases are selected from the group of polypeptides having at least 60% identity to the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:7, SEQ ID NO:8, SEQ ID NO:9 SEQ ID NQ:10, SEQ ID NO:11, SEQ ID NO:12, SEQ ID NO:13, SEQ ID NO:14, SEQ ID NO:15, SEQ ID NO:16, and SEQ ID NO:17.

DEFINITIONS

As used herein, the articles "a" and "an" are understood to mean one or more of what is claimed or described

AEP (active enzyme protein): Enzyme protein which has a catalytic activity. There is var- ious ways to determine AEP. For example, AEP can be calculated by dividing total activities by the enzyme’s specific activity. The amount of enzyme (e.g. protease) is throughout the application considered to be active enzyme protein. In commercially available protease products, the amount of AEP typically constitutes 1-10 wt% of the enzyme product (see, e.g., Pettitt et al., Biofouling, vol. 20(6), 2004, pp. 299-311).

Bacterial: The term “bacterial” in relation to polypeptide (such as an enzyme, e.g. a pro- tease) refers to a polypeptide encoded by and thus directly derivable from the genome of a bacteria, where such bacteria has not been genetically modified to encode said polypeptide, e g. by introducing the encoding sequence in the genome by recombinant DNA technology. In the context of the present invention, the term “bacterial protease” or “polypeptide having protease activity obtained from a bacterial source” or “polypeptide is of bacterial origin” thus refers to a protease encoded by and thus directly derivable from the genome of a bacterial species, where the bacterial species has not been subjected to a genetic modification introducing recombinant DNA encoding said protease. A sequence encoding a bacterial polypeptide having protease ac- tivity may also be referred to as a wildtype protease (or parent protease). Bacterial polypeptide having protease activity includes recombinant produced wild types. In a further aspect, the inven- tion provides polypeptides having protease activity, wherein said polypeptides are substantially homologous to a bacterial protease. In the context of the present invention, the term “substantially homologous” denotes a polypeptide having protease activity which is at least 80%, preferably at least 85%, more preferably at least 90%, more preferably at least 95%, even more preferably at least 96%, 97%, 98%, and most preferably at least 99% identical to the amino acid sequence of a selected bacterial protease.

Biosurfactants: Biosurfactants are active compounds that are produced at the microbial cell surface or excreted and reduce surface and interfacial tension. Microbial surfactants offer several advantages over synthetic ones, such as low toxicity and high biodegradability, and often remain active at extreme pH and salinity. Biosurfactants are produced by bacteria, yeasts, and filamentous fungi and are generally classified into low molecular-mass molecules (lipopeptides, glycolipids) and high molecular-mass polymers (polymeric and particulate surfactants). Biosur- factants include but are not limited to rhamnolipids and sophorolipids.

Detergent adjunct ingredient: The detergent adjunct ingredient is different to the protease of this invention. The precise nature of these additional adjunct components, and levels of incor- poration thereof, will depend on the physical form of the composition and the nature of the oper- ation for which it is to be used. Suitable adjunct materials include, but are not limited to the com- ponents described below such as surfactants, builders, flocculating aid, chelating agents, dye transfer inhibitors, enzymes, enzyme stabilizers, enzyme inhibitors, catalytic materials, bleach activators, hydrogen peroxide, sources of hydrogen peroxide, preformed peracids, s, s, brighten- ers, suds suppressors, dyes, perfumes, structure elasticizing agents, fabric softeners, carriers, hydrotropes, builders and co-builders, fabric hueing agents, anti-foaming agents, dispersants, processing aids, solvents, and/or pigments.

Detergent composition: The term “detergent composition” refers to compositions that find use in the removal of undesired compounds from items to be cleaned, such as textiles. The de- tergent composition may be used to e.g. clean textiles for both household cleaning and industrial cleaning. The terms encompass any materials/compounds selected for the particular type of cleaning composition desired and the form of the product (e.g., liquid, gel, powder, granulate, paste, bar, or spray compositions) and includes, but is not limited to, detergent compositions (e.g., liquid and/or solid laundry detergents and fine fabric detergents; fabric fresheners; fabric soften- ers; laundry boosters; and textile and laundry pre-spotters/pre-treatment). In addition to contain- ing the enzyme of the invention, the detergent formulation may contain one or more additional enzymes (such as proteases, amylases, lipases, cutinases, cellulases, endoglucanases, xyloglu- canases, pectinases, pectin lyases, xanthanases, peroxidases, haloperoxygenases, catalases and mannanases, or any mixture thereof), and/or detergent adjunct ingredients such as surfac- tants, builders, chelators or chelating agents, bleach system or bleach components, polymers (as set forth herein), fabric conditioners, foam boosters, suds suppressors, dyes, perfume, tannish inhibitors, optical brighteners, bactericides, fungicides, soil suspending agents, anti-corrosion agents, enzyme inhibitors or stabilizers, enzyme activators, bluing agents and fluorescent dyes, antioxidants, and solubilizers. The terms “detergent” and “detergent composition” may be used interchangeably.

Detergent load is the amount of detergent used in a wash cycle.

Enzyme detergency benefit: The term “enzyme detergency benefit” is defined herein as the advantageous effect an enzyme may add to a detergent compared to the same detergent without the enzyme. Important detergency benefits which can be provided by enzymes are stain removal with no or very little visible soils after washing and/or cleaning, prevention or reduction of redeposition of soils released in the washing process (an effect that also is termed anti-redepo- sition), restoring fully or partly the whiteness of textiles which originally were white but after re- peated use and wash have obtained a greyish or yellowish appearance (an effect that also is termed whitening). Also included is the maintenance of whiteness, e.g., the prevention of greying or dullness. Textile care benefits, which are not directly related to catalytic stain removal or pre- vention of redeposition of soils, are also important for enzyme detergency benefits. Examples of such textile care benefits are prevention or reduction of dye transfer from one fabric to another fabric or another part of the same fabric (an effect that is also termed dye transfer inhibition or anti-backstaining), removal of protruding or broken fibers from a fabric surface to decrease pilling tendencies or remove already existing pills or fuzz (an effect that also is termed anti-pilling), im- provement of the fabric-softness, colour clarification of the fabric and removal of particulate soils which are trapped in the fibers of the fabric or garment. Enzymatic bleaching is a further enzyme detergency benefit where the catalytic activity generally is used to catalyze the formation of bleaching components such as hydrogen peroxide or other peroxides.

Fragment: The term “fragment” means a polypeptide having one or more (e.g., several) amino acids absent from the amino and/or carboxyl terminus of a mature polypeptide or domain; wherein the fragment has protease activity.

Fungal: In the context of the present invention the term “fungal” in relation to polypeptide (such as an enzyme, e.g. a protease) refers to a polypeptide encoded by and thus directly derivable from the genome of a fungus, where such fungus has not been genetically modified to encode said polypeptide, e.g. by introducing the encoding sequence in the genome by recombi- nant DNA technology. In the context of the present invention, the term “fungal protease” or “poly- peptide having protease activity obtained from a fungal source” thus refers to a protease encoded by and thus directly derivable from the genome of a fungal species, where the fungal species has not been subjected to a genetic modification introducing recombinant DNA encoding said prote- ase. Thus, the nucleotide sequence encoding the fungal polypeptide having protease activity is a sequence naturally in the genetic background of a fungal species. The fungal polypeptide having protease activity encoding by such sequence may also be referred to a wildtype protease (or parent protease). In a further aspect, the invention provides polypeptides having protease activity, wherein said polypeptides are substantially homologous to a fungal protease. In the context of the present invention, the term “substantially homologous” denotes a polypeptide having protease activity which is at least 80%, preferably at least 85%, more preferably at least 90%, more pref- erably at least 95%, even more preferably at least 96%, 97%, 98%, and most preferably at least 99% identical to the amino acid sequence of a selected fungal protease. The polypeptides being substantially homologous to a fungal protease may be included in the detergent of the present invention and/or be used in the methods of the present invention.

Host cell: The term "host cell" means any cell type that is susceptible to transformation, transfection, transduction, or the like with a nucleic acid construct or expression vector comprising a polynucleotide of the present invention. The term “host cell” encompasses any progeny of a parent cell that is not identical to the parent cell due to mutations that occur during replication.

Improved wash performance: The term “improved wash performance” is defined herein as an enzyme displaying an increased wash performance in a detergent composition relative to the wash performance of same detergent composition without the enzyme e.g. by increased stain removal or improved bleaching. The term “improved wash performance” includes wash perfor- mance in laundry.

Isolated: The term “isolated” means a substance in a form or environment that does not occur in nature. Non-limiting examples of isolated substances include (1) any non-naturally oc- curring substance, (2) any substance including, but not limited to, any enzyme, variant, nucleic acid, protein, peptide or cofactor, that is at least partially removed from one or more or all of the naturally occurring constituents with which it is associated in nature; (3) any substance modified by the hand of man relative to that substance found in nature; or (4) any substance modified by increasing the amount of the substance relative to other components with which it is naturally associated (e.g., recombinant production in a host cell; multiple copies of a gene encoding the substance; and use of a stronger promoter than the promoter naturally associated with the gene encoding the substance). An isolated substance may be present in a fermentation broth sample; e.g. a host cell may be genetically modified to express the polypeptide of the invention. The fermentation broth from that host cell will comprise the isolated polypeptide.

Laundering: The term “laundering” relates to both household laundering and industrial laundering and means the process of treating textiles with a solution containing a detergent com- position and optionally one or more enzymes. The laundering process can for example be carried out using e.g. a household or an industrial washing machine or can be carried out by hand.

Mature polypeptide: The term “mature polypeptide” means a polypeptide in its final form following translation and any post-translational modifications, such as N-terminal processing, C-terminal truncation, glycosylation, phosphorylation, etc.

Sequence identity: The relatedness between two amino acid sequences or between two nucleotide sequences is described by the parameter “sequence identity”. For purposes of the present invention, the sequence identity between two amino acid sequences is determined using the Needleman-Wunsch algorithm (Needleman and Wunsch, 1970, J. Mol. Biol. 48: 443-453) as implemented in the Needle program of the EMBOSS package (EMBOSS: The European Molec- ular Biology Open Software Suite, Rice et al., 2000, Trends Genet. 16: 276-277), pref-erably ver- sion 5.0.0 or later. The parameters used are gap open penalty of 10, gap extension penalty of 0.5, and the EBLOSUM62 (EMBOSS version of BLOSUM62) substitution matrix. The output of Needle labeled “longest identity” (obtained using the -nobrief option) is used as the percent iden- tity and is calculated as follows:

(Identical Residues x 100)/(Length of Alignment - Total Number of Gaps in Alignment)

For purposes of the present invention, the sequence identity between two deoxyribonu- cleotide sequences is determined using the Needleman-Wunsch algorithm (Needleman and Wunsch, 1970, supra) as implemented in the Needle program of the EMBOSS package (EM- BOSS: The European Molecular Biology Open Software Suite, Rice et al., 2000, supra), prefer- ably version 5.0.0 or later. The parameters used are gap open penalty of 10, gap extension pen- alty of 0.5, and the EDNAFULL (EMBOSS version of NCBI NUC4.4) substitution matrix. The out- put of Needle labeled “longest identity” (obtained using the -nobrief option) is used as the percent identity and is calculated as follows:

(Identical Deoxyribonucleotides x 100)/(Length of Alignment - Total Number of Gaps in Alignment).

Textile: The term “textile” means any textile material including yarns, yarn intermediates, fibers, non-woven materials, natural materials, synthetic materials, and any other textile material, fabrics made of these materials and products made from fabrics (e.g., garments and other arti- cles). The textile or fabric may be in the form of knits, wovens, denims, non-wovens, felts, yarns, and toweling. The textile may be cellulose based such as natural cellulosics, includ-ing cotton, flax/linen, jute, ramie, sisal or coir or manmade cellulosics (e.g. originating from wood pulp) in- cluding viscose/rayon, cellulose acetate fibers (tricell), lyocell or blends thereof. The textile or fabric may also be non-cellulose based such as natural polyamides including wool, camel, cashmere, mohair, rabbit and silk or synthetic polymers such as nylon, aramid, polyester, acrylic, polypropylene and spandex/elastane, or blends thereof as well as blends of cellulose based and non-cellulose based fibers. Examples of blends are blends of cotton and/or rayon/viscose with one or more companion material such as wool, synthetic fiber (e.g. polyamide fiber, acrylic fiber, polyester fiber, polyvinyl chloride fiber, polyurethane fiber, polyurea fiber, aramid fiber), and/or cellulose-containing fiber (e.g. rayon/viscose, ramie, flax/linen, jute, cellulose acetate fiber, lyocell). Fabric may be conventional washable laundry, for example stained household laundry. When the term fabric or garment is used it is intended to include the broader term textiles as well. In the context of the present invention, the term “textile” also covers fabrics. In the context of the present invention, the term “textile” is used interchangeably with fabric and cloth.

Variant: The term “variant” means a polypeptide having same activity as the parent en- zyme comprising an alteration, i.e., a substitution, insertion, and/or deletion, at one or more (e.g., several) positions. A substitution means replacement of the amino acid occupying a position with a different amino acid; a deletion means removal of the amino acid occupying a position; and an insertion means adding an amino acid adjacent to and immediately following the amino acid oc- cupying a position. In the context of the present invention, a variant of an identified protease has the enzymatic activity of the parent. In one embodiment, the protease activity of the variant is increased with reference to the parent protease, e.g. the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 1 .

Wash cycle: The term “wash cycle” is defined herein as a washing operation wherein textiles are immersed in the wash liquor, mechanical action of some kind is applied to the textile in order to release stains and to facilitate flow of wash liquor in and out of the textile and finally the superfluous wash liquor is removed. After one or more wash cycles, the textile is generally rinsed and dried.

Wash liquor: The term “wash liquor” is defined herein as the solution or mixture of water and detergent components optionally including one or more enzymes.

Wash performance: The term “wash performance” is used as detergent composition’s, enzyme’s or polymer’s capability to remove stains present on the object to be cleaned or maintain color and whiteness of textile during wash. The improvement in the wash performance may be quantified by calculating the so-called delta REM, or as delta Intensity, as described in Experi- mental section.

Weight percentage is abbreviated w/w%, wt% or w%. The abbreviations are used inter- changeably.

Whiteness: The term “whiteness” is defined herein as a broad term with different mean- ings in different regions and for different consumers. Whiteness can be on white textiles or be used interchangely as brightness for colored textiles. Loss of whiteness or brightness can e.g. be due to greying, yellowing, or removal of optical brighteners/hueing agents. Greying and yellowing can be due to soil redeposition, stain redeposition, dirt/mud redeposition, pollution particles, body soils, colouring from e.g. iron and copper ions or dye transfer. Loss of whiteness might include one or several issues from the list below: colourant or dye effects; incomplete stain removal (e.g. body soils, sebum etc.); redeposition (greying, yellowing or other discolourations of the object) (removed soils reassociate with other parts of textile, soiled or unsoiled); chemical changes in textile during application; and clarification or brightening of colours.

SEQUENCE OVERVIEW

SEQ ID NO:1 is a protease from Bacillus circulans

SEQ ID NO:2 is a protease from Bacillus lentus

SEQ ID NO:3 is a protease from Bacillus lentus

SEQ ID NO:4 is a protease from Bacillus lentus

SEQ ID NO:5 is a protease from Bacillus lentus

SEQ ID NO:6 is a protease from Bacillus lentus

SEQ ID NO:7 is a protease from Bacillus subtilis

SEQ ID NO:8 is a protease from Bacillus subtilis

SEQ ID NO:9 is a protease from Bacillus subtilis

SEQ ID NQ:10 is a protease from Bacillus gibsonii

SEQ ID NO:11 is a protease from Bacillus gibsonii

SEQ ID NO:12 is a protease from Bacillus amyloliquefaciens

SEQ ID NO:13 is a protease from Bacillus amyloliquefaciens

SEQ ID NO: 14 is a protease from Bacillus amyloliquefaciens

SEQ ID NO:15 is a protease from Bacillus amyloliquefaciens

SEQ ID NO: 16 is a protease from Bacillus amyloliquefaciens

SEQ ID NO:17 is a protease from Bacillus lentus

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Combination of the protease of SEQ ID NO:1 with the proteases of SEQ ID NO:2 to SEQ ID NO: 17 has surprisingly shown to have a synergistic effect on the removal of protein stains.

Thus, in a first aspect, the present invention relates to a detergent composition comprising a first protease and one or more additional proteases, wherein the first protease has at least 60% identity to the protease of SEQ ID NO:1 and the one or more additional proteases are selected from the group of polypeptides having at least 60% identity to any of the proteases of SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:7, SEQ ID NO:8, SEQ ID NO:9, SEQ ID NQ:10, SEQ ID NO:11, SEQ ID NO:12, SEQ ID NO:13, SEQ ID NO:14, SEQ ID NO:15, SEQ ID NO:16, and SEQ ID NO:17. In a preferred aspect, the first protease has at least 60% identity to the protease of SEQ ID NO:1 and the one or more additional proteases are selected from the group of polypeptides having at least 60% identity to any of the proteases of SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:7, SEQ ID NO:8, SEQ ID NO:9, SEQ ID NQ:10, SEQ ID NO:11 , SEQ ID NO:13, SEQ ID NO:14, SEQ ID NO:15, SEQ ID NO:16, and SEQ ID NO:17.

In one embodiment, the detergent composition comprises a first protease having at least 70%, such as at least 80%, such as at least 90%, such as at least 95%, such as at least 96%, such as at least 97%, such as at least 98%, such as at least 99% or even 100% identity to the protease of SEQ ID NO:1, and one or more additional proteases selected from the group consisting of proteases having at least 70%, such as at least 80%, such as at least 90%, such as at least 95%, such as at least 96%, such as at least 97%, such as at least 98%, such as at least 99% or even 100% identity to any of the proteases of SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:7, SEQ ID NO:8, SEQ ID NO:9 SEQ ID NQ:10, SEQ ID NO:11 , SEQ ID NO:12, SEQ ID NO:13, SEQ ID NO:14, SEQ ID NO:15, SEQ ID NO:16, and SEQ ID NO:17. In a preferred embodiment, the detergent composition comprises a first protease having at least 70%, such as at least 80%, such as at least 90%, such as at least 95%, such as at least 96%, such as at least 97%, such as at least 98%, such as at least 99% or even 100% identity to the protease of SEQ ID NO:1 , and one or more additional proteases selected from the group consisting of proteases having at least 70%, such as at least 80%, such as at least 90%, such as at least 95%, such as at least 96%, such as at least 97%, such as at least 98%, such as at least 99% or even 100% identity to any of the proteases of SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:7, SEQ ID NO:8, SEQ ID NO:9 SEQ ID NO:10, SEQ ID NO:11 , SEQ ID NO:13, SEQ ID NO:14, SEQ ID NO:15, SEQ ID NO:16, and SEQ ID NO:17.

In one embodiment, the first protease is the protease of SEQ ID NO:1, and the one or more additional proteases are selected from the group consisting of proteases of SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:7, SEQ ID NO:8, SEQ ID NO:9 SEQ ID NQ:10, SEQ ID NO:11, SEQ ID NO:12, SEQ ID NO:13, SEQ ID NO:14, SEQ ID NO:15, SEQ ID NO:16, and SEQ ID NO:17. In a preferred embodiment, the first protease is the protease of SEQ ID NO:1 , and the one or more additional proteases are selected from the group consisting of proteases of SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:7, SEQ ID NO:8, SEQ ID NO:9 SEQ ID NQ:10, SEQ ID NO:11, SEQ ID NO:13, SEQ ID NO:14, SEQ ID NO:15, SEQ ID NO:16, and SEQ ID NO:17

In particular the following combinations of proteases comprising SEQ ID NO:1 are con- templated:

SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID NO:7, SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID NO:8, SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID NO:9, SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID NQ:10, SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID NO:11, SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID NO:12, SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID NO:13, SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID NO:14, SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID NO:15, SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID NO:16, SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID NO:17, SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID NO:2 + SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID NO:2 + SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID NO:2 + SEQ ID N0:7, SEQ ID N0:1 + SEQ ID

N0:2 + SEQ ID N0:8, SEQ ID N0:1 + SEQ ID N0:2 + SEQ ID NO: 9, SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID

NO:3 + SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID NO:3 + SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID

NO:3 + SEQ ID NO:7, SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID NO:3 + SEQ ID NO:8, SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID

NO:3 + SEQ ID NO:9, SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID NO:4 + SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID

NO:4 + SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID NO:4 + SEQ ID NO:7, SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID

NO:4 + SEQ ID NO:8, SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID NO:4 + SEQ ID NO:9, SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID

NO:5 + SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID NO:5 + SEQ ID NO:7, SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID

NO:5 + SEQ ID NO:8, SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID NO:5 + SEQ ID NO:9, SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID

NO:6 + SEQ ID NO:9, SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID NO:7 + SEQ ID NO:9, SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID

NO:8 + SEQ ID NO:9, SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID NQ:10 + SEQ ID NO:12, SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID NQ:10 + SEQ ID NO:13, SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID NQ:10 + SEQ ID NO:14, SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID NQ:10 + SEQ ID NO:15, SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID NQ:10 + SEQ ID NO:16, SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID NQ:10 + SEQ ID NO:17, SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID NO:11 + SEQ ID NO:12, SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID NO:11 + SEQ ID NO:13, SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID NO:11 + SEQ ID NO:14, SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID NO:11 + SEQ ID NO:15, SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID NO:11 + SEQ ID NO:16, SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID NO:11 + SEQ ID NO:17, SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID NO:12 + SEQ ID NO:16, SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID NO:12 + SEQ ID NO:17, SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID NO:13 + SEQ ID NO:16, SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID NO:13 + SEQ ID NO:17, SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID NO:14 + SEQ ID NO:16, SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID NO:14 + SEQ ID NO:17, SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID NO:15 + SEQ ID NO:16, SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID NO:15 + SEQ ID NO:17, SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID NO:16 + SEQ ID NO:17.

More particular the following combinations of proteases comprising SEQ ID NO:1 are con- templated:

SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID NO:7, SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID NO:8, SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID NO:9, SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID NQ:10, SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID NO:11 , SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID NO:13, SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID NO:14, SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID NO:15, SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID NO:16, SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID NO:17, SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID NO:2 + SEQ ID NO:7, SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID NO:2 + SEQ ID NO:8, SEQ ID

NO:1 + SEQ ID NO:2 + SEQ ID NO: 9, SEQ ID NO: 1 + SEQ ID NO:3 + SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID

NO:1 + SEQ ID NO:3 + SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID NO:3 + SEQ ID NO:7, SEQ ID

NO:1 + SEQ ID NO:3 + SEQ ID NO:8, SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID NO:3 + SEQ ID NO:9, SEQ ID

NO:1 + SEQ ID NO:4 + SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID NO:4 + SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID

NO:1 + SEQ ID NO:4 + SEQ ID NO:7, SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID NO:4 + SEQ ID NO:8, SEQ ID

NO:1 + SEQ ID NO:4 + SEQ ID NO:9, SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID NO:5 + SEQ ID NO:7, SEQ ID

NO:1 + SEQ ID NO:5 + SEQ ID NO:8, SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID NO:5 + SEQ ID NO:9, SEQ ID

NO:1 + SEQ ID NO:6 + SEQ ID NO:9, SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID NO:7 + SEQ ID NO:9, SEQ ID

NO:1 + SEQ ID NO:8 + SEQ ID NO:9, SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID NQ:10 + SEQ ID NO:12, SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID NQ:10 + SEQ ID NO:13, SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID NQ:10 + SEQ ID NO:14, SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID NO:10 + SEQ ID NO:15, SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID NO:10 + SEQ ID N0:16, SEQ ID N0:1 + SEQ ID NO:10 + SEQ ID N0:17, SEQ ID N0:1 + SEQ ID N0:11 + SEQ ID N0:12,

SEQ ID N0:1 + SEQ ID N0:11 + SEQ ID N0:13, SEQ ID N0:1 + SEQ ID N0:11 + SEQ ID N0:14,

SEQ ID N0:1 + SEQ ID N0:11 + SEQ ID N0:15, SEQ ID N0:1 + SEQ ID N0:11 + SEQ ID N0:16,

SEQ ID N0:1 + SEQ ID N0:11 + SEQ ID N0:17, SEQ ID N0:1 + SEQ ID N0:12 + SEQ ID N0:16,

SEQ ID N0:1 + SEQ ID N0:12 + SEQ ID N0:17, SEQ ID N0:1 + SEQ ID N0:13 + SEQ ID N0:16,

SEQ ID N0:1 + SEQ ID N0:13 + SEQ ID N0:17, SEQ ID N0:1 + SEQ ID N0:14 + SEQ ID N0:16,

SEQ ID N0:1 + SEQ ID N0:14 + SEQ ID N0:17, SEQ ID N0:1 + SEQ ID N0:15 + SEQ ID N0:16,

SEQ ID N0:1 + SEQ ID N0:15 + SEQ ID N0:17, SEQ ID N0:1 + SEQ ID N0:16 + SEQ ID N0:17.

Even more particular the combination of proteases comprises or consists of SEQ ID NO:1 and SEQ ID NO:3.

In one embodiment, the detergent composition provides improved stain removal of at least one, e.g., at least two, or three, stain type selected from the group consisting of cocoa stain, milk stain, and blood stain. Preferably, stain removal is improved at least 5%, e.g., 10%, 15%. 20%, 25%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, 100%, 150%, 200%, or more.

In a preferred embodiment, the detergent composition provides improved stain removal of cocoa stains, e.g., PC-03 stains.

In a preferred embodiment, the detergent composition provides improved stain removal of milk stains, e.g., PC-10 stains.

In a preferred embodiment, the detergent composition provides improved stain removal of blood stains, e.g., EMPA117EH stains.

In an embodiment, the proteases of the present invention may comprise one or more con- servative amino acid substitutions that do not alter their immunochemical properties. Examples of conservative substitutions are within the groups of basic amino acids (arginine, lysine and his- tidine), acidic amino acids (glutamic acid and aspartic acid), polar amino acids (glutamine and asparagine), hydrophobic amino acids (leucine, isoleucine and valine), aromatic amino acids (phenylalanine, tryptophan and tyrosine), and small amino acids (glycine, alanine, serine, threo- nine and methionine). Amino acid substitutions that do not generally alter specific activity are known in the art and are described, for example, by H. Neurath and R.L. Hill, 1979, In, The Proteins, Academic Press, New York. Common substitutions are Ala/Ser, Val/lle, Asp/Glu, Thr/Ser, Ala/Gly, Ala/Thr, Ser/Asn, Ala/Val, Ser/Gly, Tyr/Phe, Ala/Pro, Lys/Arg, Asp/Asn, Leu/lle, Leu/Val, Ala/Glu, and Asp/Gly.

Alternatively, the amino acid changes are of such a nature that the physico-chemical prop- erties, but not the immunochemical properties of the polypeptides are altered. For example, amino acid changes may improve the thermal stability of the polypeptide, alter the substrate specificity, change the pH optimum, and the like.

Essential amino acids in a polypeptide can be identified according to procedures known in the art, such as site-directed mutagenesis or alanine-scanning mutagenesis (Cunningham and Wells, 1989, Science 244: 1081-1085). In the latter technique, single alanine mutations are intro- duced at every residue in the molecule, and the resultant mutant molecules are tested for enzyme activity to identify amino acid residues that are critical to the activity of the molecule. See also, Hilton etal., 1996, J. Biol. Chem. 271 : 4699-4708. The active site of the enzyme or other biological interaction can also be determined by physical analysis of structure, as determined by such tech- niques as nuclear magnetic resonance, crystallography, electron diffraction, or photoaffinity label- ling, in conjunction with mutation of putative contact site amino acids. See, for example, de Vos etal., 1992, Science 255: 306-312; Smith et al., 1992, J. Mol. Biol. 224: 899-904; Wlodaver et al., 1992, FEBS Lett. 309: 59-64. The identity of essential amino acids can also be inferred from an alignment with a related polypeptide.

Single or multiple amino acid substitutions, deletions, and/or insertions can be made and tested using known methods of mutagenesis, recombination, and/or shuffling, followed by a rele- vant screening procedure, such as those disclosed by Reidhaar-Olson and Sauer, 1988, Science 241 : 53-57; Bowie and Sauer, 1989, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 86: 2152-2156; WO 95/17413; or WO 95/22625. Other methods that can be used include error-prone PCR, phage display (e.g., Lowman et al., 1991, Biochemistry 30: 10832-10837; U.S. Patent No. 5,223,409; WO 92/06204), and region-directed mutagenesis (Derbyshire et al., 1986, Gene 46: 145; Ner et al., 1988, DNA 7: 127).

Mutagenesis/shuffling methods can be combined with high-throughput, automated screening methods to detect activity of cloned, mutagenized polypeptides expressed by host cells (Ness et al., 1999, Nature Biotechnology 17 : 893-896). Mutagenized DNA molecules that encode active polypeptides can be recovered from the host cells and rapidly sequenced using standard methods in the art. These methods allow the rapid determination of the importance of individual amino acid residues in a polypeptide.

The polypeptide may be a hybrid polypeptide in which a region of one polypeptide is fused at the N-terminus or the C-terminus of a region of another polypeptide.

The polypeptide may be a fusion polypeptide or cleavable fusion polypeptide in which another polypeptide is fused at the N-terminus or the C-terminus of the polypeptide of the present invention. A fusion polypeptide is produced by fusing a polynucleotide encoding another polypep- tide to a polynucleotide of the present invention. Techniques for producing fusion polypeptides are known in the art and include ligating the coding sequences encoding the polypeptides so that they are in frame and that expression of the fusion polypeptide is under control of the same pro- moters) and terminator. Fusion polypeptides may also be constructed using intein technology in which fusion polypeptides are created post-translationally (Cooper et al., 1993, EMBO J. 12: 2575-2583; Dawson et al., 1994, Science 266: 776-779).

A fusion polypeptide can further comprise a cleavage site between the two polypeptides. Upon secretion of the fusion protein, the site is cleaved releasing the two polypeptides. Examples of cleavage sites include, but are not limited to, the sites disclosed in Martin et al., 2003, J. Ind. Microbiol. Biotechnol. 3: 568-576; Svetina et al., 2000, J. Biotechnol. 76: 245-251 ; Rasmussen- Wilson et al., 1997, Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 63: 3488-3493; Ward et al., 1995, Biotechnology 13: 498-503; and Contreras et al., 1991 , Biotechnology 9: 378-381 ; Eaton et al., 1986, Biochemistry 25: 505-512; Collins-Racie et al., 1995, Biotechnology 13: 982-987; Carter et al., 1989, Proteins: Structure, Function, and Genetics 6 240-248; and Stevens, 2003, Drug Discovery World 4: 35- 48.

General methods of PCR, cloning, ligation nucleotides etc. are well-known to a person skilled in the art and may for example be found in in “Molecular cloning: A laboratory manual”, Sambrook et al. (1989), Cold Spring Harbor lab., Cold Spring Harbor, NY; Ausubel, F. M. et al. (eds.); “Current protocols in Molecular Biology”, John Wiley and Sons, (1995); Harwood, C. R., and Cutting, S. M. (eds.); “DNA Cloning: A Practical Approach, Volumes I and II”, D.N. Glover ed. (1985); “Oligonucleotide Synthesis”, M.J. Gait ed. (1984); “Nucleic Acid Hybridization”, B.D. Hames & S.J. Higgins eds (1985); “A Practical Guide To Molecular Cloning”, B. Perbal, (1984). The total concentration of the proteases in the wash liquor is typically from about 0.2 ppm to 20 ppm in solution. The water temperatures typically range from about 5°C to about 95°C, including about 10°C, about 15°C, about 20°C, about 25°C, about 30°C, about 35°C, about 40°C, about 45°C, about 50°C, about 55°C, about 60°C, about 65°C, about 70°C, about 75°C, about 80°C, about 85°C and about 90°C. The water to fabric ratio is typically from about 1 : 1 to about 30: 1 .

The proteases of the detergent composition of the invention may be stabilized using conven- tional stabilizing agents, e.g. a polyol such as propylene glycol or glycerol, a sugar or sugar alcohol, lactic acid, boric acid, or a boric acid derivative, e.g. an aromatic borate ester, or a phenyl boronic acid derivative such as 4-formylphenyl boronic acid, and the composition may be formulated as de- scribed in, for example, WO92/19709 and WO92/19708.

A polypeptide of the present invention may also be incorporated in the detergent formulations disclosed in W097/07202, which is hereby incorporated by reference.

Liquid enzyme formulations

The enzymes (protease, lipase and other enzymes present) may be formulated as a liquid enzyme formulation, which is generally a pourable composition, though it may also have a high viscosity. The physical appearance and properties of a liquid enzyme formulation may vary a lot - for example, they may have different viscosities (gel to water-like), be colored, not colored, clear, hazy, and even with solid particles like in slurries and suspensions. The minimum ingredients are the enzymes (protease, lipase and other enzymes present) and a solvent system to make it a liquid.

The solvent system may comprise water, polyols (such as glycerol, (mono, di, or tri) pro- pylene glycol, (mono, di, or tri) ethylene glycol, sugar alcohol (e.g. sorbitol, mannitol, erythritol, dulcitol, inositol, xylitol or adonitol), polypropylene glycol, and/or polyethylene glycol), ethanol, sugars, and salts. Usually the solvent system also includes a preservation agent and/or other stabilizing agents.

A liquid enzyme formulation may be prepared by mixing a solvent system and an enzyme concentrate with a desired degree of purity (or enzyme particles to obtain a slurry/suspension).

In an embodiment, the liquid enzyme composition comprises:

(a) at least 0.01% w/w active enzyme protein,

(b) at least 0.5% w/w polyol,

(c) water, and

(d) optionally a preservation agent.

The enzymes (proteases and optionally other enzymes present) in the liquid composition of the invention may be stabilized using conventional stabilizing agents. Examples of stabilizing agents include, but are not limited to, sugars like glucose, fructose, sucrose, or trehalose; polyols like glycerol, propylene glycol; addition of salt to increase the ionic strength; divalent cations (e.g., Ca ²⁺ or Mg ²⁺ ); and enzyme inhibitors, enzyme substrates, or various polymers (e.g., PVP). Se- lecting the optimal pH for the formulation may be very important for enzyme stability. The optimal pH depends on the specific enzyme but is typically in the range of pH 4-9. In some cases, surfac- tants like nonionic surfactant (e.g., alcohol ethoxylates) can improve the physical stability of the enzyme formulations.

One embodiment of the invention relates to a composition comprising a proteases, wherein the composition further comprises:

(i) a polyol, preferably selected from glycerol, (mono, di, or tri) propylene glycol, (mono, di, or tri) ethylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, sugar alcohols, sorbitol, mannitol, erythritol, dulcitol, inositol, xylitol and adonitol;

(ii) optionally an additional enzyme, preferably selected from proteases, amylases, cellulases, lipases, DNases, and/or mannanases;

(iii) optionally a surfactant, preferably selected from anionic and nonionic surfactants,

(iv) optionally a salt, divalent cation, polymer, or enzyme inhibitor;

(v) optionally having a pH in the range of pH 4-9; and

(vi) water.

Slurries or dispersions of enzymes are typically prepared by dispersing small particles of enzymes (e.g., spray-dried particles) in a liquid medium in which the enzyme is sparingly soluble, e.g., a liquid nonionic surfactant or a liquid polyethylene glycol. Powder can also be added to aqueous systems in an amount so not all go into solution (above the solubility limit). Another format is crystal suspensions which can also be aqueous liquids (see for example WO2019/002356). Another way to prepare such dispersion is by preparing water-in-oil emulsions, where the enzyme is in the water phase, and evaporate the water from the droplets. Such slurries/suspension can be physically stabilized (to reduce or avoid sedimentation) by addition of rheology modifiers, such as fumed silica or xanthan gum, typically to get a shear thinning rheology.

Granular enzyme formulations

The enzymes (proteases and optionally other enzymes present) may also be formulated as a solid/granular enzyme formulation. Non-dusting granulates may be produced, e.g. as dis- closed in US 4,106,991 and US 4,661 ,452, and may optionally be coated by methods known in the art. Examples of waxy coating materials are polyethylene oxide) products (polyethylenegly- col, PEG) with mean molar weights of 1000 to 20000; ethoxylated nonylphenols having from 16 to 50 ethylene oxide units; ethoxylated fatty alcohols in which the alcohol contains from 12 to 20 carbon atoms and in which there are 15 to 80 ethylene oxide units; fatty alcohols; fatty acids; and mono- and di- and triglycerides of fatty acids. Examples of film-forming coating materials suitable for application by fluid bed techniques are given in GB 1483591.

The proteases may be formulated as a granule for example as a co-granule that combines one or more enzymes or benefit agents (such as MnTACN or other bleaching components). Ex- amples of such additional enzymes include lipases, xyloglucanases, perhydrolases, peroxidases, proteases, laccases, hemicellulases, care cellulases, cellulases, cellobiose dehydrogenases, xy- lanases, phospho lipases, esterases, cutinases, pectinases, mannanases, pectate lyases, keratinases, reductases, oxidases, phenoloxidases, ligninases, pullulanases, tannases, pento- sanases, lichenases glucanases, arabinosidases, hyaluronidase, chondroitinase, amylases, DNAse, and mixtures thereof. Each enzyme will then be present in more granules securing a more uniform distribution of enzymes in the detergent. This also reduces the physical segregation of different enzymes due to different particle sizes. Methods for producing multi-enzyme co-gran- ulate for the detergent industry are disclosed in the IP.com disclosure IPCGM000200739D.

An embodiment of the invention relates to an enzyme granule/particle comprising a pro- teases. The granule is composed of a core, and optionally one or more coatings (outer layers) surrounding the core. Typically, the granule/particle size, measured as equivalent spherical diam- eter (volume based average particle size), of the granule is 20-2000 pm, particularly 50-1500 pm, 100-1500 pm or 250-1200 pm.

The core may include additional materials such as fillers, fibre materials (cellulose or syn- thetic fibers), stabilizing agents, solubilising agents, suspension agents, viscosity regulating agents, light spheres, plasticizers, salts, lubricants and fragrances. The core may include binders, such as synthetic polymer, wax, fat, or carbohydrate. The core may comprise a salt of a multiva- lent cation, a reducing agent, an antioxidant, a peroxide decomposing catalyst and/or an acidic buffer component, typically as a homogenous blend. The core may consist of an inert particle with the enzyme absorbed into it, or applied onto the surface, e.g., by fluid bed coating. The core may have a diameter of 20-2000 pm, particularly 50-1500 pm, 100-1500 pm or 250-1200 pm. The core can be prepared by granulating a blend of the ingredients, e.g., by a method comprising granula- tion techniques such as crystallization, precipitation, pan-coating, fluid bed coating, fluid bed ag- glomeration, rotary atomization, extrusion, prilling, spheronization, size reduction methods, drum granulation, and/or high shear granulation. Methods for preparing the core can be found in Hand- book of Powder Technology; Particle size enlargement by C. E. Capes; Volume 1; 1980; Elsevier. These methods are well-known in the art and have also been described in international patent application WO2015/028567, pages 3-5, which is incorporated by reference.

The core of the enzyme granule/particle may be surrounded by at least one coating, e.g., to improve the storage stability, to reduce dust formation during handling, or for coloring the gran- ule. The optional coating(s) may include a salt coating, or other suitable coating materials, such as polyethylene glycol (PEG), methyl hydroxy-propyl cellulose (MHPC) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). Examples of enzyme granules with multiple coatings are shown in WO 93/07263 and WO 97/23606.

Such coatings are well-known in the art, and have earlier been described in, for example, WO00/01793, W02001/025412, and WO2015/028567, which are incorporated by reference.

In one aspect, the present invention provides a granule, which comprises:

(a) a core comprising a protease according to the invention; and

(b) optionally a (salt) coating consisting of one or more layer(s) surrounding the core.

Another aspect of the invention relates to a layered granule, comprising:

(a) a (non-enzymatic) core;

(b) a coating surrounding the core, wherein the coating comprises a protease; and

(c) optionally a (salt) coating consisting of one or more layer(s) surrounding the enzyme containing coating.

Encapsulated enzyme formulations

The enzymes (proteases and optionally other enzymes present) may also be formulated as an encapsulated enzyme formulation (an ‘encapsulate’). This is particularly useful for separat- ing the enzyme from other ingredients when the enzyme is added into, for example, a (liquid) cleaning composition, such as the detergent compositions described below. Physical separation can be used to solve incompatibility between the enzyme(s) and other components. Incompatibility can arise if the other components are either reactive against the en- zyme, or if the other components are substrates of the enzyme. Other enzymes can be substrates of proteases.

The enzyme may be encapsulated in a matrix, preferably a water-soluble or water dis- persible matrix (e.g., water-soluble polymer particles), for example as described in WO 2016/023685. An example of a water-soluble polymeric matrix is a matrix composition comprising polyvinyl alcohol. Such compositions are also used for encapsulating detergent compositions in unit-dose formats.

The enzyme may also be encapsulated in core-shell microcapsules, for example as de- scribed in WO 2015/144784, or as described in the IP.com disclosure IPCOM000239419D.

Such core-shell capsules can be prepared using a number of technologies known in the art, e.g., by interfacial polymerization using either a water-in-oil or an oil-in-water emulsion, where polymers are crosslinked at the surface of the droplets in the emulsion (the interface between water and oil), thus forming a wall/membrane around each droplet/capsule.

Formulation of enzyme in co-granule

The enzymes (proteases and optionally other enzymes present) may be formulated as a granule for example as a co-granule that combines one or more enzymes. Each enzyme will then be present in more granules securing a more uniform distribution of enzymes in the detergent. This also reduces the physical segregation of different enzymes due to different particle sizes. Methods for producing multi-enzyme co-granulates for the detergent industry are disclosed in the IP.com dis- closure IPCOM000200739D.

Another example of formulation of enzymes by the use of co-granulates are disclosed in WO 2013/188331, which relates to a detergent composition comprising (a) a multi-enzyme co- granule; (b) less than 10 wt% zeolite (anhydrous basis); and (c) less than 10 wt% phosphate salt (anhydrous basis), wherein said enzyme co-granule comprises from 10 wt% to 98 wt% moisture sink component and the composition additionally comprises from 20 wt% to 80 wt% detergent moisture sink compo- nent.

WO 2013/188331 also relates to a method of treating and/or cleaning a surface, preferably a fabric surface comprising the steps of (i) contacting said surface with the detergent composition as claimed and described herein in an aqueous wash liquor, (ii) rinsing and/or drying the surface.

The multi-enzyme co-granule may comprise a proteases and (a) one or more enzymes se- lected from the group consisting of lipases, xyloglucanases, perhydrolases, peroxidases, proteases, laccases and mixtures thereof; and (b) one or more enzymes selected from the group consisting of hemicellulases, care cellulases, cellulases, cellobiose dehydrogenases, xylanases, phospho li- pases, esterases, cutinases, pectinases, mannanases, pectate lyases, keratinases, reductases, ox- idases, phenoloxidases, ligninases, pullulanases, tannases, pentosanases, lichenases glucanases, arabinosidases, hyaluronidase, chondroitinase, amylases, DNAse, and mixtures thereof.

Purity of enzyme in formulations

The enzymes (proteases and optionally other enzymes present) used in the above-men- tioned enzyme formulations may be purified to any desired degree of purity. This includes high levels of purification, as achieved for example by using methods of crystallization - but also none or low levels of purification, as achieved for example by using crude fermentation broth, as de- scribed in WO 2001/025411 , or in WO 2009/152176.

Microorganisms

The enzyme formulations, as well as the detergent formulations described below, may comprise one or more microorganisms or microbes. Generally, any microorganism(s) may be used in the enzyme/detergent formulations in any suitable amount(s)/concentration(s). Microor- ganisms may be used as the only biologically active ingredient, but they may also be used in conjunction with one or more of the enzymes described above.

The purpose of adding the microorganism(s) may, for example, be to reduce malodor as described in WO 2012/112718. Other purposes could include in-situ production of desirable bio- logical compounds, or inoculation/population of a locus with the microorganism(s) to competitively prevent other non-desirable microorganisms form populating the same locus (competitive exclu- sion).

The term “microorganism” generally means small organisms that are visible through a microscope. Microorganisms often exist as single cells or as colonies of cells. Some microorgan- isms may be multicellular. Microorganisms include prokaryotic (e.g., bacteria and archaea) and eukaryotic (e.g., some fungi, algae, protozoa) organisms. Examples of bacteria may be Gram- positive bacteria or Gram-negative bacteria. Example forms of bacteria include vegetative cells and endospores. Examples of fungi may be yeasts, molds and mushrooms. Example forms of fungi include hyphae and spores. Herein, viruses may be considered microorganisms.

Microorganisms may be recombinant or non-recombinant. In some examples, the micro- organisms may produce various substances (e.g., enzymes) that are useful for inclusion in deter- gent compositions. Extracts from microorganisms or fractions from the extracts may be used in the detergents. Media in which microorganisms are cultivated or extracts or fractions from the media may also be used in detergents. In some examples, specific of the microorganisms, sub- stances produced by the microorganisms, extracts, media, and fractions thereof, may be specifi- cally excluded from the detergents. In some examples, the microorganisms, or substances pro- duced by, or extracted from, the microorganisms, may activate, enhance, preserve, prolong, and the like, detergent activity or components contained with detergents.

Generally, microorganisms may be cultivated using methods known in the art. The micro- organisms may then be processed or formulated in various ways. In some examples, the microorganisms may be desiccated (e.g., lyophilized). In some examples, the microorganisms may be encapsulated (e.g., spray drying). Many other treatments or formulations are possible. These treatments or preparations may facilitate retention of microorganism viability over time and/or in the presence of detergent components. In some examples, however, microorganisms in detergents may not be viable. The processed/formulated microorganisms may be added to detergents prior to, or at the time the detergents are used.

In one embodiment, the microorganism is a species of Bacillus, for example, at least one species of Bacillus selected from the group consisting of Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus amyloliquefa- ciens, Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus atrophaeus, Bacillus pumilus, Bacillus megaterium, or a combination thereof. In a preferred embodiment, the aforementioned Bacillus species are on an endospore form, which significantly improves the storage stability.

Detergent compositions

In one embodiment, the invention is directed to detergent compositions comprising at least two proteases in combination with one or more additional cleaning composition components. In one embodiment, the detergent composition comprises at least two polypeptides having protease ac- tivity with an amino acid sequence having at least 60% identity, such as 70%, 80%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% or even 100% identity to the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:1 to SEQ ID NO:17 In one embodiment the detergent composition is in solid form. In another em- bodiment, the detergent composition is in a liquid or gel form. In another embodiment a bar form. In one embodiment the detergent may be wrapped in water soluble PVOH film. The choice of additional components is within the skill of the artisan and includes conventional ingredients, includ- ing the exemplary non-limiting components set forth below.

The liquid detergent composition may comprise a microcapsule, and thus form part of any detergent composition in any form, such as liquid and powder detergents, and soap and detergent bars.

In one embodiment, the invention is directed to liquid detergent compositions comprising a microcapsule, as described above, in combination with one or more additional cleaning composition components.

The microcapsule, as described above, may be added to the liquid detergent composition in an amount corresponding to from 0.1% to 5% (w/w) active enzyme protein; preferably from 0. 1% to 4%, such as from 0.1% to 3%, such as from 0.1% to 2.5%, such as from 0.1% to 2%, such as from 0.1% to 1.5%, such as from 0.1% to 1%, and most preferably from 0.01% to 1% (w/w) active enzyme protein.

The liquid detergent composition has a physical form, which is not solid (or gas). It may be a pourable liquid, a paste, a pourable gel or a non-pourable gel. It may be either isotropic or structured, preferably isotropic. It may be a formulation useful for washing in automatic washing machines or for hand washing. It may also be a personal care product, such as a shampoo, toothpaste, or a hand soap.

The liquid detergent composition may be aqueous, typically containing at least 20% by weight and up to 95% water, such as up to 70% water, up to 50% water, up to 40% water, up to 30% water, or up to 20% water. Other types of liquids, including without limitation, alkanols, amines, diols, ethers and polyols may be included in an aqueous liquid detergent. An aqueous liquid detergent may con- tain from 0-30% organic solvent. A liquid detergent may even be non-aqueous, wherein the water content is below 10%, preferably below 5%.

Detergent ingredients can be separated physically from each other by compartments in water dissolvable pouches. Thereby negative storage interaction between components can be avoided. Different dissolution profiles of each of the compartments can also give rise to delayed dissolution of selected components in the wash solution.

The detergent composition may take the form of a unit dose product. A unit dose product is the packaging of a single dose in a non-reusable container. It is increasingly used in detergents for laundry. A detergent unit dose product is the packaging (e.g., in a pouch made from a water-soluble film) of the amount of detergent used for a single wash.

Pouches can be of any form, shape and material which is suitable for holding the composi- tion, e.g., without allowing the release of the composition from the pouch prior to water contact. The pouch is made from water soluble film which encloses an inner volume. Said inner volume can be divided into compartments of the pouch. Preferred films are polymeric materials preferably polymers which are formed into a film or sheet. Preferred polymers, copolymers or derivates thereof are se- lected polyacrylates, and water-soluble acrylate copolymers, methyl cellulose, carboxy methyl cellu- lose, sodium dextrin, ethyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose, malto- dextrin, polymethacrylates, most preferably polyvinyl alcohol copolymers and, hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC). Preferably the level of polymer in the film for example PVA is at least about 60%. Preferred average molecular weight will typically be about 20,000 to about 150,000. Films can also be a blend composition comprising hydrolytically degradable and water-soluble polymer blends such as polyactide and polyvinyl alcohol (known under the Trade reference M8630 as sold by Chris Craft In. Prod. Of Gary, Ind., US) plus plasticizers like glycerol, ethylene glycerol, Propylene glycol, sorbitol and mixtures thereof. The pouches can comprise a solid laundry cleaning composition or part com- ponents and/or a liquid cleaning composition or part components separated by the water-soluble film. The compartment for liquid components can be different in composition than compartments containing solids (see e.g., US 2009/0011970).

Detergent ingredients

The choice of detergent components may include, for textile care, the consideration of the type of textile to be cleaned, the type and/or degree of soiling, the temperature at which cleaning is to take place, and the formulation of the detergent product. Although components mentioned below are categorized by general header according to a particular functionality, this is not to be construed as a limitation, as a component may comprise additional functionalities as will be appreciated by the skilled artisan.

Any detergent components known in the art for use in detergents may also be utilized. Other optional detergent components include anti-corrosion agents, anti-shrink agents, anti-soil redepo- sition agents, anti-wrinkling agents, bactericides, binders, corrosion inhibitors, disintegrants/dis- integration agents, dyes, enzyme stabilizers (including boric acid, borates, and/or polyols such as propylene glycol), fabric conditioners including clays, fillers/processing aids, fluorescent whitening agents/optical brighteners, foam boosters, foam (suds) regulators, perfumes, soil-suspending agents, softeners, suds suppressors, tarnish inhibitors, and wicking agents, either alone or in combination. Any ingredient known in the art for use in detergents may be utilized. The choice of such ingredients is well within the skill of the artisan and includes conventional ingredients, includ- ing the exemplary non-limiting components set forth below.

Surfactants

The cleaning composition may comprise one or more surfactants, which may be anionic and/or cationic and/or non-ionic and/or semi-polar and/or zwitterionic, or a mixture thereof. In a par- ticular embodiment, the detergent composition includes a surfactant system (comprising more than one surfactant) e.g. a mixture of one or more nonionic surfactants and one or more anionic surfac- tants. In one embodiment the detergent comprises at least one anionic surfactant and at least one non-ionic surfactant, the weight ratio of anionic to nonionic surfactant may be from 20: 1 to 1 :20. In one embodiment the amount of anionic surfactant is higher than the amount of non-ionic surfactant e.g. the weight ratio of anionic to non-ionic surfactant may be from 10:1 to 1.1 :1 or from 5:1 to 1.5:1. The amount of anionic to non-ionic surfactant may also be equal and the weight ratios 1 :1. In one embodiment the amount of non-ionic surfactant is higher than the amount of anionic surfactant and the weight ratio may be 1 : 10 to 1 : 1 .1 . Preferably the weight ratio of anionic to non-ionic surfactant is from 10:1 to 1 :10, such as from 5:1 to 1 :5, or from 5:1 to 1:1.2. Preferably, the weight fraction of non- ionic surfactant to anionic surfactant is from 0 to 0.5 or 0 to 0.2 thus non-ionic surfactant can be present or absent if the weight fraction is 0, but if non-ionic surfactant is present, then the weight fraction of the nonionic surfactant is preferably at most 50% or at most 20% of the total weight of anionic surfactant and non-ionic surfactant. Light duty detergent usually comprises more nonionic than anionic surfactant and there the fraction of non-ionic surfactant to anionic surfactant is preferably from 0.5 to 0.9. The total weight of surfactant(s) is typically present at a level of from about 0.1 % to about 60% by weight, such as about 1% to about 40%, or about 3% to about 20%, or about 3% to about 10%. The surfactant(s) is chosen based on the desired cleaning application, and may include any conventional surfactant(s) known in the art. When included therein the detergent will usually contain from about 1% to about 40% by weight of an anionic surfactant, such as from about 5% to about 30%, including from about 5% to about 15%, or from about 15% to about 20%, or from about 20% to about 25% of an anionic surfactant. Non-limiting examples of anionic surfactants include sulfates and sulfonates, typically available as sodium or potassium salts or salts of monoethanola- mine (MEA, 2-aminoethan-1-ol) or triethanolamine (TEA, 2,2',2"-nitrilotriethan-1-ol); in particular, lin- ear alkylbenzenesulfonates (U\S), isomers of l_AS such as branched alkylbenzenesulfonates (BABS) and phenylalkanesulfonates; olefin sulfonates, in particular alpha-olefinsulfonates (AOS); alkyl sulfates (AS), in particular fatty alcohol sulfates (FAS), i.e., primary alcohol sulfates (PAS) such as dodecyl sulfate (SLS); alcohol ethersulfates (AES or AEOS or FES, also known as alcohol eth- oxysulfates or fatty alcohol ether sulfates); paraffin sulfonates (PS) including alkane-1 -sulfonates and secondary alkanesulfonates (SAS); ester sulfonates, including sulfonated fatty acid glycerol esters and alpha-sulfo fatty acid methyl esters (alpha-SFMe or SES or MES); alkyl- or alkenylsuccinic acids such as dodecenyl/tetradecenyl succinic acid (DTSA); diesters and monoesters of sulfosuccinic acid; fatty acid derivatives of amino acids. Anionic surfactants may be added as acids, as salts or as ethanolamine derivatives.

When included therein the detergent will usually contain from about 0,1% to about 40% by weight of a cationic surfactant, for example from about 0.5% to about 30%, in particular from about 1% to about 20%, from about 3% to about 10%, such as from about 3% to about 5%, from about 8% to about 12% or from about 10% to about 12%. Non-limiting examples of cationic surfactants include alkyldimethylethanolamine quat (ADMEAQ), cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), dimethyl- distearylammonium chloride (DSDMAC), and alkylbenzyldimethylammonium, alkyl quaternary am- monium compounds, alkoxylated quaternary ammonium (AQA) compounds, ester quats, and com- binations thereof.

When included therein the detergent will usually contain from about 0.2% to about 40% by weight of a nonionic surfactant, for example from about 0.5% to about 30%, in particular from about 1% to about 20%, from about 3% to about 10%, such as from about 3% to about 5%, from about 8% to about 12%, or from about 10% to about 12%. Non-limiting examples of nonionic surfactants in- clude alcohol ethoxylates (AE or AEO) e.g. the AEO-series such as AEO-7, alcohol propoxylates, in particular propoxylated fatty alcohols (PFA), ethoxylated and propoxylated alcohols, alkoxylated fatty acid alkyl esters, such as ethoxylated and/or propoxylated fatty acid alkyl esters (in particular methyl ester ethoxylates, MEE), alkylpolyglycosides (APG), alkoxylated amines, fatty acid monoethanola- mides (FAM), fatty acid diethanolamides (FADA), ethoxylated fatty acid monoethanolamides (EFAM), propoxylated fatty acid monoethanolamides (PFAM), polyhydroxyalkyl fatty acid amides, or N-acyl N-alkyl derivatives of glucosamine (glucamides, GA, or fatty acid glucamides, FAGA), as well as products available under the trade names SPAN and TWEEN, and combinations thereof.

When included therein the detergent will usually contain from about 0.01 to about 10 % by weight of a semipolar surfactant. Non-limiting examples of semipolar surfactants include amine ox- ides (AO) such as alkyldimethylamine oxides, in particular N-(coco alkyl)-N,N-dimethylamine oxide and N-(tallow-alkyl)-N,N-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)amine oxide, and combinations thereof. When included therein the detergent will usually contain from about 0.01 % to about 10 % by weight of a zwitterionic surfactant. Non-limiting examples of zwitterionic surfactants include betaines such as alkyldimethylbetaines, sulfobetaines, and combinations thereof.

Additional bio-based surfactants may be used e.g. wherein the surfactant is a sugar-based non-ionic surfactant which may be a hexyl-p-D-maltopyranoside, thiomaltopyranoside or a cyclic- maltopyranoside, such as described in EP2516606 B1.

Other biosurfactants may include rhamnolipids and sophorolipids.

Hydrotropes

A hydrotrope is a compound that solubilises hydrophobic compounds in aqueous solutions (or oppositely, polar substances in a non-polar environment). Typically, hydrotropes have both hydrophilic and a hydrophobic character (so-called amphiphilic properties as known from surfac- tants); however, the molecular structure of hydrotropes generally do not favor spontaneous self- aggregation, see e.g. review by Hodgdon and Kaier (2007), Current Opinion in Colloid & Interface Science 12: 121-128. Hydrotropes do not display a critical concentration above which self-aggre- gation occurs as found for surfactants and lipids forming miceller, lamellar or other well defined meso-phases. Instead, many hydrotropes show a continuous-type aggregation process where the sizes of aggregates grow as concentration increases. However, many hydrotropes alter the phase behavior, stability, and colloidal properties of systems containing substances of polar and non-polar character, including mixtures of water, oil, surfactants, and polymers. Hydrotropes are classically used across industries from pharma, personal care, food, to technical applications. Use of hydrotropes in detergent compositions allow for example more concentrated formulations of surfactants (as in the process of compacting liquid detergents by removing water) without in- ducing undesired phenomena such as phase separation or high viscosity.

The detergent may contain 0-10% by weight, for example 0-5% by weight, such as about 0.5 to about 5%, or about 3% to about 5%, of a hydrotrope. Any hydrotrope known in the art for use in detergents may be utilized. Non-limiting examples of hydrotropes include sodium benzene- sulfonate, sodium p-toluene sulfonate (STS), sodium xylene sulfonate (SXS), sodium cumene sul- fonate (SCS), sodium cymene sulfonate, amine oxides, alcohols and polyglycolethers, sodium hy- droxynaphthoate, sodium hydroxynaphthalene sulfonate, sodium ethylhexyl sulfate, and combi- nations thereof.

Builders and Co-Builders

The detergent composition may contain about 0-65% by weight, such as about 5% to about 50% of a detergent builder or co-builder, or a mixture thereof. The builder and/or co-builder may particularly be a chelating agent that forms water-soluble complexes with Ca and Mg. Any builder and/or co-builder known in the art for use in cleaning detergents may be utilized.

Non-limiting examples of builders include zeolites, diphosphates (pyrophosphates), triphos- phates such as sodium triphosphate (STP or STPP), carbonates such as sodium carbonate, soluble silicates such as sodium metasilicate, layered silicates (e g., SKS-6 from Clariant), ethanolamines such as 2-aminoethan-1-ol (MEA), diethanolamine (DEA, also known as 2,2'-iminodiethan-1-ol), tri- ethanolamine (TEA, also known as 2,2',2"-nitrilotriethan-1-ol), and (carboxymethyl)inulin (CMI), and combinations thereof.

The detergent composition may also contain from about 0-50% by weight, such as about 5% to about 30%, of a detergent co-builder. The detergent composition may include a co-builder alone, or in combination with a builder, for example a zeolite builder. Non-limiting examples of co-builders include or copolymers thereof, such as poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) or copoly(acrylic acid/maleic acid) (PAA/PMA). According to the present invention, these components can be included in lower levels than in currently available detergent compositions. Further non-limiting examples include citrate, chelators such as aminocarboxylates, aminopolycarboxylates and phosphonates, and alkyl- or alkenylsuccinic acid. Additional specific examples include 2, 2’, 2”-nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA), ethylene- diaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA), iminodisuccinic acid (IDS), ethylenediamine-N,N’-disuccinic acid (EDDS), methylglycinediacetic acid (MGDA), glutamic acid-N,N-diacetic acid (GLDA), 1-hydroxyethane-1 ,1-diylbis(phosphonic acid (HEDP), ethylenedia- minetetramethylenetetrakis(phosphonic acid) (EDTMPA),diethylenetriaminepentamethylene- pentakis(phosphonic acid) (DTMPA or DTPMPA), N-(2-hydroxyethyl)iminodiacetic acid (EDG), as- partic acid-N-monoacetic acid (ASMA), aspartic acid-N,N -di acetic acid (ASDA), aspartic acid-N- monopropionic acid (ASMP), iminodisuccinic acid (IDA), N-(2-sulfomethyl)aspartic acid (SMAS), N- (2-sulfoethyl)aspartic acid (SEAS), N-(2-sulfomethyl)glutamic acid (SMGL), N-(2-sulfoethyl)glutamic acid (SEGL), N-methyliminodiacetic acid (MIDA), a-alanine-N,N-diacetic acid (a-ALDA), serine-N,N- diacetic acid (SEDA), isoserine-N,N-diacetic acid (ISDA), phenylalanine-N,N-diacetic acid (PHDA), anthranilic acid-N,N-diacetic acid (ANDA), sulfanilic acid-N,N-diacetic acid (SLDA) , taurine-N,N-di- acetic acid (TUDA) and sulfomethyl-N,N-diacetic acid (SMDA), N-(2-hydroxyethyl)ethylenediamine- N,N’,N”-triacetic acid (HEDTA), diethanolglycine (DEG), aminotrimethylenetris(phosphonic acid) (ATMP), and combinations and salts thereof. Further exemplary builders and/or co-builders are de- scribed in, e.g., WO 09/102854 and US 5977053.

The cleaning composition may contain 0-50% by weight, such as 1-40%, such as 1-30%, such as about 1% to about 20%, of a bleaching system. Any oxygen-based bleaching system com- prising components known in the art for use in cleaning detergents may be utilized. Suitable bleach- ing system components include sources of hydrogen peroxide; peracids and sources of peracids (bleach activators); and bleach catalysts or boosters.

Sources of hydrogen peroxide: Suitable sources of hydrogen peroxide are inorganic persalts, including alkali metal salts such as sodium percarbonate and sodium perborates (usually mono- or tetrahydrate), and hydrogen peroxide— urea (1/1).

Sources of peracids: Peracids may be (a) incorporated directly as preformed peracids or (b) formed in situ in the wash liquor from hydrogen peroxide and a bleach activator (perhydrolysis) or (c) formed in situ in the wash liquor from hydrogen peroxide and a perhydrolase and a suitable sub- strate for the latter, e.g., an ester: a) Suitable preformed peracids include, but are not limited to, peroxycarboxylic acids such as peroxybenzoic acid and its ring-substituted derivatives, peroxy-a-naphthoic acid, peroxy- phthalic acid, peroxylauric acid, peroxystearic acid, E-phthalimidoperoxycaproic acid [phthalimidoperoxyhexanoic acid (PAP)], and o-carboxybenzamidoperoxycaproic acid; ali- phatic and aromatic diperoxydicarboxylic acids such as diperoxydodecanedioic acid, diper- oxyazelaic acid, diperoxysebacic acid, diperoxybrassylic acid, 2-decyldiperoxybutanedioic acid, and diperoxyphthalic, -isophthalic and -terephthalic acids; perimidic acids; peroxymo- nosulfuric acid; peroxydisulfuric acid; peroxyphosphoric acid; peroxysilicic acid; and mixtures of said compounds. It is understood that the peracids mentioned may in some cases be best added as suitable salts, such as alkali metal salts (e.g., Oxone®) or alkaline earth-metal salts. b) Suitable bleach activators include those belonging to the class of esters, amides, imides, nitriles or anhydrides and, where applicable, salts thereof. Suitable examples are tetraacety- lethylenediamine (TAED), sodium 4-[(3, 5, 5-trimethylhexanoyl)oxy]benzene-1 -sulfonate (ISONOBS), sodium 4-(dodecanoyloxy)benzene-1 -sulfonate (LOBS), sodium 4-(deca- noyloxy)benzene-1 -sulfonate, 4-(decanoyloxy)benzoic acid (DOBA), sodium 4-(nona- noyloxy)benzene-1 -sulfonate (NOBS), and/or those disclosed in WO98/17767. A particular family of bleach activators of interest was disclosed in EP624154 and particularly preferred in that family is acetyl triethyl citrate (ATC). ATC or a short chain triglyceride like triacetin has the advantage that they are environmentally friendly. Furthermore, acetyl triethyl citrate and triacetin have good hydrolytical stability in the product upon storage and are efficient bleach activators. Finally, ATC is multifunctional, as the citrate released in the perhydrolysis reaction may function as a builder.

Bleach catalysts and boosters

The bleaching system may also include a bleach catalyst or booster.

Some non-limiting examples of bleach catalysts that may be used in the compositions of the present invention include manganese oxalate, manganese acetate, manganese-collagen, co- balt-amine catalysts and manganese triazacyclononane (MnTACN) catalysts; particularly pre- ferred are complexes of manganese with 1 ,4,7-trimethyl-1 ,4,7-triazacyclononane (Me3-TACN) or 1 ,2,4,7-tetramethyl-1 ,4,7-triazacyclononane (Me4-TACN), in particular Me3-TACN, such as the dinuclear manganese complex [(Me3-TACN)Mn(O)3Mn(Me3-TACN)](PF6)2, and [2,2',2"-nitrilot- ris(ethane-1 ,2-diylazanylylidene-KN-methanylylidene)triphenolato-K3O]man ganese(lll). The bleach catalysts may also be other metal compounds, such as iron or cobalt complexes.

In some embodiments, where a source of a peracid is included, an organic bleach cata- lyst or bleach booster may be used having one of the following formulae:

(iii) and mixtures thereof; wherein each R1 is independently a branched alkyl group con- taining from 9 to 24 carbons or linear alkyl group containing from 11 to 24 carbons, preferably each R1 is independently a branched alkyl group containing from 9 to 18 carbons or inear alkyl group containing from 11 to 18 carbons, more preferably each R1 is independently selected from the group consisting of 2-propylheptyl, 2-butyloctyl, 2-pentylnonyl, 2-hexyldecyl, dodecyl, tetradecyl, hexadecyl, octadecyl, isononyl, isodecyl, isotridecyl and isopentadecyl.

Other exemplary bleaching systems are described, e.g. in W02007/087258, W02007/087244, W02007/087259, EP1867708 (Vitamin K) and W02007/087242. Suitable pho- tobleaches may for example be sulfonated zinc or aluminium phthalocyanines. and di

Generally, detergent compositions may contain 0-10% by weight, such as 0.5-5%, 2-5%, 0.5-2% or 0.2-1 % of a polymer. Any polymer known in the art for use in detergents may be utilized. The polymer may function as a co-builder as mentioned above, or may provide anti-redeposition, fiber protection, soil release, dye transfer inhibition, grease cleaning and/or anti-foaming proper- ties. Some polymers may have more than one of the above-mentioned properties and/or more than one of the below-mentioned motifs. Exemplary polymers include poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA), poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP), poly(ethyleneglycol) or polyethylene oxide) (PEG), ethoxylated poly(ethyleneimine), carboxymethyl inulin (CMI), and silicones, copolymers of terephthalic acid and oligomeric glycols, copolymers of polyethylene terephthalate) and poly(oxyethene terephthalate) (PET-POET), PVP, poly(vinylimidazole) (PVI), poly(vinylpyridine-A/-oxide) (PVPO or PVPNO) and polyvinylpyrrolidone-vinylimidazole (PVPVI). Further exemplary polymers include polyethylene oxide and polypropylene oxide (PEO-PPO), diquaternium ethoxy sulfate, styrene/acrylic copolymer and perfume capsules Other exemplary polymers are disclosed in, e.g., WO 2006/130575. Salts of the above-mentioned polymers are also contemplated.

The detergent compositions of the present invention can also contain dispersants. In par- ticular powdered detergents may comprise dispersants. Suitable water-soluble organic materials include the homo- or co-polymeric acids or their salts, in which the polycarboxylic acid comprises at least two carboxyl radicals separated from each other by not more than two carbon atoms. Suitable dispersants are for example described in Powdered Detergents, Surfactant science se- ries volume 71 , Marcel Dekker, Inc.

According to the present invention, however, certain of the above polymers, namely, a polyacrylic acid, a modified polyacrylic acid polymer, a modified polyacrylic acid copolymer, a maleic acid-acrylic acid copolymer, carboxymethyl cellulose, cellulose gum, methyl cellulose, and/or combinations thereof, can be included in lower levels than in currently available detergent compositions, or even more preferably, excluded altogether.

Fabric hueinq agents

The detergent compositions of the present invention may also include fabric hueing agents such as dyes or pigments, which when formulated in detergent compositions can deposit onto a fabric when said fabric is contacted with a wash liquor comprising said detergent compositions and thus altering the tint of said fabric through absorption/reflection of visible light. Fluorescent whitening agents emit at least some visible light. In contrast, fabric hueing agents alter the tint of a surface as they absorb at least a portion of the visible light spectrum. Suitable fabric hueing agents include dyes and dye-clay conjugates and may also include pigments. Suitable dyes in- clude small molecule dyes and polymeric dyes. Suitable small molecule dyes include small mol- ecule dyes selected from the group consisting of dyes falling into the Colour Index (C.l.) classifi- cations of Direct Blue, Direct Red, Direct Violet, Acid Blue, Acid Red, Acid Violet, Basic Blue, Basic Violet and Basic Red, or mixtures thereof, for example as described in W02005/03274, W02005/03275, W02005/03276 and EP1876226 (hereby incorporated by reference). The deter- gent composition preferably comprises from about 0.00003 wt% to about 0.2 wt%, from about 0.00008 wt% to about 0.05 wt%, or even from about 0.0001 wt% to about 0.04 wt% fabric hueing agent. The composition may comprise from 0.0001 wt% to 0.2 wt% fabric hueing agent, this may be especially preferred when the composition is in the form of a unit dose pouch. Suitable hueing agents are also disclosed in, e.g. WO 2007/087257 and W02007/087243.

Dye Transfer Inhibiting Agents

The detergent compositions of the present invention may also include one or more dye transfer inhibiting agents. Suitable polymeric dye transfer inhibiting agents include, but are not limited to, polyvinylpyrrolidone polymers, polyamine A/-oxide polymers, copolymers of A/-vinylpyr- rolidone and /V-vinylimidazole, polyvinyloxazolidones and polyvinylimidazoles or mixtures thereof. When present in a subject composition, the dye transfer inhibiting agents may be present at levels from about 0.0001 % to about 10%, from about 0.01% to about 5% or even from about 0.1 % to about 3% by weight of the composition.

Fluorescent whitening agent

The detergent compositions of the present invention will preferably also contain additional components that may tint articles being cleaned, such as fluorescent whitening agent or optical brighteners. Where present the brightener is preferably at a level of about 0.01 % to about 0.5%. Any fluorescent whitening agent suitable for use in a laundry detergent composition may be used in the composition of the present invention. The most commonly used fluorescent whitening agents are those belonging to the classes of diaminostilbene-sulfonic acid derivatives, diarylpy- razoline derivatives and bisphenyl-distyryl derivatives. Examples of the diaminostilbene-sulfonic acid derivative type of fluorescent whitening agents include the sodium salts of: 4,4'-bis-(2- diethanolamino-4-anilino-s-triazin-6-ylamino) stilbene-2,2'-disulfonate, 4,4'-bis-(2,4-dianilino-s- triazin-6-ylamino) stilbene-2.2'-disulfonate, 4,4'-bis-(2-anilino-4-(A/-methyl-/\/-2-hydroxy-ethyla- mino)-s-triazin-6-ylamino) stilbene-2,2'-disulfonate, 4,4'-bis-(4-phenyl-1 ,2,3-triazol-2-yl)stilbene- 2,2'-disulfonate and sodium 5-(2H-naphtho[1,2-c(][1 ,2,3]triazol-2-yl)-2-[(E)-2-phenylvinyl]ben- zenesulfonate. Preferred fluorescent whitening agents are Tinopal DMS and Tinopal CBS avail- able from Ciba-Geigy AG, Basel, Switzerland. Tinopal DMS is the disodium salt of 4,4'-bis-(2- morpholino-4-anilino-s-triazin-6-ylamino) stilbene-2,2'-disulfonate. Tinopal CBS is the disodium salt of 2,2'-bis-(phenyl-styryl)-disulfonate. Also preferred are fluorescent whitening agents is the commercially available Parawhite KX, supplied by Paramount Minerals and Chemicals, Mumbai, India. Tinopal CBS-X is a 4.4'-bis-(sulfostyryl)-biphenyl disodium salt also known as Disodium Distyryl biphenyl Disulfonate. Other fluorescers suitable for use in the invention include the 1-3- diaryl pyrazolines and the 7-alkylaminocoumarins.

Suitable fluorescent brightener levels include lower levels of from about 0.01 , from 0.05, from about 0.1 or even from about 0.2 wt % to upper levels of 0.5 or even 0.75 wt%.

Soil release polymers

The detergent compositions of the present invention may also include one or more soil release polymers which aid the removal of soils from fabrics such as cotton and polyester based fabrics, in particular the removal of hydrophobic soils from polyester based fabrics. The soil re- lease polymers may for example be nonionic or anionic terephthalte based polymers, polyvinyl caprolactam and related copolymers, vinyl graft copolymers, polyester polyamides see for exam- ple Chapter 7 in Powdered Detergents, Surfactant science series volume 71, Marcel Dekker, Inc. Another type of soil release polymers are amphiphilic alkoxylated grease cleaning polymers com- prising a core structure and a plurality of alkoxylate groups attached to that core structure. The core structure may comprise a polyalkylenimine structure or a polyalkanolamine structure as de- scribed in detail in WO 2009/087523 (hereby incorporated by reference). Furthermore, random graft co-polymers are suitable soil release polymers. Suitable graft co-polymers are described in more detail in WO 2007/138054, WO 2006/108856 and WO 2006/113314 (hereby incorporated by reference).

Anti-redeposition agents

The detergent compositions of the present invention may also include one or more anti- redeposition agents such as carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), polyoxyeth- ylene and/or polyethyleneglycol (PEG), homopolymers of acrylic acid, copolymers of acrylic acid and maleic acid. The cellulose based polymers described under soil release polymers above may also function as anti-redeposition agents.

According to the present invention, however, certain of the above polymers, namely, a polyacrylic acid, a modified polyacrylic acid polymer, a modified polyacrylic acid copolymer, a maleic acid-acrylic acid copolymer, carboxymethyl cellulose, cellulose gum, methyl cellulose, and/or combinations thereof, can by introduction of cellulases be included in lower levels than in currently available detergent compositions, or excluded altogether, thus improving the sustainability profile of the detergent composition.

Rheology Modifiers

The detergent compositions of the present invention may also include one or more rheol- ogy modifiers, structurants or thickeners, as distinct from viscosity reducing agents. The rheology modifiers are selected from the group consisting of non-polymeric crystalline, hydroxy-functional materials, polymeric rheology modifiers which impart shear thinning characteristics to the aque- ous liquid matrix of a liquid detergent composition. The rheology and viscosity of the detergent can be modified and adjusted by methods known in the art, for example as shown in EP 2169040. Other suitable adjunct materials include, but are not limited to, anti-shrink agents, anti-wrinkling agents, bactericides, binders, carriers, dyes, enzyme stabilizers, fabric softeners, fillers, foam regulators, hydrotropes, perfumes, pigments, sod suppressors, solvents, and structurants for liq- uid detergents and/or structure elasticizing agents.

Additional Enzymes

The detergent additive as well as the detergent composition may comprise one or more [ad- ditional] enzymes such as lipases, cutinases, cellulases, amylases, carbohydrases, DNases, pecti- nases, mannanases, arabinases, galactanases, xylanases, oxidases, e g., a laccase, and/or perox- idase.

In general, the properties of the selected enzyme(s) should be compatible with the selected detergent, (/.e., pH-optimum, compatibility with other enzymatic and non-enzymatic ingredients, etc.), and the enzyme(s) should be present in effective amounts.

Cellulases

The term “cellulase” means one or more (e.g., several) enzymes that hydrolyze a cellulosic material. The two terms polypeptide having cellulase activity and cellulase are used interchange- ably. Cellulases may be selected from the group consisting of cellulases belonging to GH5, GH44, GH45, EC 3.2.1.4, EC 3.2.1.21 , EC 3.2.1.91 and EC 3.2.1.172. Such enzymes include endoglu- canase(s) (e.g. EC 3.2.1.4), cellobiohydrolase(s), beta-glucosidase(s), or combinations thereof. Suitable cellulases include mono-component and mixtures of enzymes of bacterial or fungal origin. Chemically modified or protein engineered mutants are also contemplated. The cellulase may for example be a mono-component or a mixture of mono-component endo-1 ,4-beta-glu- canase also referred to as endoglucanase.

DNases (deoxyribonuclease)

The term “DNase” means a polypeptide with DNase activity that catalyzes the hydrolytic cleavage of phosphodiester linkages in the DNA backbone, thus degrading DNA. Mannanases

Suitable mannanases include those of bacterial or fungal origin. Chemically or genetically modified mutants are included. The mannanase may be an alkaline mannanase of Family 5 or 26. It may be a wild-type from Bacillus or Humicola, particularly B. agaradhaerens, B. licheni- formis, B. halodurans, B. clausii, or H. insolens. Suitable mannanases are described in WO 1999/064619. A commercially available mannanase is Mannaway (Novozymes A/S).

Xanthanases

Xanthan lyase (EC 4.2.2.12) is an enzyme that catalyzes the chemical reaction of cleaving the beta-D-mannosyl-beta-D-1 ,4-glucuronosyl bond on the polysaccharide xanthan. This enzyme belongs to the family of lyases, specifically those carbon-oxygen lyases acting on polysaccha- rides.

Lipases and Cutinases

Suitable lipases and cutinases include those of bacterial or fungal origin. Chemically mod- ified or protein engineered mutant enzymes are included. Examples include lipase from Thermo- myces, e.g. from T. lanuginosus (previously named Humicola lanuginosa) as described in EP258068 and EP305216, cutinase from Humicola, e.g. H. insolens (WO96/13580), lipase from strains of Pseudomonas (some of these now renamed to Burkholderia), e.g. P. alcaligenes or P. pseudoalcaligenes (EP218272), P. cepacia (EP331376), P. sp. strain SD705 (W095/06720 & W096/27002), P. wisconsinensis (WO96/12012), GDSL-type Streptomyces lipases (W010/065455), cutinase from Magnaporthe grisea (WO10/107560), cutinase from Pseudomonas mendocina (US5,389,536), lipase from Thermobifida fusca (W011/084412), Geobacillus stearothermophilus lipase (WO 11/084417), lipase from Bacillus subtilis (W011/084599), and li- pase from Streptomyces griseus (WO11/150157) and S. pristinaespiralis (W012/137147).

Other examples are lipase variants such as those described in EP407225, WO92/05249, WO94/01541, WO94/25578, WO95/14783, WO95/30744, WO95/35381, WO95/22615,

W096/00292, W097/04079, W097/07202, WO00/34450, WO00/60063, W001/92502,

W007/87508 and WO09/109500.

Preferred commercial lipase products include include Lipolase 100T/L, Lipex 100T/L, Li- pex 105T, Lipex Evity 100L, Lipex Evity 200L (all Novozymes A/S), Preferenz® L 100 (DuPont).

Still other examples are lipases sometimes referred to as acyltransferases or perhydro- lases, e.g. acyltransferases with homology to Candida antarctica lipase A (WO10/111143), acyl- transferase from Mycobacterium smegmatis (WO05/56782), perhydrolases from the CE 7 family (WO09/67279), and variants of the M. smegmatis perhydrolase in particular the S54V variant used in the commercial product Gentle Power Bleach from Huntsman Textile Effects Pte Ltd (W010/100028). Amylases

Suitable amylases include an alpha-amylase or a glucoamylase and may be of bacterial or fungal origin. Chemically modified or protein engineered mutants are included. Amylases in- clude, for example, alpha-amylases obtained from Bacillus, e.g., a special strain of Bacillus li- cheniformis, described in more detail in GB 1 ,296,839.

Suitable amylases include amylases having SEQ ID NO:2 in WO 95/10603 or variants having 90% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO:3 thereof. Preferred variants are described in WO 94/02597, WO 94/18314, WO 97/43424 and SEQ ID NO:4 of WO 99/019467, such as variants with substitutions in one or more of the following positions: 15, 23, 105, 106, 124, 128, 133, 154, 156, 178, 179, 181 , 188, 190, 197, 201 , 202, 207, 208, 209, 211 , 243, 264, 304, 305, 391 , 408, and 444.

Different suitable amylases include amylases having SEQ ID NO:6 in WO 02/010355 or variants thereof having 90% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO:6. Preferred variants of SEQ ID NO:6 are those having a deletion in positions 181 and 182 and a substitution in position 193. Other amylases which are suitable are hybrid alpha-amylase comprising residues 1-33 of the alpha-amylase derived from B. amyloliquefaciens shown in SEQ ID NO:6 of WO 2006/066594 and residues 36-483 of the B. licheniformis alpha-amylase shown in SEQ ID NO:4 of WO 2006/066594 or variants having 90% sequence identity thereof.

Other examples are amylase variants such as those described in WO2011/098531 , W02013/001078 and WO2013/001087.

Commercially available amylases are Duramyl™, Termamyl™, Fungamyl™, Stainzyme ™, Stainzyme Plus™, Natalase™, Liquozyme X and BAN™ Amplify; Amplify Prime; (from Novo- zymes A/S), and Rapidase™ , Purastar™/Effectenz™, Powerase, Preferenz S1000, Preferenz S100 and Preferenz S110 (from Genencor International Inc./DuPont).

Peroxidases/Oxidases

Suitable peroxidases/oxidases include those of plant, bacterial or fungal origin. Chemi- cally modified or protein engineered mutants are included. Examples of useful peroxidases in- clude peroxidases from Coprinus, e.g., from C. cinereus, and variants thereof as those described in WO 93/24618, WO 95/10602, and WO 98/15257. Commercially available peroxidases include Guardzyme™ (Novozymes A/S).

A suitable peroxidase is preferably a peroxidase enzyme comprised by the enzyme clas- sification EC 1.11.1.7, as set out by the Nomenclature Committee of the International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (IUBMB), or any fragment derived therefrom, exhibiting pe- roxidase activity.

Suitable peroxidases also include a haloperoxidase enzyme, such as chloroperoxidase, bromoperoxidase and compounds exhibiting chloroperoxidase or bromoperoxidase activity. Haloperoxidases are classified according to their specificity for halide ions. Chloroperoxidases (E.C. 1.11.1.10) catalyze formation of hypochlorite from chloride ions. The haloperoxidase may be a chloroperoxidase. Preferably, the haloperoxidase is a vanadium haloperoxidase, i.e., a van- adate-containing haloperoxidase. In a preferred method the vanadate-containing haloperoxidase is combined with a source of chloride ion.

Haloperoxidases have been isolated from many different fungi, in particular from the fun- gus group dematiaceous hyphomycetes, such as Caldariomyces, e.g., C. fumago, Alternaria, Curvularia, e.g., C. verruculosa and C. inaequalis, Drechslera, Ulocladium and Botrytis.

Haloperoxidases have also been isolated from bacteria such as Pseudomonas, e.g., P. pyrrocinia and Streptomyces, e.g., S. aureofaciens.

The haloperoxidase may be derivable from Curvularia sp., in particular Curvularia verruculosa or Curvularia inaequalis, such as C. inaequalis CBS 102.42 as described in WO 95/27046; or C. verruculosa CBS 147.63 or C. verruculosa CBS 444.70 as described in WO 97/04102; or from Drechslera hartlebii as described in WO 01/79459, Dendryphiella salina as described in WO 01/79458, Phaeotrichoconis crotalarie as described in WO 01/79461 , or Genic- ulosporium sp. as described in WO 01/79460.

Suitable oxidases include, in particular, any laccase enzyme comprised by the enzyme classification EC 1.10.3.2, or any fragment derived therefrom exhibiting laccase activity, ora com- pound exhibiting a similar activity, such as a catechol oxidase (EC 1.10.3.1), an o-aminophenol oxidase (EC 1.10.3.4), or a bilirubin oxidase (EC 1.3.3.5).

Preferred laccase enzymes are enzymes of microbial origin. The enzymes may be derived from plants, bacteria or fungi (including filamentous fungi and yeasts).

Suitable examples from fungi include a laccase derivable from a strain of Aspergillus, Neurospora, e.g., N. crassa, Podospora, Botrytis, Collybia, Pomes, Lentinus, Pleurotus, Trametes, e.g., T. villosa and T. versicolor, Rhizoctonia, e.g., R. solani, Coprinopsis, e.g., C. ci- nerea, C. comatus, C. friesii, and C. plicatilis, Psathyrella, e.g., P. condelleana, Panaeolus, e.g., P. papilionaceus, Myceliophthora, e.g., M. thermophila, Schytalidium, e.g., S. thermophilum, Pol- yporus, e.g., P. pinsitus, Phlebia, e.g., P. radiata (WO 92/01046), or Coriolus, e.g., C. hirsutus (JP 2238885).

Suitable examples from bacteria include a laccase derivable from a strain of Bacillus.

A laccase derived from Coprinopsis or Myceliophthora is preferred; in particular a laccase derived from Coprinopsis cinerea, as disclosed in WO 97/08325; or from Myceliophthora thermophila, as disclosed in WO 95/33836.

Laundry soap bars

The proteases of the invention may be added to laundry soap bars and used for hand wash- ing laundry, fabrics and/or textiles. The term laundry soap bar includes laundry bars, soap bars, combo bars, syndet bars and detergent bars. The types of bar usually differ in the type of surfactant they contain, and the term laundry soap bar includes those containing soaps from fatty acids and/or synthetic soaps. The laundry soap bar has a physical form which is solid and not a liquid, gel or a powder at room temperature. The term solid is defined as a physical form which does not significantly change over time, i.e. if a solid object (e.g. laundry soap bar) is placed inside a container, the solid object does not change to fill the container it is placed in. The bar is a solid typically in bar form but can be in other solid shapes such as round or oval.

The laundry soap bar may contain one or more additional enzymes, protease inhibitors such as peptide aldehydes (or hydrosulfite adduct or hemiacetal adduct), boric acid, borate, borax and/or phenylboronic acid derivatives such as 4-formylphenylboronic acid, one or more soaps or synthetic surfactants, polyols such as glycerine, pH controlling compounds such as fatty acids, citric acid, acetic acid and/or formic acid, and/or a salt of a monovalent cation and an organic anion wherein the monovalent cation may be for example Na ⁺ , K ⁺ or NH ₄ ⁺ and the organic anion may be for example formate, acetate, citrate or lactate such that the salt of a monovalent cation and an organic anion may be, for example, sodium formate.

The laundry soap bar may also contain complexing agents like EDTA and HEDP, perfumes and/or different type of fillers, surfactants e.g. anionic synthetic surfactants, builders, polymeric soil release agents, detergent chelators, stabilizing agents, fillers, dyes, colorants, dye transfer inhibitors, alkoxylated polycarbonates, suds suppressers, structurants, binders, leaching agents, bleaching ac- tivators, clay soil removal agents, anti-redeposition agents, polymeric dispersing agents, brighteners, fabric softeners, perfumes and/or other compounds known in the art.

The laundry soap bar may be processed in conventional laundry soap bar making equipment such as, but not limited to, mixers, plodders, e.g. a two-stage vacuum plodder, extruders, cutters, logo-stampers, cooling tunnels and wrappers. The invention is not limited to preparing the laundry soap bars by any single method. The premix of the invention may be added to the soap at different stages of the process. For example, the premix containing a soap, proteases, optionally one or more additional enzymes, a protease inhibitor, and a salt of a monovalent cation and an organic anion may be prepared, and the mixture is then plodded. The proteases and optional additional enzymes may be added at the same time as the protease inhibitor for example in liquid form. Besides the mixing step and the plodding step, the process may further comprise the steps of milling, extruding, cutting, stamping, cooling and/or wrapping.

Formulation of detergent products

The detergent composition of the invention may be in any convenient form, e.g., a bar, a homogenous tablet, a tablet having two or more layers, a pouch having one or more compartments, a regular or compact powder, a granule, a paste, a gel, or a regular, compact or concentrated liquid. Pouches can be configured as single or multi compartments. It can be of any form, shape and ma- terial which is suitable for hold the composition, e.g. without allowing the release of the composition to release of the composition from the pouch prior to water contact. The pouch is made from water soluble film which encloses an inner volume. Said inner volume can be divided into compartments of the pouch. Preferred films are polymeric materials preferably polymers which are formed into a film or sheet. Preferred polymers, copolymers or derivates thereof are selected polyacrylates, and water soluble acrylate copolymers, methyl cellulose, carboxy methyl cellulose, sodium dextrin, ethyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose, maltodextrin, poly-methacrylates, most preferably polyvinyl alcohol copolymers and, hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC). Prefera- bly the level of polymer in the film for example PVA is at least about 60%. Preferred average molec- ular weight will typically be about 20,000 to about 150,000. Films can also be of blended composi- tions comprising hydrolytically degradable and water soluble polymer blends such as polylactide and polyvinyl alcohol (known under the Trade reference M8630 as sold by MonoSol LLC, Indiana, USA) plus plasticisers like glycerol, ethylene glycerol, propylene glycol, sorbitol and mixtures thereof. The pouches can comprise a solid laundry cleaning composition or part components and/or a liquid cleaning composition or part components separated by the water soluble film. The compartment for liquid components can be different in composition than compartments containing solids: US2009/0011970 A1.

Detergent ingredients can be separated physically from each other by compartments in water dissolvable pouches or in different layers of tablets. Thereby negative storage interaction between components can be avoided. Different dissolution profiles of each of the compartments can also give rise to delayed dissolution of selected components in the wash solution.

A liquid or gel detergent, which is not unit dosed, may be aqueous, typically containing at least 20% by weight and up to 95% water, such as up to about 70% water, up to about 65% water, up to about 55% water, up to about 45% water, up to about 35% water. Other types of liquids, in- cluding without limitation, alkanols, amines, diols, ethers and polyols may be included in an aqueous liquid or gel. An aqueous liquid or gel detergent may contain from 0-30% organic solvent. A liquid or gel detergent may be non-aqueous.

Embodiments of the invention

The invention is further summarized in the following embodiments. The embodiments are indi- cated as E1 , E2 and so forth.

E1. A detergent composition comprising a first protease and one or more additional proteases, wherein the first proteases has at least 60% identity to the protease of SEQ ID NO:1 and the one or more additional proteases are selected from the group of polypeptides having at least 60% identity to any of the proteases of SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:7, SEQ ID NO:8, SEQ ID NO:9 SEQ ID NQ:10, SEQ ID NO: 11 , SEQ ID NO:12, SEQ ID NO:13, SEQ ID NO: 14, SEQ ID NO: 15, SEQ ID NO:16, and SEQ ID NO:17.

E2. The detergent composition according to E1 , wherein the first protease has at least 70%, such as at least 80%, such as at least 90%, such as at least 95%, such as at least 96%, such as at least 97%, such as at least 98%, such as at least 99% or even 100% identity to the protease of SEQ ID NO:1 , and the one or more additional proteases are selected from the group consisting of proteases having at least 70%, such as at least 80%, such as at least 90%, such as at least 95%, such as at least 96%, such as at least 97%, such as at least 98%, such as at least 99% or even 100% identity to any of the proteases of SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:7, SEQ ID NO:8, SEQ ID NO:9 SEQ ID NQ:10, SEQ ID NO:11 , SEQ ID NO:12, SEQ ID NO:13, SEQ ID NO:14, SEQ ID NO:15, SEQ ID NO:16, and SEQ ID NO:17.

E3. The detergent composition according to E1, wherein the first protease is the protease of SEQ ID NO:1 , and the one or more additional proteases are selected from the group consisting of proteases of SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:7, SEQ ID NO:8, SEQ ID NO:9 SEQ ID NQ:10, SEQ ID NO:11 , SEQ ID NO:12, SEQ ID NO:13, SEQ ID NO:14, SEQ ID NO:15, SEQ ID NO:16, and SEQ ID NO:17.

E4. The detergent composition according to any of E1 and E2 comprising any of the following combinations of proteases: SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID NO:7, SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID NO:8, SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID NO:9, SEQ ID

NO:1 + SEQ ID NQ:10, SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID NO:11 , SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID NO:12, SEQ ID

NO:1 + SEQ ID NO:13, SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID NO:14, SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID NO:15, SEQ ID

NO:1 + SEQ ID NO:16, SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID NO:17, SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID NO:2 + SEQ ID

NO:5, SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID NO:2 + SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID NO:2 + SEQ ID

NO:7, SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID NO:2 + SEQ ID NO:8, SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID NO:2 + SEQ ID

NO: 9, SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID NO:3 + SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID NO:3 + SEQ ID

NO:6, SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID NO:3 + SEQ ID NO:7, SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID NO:3 + SEQ ID

NO:8, SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID NO:3 + SEQ ID NO:9, SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID NO:4 + SEQ ID

NO:5, SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID NO:4 + SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID NO:4 + SEQ ID

NO:7, SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID NO:4 + SEQ ID NO:8, SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID NO:4 + SEQ ID

NO:9, SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID NO:5 + SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID NO:5 + SEQ ID

NO:7, SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID NO:5 + SEQ ID NO:8, SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID NO:5 + SEQ ID

NO:9, SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID NO:6 + SEQ ID NO:9, SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID NO:7 + SEQ ID

NO:9, SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID NO:8 + SEQ ID NO:9, SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID NQ:10 + SEQ ID NO:12, SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID NQ:10 + SEQ ID NO:13, SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID NQ:10 + SEQ ID NO:14, SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID NQ:10 + SEQ ID NO:15, SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID NQ:10 + SEQ ID NO:16, SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID NQ:10 + SEQ ID NO:17, SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID NO:11 + SEQ ID NO:12, SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID NO:11 + SEQ ID NO:13, SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID NO:11 + SEQ ID NO:14, SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID NO:11 + SEQ ID NO:15, SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID NO:11 + SEQ ID NO:16, SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID NO:11 + SEQ ID NO:17, SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID NO:12 + SEQ ID NO:16, SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID NO:12 + SEQ ID NO:17, SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID NO:13 + SEQ ID NO:16, SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID NO:13 + SEQ ID NO:17, SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID NO:14 + SEQ ID NO:16, SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID NO:14 + SEQ ID NO:17, SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID NO:15 + SEQ ID NO:16, SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID NO:15 + SEQ ID NO:17, SEQ ID NO:1 + SEQ ID NO:16 + SEQ ID NO:17.

E5. The detergent composition according to E3, wherein the first protease is the protease of SEQ ID NO:1 and the one or more additional proteases are selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NQ:10, SEQ ID NO:11, SEQ ID NO:12, SEQ ID NO:13 and SEQ ID NO:14.

E6. The detergent composition according to any of E1 to E5, which provides improved stain removal of at least one, e.g., at least two, or three, stain type selected from the group consisting of cocoa stain, milk stain, and blood stain.

E7. The detergent composition according to any of E1 to E7 further comprising at least on addi- tional enzyme which is not a protease.

E8. The detergent composition according to E7, wherein the at least one additional enzyme selected from the group consisting of cellulases, mannanases, amylases, DNases, lipases, xanthanases, pectate lyases and oxidoreductases.

E9. The detergent composition according to any of E1 to E8, wherein the detergent composition is supplied in a liquid form.

E10. The detergent composition according to any of E1 to E8, wherein the detergent is supplied as a unit dose product, such as a pouch or a tablet.

E11. The detergent composition according to any of E1 to E8, wherein the detergent is supplied as a powder product.

E12. Use of the detergent composition of any of E1 to E11 for laundering, hand dishwashing, automatic dishwashing or hard surface cleaning.

Detergent compositions

The below mentioned ranges of detergent components are generally useful.

Composition 1: Liquid detergent

Composition 2: Unit Dose

Composition 3: Powder detergent

In one embodiment, the invention is directed to an ADW (Automatic Dish Wash) composi- tions comprising an enzyme of the present invention in combination with one or more additional ADW composition components. Surfactant ingredients can be obtained from BASF, Ludwigshafen, Germany (Lutensol®);

Shell Chemicals, London, UK; Stepan, Northfield, III, USA; Huntsman, Huntsman, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Clariant, Sulzbach, Germany (Praepagen®).

Sodium tripolyphosphate can be obtained from Rhodia, Paris, France. Zeolite can be obtained from Industrial Zeolite (UK) Ltd, Grays, Essex, UK.

Citric acid and sodium citrate can be obtained from Jungbunzlauer, Basel, Switzerland.

NOBS is sodium nonanoyloxybenzenesulfonate, supplied by Eastman, Batesville, Ark.,

USA.

TAED is tetraacetylethylenediamine, supplied under the Peractive® brand name by Clar- iant GmbH, Sulzbach, Germany.

Sodium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate can be obtained from Solvay, Brussels, Bel- gium.

Polyacrylate, polyacrylate/maleate copolymers can be obtained from BASF, Ludwigsha- fen, Germany.

Repel-O-Tex® can be obtained from Rhodia, Paris, France.

Texcare® can be obtained from Clariant, Sulzbach, Germany. Sodium percarbonate and sodium carbonate can be obtained from Solvay, Houston, Tex., USA.

Na salt of Ethylenediamine-N,N'-disuccinic acid, (S,S) isomer (EDDS) was supplied by Octel, Ellesmere Port, UK.

Hydroxy ethane di phosphonate (HEDP) was supplied by Dow Chemical, Midland, Mich., USA.

Enzymes Savinase®, Savinase® Ultra, Stainzyme® Plus, Lipex®, Lipolex®, Lipoclean®, Celluclean®, Carezyme®, Natalase®, Stainzyme®, Stainzyme® Plus, Termamyl®, Termamyl® ultra, and Mannaway® can be obtained from Novozymes, Bagsvaerd, Denmark.

Enzymes Purafect®, FN3, FN4 and Optisize can be obtained from Genencor International Inc., Palo Alto, California, US.

Direct violet 9 and 99 can be obtained from BASF DE, Ludwigshafen, Germany.

Solvent violet 13 can be obtained from Ningbo Lixing Chemical Co., Ltd. Ningbo, Zhejiang, China.

Brighteners can be obtained from Ciba Specialty Chemicals, Basel, Switzerland.

All percentages and ratios are calculated by weight unless otherwise indicated. All percentages and ratios are calculated based on active concentration of the total composition unless otherwise indicated.

It should be understood that every maximum numerical limitation given throughout this specification includes every lower numerical limitation, as if such lower numerical limitations were expressly written herein. Every minimum numerical limitation given throughout this specification will include every higher numerical limitation, as if such higher numerical limitations were expressly written herein. Every numerical range given throughout this specification will include every narrower numerical range that falls within such broader numerical range, as if such nar- rower numerical ranges were all expressly written herein.

EXAMPLES

Materials and Methods

AMSA-test method

Washing experiments were performed in order to assess the wash performance of selected protease variants in laundry or dish wash detergent compositions. The proteases of the present application were tested using the Automatic Mechanical Stress Assay (AMSA). With the AMSA, the wash performance of a large quantity of small volume enzyme-detergent solutions can be examined. The AMSA plate has a number of slots for test solutions and a lid firmly squeezing the dish wash sample, the melamine tile to be washed against all the slot openings. During the washing time, the plate, test solutions, melamine tile and lid are vigorously shaken to bring the test solution in contact with the soiled melamine tile and apply mechanical stress in a regular, periodic oscillating manner. For further description see WO 02/42740 especially the paragraph "Special method embodiments" at page 23-24.

The performance of the enzyme variants and their blends was measured as the brightness of the colour of the textile samples washed with that specific protease/protease- blend. Brightness can also be expressed as the intensity of the light reflected from the textile sample when illuminated with white light. When the textile is stained the intensity of the reflected light is lower, than that of a clean textile. Therefore, the intensity of the reflected light can be used to measure wash performance of the proteases and the protease blends.

Colour measurements are made with a professional flatbed scanner (Epson Expression 10000XL), which is used to capture an image of the washed textile samples.

To extract a value for the light intensity from the scanned images, a special designed software application is used (Novozymes Color Vector Analyzer). The program retrieves the values from the image and converts them into values for red, green and blue (RGB). The intensity value (Int) is calculated by adding the RGB values together as vectors and then taking the length of the resulting vector: Detergent

The detergent for the wash performance tests is a liquid laundry model detergent (see below).

Textiles Standard textile pieces are obtained from Center for Testmaterials BV, P.O. Box 120,

3133 KT Vlaardingen, The Netherlands, and from EMPA Testmaterials AG, Mbvenstrasse 12, CH-9015 St. Gallen, Switzerland. Especially type PC-03 (polyester/cotton textile stained with chocolate milk with carbon black), PC-10 (polyester/cotton textile stained with pigment, oil and milk), and EMPA 117 EH (extra heated) (polyester/cotton textile stained with blood/milk/ink). In general, and according to the knowledge of the skilled person, PC-03 is considered a cocoa stain, PC-10 is considered a milk stain, and EMPA 117 EH is considered a blood stain.

Experimental conditions

The experiments were conducted under the experimental conditions specified below:

The following proteases were tested:

First protease

• SEQ ID NO:1

Second protease

• SEQ ID NO:2

• SEQ ID NO:3

• SEQ ID NO:4

• SEQ ID NO:5

• SEQ ID NO:6

• SEQ ID NO:7

• SEQ ID NO:8

• SEQ ID NO:9

• SEQ ID NQ:10

• SEQ ID NO:11

• SEQ ID NO:12

• SEQ ID NO:13

• SEQ ID NO:14

• SEQ ID NO:15

• SEQ ID NO:16

• SEQ ID NO:17 Example 1

Wash performance of the protease with SEQ ID NO:1 was tested in AMSA as described above either alone or together with a protease with SEQ ID NO:2 to SEQ ID NO: 17. For each enzyme concentration (10-20-40-80 nmol/L enzyme as described above) a delta intensity value was calculated for the single enzymes and the 1 :1 mixtures as the intensity value (Int) of a test material washed with the detergent containing a single enzyme or mixture minus the intensity value of a test material washed with the detergent alone, i.e. without any enzyme. The delta in- tensity values for each of the four enzyme concentrations were added together for each treatment (single enzyme or 1 :1 mixture) to obtain a sum of delta intensity for each treatment for each of the three stains wo stains PC-10, PC-03, and EM PA117EH.

The sums of delta intensity for the 1 :1 mixtures were then compared to the sums of delta intensity for the single enzymes in the mixture, and the relative performance of the mixture com- pared to a single enzyme was determined for the PC-10, PC-03, and EMPA117EH stains.

The relative performance values in the Table 1 below for the individual stains PC-10, PC- 03, and EMPA117EH expressed as percent relative performance against SEQ ID NO:1 , were determined by dividing the sum of delta intensity for a mixture by the sum of delta intensity for the single enzyme SEQ ID NO:1.

The listed protease combinations perform better than SEQ ID NO:1 alone on at least one of the three tested stains, see Table 1 below.

TABLE 1: Relative performance of mixtures of immunochemically different proteases with SEQ ID N0:1 against SEQ ID N0:1 alone.