Abstract: Provided are an inhibitor, a prophylactic, and a therapeutic agent for rheumatoid arthritis that have no side effects and that can correct immune abnormality associated with rheumatoid arthritis. The inhibitor, the prophylactic, and the agent for rheumatoid arthritis contain a Euglena-derived material as an active ingredient. The inhibitor, the prophylactic and the agent are used as an antirheumatic drug for controlling the activity of rheumatoid arthritis by alleviating immune abnormality associated with rheumatoid arthritis. The inhibitor, the prophylactic, and the agent are also used for a living individual who has not been definitively diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. The inhibitor, the prophylactic, and the agent are continuously administered to the living individual from any point before definitive diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis to any point after the definitive diagnosis.

Abstract: Provided are a novel renal failure progression inhibitor, prophylactic agent for renal failure, and indoxyl sulfate production inhibitor, intended for human use, in particular, for a patient with renal failure. The renal failure progression inhibitor, prophylactic agent for renal failure, and indoxyl sulfate production inhibitor each comprises paramylon derived from Euglena or a processed product thereof as an active ingredient. In the case of the renal failure progression inhibitor, for example, paramylon is continuously orally administered to a patient suffering from chronic renal failure, undergoing a dialysis therapy, several times per day in a dose of 1 to 5 g per intake. In particular, the renal failure progression inhibitor is singly administered to the patient in a capsule or powdered preparation at a prescribed time interval before and after administration of other drugs.

Abstract: Provided are an antiviral agent and an antiviral food as novel methods for utilizing a Euglena-derived material. The antiviral agent and antiviral food, both comprising a Euglena-derived material as an active ingredient, are to be used for preventing or treating an infectious disease caused by an envelope-free RNA virus. Examples of the envelope-free RNA virus include rotaviruses belonging to Reoviridae. Examples of the Euglena-derived material include Euglena, a hot water extract of Euglena, paramylon and an alkali-treated paramylon.

Abstract: Provided are a prophylactic or therapeutic agent for a peptic ulcer, a food additive for prevention and treatment of a peptic ulcer, an iNOS expression inhibitor, and a COX-2 expression inhibitor, all of which have little side effects. The prophylactic or therapeutic agent contains a Euglena-derived material as an active ingredient. The Euglena-derived material may be Euglena, paramylon, or an acid-treated paramylon. The prophylactic or therapeutic agent is useful for the prevention or treatment of a peptic ulcer induced by psychological stress. The peptic ulcer may be a gastric ulcer. The food additive contains a Euglena-derived material as an active ingredient.

Abstract: An algae culture method capable of efficiently producing an osmotic pressure adjusting substance, a production method of the substance, and an algae culture method for recovering carbon dioxide from a mixed gas containing carbon dioxide and sulfurous acid gas. The methods involve preparing a plurality of enrichment cultures each containing betaine by culturing a culture of microalgae derived from an environmental specimen under a photoautotrophic condition and under a plurality of culture conditions; making a cultivation plan in which an optimum enrichment culture suitable for a main culture is selected from the plurality of enrichment cultures; producing a main culture that contains betaine under the photoautotrophic condition and a salt concentration of 10 wt. % or more; and separating betaine. In the main culture, the algae containing betaine are cultured while the mixed gas containing sulfurous acid gas and carbon dioxide is blown to a culture solution of the algae.

Abstract: Provided are an inhibitor, a prophylactic, and a therapeutic agent for rheumatoid arthritis that have no side effects and that can correct immune abnormality associated with rheumatoid arthritis. The inhibitor, the prophylactic, and the agent for rheumatoid arthritis contain a Euglena-derived material as an active ingredient. The inhibitor, the prophylactic and the agent are used as an antirheumatic drug for controlling the activity of rheumatoid arthritis by alleviating immune abnormality associated with rheumatoid arthritis. The inhibitor, the prophylactic, and the agent are also used for a living individual who has not been definitively diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. The inhibitor, the prophylactic, and the agent are continuously administered to the living individual from any point before definitive diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis to any point after the definitive diagnosis.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing an organic acid using algal biomass, The present invention pertains to the production of organic acids such as succinic acid using Euglena , by means of a method containing; either a nitrogen deficient culture step in which Euglena is cultured. aerobically under nitrogen-deficient conditions or a heterotrophic culture step in which Euglena is cultured aerobically using a culture medium containing a carbon source; and an anaerobic culture step in which the culture product obtained in the nitrogen-deficient culture step is incubated under anaerobic conditions.

Abstract: Provided are a prophylactic or therapeutic agent for a peptic ulcer, a food additive for prevention and treatment of a peptic ulcer, an iNOS expression inhibitor, and a COX-2 expression inhibitor, all of which have little side effects. The prophylactic or therapeutic agent contains a Euglena-derived material as an active ingredient. The Euglena-derived material may be Euglena, paramylon, or an acid-treated paramylon. The prophylactic or therapeutic agent is useful for the prevention or treatment of a peptic ulcer induced by psychological stress. The peptic ulcer may be a gastric ulcer. The food additive contains a Euglena-derived material as an active ingredient.

Abstract: Provided are a novel renal failure progression inhibitor, prophylactic agent for renal failure, and indoxyl sulfate production inhibitor, intended for human use, in particular, for a patient with renal failure. The renal failure progression inhibitor, prophylactic agent for renal failure, and indoxyl sulfate production inhibitor each comprises paramylon derived from Euglena or a processed product thereof as an active ingredient. In the case of the renal failure progression inhibitor, for example, paramylon is continuously orally administered to a patient suffering from chronic renal failure, undergoing a dialysis therapy, several times per day in a dose of 1 to 5 g per intake. In particular, the renal failure progression inhibitor is singly administered to the patient in a capsule or powdered preparation at a prescribed time interval before and after administration of other drugs.

Abstract: A ?-1,3-glucanase that exhibits decomposition activity with respect to paramylon derived from the genus Euglena. The ?-1,3-glucanase is derived from the genus Euglena and exhibits the properties indicated below: (1) effect: hydrolyzing the ?-1,3-bond of ?-1,3-glucan; and (2) substrate specificity: decomposing at least paramylon. The ?-1,3-glucanase additionally exhibits the properties indicated below: (3) decomposition activity: the ratio of paramylon decomposition activity with respect to laminarin decomposition activity is 20% or higher; (4) optimum pH: 3.7-7.0; and (5) optimum temperature: 30-70° C.

Abstract: An algae culture method capable of efficiently producing an osmotic pressure adjusting substance, a production method of the substance, and an algae culture method for recovering carbon dioxide from a mixed gas containing carbon dioxide and sulfurous acid gas. The methods involve preparing a plurality of enrichment cultures each containing betaine by culturing a culture of microalgae derived from an environmental specimen under a photoautotrophic condition and under a plurality of culture conditions; making a cultivation plan in which an optimum enrichment culture suitable for a main culture is selected from the plurality of enrichment cultures; producing a main culture that contains betaine under the photoautotrophic condition and a salt concentration of 10 wt. % or more; and separating betaine. In the main culture, the algae containing betaine are cultured while the mixed gas containing sulfurous acid gas and carbon dioxide is blown to a culture solution of the algae.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel immune balance regulator that regulates an immune balance in a living body. The immune balance regulator contains a Euglena-derived material and regulates an immune balance between Th1, Th2, and Th17, which is a balance between immune responses individually induced by Th1, Th2, and Th17 in a living body. The immune balance regulator regulates the immune balance between Th1, Th2, and Th17 so that immune responses induced by Th1 become relatively dominant over immune responses induced by Th2 or Th17 to improve a physical constitution that has an immune imbalance of Th1, Th2, and Th17 shifted towards Th2 and to prevent or treat a disease associated with the immune imbalance of Th1, Th2, and Th17 shifted towards a Th2 dominance. The immune balance regulator is administered prior to expected onset of a disease associated with the immune imbalance of Th1, Th2, and Th17 shifted towards the Th2 dominance.

Abstract: A medium for culturing Euglena includes a cell membrane-permeable electron mediator that includes a biocompatible moiety and a redox-active moiety. A method for culturing Euglena includes culturing Euglena in a medium including a cell membrane-permeable electron mediator that includes a biocompatible moiety and a redox-active moiety. The medium is placed in a fermenter system that includes a device for extracting electrons from the medium. A method for reducing photoinhibition in Euglena includes electrochemically culturing Euglena in a medium including a cell membrane-permeable electron mediator that includes a biocompatible moiety and a redox-active moiety. The medium is placed in a fermenter system that includes a device for extracting electrons from the medium.

Abstract: A ?-1,3-glucanase that exhibits decomposition activity with respect to paramylon derived from the genus Euglena. The ?-1,3-glucanase is derived from the genus Euglena and exhibits the properties indicated below: (1) effect: hydrolyzing the ?-1,3-bond of ?-1,3-glucan; and (2) substrate specificity: decomposing at least paramylon. The ?-1,3-glucanase additionally exhibits the properties indicated below: (3) decomposition activity: the ratio of paramylon decomposition activity with respect to laminarin decomposition activity is 20% or higher; (4) optimum pH: 3.7-7.0; and (5) optimum temperature: 30-70° C.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for introducing a gene into Euglena, which can stably maintain a foreign gene, and a transformant therefrom. In this method of introducing a gene into Euglena, a DNA fragment containing an amino acid sequence for encoding a protein is introduced into a Euglena cell. The method includes a step of producing a binary vector containing a DNA fragment, a step of obtaining a linear gene fragment that includes a T-DNA region including the DNA fragment in the binary vector, and a direct gene introduction step of directly introducing the linear gene fragment into the Euglena cell.

Abstract: A Euglena carrying a foreign gene of interest in an expressible manner is provided. A Euglena carrying a drug resistance gene and a foreign gene of interest in an expressible manner.

Abstract: Provided is a method for producing a euglena highly containing a wax ester, comprising aerobically culturing a microalga euglena by photosynthesis using carbon dioxide as a carbon source, then further culturing the microalga euglena under nitrogen-starvation conditions to increase paramylon accumulation per cell, and subsequently putting the microalga euglena under anaerobic conditions, so that a euglena highly containing a wax ester can be produced; and a method for producing a wax ester. The present invention relates to a method for producing a euglena highly containing a wax ester. The method comprises a first step of aerobically culturing a microalga euglena, a second step of further culturing a medium under nitrogen-starvation conditions, and a third step of retaining the cells under anaerobic conditions.

Abstract: The present invention provides a production method for biofuel based on a technology to convert carbon-dioxide as a carbon source through photosynthesis by photosynthetic microorganisms to biomass and produce biofuel of the biomass. The production method for biofuel of the present invention comprises a culturing process (S1) of culturing in a culture solution photosynthetic microorganisms which store oils, fats and carbohydrates in cells of the photosynthetic microorganisms, an oil and fat conversion process (S2) of converting the carbohydrates stored in the cells of the photosynthetic microorganisms cultured in the culture apparatus to oils and fats, an extraction process (S3) of extracting the oils and fats out of the cells of the photosynthetic microorganisms, and a reforming process (S4) to reform the extracted oils and fats.

Abstract: The present invention provides an allergy inhibitor using the efficacy of amorphous paramylon which is a substance obtained by changing the crystalline structure of paramylon. The present invention relates to a substance for inhibiting allergic diseases. Amorphous paramylon of the present invention is an allergy inhibitor comprising amorphous paramylon which is obtained by amorphosizing crystalline paramylon derived from Euglena, and has a relative crystallinity of 20% or lower to the crystallinity of crystalline paramylon, determined by an X-ray diffractometry. This allergy inhibitor enables efficacious inhibition of allergic diseases such as atopic dermatitis, pollinosis, and the like.

Abstract: Provided is a method for producing a euglena highly containing a wax ester, comprising aerobically culturing a microalga euglena by photosynthesis using carbon dioxide as a carbon source, then further culturing the microalga euglena under nitrogen-starvation conditions to increase paramylon accumulation per cell, and subsequently putting the microalga euglena under anaerobic conditions, so that a euglena highly containing a wax ester can be produced; and a method for producing a wax ester. The present invention relates to a method for producing a euglena highly containing a wax ester. The method comprises a first step of aerobically culturing a microalga euglena, a second step of further culturing a medium under nitrogen-starvation conditions, and a third step of retaining the cells under anaerobic conditions.