Abstract: A technique for producing microbial cellulose is provided, including: preparing a liquid medium for microbial cultivation in a container; horizontally rotating multiple hollow tubes that are fitted together or separated from one another, so that each of the hollow tubes is alternately partially immersed in the liquid medium and partially exposed above the horizontal surface of the liquid medium; wherein each of the hollow tubes has a rough outer surface and a smooth inner surface, so as to allow microorganisms to form microbial cellulose on the outer surface of each hollow tube, as well as forming sheets of microbial cellulose on the horizontal surface of the liquid medium not being disturbed by the hollow tubes, and removing the microbial cellulose from the outer surfaces of the hollow tubes in order to obtain tubular microbial cellulose. In addition, the sheets of microbial cellulose are also harvested from the liquid medium.

Abstract: Promoters and usage thereof. Two promoters, acuF and hsp promoters, comprise the nucleotide sequences of SEQ ID NO: 1 and 2, respectively.

Abstract: A process for producing a peptide product having cholecystokinin secretion promoting effect, said process comprising hydrolyzing soybean residues with one or more proteases so that the peptide product having cholecystokinin secretion promoting effect is obtained. Also disclosed is the composition containing the peptide product and the use thereof.

Abstract: The present invention is related to a device for subculturing embryonic stem cells, which mainly contains a cutting brush having a handle and a brush stem. The brush stem has a stem and a plurality of discrete upright wires disposed on the stem. The brush stem is mounted onto a front end of the handle, and an angle between the brush stem and the handle ranges from 70 to 90 degrees. The distance between two adjacent wires is smaller than the diameter of a block of the embryonic stem cells to be cut for next generation culturing, so that the cutting brush can evenly cut the block into a plurality of smaller blocks of embryonic stem cells.

Abstract: An extract of Polygonum multiflorum Thunb. ex Murray var. hypoleucum (Ohwi) or of Polygonum hypoleucum (Ohwi) for improving metabolic syndrome is prepared by the following method: (a) providing fresh or dry Polygonum multiflorum Thunb. ex Murray var. hypoleucum (Ohwi) or Polygonum hypoleucum (Ohwi) in partial or whole plant ; (b) extracting the partial or whole plant by a solvent to obtain a crude extract; (c) condensing and drying the crude extract to obtain an extract product; and (d) collecting the extract product. The present invention also relates to a pharmaceutical and a food composition having the above extract for improving the metabolic syndromes. The extract of the present invention can be easily prepared and is demonstrated to modulate the levels of both blood glucose and blood lipid, to inhibit the activities of glycolytic enzymes and acetyl-CoA carboxylase, and to stimulate acyl-CoA oxidase. The extract of the present invention is capable of improving metabolic syndromes.

Abstract: Proteins isolated from Coprinus clastophyllus having prolyl oligopeptidase activity, nucleic acids encoding the protein and methods for producing and using the protein, wherein SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:9 and SEQ ID NO:10 must be contained therein to at least 60% similarity. The proteins and nucleic acids have improved heat stability and perform more favorably in vivo having optimum activity conditions around 40 degrees centigrade and around pH 7, and can therefore be used in medicaments for the treatment of celiac disease caused by proline abundant gluten or other applications.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of reducing the purine content of an edible material, including treating an edible material having a first level of purine content with a microorganism capable of digesting purine compounds, such that the thus treated edible material has a second level of purine content lower than the first level of purine content, wherein the microorganism is selected from Aspergillus oryzae ATCC 11493, Aspergillus oryzae ATCC 26850, Aspergillus oryzae ATCC 44193, Aspergillus oryzae ATCC 26831, Rhizopus oryzae ATCC 52362, and combinations thereof. An edible material obtained from the aforementioned method is also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an isolated Pediococcus acidilactici 05B0111 capable of producing an exopolysaccharide. The Pediococcus acidilactici 05B0111 is deposited in Biosource Collection and Research Center (BCRC) of Food Industry Research and Development Institute (FIRDI) under an accession number BCRC 910420 and deposited in Deutsche Sammlung von Mikroorganismen und Zellkulturen GmbH (DSMZ) under an accession number DSM 22345. A method of producing an exopolysaccharide is also disclosed. The method involves cultivating an isolated Pediococcus acidilactici in a suitable medium under condition such that the exopolysaccharide is formed. A pharmaceutical composition including the aforementioned Pediococcus acidilactici 05B0111 and a food product including the aforementioned Pediococcus acidilactici 05B0111 are disclosed as well.

Abstract: The present invention relates to extracts of Eleutherococcus spp. and the preparation process thereof. The present invention also relates to the use of the Eleutherococcus spp. extracts of the present invention for the treatment or prevention of at least one condition of metabolic syndrome.

Abstract: A technique for producing microbial cellulose is provided, including: preparing a liquid medium for microbial cultivation in a container; horizontally rotating multiple hollow tubes that are fitted together or separated from one another, so that each of the hollow tubes is alternately partially immersed in the liquid medium and partially exposed above the horizontal surface of the liquid medium; wherein each of the hollow tubes has a rough outer surface and a smooth inner surface, so as to allow microorganisms to form microbial cellulose on the outer surface of each hollow tube, as well as forming sheets of microbial cellulose on the horizontal surface of the liquid medium not being disturbed by the hollow tubes, and removing the microbial cellulose from the outer surfaces of the hollow tubes in order to obtain tubular microbial cellulose. In addition, the sheets of microbial cellulose are also harvested from the liquid medium.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are media and processes for the ex vivo production of megakaryocytes from human CD34+ cells, in which human CD34+ cells, either being freshly isolated from a newborn's cord blood or having been subcultured in an expansion medium after isolation from a newborn's cord blood, are subjected to cultivation in a cultivating medium consisting essentially of a basal medium, a serum substitute and a cytokine cocktail, wherein the serum substitute consists of human serum albumin, insulin, and transferrin; and the cytokine cocktail consists of thrombopoietin (TPO), stem cell factor (SCF), Flt-3 ligand (FL), interleukin-3 (IL-3), IL-6, IL-9, and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF).

Abstract: The present invention relates to an antifungal protein gene and cDNA sequence thereof, which is obtained by mining the whole genome sequences of Monascus pilosus BCRC 38072 and the unigene database. The gene can encode an antifungal protein MAFP1. A purified protein obtained from M. pilosus culture broth having molecular weight of about 7 kDa is identified as MAFP1 by N-terminal protein sequencing and comparative analysis. The purified MAFP1 protein can inhibit the growth of pathogens such as Paecilomyces variotii BCRC 33174 and Helminthosporium panici BCRC 35004. In addition, it is found by PCR test that the gene of this antifungal protein exists in other Monascus species such as M. Barkeri, M. floridanus, M. lunisporas, M. pilosus, M. ruber and the like. It is also been proved that the mafp1 gene and cDNA thereof in four Monascus strains, M. pilosus (BCRC 38072, BCRC 38093 and BCRC 31502) and M. ruber BCRC 31533, have the same DNA sequences.

Abstract: A protein of amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO:6 isolated from Coprinus clastophyllus. The protein is stable at 30 to 37 degrees centigrade and has an optimal prolyl oligopeptidase activity at about 45 degree centigrade and at about pH 7. The present invention also relates to a medicament comprising such protein for treating celiac disease caused by proline abundant gluten.

Abstract: This invention relates to a pectin-modified resistant starch prepared by cross-linking starch with pectin by pectinesterase reaction. Such resistant starch is low amylase digestible and thus is useful in food products, including nutritional supplements, to reduce calorie content and increase fiber content. This invention also relates to a composition containing the resistant starch and a process for the preparation of the same.

Abstract: A stroma-free, serum-free, and chemically defined medium and a method for mononuclear cell expansion ex vivo using the same. An exemplary medium includes a basal medium, a serum substitute, and a cytokine formula.

Abstract: Proteins isolated from Coprinus clastophyllus having prolyl oligopeptidase activity, nucleic acids encoding the protein and methods for producing and using the protein, wherein SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:9 and SEQ ID NO:10 must be contained therein to at least 60% similarity. The proteins and nucleic acids have improved heat stability and perform more favorably in vivo having optimum activity conditions around 40 degrees centigrade and around pH 7, and can therefore be used in medicaments for the treatment of celiac disease caused by proline abundant gluten or other applications.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the cloning and expression of a novel ?-agarase gene, agaB1, and a novel ?-agarase, AgaB1, encoded from the gene. The present invention also provides a method for producing the ?-agarase, and the utilization of the ?-agarase.

Abstract: A method for preparing chitosan nanoparticles in water phase is provided. The method comprises the following steps: (a) providing a chitosan solution having a concentration of about 0.05 w/v % to about 1 w/v %, (b) adding water first and then followed by acetic anhydride to the chitosan solution to carry out acetylation, wherein the concentration of acetic anhydride is from about 10 v/v % to about 30 v/v % of the total volume of the whole solution, and (c) subjecting the solution from step (b) to physical dispersion.

Abstract: A process for producing a peptide product having cholecystokinin secretion promoting effect, said process comprising hydrolyzing soybean residues with one or more proteases so that the peptide product having cholecystokinin secretion promoting effect is obtained. Also disclosed is the composition containing the peptide product and the use thereof.

Abstract: Promoters and usage thereof. Two promoters, acuF and hsp promoters, comprise the nucleotide sequences of SEQ ID NO: 1 and 2, respectively.