Abstract: The invention features a method of producing heterologous molecules in cells under the regulatory control of a metabolite and metabolic flux. The method can enhance the synthesis of heterologous polypeptides and metabolites.

Abstract: The invention relates to Monascus purpureus mutants, which are useful in the preparation of fermentation products having blood pressure lowering activity with a very low amount of citrinin.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for rapid identification of Bacillus Cereus comprising utilizing an antibody specific to a certain surface antigen of B. cereus, and the kit for performing the method.

Abstract: The invention relates to a mutant of Monascus purpureus, designated as Monascus purpureus M011, which is useful in a process for production of yellow pigments, and the products prepared thereby.

Abstract: A process for producing dried meat is disclosed. First, a raw meat is sliced into a sliced meat having a thickness less than 1 cm. Then, the sliced meat is allowed to release salt soluble protein in an amount of 1.5 to 5.5 wt % of the total weight of the sliced meat. Then, the sliced meat is reformed into a reformed meat loaf. Finally, the reformed meat loaf is frozen, sliced, dried, and baked to obtain a reformed dried meat. The manual cost can be effectively saved and the chance of pollution can be reduced. Also, the obtained reformed dried meat has fibrous properties, and the appearance and eating quality are very close to those of the dried meat product obtained from conventional processes.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of reducing nitric oxide production by a cell in vitro or in a mammal by a cell by contacting the cell with chitosan or its derivatives in an amount effective to reduce nitric oxide production in the cell.

Abstract: The invention relates to a mutant of Monascus purpureus, designated as Monascus purpureus M011, which is useful in the production of yellow pigments with a low amount of citrinin.

Abstract: The invention provides a DNA molecule encoding transglutaminase of Streptoverticillium ladakanum, the encoded transglutaminase and the use of the transglutaminase in industrial process.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of producing chitin or chitosan by culturing a Rhizopus azygosporus fungus or an Actinomucor taiwanensis fungus and isolating chitosan or chitin from the culture.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for rapid identification of Bacillus Cereus comprising utilizing an antibody specific to a certain surface antigen of B. cereus, and the kit for performing the method.

Abstract: A method of producing erythritol. The method includes growing in a culture an isolated yeast strain that possesses certain unique characteristics and is capable of converting glucose to erythritol in a glucose-containing medium, and purifying erythritol from the culture.

Abstract: A method of determining whether a test microorganism is a known microorganism, involving use of an agent that specifically affects the growth of the known microorganism. The invention also features a method of identifying E. coli O157:H7 that are based on following criteria: a test microorganism is E. coli O157:H7 if the microorganism is (i) E. coli, (ii) incapable of fermenting sorbitol, and (iii) susceptible to infection by AR1 phage.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of producing chitin or chitosan by culturing a Rhizopus azygosporus fungus or an Actinomucor taiwanensis fungus and isolating chitosan or chitin from the culture.

Abstract: Bifidobacteria strains and mutants thereof having tolerance in the gastrointestinal environments and to a method for culturing the same. Strains of the invention include Bifidobacterium longum ATCC No.(s) 55815, 55816, 55817 and 55818. All of which have tolerances against bile salt, acid and oxygen and which have been obtained through mutagenesis and screening for tolerances against bile salt, acid and oxygen by using acid tolerant using acid-tolerant Bifidobacterium longum Y1 and Y2 strains (ATCC 55813 and 55814). These strains can be isolated from healthy infant feces as the parent strains. Further, an isolated Bifidobacterium mutant strain which grows aerobically, is ten times more tolerant to hydrochloric acid at a pH of 1.5 to 4.5 and is also tolerant to oxgall at 0.3% in a culture medium is disclosed. The strains show excellent growth under aerobic condition in the presence of skim milk without supplement of other growth promoting substances.

Abstract: A yeast strain capable of converting glucose to erythritol, said strain having the following identifying characteristics: an absence of motile spores; septate mycelia; asexual reproduction; an absence of reniform cells; conidia optionally formed on short denticles but not on elongate stalks; an absence of ballistoconidia; non-monopolar budding on a broad base; acropetal chains of blastoconidia; dark brown, thick-walled chlamydospores; an ability to assimilate sucrose, glycerol and maltose; an inability to assimilate lactose; an inability to ferment galactose; an ability to grow in a vitamin-free medium; and an ability to grow at 25° C. to 36° C.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of producing chitin or chitosan by culturing a Rhizopus azygosporus fungus or an Actinomucor taiwanensis fungus and isolating chitosan or chitin from the culture.

Abstract: This invention relates to the isolation of thermophilic phytase-producing microorganisms, method for producing phytase using such microorganisms, phytase obtained therefrom, and usage of the phytase to hydrolyze phytic acid or phytate. In particular, this invention relates to phytase-producing microorganisms, which belong to Streptomyces sp., Pseudonocardia sp. or Microbispora sp., and which produce phytase available for recovery in an efficient and practical manner.

Abstract: A method of determining whether a test microorganism is a known microorganism, involving use of an agent that specifically affects the growth of the known microorganism. The invention also features a method of identifying E. coli O157:H7 that are based on the following criteria: a test microorganism is E. coli O157:H7 if the microorganism is (i) E. coli, (ii) incapable of fermenting sorbitol, and (iii) susceptible to infection by AR1 phage.

Abstract: This invention relates to the isolation of thermophilic phytase-producing microorganisms, method for producing phytase using such microorganisms, phytase obtained therefrom, and usage of the phytase to hydrolyze phytic acid or phytate. In particular, this invention relates to phytase-producing microorganisms, which belong to Streptomyces sp., Pseudonocardia sp. or Microbispora sp., and which produce phytase available for recovery in an efficient and practical manner.

Abstract: A fungus which has high infectivity toward a stem, leaf, bud, or flower nematode and is characterized by the production of a first type of conidiophores, conidiogenous cells, and conidia and a second type of conidiophores, conidiogenous cells, and conidia when grown in vivo or on a solid medium. The first type of conidiophores is macronematous, mononematous, simple, erect, and broadly ampulliform; the first type of conidiogenous cells is integrated, phialidic, and rarely percurrent; and the first type of the conidia is solitary, one-celled, asymmetrically ellipsoidal, lunate, and concave. The second type of conidiophore is macronematous, mononematous, simple or branched, cylindrical, subulate, and elongate; the second type of conidiogenous cells is integrated, phialidic, enteroblastic, terminal or intercalary, laterally proliferic, and indeterminate; and the second type of conidia is solitary, one-celled, bacilloid, and cylindrical. In particular, a fungal culture Esteya vermicola ATCC74485.