Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to provide a detection means whereby Staphylococcus aureus can be identified at a high accuracy. An aspect of the present invention relates to a medium for detecting S. aureus which comprises one or more kinds of nutrient components, a color developing agent capable of developing a color in the presence of ?-glucosidase, a color developing agent capable of developing a color in the presence of phosphatase and 0.5 mg/cm3 or more of sodium colistin methanesulfonate. Another aspect of the present invention relates to a sheet for detecting S. aureus, said sheet comprising the aforesaid medium, and a method for detecting S. aureus with the use of the medium and sheet as described above.

Abstract: Provided are an amadoriase that is less likely to be influenced by oxygen concentration and a method and a reagent kit for measurement of HbA1c using such amadoriase. Provided are an amadoriase that is obtained via substitution of one or more amino acid residues at a position or positions corresponding to the position(s) selected from the group consisting of positions 280, 267, 269, 54, and 241 of the amadoriase derived from the genus Coniochaeta, a method for measurement of HbA1c, a reagent kit for measurement, and a sensor using such amadoriase. The modified amadoriase according to the invention has a lowered oxidase activity and an enhanced dehydrogenase activity, and this enables the use of an electron mediator, and this reduces the influence of oxygen concentration. Thus, HbA1c can be measured with high sensitivity.

Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to provide a container-packed composition in which a heat deterioration smell, such as a retort smell based on contained ingredients such as soy sauce, meat, and soybean protein, is reduced; a processed food using the composition and a method of producing the processed food; and a composition in which a smell specific to meat is suppressed, and a flavor of the meat is improved so as to impart umami of meat, regardless of the type of meat. The purpose is achieved by: a container-packed composition containing at least one ingredient selected from the group consisting of a seasoning component, vegetables, meat, and seafood and having a phenethyl acetate content of 1.0 ppb or more and less than 1,000 ppb; and a container-packed composition containing animal meat and having a phenethyl acetate content of 1 ppb or more and less than 1,500 ppb.

Abstract: To reduce the effect of L-proline in the reaction of a sarcosine oxidase. A modified sarcosine oxidase having reduced reactivity to L-proline is provided.

Abstract: Provided is a compound which accelerates the enzymatic reaction catalyzed by an oxidase. The present invention provides an oxidase reaction accelerating agent comprising a compound represented by formula (I) and a method using the same.

Abstract: An object to modify the substrate specificity of glucose dehydrogenase is provided. Also provided are a method of modifying the substrate specificity of glucose dehydrogenase by using a glucose dehydrogenase substrate specificity modifier, the modifier being a glucose analog and a low molecular weight compound, as well as a glucose dehydrogenase substrate specificity modifier.

Abstract: A synthetic resin-made multilayer bottle includes: an outer shell bottle having a shoulder section continuing from an outer opening section, and a body section continuing from the shoulder section; a synthetic resin-made inner container body having a cylindrical inner opening section provided inside the outer opening section of the outer shell bottle, and an inner container main body continuing from the inner opening section, shaped along an inner surface shape of the outer shell bottle, which deforms by an external pressure; and an air passage formed between the outer opening section and the inner opening section and which introduces outside air between the outer shell bottle and the inner container body. The inner circumferential surface of the inner opening section is provided with a small-diameter section having a diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the open end of the inner opening section.

Abstract: The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a method of producing isoprenoids including ascofuranone, ilicicolin A, and ascochlorin and derivatives thereof in a high yield as compared to the conventional art, which method enables industrial-scale production of isoprenoids. The problem can be solved by a method of producing isoprenoids such as ascofuranone, ilicicolin A, and ascochlorin, including using a transformant obtained by transformation with biosynthetic genes for ascofuranone, ilicicolin A, or ascochlorin or a knockout organism for these genes to obtain isoprenoids such as ascofuranone, ilicicolin A, and ascochlorin.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an object of the present invention is to provide a firefly luciferase having improved thermostability. In one embodiment, the present invention relates to a luciferase mutant having improved thermostability that is a mutant of firefly luciferase comprising an amino acid sequence in which the amino acid residue at the position corresponding to position 393 of SEQ ID NO 1 is substituted, a polynucleotide encoding the luciferase mutant, and a production method of the luciferase mutant.

Abstract: Provided are: a citrus seed extract-containing composition, a food and a drug all of which sufficiently exert a novel function of a citrus (specifically, a citrus seed extract), and a method for producing the citrus seed extract-containing composition. The citrus seed extract-containing composition includes obacunone and nomilin both derived from a citrus seed extract. Herein, the ratio of the obacunone content to the nomilin content (i.e., obacunone content/nomilin content) is at least 0.020.

Abstract: The objective of the present invention is to provide a transformed Aspergillus microorganism lacking at least two types of selection marker genes available for marker recycling method and a composition therefor. The objective can be achieved by a transformed Aspergillus microorganism lacking at least two types of selection marker genes available for marker recycling method on its chromosomes, or a composition for transforming an Aspergillus microorganism containing at least two types of nucleic acid fragments containing a loop-out region and a selection marker gene available for marker recycling method between homologous recombination regions, wherein the selection marker genes contain a tryptophan biosynthesis gene and a gene different from tryptophan biosynthesis gene.

Abstract: A cytochrome b-glucose dehydrogenase fusion protein having modified electron transfer properties, and a glucose measurement method and measuring kit using the cytochrome b-glucose dehydrogenase fusion protein are provided. Provided are a cytochrome b-glucose dehydrogenase fusion protein in which glucose dehydrogenase having homology with SEQ ID NO: 1 or SEQ ID NO: 4 and cytochrome b are linked together, as well as a glucose measurement method, a measurement reagent kit and a sensor using the cytochrome b-glucose dehydrogenase fusion protein. The cytochrome b-glucose dehydrogenase fusion protein of the present invention has modified electron transfer properties, and can be used for measuring glucose in the presence of a free-form mediator in reduced concentration or in the absence of a free-form mediator, and can be used, for example, in continuous glucose monitoring.

Abstract: Provided is a compound capable of accelerating the enzymatic reaction catalyzed by peroxidase. The present invention provides a peroxidase reaction accelerating agent comprising a compound represented by formula (I) and a method for measuring hydrogen peroxide using the same.

Abstract: The present invention provides a composition that enables measurement of glycated hemoglobin in the presence of a stronger surfactant than conventional surfactants. To this end, the present invention provides an amadoriase in which one or more amino acids have been substituted at positions corresponding to positions selected from the group consisting of positions 80, 71, 175, 172, 279, 12, 9, 77, 30, 28, 13, 3, 4, 286, 204, 338, 44, 340, and 194 of the amadoriase derived from the genus Coniochaeta having the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 1 as well as a composition for measurement of glycated hemoglobin comprising an amadoriase that retains activity in the presence of an anionic surfactant. The present invention can provide an enzyme and a composition for measurement of glycated hemoglobin that sufficiently remain stable even when exposed to anionic surfactants.

Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to provide an organism having an ergothioneine productivity that is capable of easily producing ergothioneine within a short period of time at a high yield, as compared with a conventional technology, and, therefore, enables ergothioneine production on an industrial scale. This purpose can be achieved by a transformed fungus into which a gene encoding enzyme (1) or genes encoding enzymes (1) and (2) have been inserted and in which the inserted gene(s) are overexpressed. (1) an enzyme catalyzing a reaction of synthesizing hercynyl cysteine sulfoxide from histidine and cysteine in the presence of S-adenosyl methionine, iron (II) and oxygen. (2) An enzyme catalyzing a reaction of synthesizing ergothioneine from hercynyl cysteine sulfoxide using pyridoxal 5?-phosphate as a coenzyme.

Abstract: To provide a container including an inner container that is deformed as content decreases, the container being a dispensing container reusable and excellent in an aroma retaining property. To implement such container, a dispensing container (10) includes a container body (13) including a flexible inner container configured to be filled with content and to deflate as the content decreases, and an outer container encompassing the inner container and having an intake hole through which external air is taken into a space between the inner container and the outer container, a discharge cap (15) including a top surface part having a discharge port through which the content is discharged, the discharge cap (15) being mounted on a mouth portion (13a) of the container body (13), and an external air introduction hole that provides communication between the outside and the intake hole. The inner container and the outer container are made of a polyethylene terephthalate resin.

Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to provide a method for producing selenoneine that allows production of selenoneine at higher yields as compared with a conventional technology, and, therefore, enables selenoneine production on an industrial scale. This purpose can be achieved by a method for producing selenoneine, comprising the step of applying histidine and a selenium compound to a transformant that has a gene encoding an enzyme of (1) below introduced therein and that can overexpress the introduced gene, to obtain selenoneine. (1) An enzyme that catalyzes a reaction in which hercynylselenocysteine is produced from histidine and selenocysteine in the presence of S-adenosylmethionine and iron (II).

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a convenient sampling method and kit for histamine measurement. The present invention provides a method and a kit which involve non-invasively sampling a specimen, and detecting histamine from the obtained sample.

Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to provide a composition containing, as an active ingredient, a substance having rich history of use in foods or an ingestion experience in human and having an effect of inhibiting Fc?RI expression on a pDC. This purpose can be achieved by a composition for activating plasmacytoid dendritic cell comprising: at least one active ingredient selected from the group consisting of a bacterial cell, a bacterial component, and a culture of Pediococcus lactic acid bacteria, and a product obtained by treating any one of them, and having an effect of inhibiting Fc?RI expression on a plasmacytoid dendritic cell.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a fermented seasoning containing 5?-nucleotides derived from fermentation at a high concentration without externally adding 5?-nucleotides and a method of producing the same. In a case where the nucleic acids are externally added, display of additives is indispensable on an ingredients description, and thus it cannot be said that the fermented seasoning have no chemical seasoning additive or made by natural brewing; however, with the fermented seasoning relating to the present invention, it is unnecessary to display additives on the ingredients description, and thus it is possible to appeal an added value to nature oriented or natural oriented consumers.