Abstract: Compounds of the formula ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 is optionally substituted phenyl, thienyl, 2-amino-4-thiazolyl or 2-chloroacetamido-4-thiazolyl; A is lower alkylene, lower alkenylene, or lower alkylene substituted by lower alkyl, amino, lower alkoxyimino or phenyl-Z-group wherein Z is a single bond or --S-- or --SO.sub.2 --, but when R.sub.1 is 2-amino-4-thiazolyl or 2-chloroacetamido-4-thiazolyl then A is lower alkylene substituted by lower alkoxyimino; R.sub.2 is hydrogen or hydroxyl; X is oxygen or sulfur and n=0 or 1, or a non-toxic salt thereof. These compounds have a stronger antibacterial activity against Gram positive bacteria as compared with known macrolide antibiotics such as erythromycin and tylosin, and also have an equivalent level of antibacterial activity against Gram negative bacteria as compared with that of erythromycin, and hence may be useful for clinical use. These compounds are also useful for feed additives and growth stimulants.

Abstract: Antibiotic saccharocins of the formula ##STR1## wherein R is hydrogen (saccharocin) or hydroxyl (3'-oxysaccharocin) are produced by culturing a microorganism belonging to the genus Saccharopolyspora, for example Saccharopolyspora sp. AC 3440 FERM-P No. 6238, in a conventional nutrient medium, and separating the thus-produced saccharocins from the cultured medium. The noval saccharocins exhibit anti-bacterial activity against Gram negative bacteria.

Abstract: An assay method for amylase activity in a biological specimen such as serum, saliva or urine. The enzyme amylase in the specimen is used to decompose a substrate which is a glucose polymer having a modified reducing terminal glucose residue or a cyclic glucose polymer. A component of the decomposed substrate is measured as an indication of amylase activity in the specimen. The residue may be amylose, amylopectin, starch, starch hydrolyzate, an etherified reducing terminal, an esterified reducing terminal, gluconolactone or a gluconic acid residue or its derivative. Decomposed substrate assay may be effected by contacting the same with maltose dehydrogenase and NAD or NADP, whereupon the assay is performed by measuring the amount of reduced NAD or reduced NADP, by reacting the same with reduced-form hydrogen transport colorimetric reaction reagent. This reagent may be a tetrazolium salt and diaphorase, or tetrazolium salt and phenazinemethosulfate.

Abstract: A process for the production of amine oxidase, which comprises culturing an amine-oxidase-producing microorganism belonging to the genus Talaromyces, genus Eupenicillium, genus Petromyces, genus Neosartorya or genus Eurotium, and isolating the thus-prepared amine oxidase from the cultured medium. The preferred strains of microorganisms under these genera are Talaromyces flavus var. flavus M 4175 FERM-P No. 5866, Eupenicillium parvum M 5051 FERM-P No. 5870, Petromyces alliaceus M 4648 FERM-P No. 5867, Neosaytorya fischeri M 4690 FERM-P No. 5868 and Eurotium chevalieri M 4805 FERM-P No. 5869.

Abstract: A novel peptide of the formulaH--Ser--Arg--Arg--Ala--Gln--Asp--Phe--Val--Gln--Trp--Leu--Met--Asn--Thr--OHis the 16-29 fragment of glucagon and can be conjugated with a protein such as albumin or modified albumin using glutaraldehyde or 3-(2'-benzothiazolyl-dithio) propionate succinimide ester as a conjugation reagent. The conjugated peptide can be used to sensitize a mammal by administering the conjugated peptide subcutaneously, after which the blood is collected from the mammal and antibodies concentrated from the blood, which antibodies are then useful in assay methods for trace amounts of glucagon in human blood.

Abstract: Antibiotic neplanocin A of the formula ##STR1## is produced by culturing Ampullariella sp. A 11079 FERM-P No. 4494 in a nutrient medium and then separating the neplanocin A thus produced from the culture medium.

Abstract: A compound of the formula ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are hydrogen or hydroxy and at least one of R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 is hydrogen, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, has strong antimicrobial and antibacterial activity..

Abstract: A compound of the formula ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are hydrogen or hydroxyl and at least one of R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 is hydrogen, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, has antibacterial activity against Gram positive bacteria and against macrolide-resistant A group bacteria.

Abstract: A peptide of the formulaR--Lys--Lys--Glu--Asp--Asn--Val--Leu--Val--Glu--Ser--His--Glu--Lys--Ser--Le u--Gly--Glu--Ala--Asp--Lys--Ala--Asp--Val--Asp--Val--Leu--Thr--Lys--Ala--Ly s--Ser--Gln--Ohwherein R is H, H--Tyr-- or R.sub.1 --Pro--Arg--, R.sub.1 is H, H--Tyr-- or R.sub.2 --Ala--Gly--Ser--Gln--Arg--, and R.sub.

Abstract: A peptide of the formulaR-SER-LEU-PRO-SER-PRO-SER-ARG-LEU-PRO-GLY-PRO-SER-ASP-THR-PRO-ILE-LEU-PRO-G LN-OHwhereinR: H or R.sub.1 -Ser-Ser-Ser-Ser-Lys-Ala-Pro-Pro-Pro group,R.sub.1 : H or R.sub.2 -R.sub.3 -Asp-Asp-Pro-Arg-Phe-Gln-Asp group,R.sub.2 : H or R.sub.4 -Asp-His-Pro-Leu-Thr group,R.sub.4 : H-R.sub.5 -Gly-Gly-Pro-Lys group,R.sub.5 : Cys or Tyr group, andR.sub.3 : Cys or S-acetamidemethyl-Cys group,or salt thereof, has utility for the preparation of antibodies for assaying human chorionic gonadotropin or as a labelling reagent.

Abstract: A microorganism strain B-0781 belonging to the genus Pseudomonas isolated from a soil sample from an onion field in Japan, produces a novel enzyme nucleoside oxidase having substrate specificity on various nucleosides and enzyme action to catalyze enzymatic reactions involving various nucleosides. The novel nucleoside oxidase is produced by culturing a nucleoside-oxidase-producing microorganism belonging to the genus Pseudomonas in a nutrient medium containing assimilable carbon and nitrogen and inorganic salt, and isolating the thus-formed nucleoside oxidase from the cultured cells. Various nucleoside-5'-carboxylic acids can be produced, by incubating the novel nucleoside oxidase with a nucleoside having a 5'-hydroxymethyl group, in an aqueous medium under aerobic conditions, and isolating the thus-formed nucleoside-5'-carboxylic acid from the incubation medium.

Abstract: Novel amine compounds of the formula ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 is lower alkyl and R.sub.2 is substituted methyl amino or D-amino acid residue, or a salt thereof. R.sub.1 can typically be isobutyl or methyl; and R.sub.2 can be methylamino of the formula--NH--CH.sub.2 --R.sub.3in which R.sub.3 is organic, more particularly methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, amyl, p-hydroxybenzyl, 3,4-di-hydroxybenzyl, 5-imidazolemethyl, 3-imidazolemethyl or phenyl. R.sub.2 can also be D-amino acid residue of the formula ##STR2## in which one of R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 is carboxyl and the other is organic, more particularly methylthioethyl, isobutyl, methyl or phenyl, and C* is a D-asymmetric carbon atom. The compounds are useful in an assay method for leucine and aminopeptidase which comprises reacting a substrate amide as above, or a salt thereof, with a sample for leucine aminopeptidase assay, incubating the reaction product produced thereby, and measuring the thus-consumed oxygen or liberated hydrogen peroxide.

Abstract: Aminoglycoside antibiotic G-367-2 believed to have the formula ##STR1## is produced by culturing Dactylosporangium thailandense G-367 FERM-P No. 4840 in a nutrient medium and separating the produced antibiotic therefrom. It has strong antibacterial effect against Gram negative bacteria.

Abstract: A novel glycerol kinase is produced from the microorganism Streptomyces canus FERM-P No. 4977 and is useful as a diagnostic reagent for assay of triglycerides and glycerol in body fluids such as serum.

Abstract: A process for the production of acyl-Coenzyme A oxidase, comprises culturing an acyl-Coenzyme A-oxidase-producing microorganism belonging to genus Macrophomina, genus Cladosporium, genus Aspergillus, genus Monascus, genus Saccharomyces or genus Arthrobacter in a nutrient medium, and isolating the thus-formed acyl-CoA oxidase therefrom. The preferred species of microorganism are Macrophomina phaseoli ATCC 14383, Cladosporium resinae IFO 6367, Aspergillus candidus M-4815 FERM-P No. 5226, Monascus sp. M-4800 FERM-P No. 5225, Saccharomyces cerevisiae Y 0036 FERM-P No. 5174, and Arthrobacter sp. B-720 FERM-P No. 5224, respectively.

Abstract: Deformyltylosin derivatives of the formula ##STR1## wherein A is ##STR2## --CH.dbd.CH-- or --CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 --, R.sub.1 is hydrogen, lower alkanoyl or aryl-lower alkanoyl, X.sub.1 and X.sub.2 are hydrogen or are connected to form a valence bond, Y.sub.1 and Y.sub.2 are hydrogen or are connected to form a valence bond, Q.sub.1 is hydrogen or methyl, Q.sub.2 is hydrogen or ##STR3## R.sub.2 is hydrogen or lower alkanoyl, R is hydrogen or ##STR4## R.sub.3 is hydrogen or C.sub.2-5 alkanoyl, and R.sub.4 is hydrogen or C.sub.2-6 alkanoyl, and when R.sub.3 is not hydrogen, then R.sub.4 is not hydrogen, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, have strong antibacterial activities as compared to the known antibiotic tylosin, and also have enhanced antibacterial activities against all macrolide antibiotic-resistant strains such as A, B and C group strains, and have higher blood levels as compared with tylosin.

Abstract: Ascorbate oxidase is produced by extraction from plants of the genus Sechium, particularly the species thereof which is Sechium edule Sw. The crushed plant tissues are extracted with an aqueous alkaline solvent, preferably at about pH 11. The extract is then subjected to centrifugation, concentration under vacuum, salting out with ammonium sulfate and solvent fractionation with acetone, to prepare crude ascorbate oxidase, which is then further purified by dialysis, ion exchange chromatography, adsorption chromatography and gel filtration. The ascorbate oxidase thus obtained has an optimum pH of about 7, a km value of 0.3 mM, an isoelectric point of around pH 6.3 and a molecular weight of about 100,000.

Abstract: Neplanocin-B and -F of the formula ##STR1## in which Y is oxygen or a valence bond, are produced by culturing Ampullariella sp. A 11079 FERM-P No. 4494 in a nutrient medium and then separating the neplanocin-B and -F thus produced from the culture medium.

Abstract: Aminoglycoside antibiotic G-367-1 believed to have the formulae ##STR1## is produced by culturing Dactylosporangium thailandense G-367 FERM-P No. 4840 in a nutrient medium and separating the produced antibiotic therefrom. It has strong antibacterial effect against Gram negative bacteria.

Abstract: A group of sulfur-containing antibiotics, planothiocin-A, -B, -C, -D, -E, -F and -G, are produced by culturing Actinoplanes sp. A12526 in a nutrient medium, and separating the thus-produced planothiocins therefrom. The novel antibiotics have utility in therapeutic or prophylactic antibacterial compositions or feed additives for livestock, poultry or fish.