Abstract: There are provided microorganisms having a property of producing a lipid containing unsaturated fatty acids as constituent fatty acids and extracellularly secreting the produced lipid encapsulated in lipid particles, methods of screening said microorganisms, as well as methods of efficiently producing a fatty acid-containing lipid using said microorganisms. Furthermore, there are provided lipid particles encapsulating a lipid containing unsaturated fatty acids, and foods, cosmetics, and animal feeds comprising said lipid particles added thereto. Artificially treated microorganisms or microorganisms collected from nature are grown on a solid medium, and microbial strains that form lipid particles at the periphery of the colonies and/or microbial strains that, when cultured in a transparent liquid medium, make the culture liquid cloudy are selected.

Abstract: The invention provides methods for treating an obstructed biological conduit that include administering to the conduit an agent that can degrade extracellular matrix of obstructing tissue. Particular methods include delivery of an enzyme or a mixture of several enzymes to the area or region of obstruction wherein the enzyme(s) have the capability to degrade extracellular matrix components within the obstruction thereby restoring the normal flow of transported fluid through the conduit. The invention also includes prophylactically dilating a section of conduit to minimize the risk of obstruction formation.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of preparing pure or substantially pure D-myo-inositol-3-phosphate from glucose-6-phosphate and/or fructose-6-phosphate. The method may also be applied to protected and/or derivative forms of glucose-6-phosphate and/or fructose-6-phosphate so as to form protected/derivative forms of D-myo-inositol-3-phosphate, for use in further chemical reactions. The enzyme D-myo-inositol-3-phosphate synthase (INO1) is contacted with the glucose-6-phosphate and/or fructose-6-phosphate to generate labeled or unlabeled, protected or unprotected D-myo-inositol-3-phosphate, which may be further reacted and/or purified.

Abstract: Provided is a means for evaluating the wetting characteristic of an object such as a cell sheet and a culture dish in a non-contact fashion. The wetting characteristic of an object is evaluated by a method comprising the steps of: (1) removing a liquid by jetting a gas at a surface of the object covered with the liquid, (2) measuring a dimension of a region in which the liquid is removed after the completion of the gas jetting and (3) evaluating the wetting characteristic of the object using the measured dimension as an index.

Abstract: This invention relates to a preparation comprising a probiotic bacterial strain and a prebiotic mixture comprising 5-70 wt % of at least one N-acetylated oligosaccharide selected from the group consisting of Ga1NAc?1-3Ga1?1-4G1c, Ga1?1-6Ga1Nac?1-3Ga1?1-4G1c and combinations thereof, 20-95 wt % of at least one neutral oligosaccharide selected from the group consisting of Gal?1-6Gal, Gal?1-6Gal?1-4Glc, Gal?1-6Gal?1-6Glc, Gal?1-3Gal?1-3Glc, Gal?1-3Gal?1-4Glc, Gal?1-6Gal?1-6Gal?1-4Glc, Gal?1-6Gal?1-3Gal?1-4Glc, Gal?1-3Gal?1-6Gal?1-4Glc, Gal?1-3Gal?1-3Gal?1-4Glc and combinations thereof and 2-50 wt % of at least one sialylated oligosaccharide selected from the group consisting of NeuAc?2-3Gal?1-4Glc, NeuAc?2-6Ga1?1-4G1c and combinations thereof. The invention extends to food products comprising said preparation and to the use of the preparation in the prevention and treatment of infections.

Abstract: A porous matrix suitable for use as a tissue scaffold is described. The matrix may be shaped before insertion into or at the target tissue site, or injected via a minimally invasive method. The matrix may be pre-seeded with cells of the target tissue or may be used to support growth of the local endogenous tissue. The matrix may contain growth factors or other pharmacologically acceptable moieties such as antibiotics.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions that include an extract of human feces, and methods for using such compositions, including methods for replacing or supplementing or modifying a subject's colon microbiota, and methods for treating a disease, pathological condition, and/or iatrogenic condition of the colon.

Abstract: A method for recovering lactic acid from an aqueous mixture including the steps of: providing an aqueous mixture including lactic acid and at least 5 wt. % dissolved magnesium chloride, based on the total weight of water and dissolved material in the aqueous mixture; extracting the lactic acid from the aqueous mixture into a first organic liquid including an organic solvent selected from the group consisting of C5+ ketones, diethylether and methyl-tertiary-butyl-ether, thereby obtaining an organic lactic acid solution and an aqueous waste liquid including magnesium chloride; and extracting the lactic acid from the organic lactic acid solution into an aqueous liquid, thereby obtaining an aqueous lactic acid solution and a second organic liquid. The method according to the invention allows a combined purification and concentration step for feed solutions of lactic acid.

Abstract: The present invention refers to articles for collecting samples from a surface, articles for microbiological analyses of said samples, and methods of use of said articles. The articles include sample collectors, sample housings with optional barrier layers, and sample-ready reagent strips comprising hydrophilic agents to grow and detect microorganisms. The disclosure includes methods to collect, detect, and quantify microorganisms in a surface sample.

Abstract: Methods are provided to control the harvesting of desired metabolic byproducts from hypersaline photosynthetic algae. Methods are presented to control secretion of said metabolic products in monocultures and co-cultures after accumulation of byproducts. The metabolic byproduct secretion is controlled by controlling caspase activity.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a two stage continuous microbiological process for the production of solvents such as acetone, butanol and ethanol. The process involves the use of a solventogenic bacteria such as clostridia. In the first(acidogenic) stage, the culture vessel is fed with fresh growth media at dilution rates that support fast growth and acid production. The culture flows into the second (solventogenic) stage, which is a separate culture vessel or vessels, designed to provide the culture with sufficient residence time to convert acids into solvents. This vessel can be tubular or a series of linked batch vessels.

Abstract: The efficient production of ethanol from low-cost biomass (e.g., corn, sugar beets, sugar cane, switchgrass and/or paper) has become increasingly important in making ethanol competitive with gasoline and decreasing the United States' dependence on foreign oil. For example, to reduce the cost of transporting biomass to ethanol production facilities, mobile systems for producing ethanol from biomass are provided. Also provided are small-scale ethanol production facilities. For example, instead of transporting biomass to the production facility, the facility is transported to the biomass or is located nearby the source of the biomass. The ethanol production facilities or components thereof may be transported via land, water, or air. Production of other products, such as hydrocarbons, natural gas, hydrogen gas, plastics, polymers, and proteins, can also be made by the methods and facilities. Any product described herein can be made in finished form or un-finished form and moved, e.g., to a fixed facility, e.g.

Abstract: The present invention provides processes for producing porous silk fibroin scaffold material. The porous silk fibroin scaffold can be used for tissue engineering. The porosity of the silk fibroin scaffolds described herein can be adjusted as to mimic the gradient of densities found in natural tissue. Accordingly, methods for engineering of 3-dimensional tissue, e.g. bone and cartilage, using the silk fibroin scaffold material are also provided.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to the field of nanoscale materials, and more specifically to the field of nanoscale materials for activating delivered molecules at a target location.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions containing concentrated biologically-active ingredients for treating wastewater in systems such as septic tanks, cesspools, and sewage systems.

Abstract: Methods are disclosed for controlling the population of acetoclastic microorganisms in a process for the bioconversion of gas substrate comprising at least one of CO and a mixture of CO2 and hydrogen to at least one oxygenated organic compound by contact of said gas substrate under acidic, anaerobic fermentation conditions in a bioreactor containing an aqueous fermentation broth having a population of at least one acetogenic microorganism for bioconverting said gas substrate to at least one acetogenic oxygenated organic compound, said fermentation zone defining a head space, said methods comprising continuously or intermittently controlling the partial pressure of carbon dioxide in the head space to provide a desired population ratio of acetoclastic microorganisms to acetogenic microorganisms.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions that include an extract of human feces, and methods for using such compositions, including methods for replacing or supplementing or modifying a subject's colon microbiota, and methods for treating a disease, pathological condition, and/or iatrogenic condition of the colon.

Abstract: The disclosure provides culture devices and methods useful for detecting acid-producing bacteria in a sample. The devices include a nutrient medium and a pH indicator to detect and differentiate acid-producing microorganisms, such as lactic acid bacteria. Methods of use include detecting or enumerating acid-producing microorganisms. The methods further provide for the detection of gas-producing acid-producing bacteria.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of a compound, suitable for modulating the interaction between first and second partner proteins, or between homologues, mutants, or fragments of said proteins, said first and second proteins being SASPase and filaggrin-2, or FLG2, as an active agent for treating and/or preventing aesthetic defects in the skin, and/or in the appendages thereof, linked to an imbalance in the differentiation and/or proliferation of the cells of the epidermis.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a method for consolidated bio processing of lignocellulosic biomass to L-Lactic acid. Particularly, the present invention relates to the production of L-Lactic Acid from low cost non edible feedstock lignocellulosic biomass. More particularly the present invention relates to the process for one step production of L-Lactic Acid from lignocellulosic biomass using thermophilic bacteria Paenibacillus macerans IIPSP3 (MTCC 5569), which is not only capable of hydrolyzing cellulose to glucose but also further fermenting it to L-Lactic Acid under aerobic conditions, without any growth inhibition in presence of lignin. The present invention provides a process which has less chances of contamination, as the fermentation is carried out at higher temperatures and is economically attractive, as preferably no external enzyme loadings are required.