Abstract: Agents for treating pain, methods for producing the agents and methods for treating pain by administration to a patient of a therapeutically effective amount of the agent. The agent can include a clostridial neurotoxin, or a component or fragment or derivative thereof, attached to a targeting moiety, wherein the targeting moiety is selected from a group consisting of transmission compounds which can be released from neurons upon the transmission of pain signals by the neurons, and compounds substantially similar to the transmission compounds.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for producing an L-amino acid, in particular, L-threonine, which comprises: cultivating a microorganism of the family Enterobacteriaceae producing the desired L-amino acid under conditions suitable for production of the amino acid, in which the fruR (cra) (fructose repressor) gene or nucleotide secluences coding therefor in the microorganism is attenuated, in particular are switched off or eliminated, and recovering the L-amino acid from the medium or in the cells of the microorganism.

Abstract: A peptide has any one of the sequences SEQ ID NO.1 to SEQ ID NO.8, or has a sequence derived from any one of the sequences SEQ ID NO.1 to SEQ ID NO.8 by substitution, deletion or addition of one or several amino acids therein and having an osteogenetic activity.

Abstract: Yeast strains transformed with at least one copy of a gene coding for lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) and further modified for the production of lactic acid with high yield and productivities, are described.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of blocking biochemical function of the classical complement pathway and thereby preventing immunologic damage in a variety of diseases and conditions including autoimmune diseases.

Abstract: The application discloses Factor VIII polypeptides comprising internal deletions of amino acids within the area of residues 741 to 1689, wherein the thrombin cleavage sites at about 741 and about 1689 are present, and a site at about 1648 is not present, as compared to human Factor VIII.

Abstract: This invention relates to an isolated nucleic acid fragment encoding a sugar transport protein, more specifically an Arabidopsis-like or Beta-vulgaris-like sugar transport protein. The invention also relates to the construction of a recombinant DNA construct encoding all or a portion of the sugar transport protein, in sense or antisense orientation, wherein expression of the recombinant DNA construct results in production of altered levels of the Arabidopsis-like or Beta-vulgaris-like sugar transport protein in a transformed host cell.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of using a composition of lactoferrin for the treatment of diabetes mellitus as manifested by a reduction in the levels of serum glucose, blood pressure, obesity, or glycosylated hemoglobin (HbAlc).

Abstract: In this application is described substrates for high-throughput assays of clostridial neurotoxin proteolytic activities. Two types of substrates are described for use in assays for the proteolytic activities of clostridial neurotoxins: (1) modified peptides or proteins that can serve as FRET substrates and (2) modified peptides or proteins that can serve as immobilized substrates. In both types a fluorescent molecules is present in the substrate, eliminating the requirement for the addition of a fluorigenic reagent. The assays described can be readily adapted for use in automated or robotic systems.

Abstract: Methods for preparing yeast with improved biotin productivity using integrating plasmids encoding biotin synthase. The yeast is transformed by an integrating plasmid, which includes a Candida utilis biotin synthase gene BIO2, an assistant DNA sequence to promote integration of the plasmid into the C. utilis genome, a promoter sequence, and a selection marker. Other embodiments include Saccharomyces cerevisiae integrating plasmids.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of using lactoferrin (LF) to reduce circulating levels of cholesterol and vascular inflammation, in order to treat, prevent or reduce the incidence of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease.

Abstract: A process for the production of L-pipecolic acid which comprises the step of reducing delta-1-piperideine-6-carboxylic acid by the use of pyrroline-5-carboxylate reductase. The delta-1-piperideine-6-carboxylic acid is obtained by the step of converting L-lysine by the use of lysine 6-aminotransferase encoded by a gene of Flavobacterium lutescens. The steps of reducing delta-1-piperideine-6-carboxylic acid and the converting of L-lysine into L-pipecolic acid by the use of lysine 6-aminotransferase are carried out by using a bacterium transformed with a gene encoding lysine 6-aminotransferase wherein such bacterium comprises pyrroline-5-carboxylate reductase encoded by a gene of Escherichia coli or a coryneform bacterium. A recombinant bacterium which can be used in this production process is also provided. Thus, the present invention can provide an efficient biological process for the production of L-pipecolic acid (or 2-piperidinecarboxylic acid).

Abstract: The disclosure provides proteins that can be used to determine the redox status of an environment (such as the environment within a cell or subcellular compartment). These proteins are green fluorescent protein (GFP) variants (also referred to as redox sensitive GFP (rosGFP) mutants), which have been engineered to have two cysteine amino acids near the chromophore and within disulfide bonding distance of each other. Also provided are nucleic acid molecules that encode rosGFPs, vectors containing such encoding molecules, and cells transformed therewith. The disclosure further provides methods of using the rosGFPs (and encoding molecules) to analyze the redox status of an environment, such as a cell, or a subcellular compartment within a cell. In certain embodiments, both redox status and pH are analyzed concurrently.

Abstract: The peptide has a sequence of 3 to 30 adjacent amino acids from the amino end of protein SNAP-25 and is useful as neuronal exocytosis inhibitor. The cosmetic and pharmaceutical compositions contain said peptide and optionally one or more peptides from the carboxyl end of SNAP-25. Said compositions are suitable for the treatment of facial wrinkles and asymmetry and pathological neuronal exocytosis-mediated pathological disorders and alterations.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods, products, and compositions for selectively inhibiting the growth of Staphylococcus aureus without preventing the growth of Lactobacillus species. Specifically, the present invention discloses the use of tetrahydroiso alpha acid or hexahydro beta acid at a concentration effective to inhibit the growth of S. aureus without preventing the growth of Lactobacillus. The inhibition of S. aureus in accordance with the present invention thus provides useful methods, compositions and products such as feminine hygiene products for treating the diseases associated with S. aureus infections and infestations, i.e., toxic shock syndrome, without disrupting the normal bacterial flora in the area of its application.

Abstract: Nucleic acid molecules encoding at least part of a Type I polyketide synthase, and having a polylinker with multiple restriction enzyme sites in place of one or more PKS genes encoding enzymes associated with reduction, optionally further including nucleic acid incorporated into the polylinker, the further nucleic acid encoding one or more reductive enzymes; plasmids incorporating such nucleic acids; host cells transfected with such plasmids; methods relating thereto.

Abstract: The invention concerns a pharmaceutical composition or a food supplement containing at least an iron complexing protein optionally in the presence of at least an iron salt, and at least a precursor of nitrogen monoxide metabolism and/or at least a chemical donor of nitrogen monoxide, the use of at least an iron complexing agent and of at least a precursor of nitrogen monoxide metabolism and/or a chemical donor of nitrogen monoxide, and optionally at least an iron salt for making pharmaceutical compositions in particular for treating asthenia or anaemia or for making a food supplement.

Abstract: Nucleic acid compositions encoding non-aggregating chromo/fluoroproteins and mutants thereof, as well as the encoded proteins, are provided. The proteins of interest are polypeptides that are non-aggregating colored and/or fluorescent proteins, where the non-aggregating feature arises from the modulation of residues in the N-terminus of the protein and the chromo and/or fluorescent feature arises from the interaction of two or more residues of the protein. Also provided are fragments of the subject nucleic acids and the peptides encoded thereby, as well as antibodies to the subject proteins and transgenic cells and organisms. The subject protein and nucleic acid compositions find use in a variety of different applications. Finally, kits for use in such applications, e.g., that include the subject nucleic acid compositions, are provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the nucleic acid molecules encoding an STE20-related family of novel protein kinases, ZC1, ZC2, ZC3, ZC4, STLK2, STLK3, STLK4, STLK5, STLK6, STLK7, KHS2, SULU1, SULU3, GEK2, PAK4 and PAK5, segments and domains thereof, as well as various methods useful for the diagnosis and treatment of various kinase-related diseases and conditions. Mammalian nucleic acid molecules encoding these kinases are particularly disclosed, and more specifically human sources of these nucleic acids are disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for producing a target fermentation product. This process includes providing a fermentation medium containing a recombinantly-produced microorganism that over-produces a fermentation product and contains a mutation which causes auxotrophic growth of the microorganism wherein the auxotrophy within the microorganism does not compromise the ability of the microorganism to produce the fermentation product. The medium is then supplied in excess with all substrates required for production of the fermentation product and in growth limiting amounts with a substrate complementing the auxotrophy. Host cells, vectors, and polynucleotide sequences used in the process are also provided. The polynucleotide sequences of the present invention include sequences derived from the biotin operon of B. subtilis, and in particular the bioFDB gene cassette.