Abstract: The invention provides an assay for identifying a bacterium capable of binding elemental heavy metal, comprising the following steps: cultivating a test bacterium in a suitable first culture medium; immersing at least a surface portion of a test tool into the first culture medium for a second predetermined period of time, said surface portion being coated by elemental heavy metal, respectively; removing said test tool from said first culture medium and optionally rinsing the test tool; contacting a second culture medium with the surface portion coated by elemental heavy metal of said test tool removed in the previous step; and identifying the test bacterium as being capable of binding elemental heavy metal from growth of the test bacterium in said second culture medium.

Abstract: A genetically modified Bacillus subtilis strain has been transformed with an optimized vector, mainly for producing a D-psicose 3-epimerase.

Abstract: The present invention relates to ingredients, particularly sweetening ingredients, for example ingredients for use in reduced sugar, low-sugar, or zero-sugar beverage or food products. More specifically, the present invention relates to ingredients derived from plant infusions, in particular fermented infusions of stevia.

Abstract: Suggested is a method for recovering precious metals from secondary resources comprising or consisting of the following steps: (a) providing a source of solid waste material comprising precious metals in an amount of at least 0.0001% b.w.; (b) bringing said waste material into contact with heterotrophic micro-organisms capable of producing and releasing hydrocyanic acid; (c) adding a solvent or an aqueous nutrient solution capable of serving as a nutrient source for said micro-organisms to the mixture; (d) depleting said waste materials from the precious metals contained therein by complexation of the metals with said hydrocyanic acid released by said micro-organisms; (e) separating the depleted solid waste material from the liquid containing the metal-cyano complexes; (f) recovering the precious metals from their cyano-complexes in known manner.

Abstract: The current invention concerns a new B. subtilis strain with strong inhibition of C. perfringens and its use as a probiotic.

Abstract: The current invention concerns a new B. licheniformis strain with strong inhibition of C. perfringens and its use as probiotic.

Abstract: The invention provides a process of isolating or enriching a heavy metal present in a liquid medium. The process comprising the following steps: (a) incubating a suspension containing (i) particulate scrap metal, household waste and/or industrial waste containing a heavy metal in elemental form and (ii) biomass comprising a bacterium, or a combination of two or more bacteria, capable of binding the heavy metal; (b) separating the biomass having bound heavy metal from the suspension of step (a); and (c) isolating the heavy metal from the biomass separated in step (b).

Abstract: A method of producing steviol glycoside compositions and the use thereof in foods, beverages and other consumables, is described.

Abstract: Suggested is a method for recovering precious metals from secondary resources comprising or consisting of the following steps: (a) providing a source of solid waste material comprising precious metals in an amount of at least 0.0001% b.w.; (b) bringing said waste material into contact with heterotrophic micro-organisms capable of producing and releasing hydrocyanic acid; (c) adding a solvent or an aqueous nutrient solution capable of serving as a nutrient source for said micro-organisms to the mixture; (d) depleting said waste materials from the precious metals contained therein by complexation of the metals with said hydrocyanic acid released by said micro-organisms; (e) separating the depleted solid waste material from the liquid containing the metal-cyano complexes; (f) recovering the precious metals from their cyano-complexes in known manner.

Abstract: The current invention concerns a new B. subtilis strain with strong inhibition of swine and poultry related pathogens and its use as probiotic.

Abstract: The invention provides an assay for identifying a bacterium capable of binding elemental heavy metal, comprising the following steps: cultivating a test bacterium in a suitable first culture medium; immersing at least a surface portion of a test tool into the first culture medium for a second predetermined period of time, said surface portion being coated by elemental heavy metal, respectively; removing said test tool from said first culture medium and optionally rinsing the test tool; contacting a second culture medium with the surface portion coated by elemental heavy metal of said test tool removed in the previous step; and identifying the test bacterium as being capable of binding elemental heavy metal from growth of the test bacterium in said second culture medium.

Abstract: The invention provides a process of isolating or enriching a heavy metal present in a suspension containing a particulate mineral ore containing a heavy metal, comprising the following steps: incubating a suspension containing (i) a particulate mineral ore containing a heavy metal and (ii) biomass comprising a bacterium capable of binding the heavy metal; separating the biomass having bound heavy metal from the suspension of the previous step; and isolating the heavy metal from the biomass separated in the previous step.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the microbial production of malate. Fungal cells belonging to a species of the family of Ustilaginaceae were found to be an excellent host for the production of malate from glycerol. The malate production rate of fungal cells belonging to a species of the family of Ustilaginaceae was increased significantly by laboratory evolution. After medium optimization, a cultivation with the evolved strain on minimal medium with glycerol, or mono- or disaccharides, like glucose or sucrose or oligosaccharides yields a high production rate of malate.

Abstract: The invention provides an assay for identifying a bacterium capable of binding elemental heavy metal, comprising the following steps: cultivating a test bacterium in a suitable first culture medium; immersing at least a surface portion of a test tool into the first culture medium for a second predetermined period of time, said surface portion being coated by elemental heavy metal, respectively; removing said test tool from said first culture medium and optionally rinsing the test tool; contacting a second culture medium with the surface portion coated by elemental heavy metal of said test tool removed in the previous step; and identifying the test bacterium as being capable of binding elemental heavy metal from growth of the test bacterium in said second culture medium.

Abstract: The invention provides an assay for identifying a bacterium capable of binding elemental heavy metal, comprising the following steps: cultivating a test bacterium in a suitable first culture medium; immersing at least a surface portion of a test too! into the first culture medium for a second predetermined period of time, said surface portion being coated by elemental heavy metal, respectively; removing said test tool from said first culture medium and optionally rinsing the test tool; contacting a second culture medium with the surface portion coated by elemental heavy metal of said test tool removed in the previous step; and identifying the test bacterium as being capable of binding elemental heavy metal from growth of the test bacterium in said second culture medium.

Abstract: A method of producing yeast mutants and the use thereof. In order to provide yeasts which, at a given sugar content, produce a low ethanol content and a relatively high glycerol content in ethanolic fermentation and which are simultaneously obtainable rapidly, at least one yeast strain is contacted in a first mutagenesis step with a first mutagen and in a second mutagenesis step with a second mutagen. The first and second mutagens are different from one another and are selected from the following groups: nucleotide-alkylating agent, nucleotide-deaminating agent, and UV radiation. The method further includes a first selection step executed between the first and second mutagenesis steps and a second selection step being executed after the second mutagenesis step, in which the mutants that originate from the prior mutagenesis step in each case are exposed to a selection factor selected from the following groups: (a) hypertonic medium and (b) alcohol dehydrogenase inhibitor.

Abstract: The current invention concerns a new B. subtilis strain with strong inhibition of C. perfringens and its use as a probiotic.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a host cell having an elevated expression or activity of an enzyme as compared with the parent cell from which it has been derived, said enzyme having lactoyl-CoA reductase activity. Furthermore, provided is a method of producing lactaldehyde and/or 1,2-propanediol, said method comprising culturing said host cell and/or utilizing said enzyme to produce said compound.

Abstract: A process of isolating a REE or a group of REE from a solution or dispersion containing said REE or said group of REEs comprising the following steps: (i) preparing a mixture comprising said solution or dispersion and biomass comprising at least one organism selected from any one of the following organism classes: eubacteria, archaea, algae, and fungi, whereby the at least one organism is capable of adsorbing or accumulating said REE or said group of REEs; (ii) incubating said mixture of step (i) for allowing the adsorption or accumulation of said REE or said group of REEs by said biomass; (iii) separating the biomass having adsorbed or accumulated REE(s) from the mixture of step (ii); and (iv) isolating said REE or said group of REEs from said biomass separated in step (iii).

Abstract: The invention provides for compositions and methods for the production of isoprene, isoprenoid precursor, and/or isoprenoids in cells via the expression (e.g., heterologous expression) of phosphomevalonate decarboxylases and/or isopentenyl kinases.