Abstract: The invention provides a method of identifying an inhibitor of LtaS comprising: (a) providing bacteria which comprise a mutation in the mbl gene or homologue thereof; (b) culturing the bacteria of (a) in the presence of a test substance under conditions of low magnesium; (c) monitoring the growth of the bacteria; wherein growth or more rapid growth of the bacteria compared to growth in the absence of the test substance is indicative that the test substance is an inhibitor of LtaS.

Abstract: Disclosed is a novel recombinant Bacillus bacterial strain constructed by genetic engineering which has high productivity of aipha-amylase. The Bacillus strain comprises an alpha-amylase gene inserted in the Bacillus chromosome under transcriptional control of a phage promoter. An efficient process for the rapid production of large amounts of alpha-amylase is also disclosed.

Abstract: A Bacillus strain has a chromosome with the following modifications: a mutation of a spoIIIE gene which blocks transfer of the prespore chromosome; a mutation which prevents loss of SpoOJ function from blocking sporulation; a first reporter gene dependent on &sgr;F factor and placed at a location where impaired SpoOJ function leads to increased trapping in the prespore; and a second reporter gene having a promoter which is dependent on &sgr;F factor and where impaired SpoOJ function leads to reduced trapping in the prespore. The strain is useful in a method of screening for putative antibiotics.

Abstract: A novel recombinant Bacillus bacterial strain is constructed by genetic engineering which has high productivity of alpha-amylase. The Bacillus strain comprising an alpha-amylase gene inserted in the Bacillus chromosome under transcriptional control of a phage promoter. An efficient process for the rapid production of large amounts of alpha-amylase is also disclosed.

Abstract: A Bacillus strain has a chromosome with the following modifications: a mutation of a spoIIIE gene which blocks transfer of the prespore chromosome; a mutation which prevents loss of SpoOJ function from blocking sporulation; a first reporter gene dependent on &sgr;F factor and placed at a location where impaired SpoOJ function leads to increased trapping in the prespore; and a second reporter gene having a promoter which is dependent on &sgr;F factor and where impaired SpoOJ function leads to reduced trapping in the prespore. The strain is useful in a method of screening for putative antibiotics.

Abstract: A Bacillus strain has a chromosome with the following modifications: a mutation of a spoIIIE gene which blocks transfer of the prespore chromosome; a mutation which prevents loss of SpoOJ function from blocking sporulation; a first reporter gene dependent on &sgr;F factor and placed at a location where impaired SpoOJ function leads to increased trapping in the prespore; and a second reporter gene having a promoter which is dependent on &sgr;F factor and where impaired SpoOJ function leads to reduced trapping in the prespore. The strain is useful in a method of screening for putative antibiotics.

Abstract: A Bacillus strain has a chromosome with two reporter genes, a first reporter gene having a promoter which is dependent on active &sgr;F factor, and a second gene having a promoter regulated similarly to the gene encoding the sigma factor. A method of using Bacillus strain in an assay for screening putative antibiotics.

Abstract: Mutations in the spoIII gene of B. subtilis abolish sporulation by preventing partition of a prespore chromosome into the small polar prespore compartment. The invention provides a Bacillus strain having a chromosome with two reporter genes each linked to a promoter and responsive to the action of .sigma..sup.F during sporulation, one located inside and the other located outside a segment of the DNA that is trapped in a prespore compartment; and use of the strain in a method of determining whether an agent inhibits SpoIIIE function in Bacillus species.