Abstract: The present invention relates to a hyaluronidase inhibitor containing poly-gamma-glutamic acid (PGA) as an active ingredient, a composition for maintaining skin elasticity and a composition for improving allergy, wherein each of the compositions contains PGA as an active ingredient. The inventive compositions containing PGA are effective in maintaining skin moisturization and skin elasticity by effectively inhibiting the activity of hyaluronidase which is an enzyme that degrades hyaluronic acid present in the skin dermis. Also, the compositions can relieve allergic symptoms by inhibiting the permeability of inflammatory cells.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a nano-composite containing anionic and cationic polymers and a method for preparing thereof, and more particularly to a poly-gamma-glutamic acid (?-PGA)/chitosan/manganese iron oxide nanoparticle composite prepared by encapsulating iron oxide-based nanoparticles in a ?-PGA/chitosan polymer composite using the ionic self-assembly properties of poly-gamma-glutamic acid (?-PGA) and chitosan, which are biocompatible polymer materials, and to a method for preparing thereof. The present invention provides a magnetic resonance imaging nano-contrast agent based on a nanoparticle composite including iron oxide-based nanoparticles encapsulated in a self-assembled composite of anionic poly-gamma-glutamic acid (?PGA) and cationic chitosan.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical imaging probe for detecting a sentinel lymph node, which contains a complex of poly-gamma-glutamic acid and an optical imaging dye, and more particularly to an optical imaging probe for detecting a sentinel lymph node, which contains a poly-gamma-glutamic acid/optical imaging dye complex that, when injected subcutaneously in vivo, remains in the sentinel lymph node for a relatively long period of time and has a low tendency to migrate to other lymph nodes. The present invention provides a poly-gamma-glutamic acid/fluorescent dye complex, which contains no radiopharmaceutical and is harmless to the human body. The use of the poly-gamma-glutamic acid/fluorescent dye complex makes it possible to accurately detect the position of a sentinel lymph node in real time without concerns about radioactive contamination.

Abstract: A surface expression vector for preparing HPV immunogenic compositions, in which the surface expression vector contains a gene encoding a repE mutant protein having an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, a promoter, a poly-gamma-glutamate synthetase complex gene, and a gene which is linked with the poly-gamma-glutamate synthetase complex gene and encodes a tumor induction-associated antigen protein of human papillomavirus. An expression vector constitutively expressing a high level of the human papillomavirus (HPV) antigen protein is provided. Also, a recombinant lactic acid bacteria, transformed with the expression vector and expressing the HPV antigen protein on the surface thereof, and a composition comprising the recombinant lactic acid bacteria are provided. The recombinant lactic acid bacteria and the composition are very effective as a immunogenic composition for the treatment of cervical cancer, because they can be applied orally or directly to the vagina.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an anticoagulant and a composition for preventing thrombus formation, which contain poly-gamma-glutamic acid (PGA) as an active ingredient. The inventive PGA is a water-soluble, anionic, biodegradable and edible amino acid polymer material, which has an anticoagulant effect of preventing thrombi from being accumulated in blood vessels, shows an excellent sustained-release effect and is harmless to the human body. Thus, it is useful as a high-value-added anticoagulant and a food or beverage composition for preventing thrombus formation.

Abstract: The present invention provides a medical adhesive composition containing poly-gamma-glutamic acid or its salt; and sugar or sugar alcohol, which is edible, water-soluble, anionic and biodegradable. The invention also provides a thickener composition containing poly-gamma-glutamic acid, which can be used as a moisture-absorbing agent, a moisturizing agent and a raw material for cosmetic products.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a fusion protein in which a myostatin mature protein is fused to a multimer of myostatin-derived antigenic peptide Myo-2, a surface expression vector containing a polynucleotide encoding the fusion protein, a recombinant microorganism transformed with the vector, and a feedstuff additive or a pharmaceutical composition containing the microorganism as an effective ingredient. The feedstuff additive or pharmaceutical composition according to the present invention can be used for muscle development and regulation of muscle growth in livestock and poultry, as well as for preventing and treating muscle-wasting diseases and degenerative diseases such as muscular dystrophy, muscular atrophy and the like. In addition, the transformed strain shows the same effect even if the strain itself after culture thereof is directly used, and thus it is very economical.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel microorganism producing L-type poly-gamma-glutamic acid and an L-type poly-gamma-glutamic acid produced thereby and, more particularly, to Bacillus megaterium Toha (KCTC11752BP) isolated from salt-fermented Toha shrimps (Korean traditional fermented food) and an L-type poly-gamma-glutamic acid produced thereby. The novel microorganism Bacillus megaterium Toha (KCTC11752BP) has the ability to produce L-type poly-gamma-glutamic acid which can be used in high-value-added microbial agents, probiotic agents, immune-activating agents, animal drugs, cosmetics, moisture absorbers, thickeners, biodegradable plastics, etc.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are an aldolase gene promoter and the use thereof, more particularly, disclosed are a promoter of aldolase gene derived from Lactobacillus casei, having a base sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, an expression vector containing said promoter, and a recombinant microorganism transformed with said expression vector. The recombinant microorganism transformed with the expression vector containing the disclosed promoter can effectively express a target protein on the surface thereof, and thus will be useful as vaccine vehicles and the like.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an anticoagulant and a composition for preventing thrombus formation, which contain poly-gamma-glutamic acid (PGA) as an active ingredient. The inventive PGA is a water-soluble, anionic, biodegradable and edible amino acid polymer material, which has an anticoagulant effect of preventing thrombi from being accumulated in blood vessels, shows an excellent sustained-release effect and is harmless to the human body. Thus, it is useful as a high-value-added anticoagulant and a food or beverage composition for preventing thrombus formation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an adjuvant composition containing poly-gamma-glutamic acid-chitosan nanoparticles and a vaccine composition containing the adjuvant composition, and more particularly to an adjuvant composition containing nanoparticles prepared by ionic bonding between poly-gamma-glutamic acid having ensured safety and chitosan, and a vaccine composition containing the poly-gamma-glutamic acid-chitosan nanoparticles and an antigen. The adjuvant containing the poly-gamma-glutamic acid-chitosan nanoparticles has little or no toxicity and side effects and is added to human or animal vaccines for the prevention and treatment of viral and bacterial infections and cancers to increase the production of antibodies.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a new microorganism Weissella cibaria BLS13, and more specifically, to a Kimchi-derived new microorganism Weissella cibaria BLS13 which activates an inhibitory effect on avian influenza viruses, and to uses thereof. According to the present invention, the Weissella cibaria BLS13 or a culture medium thereof contains a substance having an anti-viral function, and thus can be used advantageously in feed additives, fermentation products, foods and medicine.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition for inhibiting or preventing viral infection, which comprises an effective dose of poly-gamma-glutamic acid (?-PGA), and more particularly, to a pharmaceutical composition, a functional food, and a feedstuff additive capable of inhibiting viral infection and preventing viral diseases, which comprise poly-gamma-glutamic acid having an infection-inhibiting effect against viruses, such as an influenza virus, inducing respiratory infection or systemic infection, as an effective ingredient. The composition containing poly-gamma-glutamic acid as an effective ingredient according to the present invention, is effective for use as an animal feedstuff additive or a pharmaceutical agent for preventing influenza virus infection and various viral diseases as well as a pharmaceutical composition and a functional food to promote human health.

Abstract: A surface expression vector for preparing HPV vaccines, in which the surface expression vector contains a gene encoding a repE mutant protein having an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, a promoter, a poly-gamma-glutamate synthetase complex gene, and a gene which is linked with the poly-gamma-glutamate synthetase complex gene and encodes a tumor induction-associated antigen protein of human papillomavirus. An expression vector constitutively expressing a high level of the human papillomavirus (HPV) antigen protein is provided. Also, a recombinant lactic acid bacteria, transformed with the expression vector and expressing the HPV antigen protein on the surface thereof, and a composition comprising the recombinant lactic acid bacteria are provided. The recombinant lactic acid bacteria and the composition are very effective as a vaccine for the treatment of cervical cancer, because they can be applied orally or directly to the vagina.

Abstract: A vector for constitutively expressing a high level of a target protein, and more particularly a RepE mutant protein containing a deletion of 21 amino acids in the C-terminal region of a RepE protein and a vector for constitutively expressing a high level of a target protein, which comprises a gene encoding the mutant protein. The constitutive high-level expression vector can stably express a high level of a target protein. Also, the surface expression vector can express a target protein on the surface of recombinant microorganisms while constitutively expressing a high level of the target protein, and thus will be useful for construction of an antigen for vaccines.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for expressing each of peptide antibiotics P5 3 and Anal3 35 having amphiphilicity and showing antibacterial, antifungal and anticancer activities 61, 63, 65, 67, 69, 71, on the microbial surface, using a vector containing outer membrane protein genes (pgsBCA) that are derived from Bacillus sp. strains and involved in the synthesis of poly-gamma-glutamate. Moreover, the present invention relates to lactic acid-forming bacteria having each of the peptide antibiotics P5 15 and Anal3 43 expressed on their surface, and the use thereof. According to the present invention, the peptide antibiotics can be expressed on the surface of various microorganisms transformed with the surface expression vectors. The inventive method for the surface expression of the peptide antibiotics allows the peptide antibiotics to be mass-produced without a purification process. Thus, the inventive method has very high industrial applicability.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for screening an antioxidant using mutant bacteria and chlorophyllide, and an antioxidant screened by the same method. The method provides for screening of an antioxidant by monitoring growth profiles of specific mutant bacteria in filter discs or medium blocks containing chlorophyllide added thereto, and an antioxidant screened by the same method. By monitoring growth profiles of mutant bacteria using mutant bacteria and chlorophyllide, screening of an antioxidant is possible on an industrial scale. In particular, the antioxidant screening method is useful for selective screening of an amphiphilic antioxidant. Therefore, it is possible to screen and commercialize low-toxic and effective antioxidants used in various food and cosmetic additives, as well as therapeutic medicines.

Abstract: Expression vectors that can efficiently produce virion capsid protein, tumor-associated protein of human papillomavirus on a microbial surface. Bacterial strains harboring such surface display vectors, and the use of the bacterial strains or their extracts or purified products as complex vaccines, are also described. The surface display vectors contain one or more than two genes selected from among pgsB, pgsC and pgsA, encoding a poly-?-glutamic acid synthetase complex (pgsBCA) of a Bacillus sp. strain, and genes that encode virion capsid proteins, tumor-associated proteins of human papillomavirus. Methods for preparing the foregoing vectors, vaccines and transformed microorganisms are also described.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition for inhibiting or preventing viral infection, which comprises an effective dose of poly-gamma-glutamic acid (?-PGA), and more particularly, to a pharmaceutical composition, a functional food, and a feedstuff additive capable of inhibiting viral infection and preventing viral diseases, which comprise poly-gamma-glutamic acid having an infection-inhibiting effect against viruses, such as an influenza virus, inducing respiratory infection or systemic infection, as an effective ingredient. The composition containing poly-gamma-glutamic acid as an effective ingredient according to the present invention, is effective for use as an animal feedstuff additive or a pharmaceutical agent for preventing influenza virus infection and various viral diseases as well as a pharmaceutical composition and a functional food to promote human health.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a composition for improving cellular immunity, which comprises an effective dose of poly-gamma-glutamic acid, and more particularly, to a composition for improving cellular immunity comprising poly-gamma-glutamic acid, which has effects of inducing enhancement of TLR-mediated Th1 cellular immunity and improving antigen presenting activity to maintain the improved activity. The inventive composition comprising an effective dose of poly-gamma-glutamic acid has very little toxicity and side effects, and can be added to a vaccine composition for preventing and treating animal viral or bacterial infections and cancer, or a vaccine composition for preventing and treating human viral or bacterial infections and cancer to show cellular immunity-enhancing effects.