Abstract: Disclosed is a prophylactic or therapeutic agent for bacterial infectious diseases, which comprises an antibody capable of binding to a toxin or an antitoxin that constitutes a bacterial toxin-antitoxin system to inhibit the interaction between the toxin and the antitoxin or a gene for the antibody as an active ingredient.

Abstract: The present invention provides a ceramidase activity inhibitor which inhibits ceramidase activity, specifically neutral/alkaline ceramidase activity, characterized in that the inhibitor comprises, as an active ingredient, a processed product derived from at least one plant selected from the group consisting of plants belonging to Ginkgoaceae, plants belonging to Cucurbitaceae, plants belonging to Rutaceae, plants belonging to Laminariaceae, plants belonging to Myrtaceae and plants belonging to Compositae, and a medicament, a quasi-drug, cosmetics and a food, each comprising the inhibitor.

Abstract: Improved methods for transferring a gene into target cells by using a retrovirus, wherein the gene transfer efficiency is improved and the target cells are efficiently transformed by binding the retrovirus to a functional substance which is immobilized on as carrier and having an activity of binding to retroviruses followed by washing; using an antibody capable of specifically recognizing cells, laminin or mannose-rich type sugar chain as a substance having an activity of binding to the target cells; pre-treating the target cells so as to inactivate transferring receptor, or introducing a new functional group into the functional substance.

Abstract: The present invention provides a ceramidase activity inhibitor which inhibits ceramidase activity, specifically neutral/alkaline ceramidase activity, characterized in that the inhibitor comprises, as an active ingredient, a processed product derived from at least one plant selected from the group consisting of plants belonging to Ginkgoaceae, plants belonging to Cucurbitaceae, plants belonging to Rutaceae, plants belonging to Laminariaceae, plants belonging to Myrtaceae and plants belonging to Compositae, and a medicament, a quasi-drug, cosmetics and a food, each comprising the inhibitor.

Abstract: A process for producing lysosphingolipids by using an enzyme capable of specifically hydrolyzing the acid amide bond between a sphingoid and a fatty acid in a sphingolipid, characterized in that the enzyme reaction is carried out in a two-phase system liquid reaction mixture containing at least an organic solvent forming an aqueous phase and a separation phase in the presence of, if desired, a surfactant.

Abstract: A process for producing hydrazinomonosaccharide derivatives and use of hydrazines in determining the structures of aldose and ketose monosaccharides located at the reducing ends of saccharides.

Abstract: Improved methods for transferring a gene into target cells by using a retrovirus, wherein the gene transfer efficiency is improved and the target cells are efficiently transformed by binding the retrovirus to a functional substance which is immobilized on as carrier and having an activity of binding to retroviruses followed by washing; using an antibody capable of specifically recognizing cells, laminin or mannose-rich type sugar chain as a substance having an activity of binding to the target cells; pre-treating the target cells so as to inactivate transferrin receptor, or introducing a new functional group into the functional substance.

Abstract: Improved methods for transferring a gene into target cells by using a retrovirus, wherein the gene transfer efficiency is improved and the target cells are efficiently transformed by binding the retrovirus to a functional substance which is immobilized on as carrier and having an activity of binding to retroviruses followed by washing; using an antibody capable of specifically recognizing cells, laminin or mannose-rich type sugar chain as a substance having an activity of binding to the target cells; pre-treating the target cells so as to inactivate transferrin receptor, or introducing a new functional group into the functional substance.

Abstract: A cooling arrangement for uniformly cooling an entirety of a die-casting metal mold is provided. Cooling oil is supplied from temperature controllers (9, 10) by pumps to respective coolant passages (A,B,C,D,E,F,G) through coolant supply circuits (5,6) and through manifolds (5B,6B) where the coolant is branched for cooling a predetermined portion of the metal mold (2). Then, the cooling oil discharged from the respective coolant passages (A,B,C,D,E,F,G) are returned to the temperature controllers (9,10) through coolant discharge passages (7,8) and is cooled by cooling device (11, 12). The cooled cooling oil is again supplied to the coolant supply circuits (5,6). The coolant passages (A through G) are grouped into two groups, and the temperature controllers and the coolant circulation circuits are also grouped into each group to perform coolant supply control and temperature control independently of each group.

Abstract: A cooling arrangement for uniformly cooling an entirety of a die-casting metal mold is provided. Cooling oil is supplied from temperature controllers (9, 10) by pumps (not shown) to respective coolant passages (A,B,C,D,E,F,G) through coolant supply circuits (5,6) and through manifolds (5B,6B) where the coolant is branched for cooling a predetermined portion of the metal mold (2). Then, the cooling oil discharged from the respective coolant passages (A,B,C,D,E,F,G) are returned to the temperature controllers (9,10) through coolant discharge passages (7,8) and is cooled by cooling device (11, 12). The cooled cooling oil is again supplied to the coolant supply circuits (5,6). The coolant passages (A through G) are grouped into two groups, and the temperature controllers and the coolant circulation circuits are also grouped into each group to perform coolant supply control and temperature control independently of each group.

Abstract: An isolated DNA having a sequence encoding a polypeptide possessing lacto-N-biosidase activity or functionally equivalent variants thereof; and a method for producing a polypeptide possessing lacto-N-biosidase activity or functionally equivalent variants thereof using the isolated DNA by recombinant DNA technology.

Abstract: An isolated DNA having a sequence encoding a polypeptide possessing endoglycoceramidase activator activity or functionally equivalent variants thereof; and a method for producing a polypeptide possessing endoglycoceramidase activator activity or functionally equivalent variants thereof by gene recombinant technology.

Abstract: An isolated DNA having a sequence encoding a polypeptide possessing endoglycoceramidase activity or functionally equivalent variants thereof, and a method for producing a polypeptide possessing endoglycoceramidase activity or functionally equivalent variants thereof by gene recombinant technology.

Abstract: An isolated .alpha.-1,3/4-fucosidase gene is provided which codes for an .alpha.-1,3/4-fucosidase enzyme. The isolated gene codes for the fucosidase enzyme having the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID No. 1. The gene may have the DNA sequence shown in SEQ ID No. 2. A process for producing the fucosidase enzyme is also provided, which comprises cultivating a transformant into which a recombinant plasmid containing the .alpha.-1,3/4-fucosidase gene according to the invention has been introduced to produce the fucosidase enzyme encoded thereby, and harvesting the fucosidase enzyme from the culture.

Abstract: A more exact, reliable, and simple method for determining the structure of a sugar chain, a kit to be used for this method, and novel oligosaccharides useful for the method as standard sugar chains are provided. The method for determining the structure of an N-acetyllactosamine type of sugar chain is characterized by determining the site of linkage and the mode of linkage of sugar residues at the non-reducing terminal side of a .beta.-N-acetylglucosamine residue linked to an .alpha.-mannose residue in M3 core by means of detecting the presence of the .beta.-N-acetylglucosamine residue after enzymatic or chemical treatment of the sugar chain. The kit for determining the structure of an N-acetyllactosamine type of sugar chain is characterized by containing at least one of the oligosaccharides represented by the chemical formula 1. The oligosaccharide is represented by the chemical formula 4.

Abstract: A method for the hydrolysis of only the lacto-N-biosidic (Gal.beta.1-3GlcNAc.beta.1-) linkages at the non-reducing termini of sugar compounds, characterized by the use of glycosidase that is specific for only the lacto-N-biosidic linkage in said sugar compounds. And disclosed is a reagent for use in hydrolysis of only the lacto-N-biosidic linkage at the non-reducing termini of sugar compounds.