Abstract: Nucleic acid probes are provided, each of which is formed of a single-stranded oligonucleotide which can hybridize to a target nucleic acid and is labeled with a fluorescent dye or with a fluorescent dye and a quencher substance. The nucleic acid probes can be easily designed, permit determination, polymorphous analysis or real-time quantitative PCR of nucleic acids in short time, and are not dissociated during reactions. Nucleic acid determination methods, polymorphous analysis methods and real-time quantitative PCR methods, which make use of the nucleic acid probes, are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for isolating a microbe whereby a sample of microbe cells is encapsulated in agarose gel particulates, wherein some of the particulates contain a single cell, and the other particulates contain more than one cell; incubating the particulates in nutritional and environmental conditions that enable the microbe contained in the sample solution that can grow on a plate of a plate culture method to grow in the agarose gel particulate; and isolating the particulates having single cells from the group of the particulates having more than one cell.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a method of efficiently manufacturing an oil-containing product including long chain polyunsaturated fatty acid or an high added value oil containing long chain polyunsaturated fatty acid, by using microorganisms.

Abstract: A method is provided for determining a concentration of a target nucleic acid by using a nucleic acid probe labeled with a fluorescent dye.

Abstract: A method is provided for determining a concentration of a target nucleic acid by using a nucleic acid probe labeled with a fluorescent dye.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for obtaining organic solvent resistant microorganisms which comprises subjecting a microbial parent strain to mutagenesis and then to selective cultivation in the presence of 0.1% to 10% by volume (v/v) of concentrations of a toxic organic solvent, and the organic solvent resistant microorganisms obtainable by the method. In addition according to the present invention, a microorganism which is natively hydrophilic and has useful functions but does not show resistance to organic solvents and can not express the useful functions in the organic solvents may be converted into a microorganism capable of growing in the presence of such toxic organic solvents and expressing the useful functions that the hydrophilic parent strain bears natively.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method for producing 3,4-dihydroxyphthalic acid, comprising treating phthalic acid with a product which is obtained by treating the cell membrane fraction of microorganism bacterial bodies capable of converting phthalic acid to 3,4-dihydroxyphthalic acid with a condensate of polyethylene oxide with a higher alcohol, thereby converting the phthalic acid to 3,4-dihydroxyphthalic acid. According to the method, only 3,4-dihydroxyphthalic acid, which is an intermediary metabolite, can be produced efficiently in a process of biodegrading phthalic acid with a microorganism.

Abstract: The present invention provides a polymer comprising a polysaccharide having excellent water absorption properties, moisture absorption properties, moisture retention properties and thickening properties. Said polysaccharide has the following properties: (A) the principal constituents of the sugar composition are rhamnose, fucose, glucose and glucuronic acid which are present in a molar ratio of (1-4):2:(1-8):(1-4); (B) elemental analysis (wt %):C: 36 .+-.3H: 7 .+-.1O: 56 .+-.4,containing 9-13% of crystalline water(C) solubility:slightly soluble in water; soluble in alkalies; insoluble in methanol, ethanol and acetone;(D) UV absorption spectrum:no absorption detected at 280 nm characteristic of proteins (peptides) or at 260 nm characteristic of nucleic acids; and(E) IR absorption spectrum:an absorption pattern characteristic of polysaccharides is observed near 800-1200.sup.-iSaid polysaccharide is produced by a fermentation method using a natural medium or a synthetic medium of Alcaligenes microorganism.

Abstract: A polysaccharide (Biopolymer B-16) being produced by cultivating Alcaligenes latus strain B-16 (FERM-2015) and having at least one function selected from water absorption, moisture absorption, humectant capability, thickening capability, suspension stability, emulsion stability and dispersant capability along with high biodegradability and which can be used without creating any environmental hazard such as secondary pollution, said Biopolymer B-16 consisting essentially of rhamnose, fucose, glucose, mannose and glucuronic acid which are present in a molar ratio of(1-10):(2-10):(4-20):(1):(1-5).

Abstract: From the aqueous solution of a soluble pigment, removal of the soluble pigment is attained by intimately mixing the aqueous solution, in the presence of an inorganic salt, with the product of microorganic culture obtained by culturing a bacterium belonging to genus Rhodococcus and allowing the resultant mixture to stand at rest thereby causing the pigment to flocculate and precipitate therein.

Abstract: A vessel capable of passing a liquid therethrough is packed with a support having at least hydrophilicity and microorganism cells are inoculated to the support, retained and cultivated therein. A reaction substrate is fed to the vessel and brought into contact with the microorganism, whereby the microorganism is allowed to propagate within the support and act upon the reaction substrate to induce decomposition or synthetic reactions thereof.

Abstract: Microorganisms of a species selected from the group consisting of the specific species belonging to genus Nocardia, genus Pseudomonas, genus Brevibacterium and genus Corynebacterium, when cultured in a culture medium containing a phthalic acid ester as a carbon source, assimilate the phthalic acid ester and decompose it into carbon dioxide gas and water.