Abstract: A polysaccharide comprising galactose, glucose, rhamnose, and pyruvic acid as constituents, wherein the galactose, glucose, and rhamnose are contained in a molar ratio of 4:2:1, and the pyruvic acid is contained in an amount of 4 to 7 wt %. The polysaccharide can be obtained by culturing Bifidobacterium longum JBL05 (NITE BP-82) under anaerobic conditions.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a novel gluconacetobacter strain having cellulose producing activity. Specifically, the present invention relates to a novel gluconacetobacter strain producing nano-structured cellulose in a highly efficient manner. The cellulose produced by the strain, due to its superb thermodynamic properties, can be characterized as nano-structured bacterial cellulose and therefore utilized as a bio-nano-fiber. Particularly, the cellulose can be impregnated with a resin to form a cellulose-based resin which can be effectively adapted for a substrate for a liquid crystal display (LCD).

Abstract: A process for producing anionic, nonionic, amphoteric or cationic derivatized polysaccharide products which demonstrate high clarity in surfactant-based compositions. The polysaccharide polymer is reacted for a sufficient time and at a sufficient temperature in the presence of water, caustic, and at least one surfactant. The polysaccharide polymer may optionally be reacted with an oxidizing agent, hydrolytic or proteolytic enzymes, molecular weight reducing agents and a cationizing agent and nonionic agent. The formed derivatized polysaccharide has a lower clarity in water than in an aqueous surfactant system. The derivatized polysaccharide product can be used in personal care and or household care products.

Abstract: A reinforced fiber is disclosed including a base material composed of a reinforcement ply having interstitial spaces; and a bacterial cellulose interwoven over the reinforcement ply and throughout the interstitial spaces. The reinforced fiber is obtained by (a) providing a base material composed of a reinforcement ply having interstitial spaces; and (b) contacting the base material with an effective bacteria in a microbial fermentation synthesis process for a time period sufficient to grow bacterial cellulose throughout the interstitial spaces of the reinforcement ply thereby providing a reinforced fiber interwoven with the bacterial cellulose. Also disclosed reinforced silicon carbide-containing nanofibers and processes for their preparation.

Abstract: A bioreactor system for manufacturing and extracting a desired biomaterial from a microorganism by fermenting the microorganism in the bioreactor. The system includes a horizontal reactor vessel, one or more vertical discs rotatably mounted around a hollow shaft, a motor to power the shaft, and one or more spray nozzles arranged to spray required liquids on to the discs. The system is arranged so that the microorganism is not kept submerged within the reactor vessel during the fermentation process. The system is suitable for any type of microorganism, including fungi and bacteria, and can be modified to produce many types of desired biomaterials, including antibiotics, enzymes, ethanol, butanol, chitin, and chitosan. The method of the present invention generally provides steps for placing substrate on the vertical discs of the reactor vessel, inoculating the discs, introducing media, fermenting the microorganism, and extracting the desired biomaterial from the reactor vessel.

Abstract: Methods for the production of substrate, tuber, and grain compositions containing isomalto-oligosaccharides are described. The methods comprise (a) contacting a substrate, tuber or grain containing ungelatinized starch with a maltogenic enzyme and a starch liquefying enzyme to produce maltose; (b) contacting the maltose with a transglucosidic enzyme, wherein the steps (a) and (b) occur at a temperature less than or at a starch gelatinization temperature; and (c) obtaining a substrate, grain or tuber composition having an enzymatically produced isomalto-oligosaccharide, wherein the oligosaccharide is derived from the grain. The maltogenic enzyme can be either exogenous or endogenous to the grain. The contacting steps can be sequential or concurrent. The present invention also describes flour, oral rehydrating solutions, beer adjuncts, food, feed, beverage additives incorporating the grain compositions made as described.

Abstract: A method for the modification of a material comprising a non-starch carbohydrate, which method comprises contacting said material comprising a non-starch carbohydrate with a polypeptide which has peroxidase activity and which is: a. a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 55% homology with an amino acid sequence set out in any one of: amino acids 21 to 513 of SEQ NO: 2; amino acids 20 to 510 of SEQ ID NO: 4; amino acids 1 to 493 of SEQ ID NO 6; or amino acids 1 to 491 of SEQ ID NO: 8 or b. a polypeptide encoded by a polynucleotide comprising the nucleotide sequence having at least 55% homology with a nucleotide sequence set out in any one of: nucleotides 61 to 1539 of SEQ ID NO: 1; nucleotides 58 to 1530 of SEQ ID NO: 3; nucleotides 1 to 1479 of SEQ ID NO: 5; or nucleotides 1 to 1473 of SEQ ID NO: 7.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for producing a hyaluronic acid, comprising: (a) cultivating a Bacillus host cell under conditions suitable for production of the hyaluronic acid, wherein the Bacillus host cell comprises a nucleic acid construct comprising a hyaluronan synthase encoding sequence operably linked to a promoter sequence foreign to the hyaluronan synthase encoding sequence; and (b) recovering the hyaluronic acid from the cultivation medium. The present invention also relates to an isolated nucleic acid sequence encoding a hyaluronan synthase operon comprising a hyaluronan synthase gene and a UDP-glucose 6-dehydrogenase gene, and optionally one or more genes selected from the group consisting of a UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase gene, UDP-N-acetylglucosamine pyrophosphorylase gene, and glucose-6-phosphate isomerase gene.

Abstract: Porous, carbohydrate-based foam structures and associated methods are disclosed. According to an aspect, a method can include using a starch solution. The starch solution can be precipitated to form starch nanoparticles having a predefined void structure.

Abstract: Methods for mass producing bacterial alginate, bacterial cultures for producing alginate, and pharmaceutical compositions containing bacterial alginate are contemplated.

Abstract: Some aspects of this invention provide methods and bioreactors for converting a carbon source into a lipid. In some embodiments, lipid production is carried out in an aerobic fermentor and carbon dioxide generated during lipid production is converted into a carbon substrate by CO2 fixation in an anaerobic fermentor. In some embodiments, the carbon substrate generated by CO2 fixation is used as the carbon source for lipid production, thus achieving total carbon utilization in lipid production.

Abstract: An agglomerate or capsule capable of being prepared by freeze-drying a first agglomerate or capsule, said first agglomerate comprising a solvent, nanoobjects or nanostructures coated with macromolecules of polysaccharides being homogeneously distributed in said agglomerate or said capsule, and said macromolecules forming in at least one portion of the first agglomerate, a gel by crosslinking with positive ions. A nanocomposite material comprising this agglomerate. A method for preparing this agglomerate and this nanocomposite material.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a recombinant process for the production of truncated or mutated dextransucrases while conserving the enzymatic activity or their specificity in the synthesis of the ?-1,6 bonds. The present invention relates to nucleic acid sequences of truncated or mutated dextransucrases, vectors containing the nucleic acid sequences and host cells transformed by sequences encoding truncated or mutated dextransucrases. In another aspect, the invention concerns a method for producing, in a recombinant manner, truncated or mutated dextransucrases which conserve their enzymatic activity or which conserve their specificity in the synthesis of ?-1,6 bonds and can produce, from saccharose, dextrans with high molar mass and modified rheological properties compared with the properties of dextran obtained with the native enzyme and isomalto-oligosaccharides with a controlled molar mass and dextrans.

Abstract: Described are Streptococcus suis infections in pigs, vaccines directed against those infections and tests for diagnosing S. suis infections. Provided is an isolated or recombinant nucleic acid encoding a capsular gene cluster of S. suis or a gene or gene fragment derived therefrom. Further provided is a nucleic acid probe or primer allowing species or serotype-specific detection of S. suis. Also provided is a Streptococcus suis antigen and vaccine derived therefrom.

Abstract: The presently disclosed subject matter concerns a microbial biopolymer comprising fucose in its composition. This biopolymer consists of a polysaccharide comprising fucose, which represents at least 10% of its composition. This fucose-containing polysaccharide also contains non-sugar components, namely, acyl group substituents. This disclosed subject matter also concerns the process for the production of the biopolymer, which is obtained cultivation of the bacterium Enterobacter A47 (DSM 23139), using glycerol or glycerol-rich mixtures as carbon sources. The fucose-containing biopolymer of the presently disclosed subject matter may be used in several industrial applications (e.g. pharmaceutical, cosmetics and agro-food industries) and in the treatment of industrial wastes (e.g. oil and metal recovery).

Abstract: Nucleic acid molecules which encode a branching enzyme from a bacterium of the genus Neisseria, vectors, host cell, plant cells and plants containing said nucleic acid molecules as well as starch obtainable from the plants described are described. Furthermore, an in-vitro method for producing ?-1,6-branched ?-1,4-glucans on the basis of sucrose and a combination of enzymes of an amylosucrase and a branching enzyme as well as the ?-1,6-branched ?-1,4-glucans obtainable by said method are described.

Abstract: Nucleic acid molecules which encode a branching enzyme from a bacterium of the genus Neisseria, vectors, host cell, plant cells and plants containing said nucleic acid molecules as well as starch obtainable from the plants described are described. Furthermore, an in-vitro method for producing ?-1,6-branched ?-1,4-glucans on the basis of sucrose and a combination of enzymes of an amylosucrase and a branching enzyme as well as the ?-1,6-branched ?-1,4-glucans obtainable by said method are described.

Abstract: A process for preparing asparagine-linked oligosaccharide derivatives including the steps of: (a) treating a delipidated egg yolk with a protease to obtain a mixture of peptide-linked oligosaccharides, (b) treating the mixture of peptide-linked oligosaccharides with a peptidase to obtain a mixture of asparagine-linked oligosaccharides, (c) introducing a lipophilic protective group into the asparagine-linked oligosaccharides in the mixture to obtain a mixture of asparagine-linked oligosaccharide derivatives, and (d) subjecting the mixture of asparagine-linked oligosaccharide derivatives to chromatography to separate the mixture into individual asparagine-linked oligosaccharide derivatives.

Abstract: In this invention, a process for producing fermentable sugars derivable from biomass that contains polysaccharide, such as cellulose, which has been made increasingly accessible as a substrate for enzymatic degradation or other methods of depolymerization. The process of the present invention increases accessibility of polysaccharides, typically present in biomass and produces polysaccharides with increased accessibility. The polysaccharides with increased accessibility may be subsequently saccharified to yield fermentable sugars. These fermentable sugars are subsequently able to be fermented to produce various target chemicals, such as alcohols, aldehydes, ketones or acids.

Abstract: Provided are methods for the pretreatment of ligno-cellulosic biomass such as softwoods with bisulfite such as ammonium bisulfite without the need for exogenous acid. In one variation, a method of pretreating ligno-cellulosic biomass is provided including the following steps: a) providing ligno-cellulosic biomass; b) contacting the ligno-cellulosic biomass with a solution comprising bisulfite at an amount between 1 and 10% of a dry weight of the ligno-cellulosic biomass to form a slurry; c) heating the slurry to a first temperature of 150-210° C. for a first period of time to form a first mixture; d) cooling the first mixture to a second temperature of 100-200° C. to form a second mixture; and e) maintaining the second mixture at the second temperature for a second period of time to form pretreated ligno-cellulosic biomass; wherein the first temperature is higher than the second temperature.

Abstract: A vector of the present invention has DNA encoding a protein or a product having the same effect as the protein, the protein containing an amino acid sequence from amino acid numbers 47 to 802 in SEQ. ID. NO:2. Expression of the DNA gives human chondroitin synthase. By using human chondroitin synthase, it is possible to produce a saccharide chain having a repeating disaccharide unit of chondroitin. The DNA or part thereof may be used as a probe for hybridization for the human chondroitin synthase.

Abstract: A process of producing cellooligosaccharide, comprising enzymatically decomposing, in the presence of cellulase, a water-insoluble natural cellulosic material having an average degree of polymerization not greater than 700, an average particle size not greater than 100. A process of producing cellooligosaccharide, comprising enzymatically decomposing, in the presence of cellulase, a water-insoluble natural cellulosic material having an average degree of polymerization not greater than 700, containing 10% or more by mass of a colloidal cellulose component and a diethyl ether-soluble substance content less than 1% by mass.

Abstract: The invention relates to a novel mediator used in the production of wood composite materials that are devoid of binding agents.

Abstract: A novel modified thermoplastic starch is manufactured from a native starch using a polysaccharide produced by the fungus species Ophiostoma ulmi, by growing a culture in a yeast extract medium; adding the native starch; mixing, and harvesting the modified thermoplastic starch. The modified thermoplastic starch may be used in the manufacture of a biodegradable plastic which exhibits low water absorbency and high tensile strength. The plastic may be used to manufacture films or molding products by casting, extrusion, injection, or compression techniques.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for degrading a lignocellulosic material, comprising: treating the lignocellulosic material with an effective amount of one or more cellulolytic enzymes in the presence of at least one surfactant selected from the group consisting of a secondary alcohol ethoxylate, fatty alcohol ethoxylate, nonylphenol ethoxylate, tridecyl ethoxylate, and polyoxyethylene ether, wherein the presence of the surfactant increases the degradation of lignocellulosic material compared to the absence of the surfactant.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for dissolving cellulose. The method comprises—introducing cellulosic raw material,—treating the cellulosic raw material in an enzymatic treatment process,—mixing the cellulosic raw material after the enzymatic treatment in an aqueous solution in order to obtain an aqueous intermediate product containing the cellulosic raw material of at least 3.5 wt.-%, alkali metal hydroxide between 3.5 wt.-% and 7 wt.-% and zinc salt,—freezing the intermediate product to a solid state, and -melting the frozen intermediate product. The present invention also relates to a cellulosic product obtained from a solution comprising dissolved cellulose.

Abstract: Clonal strains of bacteria derived from Pseudopterogorgia elisabethae are capable of making pseudopterosins in in vitro cultures without requiring the presence of other bacteria, algae, or animal cells that are normally present in P. elisabethae.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an isolated Pediococcus acidilactici 05B0111 capable of producing an exopolysaccharide. The Pediococcus acidilactici 05B0111 is deposited in Biosource Collection and Research Center (BCRC) of Food Industry Research and Development Institute (FIRDI) under an accession number BCRC 910420 and deposited in Deutsche Sammlung von Mikroorganismen und Zellkulturen GmbH (DSMZ) under an accession number DSM 22345. A method of producing an exopolysaccharide is also disclosed. The method involves cultivating an isolated Pediococcus acidilactici in a suitable medium under condition such that the exopolysaccharide is formed. A pharmaceutical composition including the aforementioned Pediococcus acidilactici 05B0111 and a food product including the aforementioned Pediococcus acidilactici 05B0111 are disclosed as well.

Abstract: A method of fractionating biomass, by permeability conditioning biomass suspended in a pH adjusted solution of at least one water-based polar solvent to form a conditioned biomass, intimately contacting the pH adjusted solution with at least one non-polar solvent, partitioning to obtain an non-polar solvent solution and a polar biomass solution, and recovering cell and cell derived products from the non-polar solvent solution and polar biomass solution. Products recovered from the above method. A method of operating a renewable and sustainable plant for growing and processing algae.

Abstract: Methods of making LMWH compositions are provided to provide the LMWH compositions at a yield of at least about 10%.

Abstract: The precise application of an electromagnetic field controls cell motion to guide extrusion and deposition of biopolymers produced by the cells. This controlled biofabrication process is used to fabricate two- and three-dimensional networks of biocompatible nanofibrils (such as cellulose) for use as biomaterials, tissue scaffolds to be used in regenerative medicine, coatings for biomedical devices, and other health care products.

Abstract: A process for the treatment of biomass to render structural carbohydrates more accessible and/or digestible using concentrated ammonium hydroxide with or without anhydrous ammonia addition, is described. The process preferably uses steam to strip ammonia from the biomass for recycling. The process yields of monosaccharides from the structural carbohydrates are good, particularly as measured by the enzymatic hydrolysis of the structural carbohydrates. The monosaccharides are used as animal feeds and energy sources for ethanol production.

Abstract: Provided is a composition which contains a red microalga polysaccharide and a heavy metal, which is used as a cosmetic, diagnostic, or pharmaceutical formulation. The pharmaceutical formulation may be employed topically or for treating nutritional and other disorders.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for producing polysaccharide gum comprising extracting a plant material with an aqueous solvent to produce a polysaccharide gum-containing extract; contacting the extract with at least one proteolytic enzyme to at least partially digest proteins in the extract; adding an organic solvent to the extract to precipitate the polysaccharide gum; and collecting the precipitated polysaccharide gum.

Abstract: Nucleic acid molecules are described which encode polypeptides having the enzymatic activity of a fructosyltransferase. Also, vectors, host cells and transgenic plants are described which contain such nucleic acid molecules. Furthermore, processes for producing polyfructose, particularly that of the inulin type, using the hosts described and/or the fructosyltransferase produced by them are described.

Abstract: The invention relates to the type 5 and type 8 capsular polysaccharides produced by overproducing S. aureus strains, and also to the immunogenic compositions and the vaccines comprising said capsular polysaccharides.

Abstract: A process is described for the production of an immunostimulant by submerged cultivation of Lentinus edodes in which mycelium from agar plates or a fermentation broth is added to a liquid medium in a shake flask or a bioreactor containing nutrients such as malt extract, yeast extract, peptone and glucose having access to air or to which air is added, and which is kept in constant movement at approx. 28° C. At the proper conditions, there will be an increase in the production of extracellular lentinan, which is shown to be a better immunostimulant than intracellular lentinan. The extracellular product is precipitated from the growth medium by means of methods for the precipitation of microbial polysaccharide.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for extracting glucan and mannan from the cell wall of a microorganism. Specifically, the method of the present invention in one embodiment comprises the steps of: a) treating the cells of the microorganism with an alkaline protease and an mannanase; b) separating the mixture from step a) into a heavy phase and a light phase; c) drying the heavy phase obtained from step b), obtaining the glucan preparation; and d) drying the light phase obtained from step b), obtaining the mannan preparation. Optionally, in the step c), the heavy phase obtained from step b) may be treated sequentially with an alkali and an acid, and separated again into a heavy phase and a light phase. The heavy phase is dried, obtaining the glucan preparation. The present invention further relates to the glucan preparation and mannan preparation produced thereby, and the uses thereof.

Abstract: In one aspect, the invention is directed to polypeptides having an amylase and/or glucoamylase activity, polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides, and methods for making and using these polynucleotides and polypeptides. In one aspect, the polypeptides of the invention can be used as amylases, for example, alpha amylases, to catalyze the hydrolysis of polysaccharide, oligosaccharide or starch into sugars. In one aspect, the invention provides delayed release compositions comprising an desired ingredient coated by a latex polymer coating. In alternative embodiments, enzymes are used to make biofuels, e.g., ethanol, butanol, propanol, or a gasoline-ethanol mix, including a bioethanol, biopropanol, biobutanol, or a biodiesel, or for any form of fuel or biomass processing.

Abstract: The present invention relates to nucleic acid molecules encoding enzymes which are involved in the starch synthesis in plants. These enzymes are starch synthases from wheat. The invention further relates to vectors and host cells containing said nucleic acid molecules, in particular transformed plant cells and plants regenerated from these cells, which exhibit an increased or a reduced activity of the described starch synthases.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel aminoglycoside antibiotics, a process for producing the same, and pharmaceutical use thereof. More specifically, the present invention relates to compounds represented by formula (I), a process for producing the same, and use of the same as antimicrobial agents. wherein R represents amino or hydroxyl.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing an aqueous glucose solution from the starch components of Triticeae grains, for example from rye, triticale or in particular wheat grains. The invention also relates to a glucose-based fermentation method for manufacturing organic compounds in which the glucose manufactured for fermentation is produced from the starch components of Triticeae grains by way of a method according to the invention.

Abstract: Novel strains of Bifidobacterium hifidum capable of producing a novel galactosidase enzyme activity that converts lactose to a novel mixture of galactooligosaccharides. The mixture of oligosaccharidcs may be incorporated into numerous food products or animal feeds for improving gut health by promoting the growth of bifidobacteria in the gut, and repressing the growth of the pathogenic microflora.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sugar chain synthesizer capable of continuously reacting sugar chains when a plurality of sugar chains are successively reacted. The sugar chain synthesizer of the present invention includes a plurality of vessels containing respective sugar nucleotide solutions, a plurality of vessels containing respective glycosyltransferases, and a reactor containing a primer that is a water-soluble polymer, into which the above described sugar nucleotide solution and glycosyltransferase are introduced. In the present invention, components in a reaction solution obtained in the reactor are separated through an ultrafiltration column, and a reaction product is then returned to the above described reactor, so as to continuously synthesize sugar chains. Although it is a complicated synthesis of sugar chains, it becomes possible to carry out such synthesis continuously and automatically.

Abstract: A method of increasing immunostimulation in animals by administering to the animal a glucan product comprising a branched ?-(1,3) glucan with ?-(1,3)-linked side chains being attached by a ?-(1,6)-linkage and being essentially free of side chains containing more than four ?-(1,6)-bound glucose units.

Abstract: The present invention provides nucleic acid sequences and variants thereof capable of modulating exopolysaccharide production in Sphingomonas, and provides methods of using such nucleic acid sequences to generate bacteria that hyper-produce exopolysaccharide in slime form.

Abstract: Provided are methods for recombinant production of an O-acetyltransferase and methods for acetylating capsular polysaccharides, especially those of a Serogroup A Neisseria meningitidis using the recombinant O-acetyltransferase, and immunogenic compositions comprising the acetylated capsular polysaccharide.

Abstract: PHB-deficient Sphingomonas strains having improved sphingan yield are provided. Certain of the Sphingomonas strains are diutan-producing strains that exhibit a dramatic improvement in productivity and yield due to a combination of certain genetic modifications that affect PHB and sphingan synthesis. Moreover, the sphingans produced from such strains have superior characteristics including improved filterability, clarity, and improved rheology-modifying characteristics. The sphingans provided are, thus, highly desirable in a variety of commercial and industrial uses, including personal care items, cement applications, and oilfield applications.

Abstract: The present invention relates to plant cells and plants, which are genetically modified, whereby the genetic modification leads to an increase in the activity of a starch-phosphorylating OK1 protein in comparison to the corresponding wild type plant cells or wild type plants that have not been genetically modified. In addition, the present invention concerns means and methods for the manufacture of such plant cells and plants. These types of plant cells and plants synthesise a modified starch. Therefore, the present invention also concerns the starches synthesised from the plant cells and plants according to the invention, methods for manufacturing these starches, and the manufacture of starch derivatives of these modified starches, as well as flours containing starches according to the invention. Furthermore, the present invention also relates to nucleic acids, coding starch-phosphorylating OK1 proteins, vectors, host cells, plant cells, and plants containing such nucleic acid molecules.

Abstract: The invention relates to a material comprising cellulose in association with a support selected from a polymer and/or a fibre, wherein said cellulose is produced by a micro-organism. The cellulose-reinforced material is provided for incorporation into a composite.