Abstract: The invention relates to uses and methods relating to grass and endophyte combinations to repel avian species from the grass and endophyte combination. In particular, methods are described to select grass and endophyte combinations in order to enhance or maximize the repellent effect. Preferred endophyte and grass combinations are described which are based on the selection methods and include AR4, AR5, AR8 and AR94 (Deposit Nos. V07/029054, V07/029055, V07/029056, V07/029057) in Lolium cultivars as well as AR601, AR602, AR603, and AR604 (Deposit Nos. V07/029058, V07/029059, V07/029060, V07/029061) in Festuca cultivars.

Abstract: A compound useful as an antifungal agent, particularly a therapeutic agent for deep-seated mycoses, is provided. A fungus Acremonium persicinum was collected, and cyclic compounds were isolated from culture liquids thereof. The present inventors confirmed that the cyclic compounds or salts thereof have a potent antifungal activity and are useful as medicaments, particularly an antifungal agent, and thus the present invention was completed. The cyclic compound and the salt thereof according to the present invention can be used as an agent for preventing or treating mycoses, particularly deep-seated mycoses.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a microorganism which is novel at the elemental composition level, and to provide a technique for providing such a microorganism. The present inventor has succeeded in causing a microorganism to efficiently contain a non-essential element by decreasing the content of an essential nutrient source for the microorganism, a C source, an N source, a P source, or an S source, and by adding an X compound containing the non-essential element as a constitutive element in a manner to make up for the decreased amount, and then culturing the microorganism.

Abstract: The invention relates to a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO: 2 or an amino acid sequence encoded by the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, or a variant polypeptide or variant polynucleotide thereof, wherein the variant polypeptide has at least 73% sequence identity with the sequence set out in SEQ ID NO: 2 or the variant polynucleotide encodes a polypeptide that has at least 73% sequence identity with the sequence set out in SEQ ID NO: 2. The invention features the full length coding sequence of the novel gene as well as the amino acid sequence of the full-length functional polypeptide and functional equivalents of the gene or the amino acid sequence. The invention also relates to methods for using the polypeptide in industrial processes. Also included in the invention are cells transformed with a polynucleotide according to the invention suitable for producing these proteins.

Abstract: A microorganism which produces compounds useful as an antifungal agent, particularly a therapeutic agent for deep-seated mycoses, such as mycotic sinusitis, is provided. The present inventors have conducted intensive studies on naturally-occurring microorganisms as a research for antifungal compounds, and found a fungus Acremonium persicinum which produces cyclic compounds having a potent antifungal activity and useful as a medicament, particularly an antifungal agent, and the present invention was completed.

Abstract: The invention provides isolated fungal endophytes and synthetic combinations thereof with host grass plants. Methods for inoculating grass plant with the endophytes, for propagating the grass-endophyte combinations, and for producing feeds and biofuels from grass-endophyte combinations are also provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to a cell which comprises a nucleotide sequence encoding a xylose isomerase, wherein the amino acid sequence of the xylose isomerase has at least about 70% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO: 3 and wherein the nucleotide sequence is heterologous to the host. A cell of the invention may be used in a process for producing a fermentation product, such as ethanol. Such a process may comprise fermenting a medium containing a source of xylose with a cell of the invention such that the cell ferments xylose to the fermentation product.

Abstract: The invention relates to uses and methods relating to grass and endophyte combinations to repel avian species from the grass and endophyte combination. In particular, methods are described to select grass and endophyte combinations in order to enhance or maximise the repellent effect. Preferred endophyte and grass combinations are described which are based on the selection methods and include AR4, AR5, AR8 and AR94 (Deposit Nos. V07/029054, V07/029055, V071029056, V07/029057) in Lolium cultivars as well as AR601, AR602, AR603, and AR604 (Deposit Nos. V07/029058, V07/029059, V07/029060, V07/029061) in Festuca cultivars.

Abstract: A microorganism which produces compounds useful as an antifungal agent, particularly a therapeutic agent for deep-seated mycoses, such as mycotic sinusitis, is provided. The present inventors have conducted intensive studies on naturally-occurring microorganisms as a research for antifungal compounds, and found a fungus Acremonium persicinum which produces cyclic compounds having a potent antifungal activity and useful as a medicament, particularly an antifungal agent, and the present invention was completed.

Abstract: Methods, enzymes, recombinant microorganism, and microbial systems are provided for converting suitable monosaccharides or oligosaccharides, such as those derived from biomass, as well as various aldehydes and/or ketones, into commodity chemicals, such as biofuels. Commodity chemicals produced by the methods described herein are also provided. Commodity chemical enriched, refinery-produced petroleum products are also provided, as well as methods for producing the same.

Abstract: A grass with improved environmental stress tolerance and low animal toxicity is disclosed where the grass is infected with an isolated endophyte selected from the groups consisting of USDA-PI no. 269850, Ijoukak, Morocco 92060, Boumalne-de-Dades, Morocco KBG 5921, USDA-PI no. 516560, Oujda, Morocco KBG 5892, and mixtures and combinations thereof. A method for stably infecting the grasses is also disclosed.

Abstract: To provide an Italian rye grass with excellent characteristics, and in particular, excellent insect resistance and disease resistance, an endophyte, which is a filamentous endophytic fungus living together with a wild plant occurring in nature, is isolated and artificially grown, and made to live symbiotically in Italian rye grass by inoculating and infecting the grass with the artificially grown endophyte.

Abstract: To provide a grass having improved characteristics, an endophyte having endophytic fungi which produce an insect-resistant alkaloid is artificially introduced into a grass by inoculation so that the endophyte lives in and infects the grass.