Abstract: The present invention pertains to an apparatus for holding cells. The apparatus comprises a mechanism for incubating cells having a dynamically controlled environment in which the cells are grown, which are maintained in a desired condition and in which cells can be examined while the environment is dynamically controlled and maintained in the desired condition. The apparatus also comprises a mechanism for determining the state of the cells. The determining mechanism is in communication with the incubating mechanism. The present invention pertains to a method for holding cells. The method comprises the steps of incubating the cells in a dynamically controlled environment which is maintained in a desired condition and in which the cells can be examined while the environment is dynamically controlled and maintained in the desired condition. Additionally, there is the step of determining the state of the cells.

Abstract: A method to produce high density microalgae having high lipid concentration in mass culture including the steps of inoculating a vessel with microalgae at mid-log phase to a depth greater than 25 cm. Then culturing the microalgae to a preselected target density threshold, bringing the microalgae to stationary phase, manipulating growth parameters to maximize lipid concentration and harvesting the vessel.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of determining the presence or absence of a target microbe in a liquid water sample, the method consisting of a) combining a liquid water sample and a powdered medium having at least one nutrient indicator, the nutrient indicator being selected from the group consisting of: orthonitrophenyl-B-D-glucuronide; B-napthalamide-B-D-glucuronide; &agr;-napthol-B-D-glucuronide; and methylumbelliferyl-B-D-glucuronide, to form a mixture; b) incubating the mixture for a time sufficient to produce a detectable color signal indicative of the presence or absence of a target microbe; and c) observing the signal to determine the presence or absence of the target microbe in said sample.

Abstract: A fermentation apparatus is constructed to produce a known and repeatable amount of unpoisoned fermentation product using multiple fermentation vessels. To facilitate further processing compatible with other product processing steps, the fermentation apparatus has an array of sample vessels arranged in a container frame. The container frame is configured to hold the sample vessels during fermentation and to transport the vessel array to or from another processing station. Corresponding to the number of sample vessels in the sample vessel array, a cannula array is configured such that each cannula may be placed inside a sample vessel. The cannula array is attached to a gas distributor that delivers oxygen and/or one or more other gases from a gas source through the cannula into the sample vessel.

Abstract: The presence or absence of a predetermined target first generation environmental sourced microbe in an environmentally derived sample is determined by adding a testing medium to the sample, or vice versa. The testing medium provides a selective growth medium for the target microbe and includes a specific nutrient which only the target microbe can metabolize. This specific nutrient is modified by attaching a sample-altering moiety thereto, thereby converting the nutrient to a nutrient-indicator. The sample-altering moiety is activated to alter the sample only if the specific nutrient is metabolized by the target microbe. The sample-altering moiety can be a material which changes the color of the sample (visible or non-visible) or changes an electrical characteristic of the sample, or alters some other detectable characteristic of the sample. The testing media does not have to be kept sterile, and the testing procedure does not have to be performed in a sterile environment.

Abstract: An on site bioremediation system that delivers logarithmically growing, active microorganisms from the culture vessel directly to the biodegradable waste to be metabolized is disclosed. The system includes a controller, culture vessel and separate containers of stock microorganisms and nutrient medium. The periodic or continuous addition of stock microorganisms and fresh nutrient media is controlled by a computer. After a particular cell density is reached, the active, logarithmically growing microorganisms flow out of the system to the waste site on a periodic or continuous basis.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to an apparatus for holding cells. The apparatus comprises a mechanism for incubating cells having a dynamically controlled closed environment in which the cells are grown, which are maintained in a desired condition and in which cells can be examined while the environment is dynamically controlled and maintained in the desired condition. The apparatus also comprises a mechanism for determining the state of the cells. The determining mechanism is in communication with the incubating mechanism. The present invention pertains to a method for holding cells. The method comprises the steps of incubating the cells in a dynamically controlled closed environment which is maintained in a desired condition and in which the cells can be examined while the environment is dynamically controlled and maintained in the desired condition. Additionally, there is the step of determining the state of the cells.

Abstract: The invention relates to a target microbe-specific medium for detecting the presence or absence of a target microbe in an environmental or biological sample, the medium including: a) an effective amount of vitamin, amino acid, element and salt ingredients operable to allow viability and log phase reproduction of the target microbe in the presence of a nutrient-indicator and to aid the target microbe through lag phase and into log phase of growth in the sample; and b) an effective amount of a nutrient-indicator which is provided in an amount sufficient to support log phase growth of the target microbe of a sample until a detectable characteristic signal is produced in the medium/sample mixture during the log phase growth; the nutrient-indicator being incapable of supporting continued logarithmic growth of any viable non-target microbes in the medium/sample mixture to produce a detectable characteristic signal; and the nutrient-indicator being operable to alter a detectable characteristic of the medium/sample m

Abstract: Compositions containing two species of indolyl-3-alkane alpha-hydroxylase (INDH) are isolated from Pseudomonas XA. An INDH1 composition contains protein subunits having molecular weights of 75,000, 34,500 and 32,500 daltons. An INDH2 composition contains protein subunits having molecular weights of 60,000, 44,000 and 42,000 daltons. Molecular weights are determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The compositions have a Specific INDH Activity of at least 10 international Units of INDH activity per milligram of protein, and contain less than 1 nanogram of endotoxin per International Unit of Specific INDH Activity. The INDH compositions may be immobilized on an insoluble matrix such as silica beads to provide at least 2.5 international Units of INDH activity per gram of Immobilized INDH composition. The INDH compositions are isolated by lysing Pseudomonas XA cells at a temperature of no more than 15.degree. C.

Abstract: The presence or absence of a predetermined target first generation environmental sourced microbe in an environmentally derived sample is determined by adding a testing medium to the sample, or vice versa. The testing medium provides a selective growth medium for the target microbe and includes a specific nutrient which only the target microbe can significantly metabolize and use for growth This specific nutrient is modified by attaching a sample-altering moiety thereto, thereby converting the nutrient to a nutrient-indicator. The sample-altering moiety is activated to alter the sample only if the specific nutrient is metabolized by the target microbe. The sample-altering moiety can be a material which changes the color of the sample (visable or non-visable) or changes an electrical characteristic of the sample, or alters some other detectable characteristic of the sample.

Abstract: A culture of Pseudomonas XA cells containing indolyl-3-alkane alpha-hydroxylase(INDH) is produced by aerobic batch fermentation in a culture medium. The culture medium is in a vessel having a means for adjusting agitation rate. During culturing, the cells go through a logarithmic phase and a stationary phase. Oxygen concentration is measured in the culture medium at the beginning of the process to determine a first oxygen concentration. Agitation rate is adjusted to produce a second oxygen concentration in the culture medium of about two to about seven percent of the first oxygen concentration for a time period of about two to about seven hours which ends at the beginning of the stationary phase. An INDH having three subunits of different molecular weight is isolated from the cells. The INDH is stable, free from endotoxin-mediated side effects and has sufficient specific activity to be useful for depletion of tryptophan from aqueous solution. During use, the INDH may be in immobilized form.

Abstract: A method for determining the amino acid sequence of a polypeptide complementary to at least a portion of an original peptide or protein. In one aspect the method involves: (a) determining a first nucleotide sequence of a first nucleic acid coding for the biosynthesis of at least a portion of the original peptide or protein; (b) ascertaining a second nucleotide sequence of a second nucleic acid which base-pairs with the first nucleotide sequence of the first nucleic acid, the first and second nucleic acids pairing in antiparallel directions; and (c) determining the amino acid sequence of the complementary polypeptide by the second nucleotide sequence when read in the same reading frame as the first nucleotide sequence.

Abstract: The invention relates to nucleotide sequences, including a substantially purified gene which codes for an oxygen-binding protein, and a gene promoter/regulator which is useful in subjecting the translation/transcription of DNA sequences to selective regulation by external control, and plasmid vectors containing those nucleotide sequences, which are valuable bioprocessing catalysts for enhancing the growth characteristics of cells, and increasing production of various proteins and metabolites of those cells. Methods for the use of these nucleotide sequences and related plasmids for a range of applications including oxygen supply to cells, growth enhancement, expression of various gene products, enhancement of oxygen-requiring processes, binding and separation of oxygen from liquids and gases, and a range of oxidative reactions are also disclosed.

Abstract: Improved overall yields of hyaluronic acid are obtained by controlling the oxygen available for metabolism by a hyaluronic acid producing microorganism. Relatively high oxygen concentrations are made available during the initial exponential growth phase of the cultivated microorganism, until a predetermined growth has been reached. At this time, the available oxygen is limited to stimulate a disproportionately larger production of the desired hyaluronic acid.

Abstract: A preparation of freeze-dried microorganisms and a method for preparing a freezed-dried suspension of microorganisms and culture medium, in which the freeze-dried microorganisms can be directly cultured via addition of setrile, distilled water. The freeze-dried preparation contains a sufficient amount of a colloidal component, such as gelatin, to form the microorganisms into a microbial plug.

Abstract: This invention relates to the production of the microorganisms. The operation is conducted in two stages. The first stage is conducted in the absence of ultrafiltration while the pH of the growth medium is maintained within the range of 6-7 by the addition of a neutralizing agent. Nutrient substratum and dilution water are added during the first stage to maintain the growth rate at a constant level, and the volume of growth medium is permitted to increase. When the amount of growth inhibiting agent produced in the fermentation reaches a predetermined maximum level, the second stage is initiated and the growth rate is maintained in a range of 0.10 to 0.50/hr, which is less than the growth rate in the first stage. By increasing the amount of dilution water the concentration of the growth inhibiting agent is maintained so as to achieve the desired moderate growth rate.

Abstract: A method for production of HA fraction containing protective antigens of Bordetella pertussis (i.e. a fraction containing F-HA and LPF-HA) in an industrial scale, for instance, with a fermentater, which comprises inoculating a strain of B. pertussis in a liquid culture containing a cyclodextrin or its derivative, culturing it by a spinner culture under controlling the culture temperature and the amount of dissolved oxygen and under defoaming condition, optionally under controlling the pH range, and harvesting the produced HA fraction from the culture broth at a stage of from logarithmic growth phase to static grow phase, and a method for production of a pertussis vaccine from the HA fraction thus obtained by formalinizing the HA fraction in the presence of an amino acid.

Abstract: A preparation of freeze-dried microorganisms and method for preparing a freeze-dried suspension of microorganisms and culture medium in which the freeze dried microorganisms can be directly cultured simply by adding sterile distilled water to the vessel in which the microorganisms are freeze-dried.

Abstract: A method to determine the Gram sign of microorganisms includes staining the microorganisms with a plurality of fluorescent dyes, applying excitation energy to the stained microorganisms, and observing the color of the fluorescence emission of the stained microorganisms. Gram-positive and Gram-negative microorganisms stain different colors, and assignment of the Gram sign may be made on the basis of the color of the stained microorganisms.

Abstract: A bacterial strain comprising a strain of Pseudomonas exhibits acceleration of growth in a logarithmic phase in a trophic culture medium when hydrocarbons are added thereto, a process for producing such a bacterial strain, and a purification process using such a bacterial strain.

Abstract: In a cell culture process, the addition of an additive is only carried out after it has been determined that the previous addition of additive has caused at least a minimum change in metabolic activity of the cells.

Abstract: Organic wastes, such as animal manure, are fed into an elongated digester tank at one end thereof in slurry form. The slurry slowly moves to the other end of the tank for subsequent disposal. During the residence time in the tank decomposition of the waste occurs yielding methane gas and carbon dioxide. A cover over the digester collects the gas generated. A heat exchange arrangement causes transverse stirring of the slurry as it passes through the tank enhancing the decomposition process. Scum suppressors on the surface of the slurry prevent interference with the formation and release of the methane gas. The settling of solids is controlled by the use of gas jets disposed along the bottom of the tank.

Abstract: A device for growing bacteria from a predetermined initial population to a predetermined final population comprising a means for obtaining the predetermined initial population and a medium to obtain growth of the bacteria to the predetermined final population.

Abstract: A medium for growing bacteria from an initial population to a final predetermined population where growth of the bacteria substantially subsides due to the lack of nutrient.

Abstract: In a feedlot operation wherein ruminant animals, such as cattle or sheep, are fed ad libitum a high-energy ration or feed, lactic acidosis is greatly reduced or eliminated and weight gain and feed conversion are increased by administering to the animal the microorganism Peptococcus asaccharolyticus upon introduction of the animal to the feedlot. The microorganism is conveniently administered to the animal, either by direct injection or introduction into the rumen via a needle or stomach tube or in admixture with the feed or ration. The microorganism is also useful in the treatment of cattle (calves) and sheep ill with lactic acidosis.

Abstract: A fermentation vessel is used to grow a cell mass and maintain it in a maintenance energy state. In this state the mass of the cell material is maintained substantially constant, and fresh medium containing an energy source is introduced to the vessel at a rate sufficient to sustain cell viability but insufficient to support growth of the cell mass. Fluid with suspended cells is pumped from the vessel to a separator which separates a fraction of the fluid from the cells and discharges the fraction, the unfiltered portion of the fluid and substantially all of the cells being returned to the vessel, the discharged fraction containing useful secondary metabolites.