Abstract: The present invention is directed to isolated active fragments of a hypersensitive response elicitor protein or polypeptide which fragment does not elicit a hypersensitive response in plants. Also disclosed are isolated DNA molecules which encode such fragments. Isolated fragments of hypersensitive response elicitor proteins or polypeptides in accordance with the present invention and the isolated DNA molecules that encode them have the following activities: imparting disease resistance to plants, enhancing plant growth, and/or controlling insects on plants. This can be achieved by applying the fragments of a hypersensitive response elicitor in a non-infectious form to plants or plant seeds under conditions effective to impart disease resistance, to enhance plant growth, and/or to control insects on plants or plants grown from the plant seeds.

Abstract: A method for producing L-glutamic acid which comprises culturing a microorganism belonging to the genus Klebsiella, Erwinia or Pantoea and having an ability to produce L-glutamic acid in a culture medium, and collecting produced L-glutamic acid from the culture medium. The microbial strain used is preferably a strain which decreases in or is deficient in an activity of an enzyme catalyzing a reaction branching from a pathway for L-glutamic acid biosynthesis and producing a compound other than L-glutamic acid, or a strain which increase in an activity of an enzyme catalyzing a reaction for L-glutamic acid biosynthesis.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to imparting stress resistance to plants. This can be achieved by applying a hypersensitive response elicitor in a non-infectious form to plants or plant seeds under conditions effective to impart stress resistance to plants or plants grown from the plant seeds. Alternatively, transgenic plants or plant seeds transformed with a DNA molecule encoding the elicitor can be provided and the transgenic plants or plants resulting from the transgenic plant seeds are grown under conditions effective to impart stress resistance to plants or plants grown from the plant seeds.

Abstract: A method for producing L-glutamic acid which comprises culturing a microorganism belonging to the genus Klebsiella, Erwinia or Pantoea and having an ability to produce L-glutamic acid in a culture medium, and collecting produced L-glutamic acid from the culture medium. The microbial strain used is preferably a strain which decreases in or is deficient in an activity of an enzyme catalyzing a reaction branching from a pathway for L-glutamic acid biosynthesis and producing a compound other than L-glutamic acid, or a strain which increase in an activity of an enzyme catalyzing a reaction for L-glutamic acid biosynthesis.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of using a liquid matrix containing a black body light absorbing powder to facilitate the analysis of biomarkers from representative microorganisms by laser desorption mass spectrometry. Both an IR laser (1064 nm) and a UV laser (337 nm) were shown to be compatible and both time-of-flight and Fourier-transform mass analyzer were used. In the present implementation gram negative and gram positive bacteria were suspended in a methanol:chloroform solution and added to a cobalt/glycerol matrix, S/N, sensitivity and sampling time are greatly enhanced for polar lipid biomarkers.

Abstract: A biologically pure culture of Erwinia herbicola NRRLB-21856 is described which is highly effective as a biological control agent against Erwinia amylovora, the cause of fire blight, the destructive disease of apples and pears. The invention also encompasses methods of biologically controlling fire blight disease using the bacterium of the invention, and agricultural compositions which incorporate the strain.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of imparting pathogen resistance to plants. This involves applying a hypersensitive response elicitor polypeptide or protein in a non-infectious form to a plant under conditions where the polypeptide or protein contacts cells of the plant. The present invention is also directed to a pathogen resistant plant and a composition for imparting pathogen resistance to plants.

Abstract: A process for producing D-malic acid selectively without producing L-malic acid, using inexpensive maleic acid as a starting material, may be carried out using a microorganism belonging to the genus Erwinia, Mycoplana, Sporosarcina, Vibrio, Geotrichum or Torulaspora. The microorganism may be separated from the culture, used as a culture, or a treated microorganism.

Abstract: The present invention is directed toward efficient, high-yield processes for making ascorbic acid, 2-keto-L-gulonic acid, and esters of 2-keto-L-gulonic acid. The processes comprise reacting the appropriate starting materials with a hydrolase enzyme catalyst such as a protease, an esterase, a lipase or an amidase.

Abstract: The present invention is a biological tracer method for characterizing the movement of a material through a medium, comprising the steps of: introducing a biological tracer comprising a microorganism having ice nucleating activity into a medium; collecting at least one sample of the medium from a point removed from the introduction point; and analyzing the sample for the presence of the biological tracer. The present invention is also a method for using a biological tracer as a label for material identification by introducing a biological tracer having ice nucleating activity into a material, collecting a sample of a portion of the labelled material and analyzing the sample for the presence of the biological tracer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of imparting pathogen resistance to plants. This involves applying a hypersensitive response elicitor polypeptide or protein in a non-infectious form to a plant under conditions where the polypeptide or protein contacts cells of the plant. The present invention is also directed to a pathogen resistant plant and a composition for imparting pathogen resistance to plants.

Abstract: DNA segments encoding the Erwinia herbicola enzymes geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate (GGPP) synthase, phytoene synthase, phytoene dehydrogenase-4H and lycopene cyclase, vectors containing those DNA segments, host cells containing the vectors and methods for producing those enzymes and beta-carotene by recombinant DNA technology in transformed host organisms are disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of imparting pathogen resistance to plants. This involves applying a hypersensitive response elicitor polypeptide or protein in a non-infectious form to a plant under conditions where the polypeptide or protein contacts cells of the plant. The present invention is also directed to a pathogen resistant plant and a composition for imparting pathogen resistance to plants.

Abstract: Ice nucleating agents are introduced into or on invertebrates. They elevate the supercooling point of such invertebrates. Where such invertebrates are freeze-intolerant, they may be killed or made susceptible to freezing by subjecting them to temperatures at or below the elevated supercooling point. Food sources treated with ice nucleating agents can be used to introduce the agents effectively to the invertebrate.

Abstract: A process for remediating contaminated soil or groundwater using a strain of Pseudomonas paucimobilis designated NRRL B-18512 is disclosed. Further, the process is a two stage sequential process wherein in the first stage bacteria which degrade low molecular weight polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, heterocyclic organic compounds and phenolics are used in a pretreatment step. However, the remaining high molecular weight compounds are treated in a second step of the process with the Pseudomonas paucimobilis strain since the strain is not inhibited by low molecular weight compounds because these are removed in the first pretreatment step. Therefore, repeated inoculation of the strain is not necessary and the overall process disclosed eliminates the inhibitory effects of the low molecular weight compounds.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for integration of a chosen gene or of a specific DNA molecule into the chromosome or episome of a bacterium by cloning the gene or DNA molecule into a defective transposon which is then integrated into the chromosomal or episomal DNA of the bacteria. The defective transposon is incapable of transposition autonomously but can be induced to transpose when properly complemented. The complementation to induce transposition can be limited so that the defective transposon produces a specific number of copies and thereafter is stable. The number of copies of the defective transposon produced during the period of transposition can be estimated by the level of expression of a marker gene contained within the defective transposon.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of a sweetener, in which sucrose is converted enzymatically into a saccharide mixture which is called "isomerized sucrose" and has a disaccharide content of more than 85% by weight, then non-isomerized remaining sucrose is removed from the latter by enzymatic and/or H.sup.+ ion-catalyzed cleavage, and this product is catalytically hydrogenated. Preferably either before or after the catalytic hydrogenation, the resulting mixture is subjected to a chromatographic separation. The sweeteners prepared by this process contain either a mixture of 10 to 50% by weight of 6-O-.alpha.-D-glucopyranosyl-D-sorbitol; 2 to 20% by weight of 1-O-.alpha.-D-glucopyranosyl-D-sorbitol; and 30 to 70% by weight of 1-O-.alpha.-D-glucopyranosyl-D-mannitol or of 5 to 10% by weight of 6-O-.alpha.-D-glucopyranosyl-D-sorbitol; 30 to 40% by weight of 1-O-.alpha.-D-glucopyranosyl-D-sorbitol; and 45 to 60% by weight of 1-O-.alpha.-D-glucopyranosyl-D-mannitol.

Abstract: 2',3'-Dideoxy purine nucleosides represented by following general formulae [I] and/or [II] ##STR1## (wherein X and Y indicate nitrogen atoms or carbon atoms and R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 indicate each independently any of hydrogen atom, hydroxyl group, amino group, alkyl group, halogen atom, alkoxy group and mercapto group) are produced by bioconversion with strains of E. coli, K. pneumoniae and E. herbicola.

Abstract: A method for producing L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine comprising contacting microorganism cells having .beta.-tyrosinase activity with catechol, pyruvic acid and ammonium ion or with catechol and L-serine, at a temperature lower than 25.degree. C. in the presence of anhydrous crystals of L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine. L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine formed from said contacting precipitates as anhydrous crystals in the reaction mixture, and the thus-precipitated anhydrous crystals can be collected. According to the method of the present invention, crude crystals of L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine having a high purity may be obtained at a high yield of recovery.

Abstract: 6-Hydroxy nitrogen-containing 6-membered ring compounds of the following general formula (II): ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 represents carboxy group, carbamoyl group, cyano group, formyl group, C.sub.1 -C.sub.5 hydroxyalkyl group, C.sub.2 -C.sub.6 alkoxycarbonyl group, carboxyvinyl group, carboxymethyl group or oxime group, R.sup.2 represents hydrogen atom or carboxy group, and A represents carbon atom or nitrogen atom, can be prepared by reacting a nitrogen-containing 6-membered ring compounds of the following general formula (I): ##STR2## wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and A are as defined in the general formula (II) above, with a microorganism or physico-chemically treated microorganism in an aqueous medium. Efficiency of the above reaction can be raised by conducting the reaction in the presence of phenazine methosulfate.

Abstract: Novel plasmids comprising genes which code for the alcohol dehydrogenase and pyruvate decarboxylase are described. Also described are recombinant hosts which have been transformed with genes coding for alcohol dehydrogenase and pyruvate. By virtue of their transformation with these genes, the recombinant hosts are capable of producing significant amounts of ethanol as a fermentation product. Also disclosed are methods for increasing the growth of recombinant hosts and methods for reducing the accumulation of undesirable metabolic products in the growth medium of these hosts. Also disclosed are recombinant host capable of producing significant amounts of ethanol as a fermentation product of oligosaccharides and plasmids comprising genes encoding polysaccharases, in addition to the genes described above which code for the alcohol dehydrogenase and pyruvate decarboxylase. Further, methods are described for producing ethanol from oligomeric feedstock using the recombinant hosts described above.

Abstract: A process for biologically preventing dicotyledonous plant diseases which comprises: cutting a seedling of a dicotyledon which includes the seedling between a cotyledon and less than three leaves at a growth stage; immersing the upper portion of the cut seedling into a symbiotical bacteria suspension having antifungal and antibacterial activities and induced resistance to plant pathogens in order to inoculate the symbiotical bacteria into interior tissues in the vessel and intercellular space of the dicotyledonous plants; cutting the seedlings in a nursery bed or directly planting them in a field for further association of the symbiotical bacteria; and preventing dicotyledonous plant diseases of the dicotyledonous plants.

Abstract: A method for increasing .beta.-tyrosinase activity in Erwinia herbicola is disclosed. The activity is increased by culturing the microorganism until it reaches stationary phase and maintaining the stationary phase for a period of 6 to 24 hours while maintaining the pH between 7.0 and 8.3.

Abstract: The present invention relates to improved methods for producing L-3, 4-dihydroxyphenylalanine from catechol, pyruvic acid and ammonium ion, or catechol and L-serine, by utilizing .beta.-tyrosinase activity of a microorganism which belongs to the genus Erwinia. According to the method of the present invention, L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine can be produced at a lower cost and higher efficiency as compared with that in the conventional method.

Abstract: A process is provided for the purification of L-asparaginase by contacting a crude extract of L-asparaginase with a solid medium having cation exchange groups so as to adsorb L-asparaginase on the support and eluting adsorbed L-asparaginase from the support. The cation exchange groups comprise sulphonate groups and the elution step is carried out at a pH which is higher than the pH used in the contacting step.

Abstract: 2,5-Diketo-D-gluconic acid is prepared in high yield and in high broth concentration by cultivating newly isolated microorganisms of genus Erwinia in an aqueous nutrient medium in the presence of D-glucose. The production is also possibly by simple contact of said microorganisms or their processed products therefrom, with D-glucose.

Abstract: Microbially produced ice nucleator mixtures which include either cell-free ice nucleator particle mixtures and/or whole cell ice nucleator mixtures. These mixtures are produced in methods which comprises culturing a selected microorganism in a two step process at a first temperature in a first step and at a lower temperature in a second step. The mciroorganisms include Erwinia, Pseudomonas and Escherichia coil. These methods produce ice nucleator mixtures having increased concentrations of ice nucleating sites per given weight or volume of ice nucleator material.

Abstract: 2,5-Diketo-D-gluconic acid is prepared in high yield and in high broth concentration by cultivating newly isolated microorganisms of genus Erwinia in an aqueous nutrient medium in the presence of D-glucose. The production is also possible by simple contact of said microorganisms or their processed products therefrom, with D-glucose.

Abstract: A galactomannan heteropolysaccharide is prepared by fermentation of a previously unknown microorganism, named Erwina sp. ATCC No. 55046. The polysaccharide has valuable properties as a thickening, suspending, stabilizing and lubricating agent in aqueous systems. It has a chemical composition of mannose, galactose and galacturonic acid in the approximate molar ratio of 5:3:2. The polysaccharide can be produced in high yield and volumetric productivity from a submerged culture fermentation of a low-cost, lactose-containing whey or whey permeate medium.

Abstract: 2', 3'-Dideoxy purine nucleosides represented by following general formulae [I] and/or [II] ##STR1## (wherein X and Y indicate nitrogen atoms or carbon atoms and R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 indicate each independently any of hydrogen atom, hydroxyl group, amino group, alkyl group, halogen atom, alkoxy group and mercapto group), process for the preparation thereof and applications thereof to the antiviral agent, antiretroviral agent, therapeutic drug and preventive drug for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), and experimental medicine and experimental reagent to be used in genetic engineering are claimed.

Abstract: Methods for producing ascorbic acid using recombinant means comprising the transfer of genetic material by conjugation, a host cell lacking, entirely or to such an extent as not to be commercially useful, one or more enzymes in the metabolic path converting glucose to 2 keto-L-gulonic acid.

Abstract: The freezing of foodstuffs and other biological materials such blood products as sperm, ova, embryos and other tissues may be facilitated by applying thereto a non-toxic microorganism having an INA.sup.+ phenotype or a biogenic ice nucleating agent or a functionally equivalent protein.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for producing ribavirin utilizing microorganisms and a method for producing ribose-1-phosphoric acid which is a precursor of ribavirin. The methods involve contacting certain microorganisms with orotidine, orotidic acid, or salts thereof, and inorganic phosphoric acid or a salt thereof (to produce ribose-1-phosphoric acid), and further with 1,2,4-triazole-3-carboxamide or a salt thereof (to produce ribavirin) in an aqueous solvent.

Abstract: 2,5-Diketo-D-gluconic acid is prepared in high yield and in high broth concentration by cultivating newly isolated microorganisms of genus Erwinia in an aqueous nutrient medium in the presence of D-glucose. The production is also possible by simple contact of said microorganisms or their processed products therefrom, with D-glucose.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a continuous process for the enzymatic preparation of isomaltulose. A periplasmatic sucrose-mutase is produced by fermentation of microorganisms which form sucrose-mutase. The cell-free crude enzyme extract is prepared by digestion of the cells and by cross-flow microfiltration. In a single-stage, simultaneous purification and immobilization of the sucrose-mutase from the cell-free crude extract conditioned by diafiltration is obtained by selective bonding to an anionizable carrier matrix. Direct conversion of sucrose into isomaltulose is produced by the sucrose-mutase bonded to the anionizable carrier matrix, preferably in cartridge or cartouche form.

Abstract: Plant host acceptable microorganisms, which are ice nucleation deficient and use at least one nutrient from the plant also used by ice nucleating native microorganisms, are applied to a plant part at an early stage in the growth cycle. The multiplication of the native ice nucleating microorganisms is inhibited, so that under normal frost conditions encountered in the field, frost damage is substantially diminished. The non-nucleating microorganisms may be obtained by special selection procedures, selecting from naturally occuring microorganisms or mutagenized microorganisms, where additionally the organisms may be transformed to provide for other desirable properties.

Abstract: A segment of a bacteriophage encoding for a polysaccharide depolymerase which has been cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli is described. In particular, bacteriophage ERA103 was found to consist of five EcoRI fragments labeled: A, 7.5-kb; B, 5.0-kb; C, 2.7-kb; D, 2.1-kb and E, 1.8-kb. Fragment B encodes for the depolymerase and was cloned into the positive-selection vector pOP203(A.sub.2.sup.+), pBR322 and the expression vector pKK223-3. The depolymerase is applied to rosaceous plants to prevent Fireblight caused by Erwinia amylovora by depolymerizing a polysaccharide produced by this bacteria.

Abstract: A process for preparing 1-O-.alpha.-glucopyranoside-D-fructose by enzymatically converting sucrose is described, wherein a sucrose solution is brought into contact with free or immobilized, living or dead whole cells or with microorganisms forming the free or immobilized enzyme extract of isomaltulose from saccharose, the solution so treated being next subjected to chromatographic separation at ion exchangers or other suitable separation materials to obtain the 1-O-.alpha.-D-glucopyranosido-D-fructose as an aqueous solution which is then converted by methods known per se into the dry form.

Abstract: L-phenylalanine is produced by using a microorganism belonging to the species Citrobacter freundii, Erwinia herbicola, Enterobacter cloacae, Klebsiella oxytoca, Salmonella typhimurium, Bacillus cereus, Flavobacterium suaveolens, Serratia marcescens, Pseudomonas putida, Enterobacter cloacae, Proteus mirabilis, Paracoccus denitrificans, Arthrobacter globiformis, Bacillus sphaericus, Corynebacterium hydrocarboclastus, Kluyvera micum or Microbacterium ammoniaphilum and having the ability to convert phenylpyruvic acid into L-phenylalanine in the presence of an amino group donor; or fumaric acid and ammonium ion or urea.

Abstract: A method and compositions for the treatment of fireblight disease in plants are described. The compositions include a phage for Erwinia amylovora which produces fireblight and an enzyme produced by the phage which depolymerizes a polysaccharide produced by Erwinia amylovora which is the cause of the fireblight disease. Purified enzyme preparations are described.

Abstract: Ice nucleation bacteria are modified in vitro to confer an ice nucleation deficient phenotype. Modification is accomplished by deletion, substitution, insertion, inversion, or transversion of a DNA segment within the gene locus responsible for the INA phenotype. By limiting such mutations to the particular gene locus, the modified microorganisms are genetically stable and free from random mutations which might adversely affect their competitive fitness. The modified microorganisms are useful for prevention of frost damage to susceptible plant hosts.

Abstract: A process for the recovery and purification of L-asparaginase from Erwinia chrysanthemi is disclosed. The process involves the preparation of cellular acetone powder extract followed by either an ion exchange and affinity chromatography purification steps or by affinity chromatography alone. The column eluent is then dialyzed to produce substantially pure L-asparaginase.

Abstract: Methods for producing RNA viral cDNA, such as poliovirus ds cDNA, products thereof, and uses thereof, are described. Poliovirus cDNA is produced, for example, by reverse transcribing poliovirus RNA and subsequently inserting the poliovirus cDNA into bacterial plasmids by genetic-engineering techniques. Transformed bacteria are then cloned and cultured to produce replicated chimeric plasmids containing the cDNA poliovirus. Such poliovirus cDNA is useful in assaying for the presence of poliovirus and in the production of antibodies against poliovirus. It has also been found that full-length poliovirus cDNA is infectious, which means it can be employed in producing altered virus particles for vaccines.

Abstract: This invention relates to the field of lignin degradation. More specifically the invention relates to methods for selecting and isolating microorganism from nature that are capable of degrading lignin, processes for cloning a gene segment from such an organism, and methods of using the enzyme product of the gene segment to provide valuable chemical feedstocks, methanol and the like from a lignin source material.

Abstract: Isomaltulose is produced by a process in which at least the isomaltulose-forming enzyme system of an isomaltulose-forming micro-organism is immobilized and then the immobilized enzyme system is contacted with a sucrose solution to convert at least part of the sucrose to isomaltulose.

Abstract: A strain of Erwinia herbicola identified as EHO-10 has been found to have a broad spectrum of inhibitory activity against pathogenic bacteria. Pathogenic bacteria inhibited by EHO-10 includes those from the following genera: Agrobacterium, Corynebacterium, Erwinia, Pseudomonas, and Xanthomonas. EHO-10 has inhibitory activity against Erwinia amylovora, a bacteria pathogen causing fire blight disease of pear and other trees.

Abstract: The chemical modification of virulent Pasteurella multocida and Pasteurella haemolytica strains and preparation of live bacteria vaccines from the modified organisms for immunization of bovine, porcine and ovine animal species are disclosed.

Abstract: Fermentative or enzymatic production of 2-keto-L-gulonic acid from 2,5-diketo-D-gluconic acid using living or processed mutants, being defective in metabolizing 5-keto-D-gluconic acid and incapable of producing 2-keto-D-gluconic acid. The mutant is derived from 2-keto-L-gluconic acid producing microorganisms of genus Corynebacterium. The production is carried out in the presence of nitrates and/or hydrogen donors in a preliminarily sterilized fermentation broth in which a 2,5-diketo-D-gluconic acid producing microorganism of genus Gluconobacter or Erwinia has been cultivated.

Abstract: Culturing aerobically Erwinia carotovora SC 12,637 A.T.C.C. No. 39048 or Erwinia herbicola SC 12,638 A.T.C.C. No. 39049 in a culture medium containing assimilable carbon and nitrogen sources yields 1-carba-2-penem-3-carboxylic acid.

Abstract: Isomaltulose is produced by a process in which at least the isomaltulose-forming enzyme system of an isomaltulose-forming micro-organism genus Erwinia is immobilized on calcium alginate gel and then the immobilized enzyme system is contacted with a sucrose solution to convert at least part of the sucrose to isomaltulose.