Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the production of xylitol. Specifically the process comprises two reaction steps. The first step is the fermentative conversion of a hexose to a pentitol. The second step is the catalytic chemical isomerisation of the pentitol to xylitol. Optionally, the xylitol is separated from the other pentitols.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of determining, assaying and identifying strains of Candida and pathogenic strains belonging to species Torulopsis glabrata by means of chromogenic substrates of monoamino acid or peptide type without the isolation of the strains to be identified.

Abstract: A high concentration of DL-alanine can be supplied in a culture medium and D-alanine can be efficiently obtained with high yield for a short time by cultivating a yeast which belongs to the genus Candida, the genus Cryptococcus, the genus Hansenura or the genus Trichosporon and has an ability to assimilate L-alanine and not to assimilate substantially D-alanine in a culture medium containing substantially DL-alanine as a single carbon source and a single nitrogen source under an acidic condition. Moreover, because very little other organic by-product and organic impurity exists in the culture medium when the cultivation is completed, it becomes easy to separate and refine the D-alanine.

Abstract: A method of producing a growth promoting factor for Bifidobacterium species from lactose which comprises contacting lactose with resting cells of a lactose-utilizing yeast strain having activity to rearrange lactose to galacto-oligosaccharides.

Abstract: By cultivating microorganisms belonging to genus Torulopsis, requiring thiamine and biotin for their growth and having an ability to produce pyruvic acid, it is enabled to accumulate an appreciable amount of pyrivic acid with little by-product.

Abstract: A process of producing 2-keto-L-gulonic acid by fermentative conversion of L-sorbose utilizing a fermentation system composed of component produced from a microorganism having the identifying characteristics of strain DSM No. 4025 and a yeast component.

Abstract: Rapid identification of different species of microorganism selected from fungi and yeast like algae is accomplished by culturing the microorganism for several hours under normal conditions on a non-inhibitory mycological medium which stimulates the microorganism to make characteristic enzymes by which the microorganism can be identified, distributing the culture (in suspension) onto several supports containing different substrates which are capable of reacting with the enzymes so produced by the different species of microorganisms; and rapidly incubating the admixture to produce a distinctly colored or colorable reaction product.

Abstract: Methylotrophic yeasts of the genera Pichia, Torulopsis, Candida and Hansenula when grown on methanol, make use of an enzyme, alcohol oxidase, to catalyse the initial oxidation of methanol to formaldehyde. Non-growing whole cells of such methylotrophic yeasts were used in place of purified alcohol oxidase for the production of flavoring aldehydes from their respective alcohols. To reduce end product inhibition a number of amine buffers, which chelate the aldehydes, were studied and an increase in aldehyde production was demonstrated with selected buffers which maintain a weakly alkaline pH.

Abstract: A novel microorganism Torulopsis bombicola KSM-36 (FERM BP-799) isolated from cabbage leaves grown in a cabbage field located in Musashino-shi, Tokyo, has sophorose-producing activity.

Abstract: The manufacture of optically active compounds of the formula ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 signifies alkyl, phenyl or benzyl and R.sup.2 signifies hydrogen or a customary ester residue,by the fermentative reduction of compounds of the formula ##STR2## wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 have the above significance. The compounds obtained are valuable intermediates in organic syntheses.

Abstract: .alpha.-L-aspartylphenylalanine lower alkyl esters are prepared by a process wherein L-aspartic acid and a lower alkyl ester of L-phenylalanine are contacted with a culture or treated culture product of a microorganism belonging to the genus Pseudomonas, Alcaligenes, Torulopsis, Rhodotorula or Sporobolomyces and being capable of producing a .alpha.-L-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine lower alkyl ester from L-aspartic acid and a lower alkyl ester of L-phenylalanine.

Abstract: A process for the production of fats and oils, and particularly fats and oils rich in triglycerides, comprising cultivating microorganisms capable of synthesizing the desired fats and oils to promote growth in a growth medium formulated to contain carbon and nitrogen nutrients and then cultivating the microorganisms in a lipid accumulation medium formulated to include at least one fatty acid containing 10 to 20 carbon atoms.

Abstract: A process for the production of fats and oils, and particularly fats and oils rich in triglycerides, comprising cultivating microorganisms capable of synthesizing the fats and oils in a medium containing an emulsion of at least one fatty acid having 10 to 20 carbon atoms, followed by separation of the fats and oils from the cultivated microorganisms.

Abstract: A method of high cellular density yeast fermentation at high mineral salts feed to and maintained in the ferment.Single cell protein (SCP) is produced in an aerobic fermentation process at high yields under high cell density conditions employing media of high mineral salts concentration. Novel Pichia pastoris and Hansenula polymorpha yeasts are disclosed.

Abstract: Improved method for producing fats and oils rich in 1,3-disaturated-2-unsaturated-triglycerides (e.g. 1,3-distearyl-2-oleyl compound and 1-palmityl-2-oleyl-3-stearyl compound) useful as a cacao butter substitute, which comprises cultivating a microorganism being capable of assimilating a higher alkyl derivative and producing fats and oils containing 1,3-disaturated-2-unsaturated-triglycerides in a specific medium containing a mixed carbon source comprising at least one stearyl compound and at least one of other carbon compounds selected from a palmityl compound, an oleyl compound and a saccharide under an aerobic condition, collecting the cells of the microorganism and recovering the fats and oils from the cells.

Abstract: A process for producing Coenzyme Q.sub.10 which comprises cultivating a microorganism belonging to genus Cryptococcus, Rhodotorula, Sporobolomyces, Torulopsis, Sporidiobolus, Oosporidium, Aspergillus, and Cladosporium in a culture medium to which isopentenyl alcohol is added and recovering the thus formed Coenzyme Q.sub.10.

Abstract: A process for producing a hydroxyfatty acid polyhydric alcohol ester, which comprises; adding at least one polyhydric alcohol represented by the formula (III) or (IV), ##STR1## wherein R.sub.5 represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, R.sub.6 represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms, and m and n represent integers from 1 to 6, to hydrated Sophorolipid which is a fermentation product of Torulopsis bombicola; distilling off water under reduced pressure; and subjecting the resulting mixture to an alcoholysis reaction by adding an acid catalyst to the mother liquor.

Abstract: A dehydrating purification process for a fermentation product, which comprises adding at least one polyhydric alcohol represented by the formulae (III) or (IV), ##STR1## wherein R.sub.8 represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, R.sub.9 represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms, and m and n represent integers from 1 to 6, to hydrated Sophorolipid or a secondary derivative thereof which is a fermentation product of Torulopsis bombicola, and distilling off water with heating under reduced pressure.