Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of diagnosing preclinical insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus by determining the T cell response to a specific islet cell antigen fetal antigen 1 (FA1) or the presence of autoantibodies against FA1 in serum, a test kit for use in the method, as well as a pharmaceutical composition of FA1 and a method for use of the pharmaceutical composition for therapy of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

Abstract: The present invention relates to isolated polypeptides having phytase activity, the corresponding cloned DNA sequences, a process for preparing such polypeptides, and the use thereof for a number of industrial applications. In particular, the invention relates to phytases derived from the phyllum Basidiomycota, phytases of certain consensus sequences and fungal 6-phytases.

Abstract: The present invention provides an enzyme with acetyl esterase activity comprising the amino acid sequence IxFGDxYYT(SEQ ID NO: 1), in which x designates any amino acid residue. The enzyme exhibits activity towards acetylated xylan and acetylated mannan and may be used for modifying or degrading plant containing materials.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of dyeing a material, comprising (a) soaking the material in an aqueous solution which comprises one or more mono-, di- or polycyclic aromatic or heteroaromatic compounds; and (b) treating the soaked material in an aqueous solution with (i) a hydrogen peroxide source and an enzyme exhibiting peroxidase activity or (ii) an enzyme exibiting oxidase activity on the one or more aromatic or heteroaromatic compounds; wherein the material is a fabric, yarn, fiber, garment or film made of fur, hide, leather, silk or wool.

Abstract: A process for increasing the viscosity or gel strength of certain food products is disclosed. By the process a pectinaceous homogenate or slurry is subjected to: a) a treatment with a mixture of enzymes, comprising one or more among galactanases, arabinanases, .alpha.-arabinofuranosidases, rhamnogalacturonan acetyl esterases (RGAE), endoglucanases, mannanases, xylanases, and proteolytic enzymes; b) a treatnent with a pectinesterase (PE), which PE is essentially free from pectic depolymerizing enzymes; followed by c) an enzyme inactivating treatment; said process being performed in the presence of divalent metal ions, especially Ca.sup.2+, said ions being inherently present in said homogenate or slurry, or said ions being added at any time prior to, during or after the process steps (a) to (c). The final product may be a jam, marmalade, jelly, juice, paste, soup, dressing, sauce, condiment, ketchup, salsa, chutney, pudding, mousse, or other dessert.

Abstract: In an ampoule for a medicament the space accommodating the medicament is defined by an ampoule wall (1) a pierceable seal (5) closing one end of the ampoule and a piston (7) closing the other end of the ampoule. A metal containing fixation element (8) is secured to one of the parts defining the medicament accommodating space. A mixing element (9, 10) also containing a metal and having a density larger than 1,0 g/cm.sup.3 is movable in medicament accommodating space. At least one of the elements, the fixation element (8) and the mixing element (9, 10), can be attracted by a magnet, and at least one of these elements is a magnetic element, the magnetic strength being so that the mixing element (9, 10) can during normal handling of the ampoule be fixed relative to this ampoule by the magnetic attraction between the fixation element (8) and the mixing element (9, 10) but may be released from its fixed position by manual operation.

Abstract: A method of producing cloud stable extracts such as juices from plant material by using one or more enzymes that attack the hairy regions of pectin.

Abstract: The invention deals with a method for crystallizing in increased yields a polypeptide or a protein obtained from a protein solution comprising more than one protein, comprising:(a) treating the protein solution with a solid adsorption material; and(b) crystallizing the polypeptide or the protein after said solid adsorption material has been removed; or(c) crystallizing the polypeptide or the protein without removing said adsorption material.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the production of a food flavoring agent. More particularly the invention provides a process for producing a food flavoring agent, which method contains the steps of preparing an aqueous slurry of plant protein and insoluble plant material, treating the slurry with a protease to hydrolyse the protein, maturation, wherein no separation of insoluble material is done between the first two steps. By this method the flavor of a plant protein hydrolysate can be intensified and improved.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of a haloperoxidase in combination with a hydrogen peroxide source for reducing the malodor emanating from soiled hygiene products. The invention also relates to hygiene products with reduced malodor in soiled state.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of constructing a variant of a parent Termamyl-like .alpha.-amylase, which variant has .alpha.-amylase activity and at least one altered property as compared to the parent .alpha.-amylase, comprisesi) analyzing the structure of the parent Termamyl-like .alpha.-amylase to identify at least one amino acid residue or at least one structural part of the Termamyl-like .alpha.-amylase structure, which amino acid residue or structural part is believed to be of relevance for altering the property of the parent Termamyl-like .alpha.-amylase (as evaluated on the basis of structural or functional considerations),ii) constructing a Termamyl-like .alpha.-amylase variant, which as compared to the parent Termamyl-like .alpha.-amylase, has been modified in the amino acid residue or structural part identified in i) so as to alter the property, and, optionally,iii) testing the resulting Termamyl-like .alpha.-amylase variant with respect to the property in question.

Abstract: A kit for mixing comprises a housing accommodating an ampoule containing a solid and a container containing a solvent which is either pre-pressurized or which may be pressurized when it is desired to mix to the liquid and solid components. A needle unit comprises a first needle, the opposite ends of which pierce rubber membranes closing the ampoule and the container, to establish a transport channel through which pressurized solvent flows from the container to the ampoule. The ampoule is vented through a second needle inserted through the membrane of the ampoule and provided with a micro-filter. In one embodiment, the needle unit is displaceable to cause the ends of the needles to pierce the respective membranes, and locked in place by a spring biased locking mechanism. A branch passage from the needle is connected to a cylinder containing a piston coupled to the locking mechanism. When the ampoule is full, pressure in the branch passage will rise, actuating the piston and releasing the locking mechanism.

Abstract: A DNA sequence encoding a lipase having the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:2. The lipase has a trypsin-like catalytic triad including an active serine located in a predominantly hydrophobic, elongated binding pocket of the lipase molecule and, located in a critical position of a lipid contact zone of the lipase structure, an amino acid residue different from an aromatic amino acid residue, which amino acid residue interacts with a lipid substrate at or during hydrolysis, in which lipase variant of the amino acid residue has been replaced by an aromatic amino acid residue so as to confer to the variant an increased specific activity as compared to that of the parent lipase.

Abstract: This invention relates to Alkalophilic Bacillus sp. AC13 microorganisms and cultures, and mutants and variants thereof, and to enzymes obtainable from the microorganism.

Abstract: Cellulose-containing fabric is desized by treating with an enzyme hybrid having a catalytically active amino acid sequence of an enzyme such as a lipase or an amylase linked to an amino acid sequence containing a cellulose-binding domain. The enzyme amino acid sequence may be of an .alpha.-amylase obtainable from a species of Bacillus such as Bacillus licheniformis, or of a lipase obtainable from a species of Humicola, Candida, Pseudomonas or Bacillus. The cellulose-binding domain may be from a cellulase, a xylanase, a mannanase, an arabinofuranosidase, an acetylesterase or a chitinase. The enzyme hybrid is obtained from a transformed host cell containing an expression cassette having a DNA sequence encoding the enzyme hybrid. A desizing composition is formed containing the enzyme hybrid and a wetting agent.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for measuring the strength of a healing bone fracture by rotating the bones about their axis at each side of the fracture relative to each other and measure the needed rotational moment as a function of the rotational angle obtained. The present invention also relates to apparatus comprising a first (5) and a second (8) ring shaped member, studs (15) connecting these members (5, 8) with an axial distance from each other, and fixing pins (6, 14) rigidly connecting the respective ring shaped members and the bone (1) at respective sides of the fracture. One ring member (8) comprises a first (10) and a second (9) element joined so that they can be rotated but not axially displaced relative to each other, the first element (10) carrying the studs (15) and the second element (9) carrying the fixing pins (14).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for removal or bleaching of soiling or stains present on cellulosic fabric, wherein the fabric is contacted in aqueous medium with a modified enzyme (enzyme hybrid) which comprises a catalytically active amino acid sequence of a non-cellulolytic enzyme linked to an amino acid sequence comprising a cellulose-binding domain. The invention further relates to a detergent composition comprising an enzyme hybrid of the type in question and a surfactant, and to a process for washing soiled or stained cellulosic fabric, wherein the fabric is washed in an aqueous medium to which is added such a detergent composition.

Abstract: The present invention relates to fungi, which do not produce proteases. The fungi of the invention are useful as hosts for the production of proteins susceptible of proteolytic degradation by the proteases usually produced, and the invention consequently encompasses processes for the production of proteins of interest in high yields by using the fungi of the invention. The invention also comprises methods for producing such fungi and DNA constructs to be used in these methods.

Abstract: The present invention relates to protracted human insulin derivatives in which the A21 and the B3 amino acid residues are, independently, any amino acid residue which can be coded for by the genetic code except Lys, Arg and Cys; Phe.sup.B1 may be deleted; the B30 amino acid residue is (a) a non-codable, lipophilic amino acid having from 10 to 24 carbon atoms, in which case an acyl group of a carboxylic acid with up to 5 carbon atoms is bound to the .epsilon.-amino group of Lys.sup.B29 ; or (b) the B30 amino acid residue is deleted or is any amino acid residue which can be coded for by the genetic code except Lys, Arg and Cys, in any of which cases the .epsilon.-amino group of Lys.sup.B29 has a lipophilic substituent; and any Zn.sup.2+ complexes thereof with the proviso that when B30 is Thr or Ala and A21 and B3 are both Asn, and Phe.sup.B1 is present, then the insulin derivative is always present as a Zn.sup.2+ complex.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a drug delivery system, comprising a reservoir from which set doses are apportioned, a dose setting mechanism by which the relative position of two elements is changed by a distance proportional to a set dose, and a push button by activation of which an element is moved a distance corresponding to the distance proportional to the set dose, further comprises a working cylinder having an open end into which a plunger fits, and a closed end at which an inlet and an outlet port connect the space beneath the plunger with an inlet communicating with the reservoir and an outlet communicating with a drug delivery member, respectively. Valves means at the inlet and outlet control the passages from the reservoir to the working cylinder and from the working cylinder to the drug delivery member, respectively. The cylinder with the plunger, and the injection member are independently exchangeable, disposable parts.