Abstract: The present invention provides compositions and methods for producing ethanol wherein the amount of CO2 by-product is reduced during the fermentation process. The invention includes the use of oxidized lignin during the fermentation process.

Abstract: The present invention provides compositions and methods for producing ethanol wherein the amount of CO2 by-product is reduced during the fermentation process. The invention includes the use of oxidized lignin during the fermentation process.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the modulation of quorum sensing mechanisms in a microorganism for the purpose of exploiting the fermentation capabilities of the microorganism.

Abstract: A method of interfering with quorum sensing regulation of genes to promote cell growth is disclosed. The method of is aimed at accessing microbial biodiversity. The method involves obtaining an environmental sample comprising at least one novel (uncultivated in the laboratory) microorganism, contacting the environmental sample with an effective amount of an agent or combination of agents which interferes with the quorum sensing regulation of genes, growing the treated sample in a culture medium containing the quorum sensing signal disrupting agent or agents, and analyzing the colonies of microorganisms grown to demonstrate genetic novelty.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods and compositions for use of homologous recombination for directed evolution, gene reassembly, and directed mutagenesis. One aspect of the present invention relates to methods for use of bacterial conjugative transfer and homologous recombination for directed evolution, gene reassembly, and directed mutagenesis. Another aspect of the present invention relates to compositions for use in or produced by the methods of the present invention, including libraries, archives and databases.