Abstract: The present invention relates to a nucleic acid molecule encoding a chimeric protein having the biochemical activity of a surface active protein, wherein said chimeric protein comprises: (a) an N-terminal portion of a first surface active protein, wherein the N-terminal portion is devoid of between 0 and 10 of the most N-terminal amino acids of the mature first surface active protein; and, C-terminally thereof, (b) a C-terminal portion of a second surface active protein, wherein the C-terminal portion is devoid of between 0 and 10 of the most C-terminal amino acids of the mature second surface active protein. The present invention further relates to a vector, a non-human host and a method for the production of a chimeric protein having the biochemical activity of a surface active protein. In addition, the present invention relates to a chimeric protein encoded by the nucleic acid molecule of the invention and a composition comprising the chimeric protein.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of producing a peptide consisting of the amino acids 63 to 110 of dermcidin (SEQ ID NO: 3) comprising (a) culturing a host cell carrying a nucleic acid molecule encoding the peptide in an expressible form, and (b) optionally isolating the peptide from the culture. Furthermore, the invention relates to a nucleic acid molecule encoding a fusion protein comprising or consisting of (a) a peptide heterologous with regard to dermcidin protein-tag; and, C-terminally thereof (b) a peptide having the antimicrobial activity of dermcidin wherein the fusion protein contains an arginine residue located immediately N-terminally of the peptide of (b).

Abstract: We have identified by molecular cloning a protease which originates from the larvae of Lucilia sericata and which was termed debrilase due to its activities useful for debridement of wounds.

Abstract: The present invention is concerned with the preparation of novel nitrile hydratases. These latter are preferably obtained from nonculturable organisms by means of a PCR-based screening, in metagenome DNA libraries, using special degenerate primers.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for the isolation and/or purification of nucleic acid molecules suitable to bind and/or inactivate inhibitors of the activity of reagents or enzymes used for DNA manipulation and to separate a plurality of nucleic acid molecules with respect to their size. Moreover, the invention relates to a method for the isolation of a nucleic acid molecule comprising applying a sample to the device of the invention wherein said nucleic acid molecule preferably represents a fraction of the metagenome of a given habitat. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for the generation of at least one gene library comprising nucleic acid molecules isolated by the method of the invention and to a nucleic acid molecule isolated by the method of the invention.

Abstract: The present invention is concerned with the preparation of novel nitrile hydratases. These latter are preferably obtained from nonculturable organisms by means of a PCR-based screening, in metagenome DNA libraries, using special degenerate primers.

Abstract: The invention relates to a new glycosyl hydrolases with an amyloltic activity and nucleic acids coding for said gylcosyl hydrolases, A PCR-based method for identifying and preparing new gylcosyl hydrolases from metagenome DNA and several possible technical uses for such glycosyl hydrolases with an amylolytic activity. Washing and cleaning products containing such enzymes, and methods and possible uses corresponding thereto are particularly interesting.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a sulfolobus expression vector comprising: (a) sulfolobus origin of replication; (b) the genes encoding the structural proteins and the site-specific integrase of SSV1, SSV2 or pSSVx, operatively linked to expression control sequences and a packaging signal; (c) one or more selectable marker gene(s), operatively linked to sulfolobus expression control sequences; and (d) a sulfolobus promoter followed 3? by a restriction enzyme recognition site or a multiple cloning site for insertion of a gene of interest and optionally a 3? regulatory element. Moreover, the present invention relates to a shuttle vector comprising the sequences of the expression vector of the invention and additional sequences for propagation and selection in E. coli, wherein the additional sequences comprise (a) an E. coli on of replication; and (b) a marker for selection in E. coli.