Abstract: Compositions suitable for oral administration to an animal comprising at least one immune stress-reducing enzyme in an amount effective to decrease the level of positive acute phase protein in an animal, increase the level of negative acute phase protein in an animal, and/or improve animal growth performance is provided, as are methods using such compositions. The compositions include animal feed compositions, liquid compositions other than animal feed, and solid compositions other than animal feed.

Abstract: Enzymes of a particular class, characterized by the ability to cleave a linkage that effects release of a cell-surface protein or carbohydrate, which does not contain an anti-infection agent, display significant anti-infectious activity. Upon oral administration, these enzymes are effective, for example, in the treatment of digestive tract infections in humans and in animals. In the latter, there are benefits of significantly improved growth rate, feed efficiency, and overall health.

Abstract: Enzymes of a particular class, characterized by the ability to cleave a linkage that effects release of a cell-surface protein or carbohydrate, which does not contain an anti-infection agent, display significant anti-infectious activity. Upon oral administration, these enzymes are effective, for example, in the treatment of digestive tract infections in humans and in animals. In the latter, there are benefits of significantly improved growth rate, feed efficiency, and overall health.

Abstract: Enzymes of a particular class, characterized by the ability to cleave a linkage that effects release of a cell-surface protein or carbohydrate, which does not contain an anti-infection agent, display significant anti-infectious activity. Upon oral administration, these enzymes are effective, for example, in the treatment of digestive tract infections in humans and in animals. In the latter, there are benefits of significantly improved growth rate, feed efficiency, and overall health.

Abstract: A method is provided to increase the efficiency with which monogastric animals utilize low caloric content dietary rations. Addition of a hemicellulase enzyme, such as mannanase, to dietary rations that are not supplemented with concentrated fat, or which contain reduced fat content, increases the efficiency with which monogastric animals utilize the rations.

Abstract: Soil bacteria can be isolated which produce an enzyme capable of catalyzing the degradation of mannan-containing hemicellulose under conditions combining high pH and high temperature. Such bacteria can be cultured or used as sources of genetic information with which to engineer other microorganisms to produce the enzyme. Commercially useful quantities of native or recombinant hemicellulase can thus be produced by cultures consisting essentially of microorganisms capable of producing the enzyme.

Abstract: Soil bacteria can be isolated which produce an enzyme capable of catalyzing the degradation of mannan-containing hemicellulose under conditions combining high pH and high temperature. Such bacteria can be cultured or used as sources of genetic information with which to engineer other microorganisms to produce the enzyme. Commercially useful quantities of native or recombinant hemicellulase can thus be produced by cultures consisting essentially of microorganisms capable of producing the enzyme.

Abstract: Soil microorganisms are obtained that produce a hemicellulase which is particularly useful in increasing the available energy content of hemicellulosic foodstuffs. These microorganisms can be cultured per se or can be used as sources of genetic information with which to engineer other microorganisms to produce the enzyme. Thus, commercially useful quantities of native or recombinant hemicellulase can be produced with cultures consisting essentially of microorganisms that produce the enzyme. The hemicellulase can then be employed in a feed composition containing complex carbohydrates which the enzyme degrades, enhancing the nutritional value of the composition.

Abstract: DNA coding for at least one enzyme that causes the accumulation of a pyrimidine deoxyribonucleoside is used, in conjunction with metabolic mutations or heterologous DNA coding for metabolic enzymes that also increase pyrimidine deoxyribonucleoside production, to engineer cultured cells to express a pyrimidine deoxyribonucleoside (PdN) in recoverable quantities, providing a commercially useful fermentation source for PdNs.

Abstract: Bacteria that metabolize phenylacetate along a mandelate-to-cis,cis-muconate pathway are disclosed. Bacteria that express the pathway for metabolizing phenylacetate through a mandelate intermediate can be isolated reproducibly by first selecting bacteria that can utilize both L-phenylalanine and mandelate as the sole carbon source and then blocking alternate pathways for the degradation of L-phenylalanine. The activity of selected enzymes along the mandelate-to-cis,cis-muconate pathway can be blocked in these bacteria to effect the accumulation of selected intermediates.

Abstract: Soil microorganisms are obtained that produce a hemicellulase which is particularly useful in increasing the available energy content of hemicellulosic foodstuffs. These microorganisms can be cultured per se or can be used as sources of genetic information with which to engineer other microorganisms to produce the enzyme. Thus, commercially useful quantities of native or recombinant hemicellulase can be produced with cultures consisting essentially of microorganisms that produce the enzyme. The hemicellulase can then be employed in a feed composition containing complex carbohydrates which the enzyme degrades, enhancing the nutritional value of the composition.