Abstract: The invention provides gut commensal bacteria that have been modified to express one or more biologically active polypeptides or protiens, the bacteria includes a promoter, such as a xylanase promoter, which is induced in response to the presence of xylan in the diet and which regulates the expression of the biologically active polypeptide or protien.

Abstract: Promoters and genes involved in avenacin production in oats are cloned and characterized. Promoters for oxidosqualene cyclase and a cytochrome P450 are shown to be useful in root-specific expression of genes operatively linked to these promoters when introduced into plants. Sequences operably linked to the promoters are expressed in root epidermal cells.

Abstract: The present application relates to methods of providing thermodynamically stable calcium phosphate nanoclusters and uses thereof.

Abstract: This invention relates to the modulation of root hair development in plants by altering the expression of RHD6-related genes, for example to increase the number, length and/or longevity of root hairs in the plant. This may be useful, for example, in improving the ability of plants to extract nutrients from the soil.

Abstract: This invention relates to isolated polynucleotides encoding enzymes consisting of a carboxypeptidase-like protein, a methyltransferase and a glucosyltransferase, involved in the biosynthesis of ?-amyrin-derived triterpenes in plants and seeds. The invention also relates to the construction of recombinant DNA constructs comprising all or a portion of the isolated polynucleotides of the invention, in sense or antisense orientation, operably linked to at least one regulatory sequence.

Abstract: The present invention provides isolated polypeptides comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1, or a fragment, variant, derivative or fusion thereof which is capable of binding specifically to and/or lysing cells of Clostridium difficile, and means for producing the same, with the proviso that the fragment, variant, derivative or fusion is not a naturally occurring lysin of a bacteriophage of Clostridium difficile. The invention further provides methods for killing bacterial cells, such as cells of Clostridium difficile, and for diagnosing, treating and preventing diseases and conditions associated with infection of the same. The invention also provides diagnostic kits for use in such methods.

Abstract: Provided are methods, such as high throughput methods, of assessing or measuring the ability of an enzyme to modify the topology (e.g. supercoil topology) of a target nucleic acid, the methods comprising the steps of: (a) providing a solid support to which a capture nucleic acid is or may be immobilized, which capture nucleic acid is capable of binding the target nucleic acid in a manner that is proportional to the supercoil topology of said target nucleic acid (e.g. by triplex formation); (b) incubating a test mixture comprising (i) the enzyme, (ii) the target nucleic acid, (iii) capture nucleic acid, in the presence of (iv) said solid support, such that supercoiled target nucleic acid bound by the capture nucleic acid is immobilized to the solid support, (c) determining the amount of target nucleic acid bound by said capture nucleic acid in step (b) e.g. by use of a detectable label. The method may be used to screen for modulators of the enzyme activity.

Abstract: According to the present invention there is provided a method of producing a plant or a plant cell having an altered level of at least one glucosinolate, said method comprising obtaining a plant or plant cell comprising at least one active Adenosine-5?-Phosphosulphate Kinase (APS kinase, Apk) gene and preventing or inhibiting the production and/or function of the gene product encoded by at least one Adenosine-5?-Phosphosulphate Kinase (APS kinase, Apk) gene, preferably disrupting expression of at least one Adenosine-5?-Phosphosulphate Kinase (APS kinase, Apk) gene.

Abstract: cis-Jasmone has been discovered to be useful as a semiochemical that changes the behavior of insects and/or the physiology of plants. It has direct signalling roles with plant-feeding aphids, in attraction of aphid predators and parasitoids, and may act as an airborne signal inducing production of volatile plant semiochemicals, including the monoterpene (E)-?-ocimene, that stimulate foraging by parasitoids. It is an extremely benign compound having, to human beings, a pleasant aroma and gives a long-lasting effect after removal of the stimulus.

Abstract: This invention relates to the control of plant pests, such as aphid and whitefly by treating plants with a compound which inhibits the plant pest's ability to overcome plant defence responses, such as piperonyl butoxide or propyl gallate, in combination with a compound which activates plant defence responses, such as cis-Jasmone or beta-amino butyric acid.

Abstract: This invention provides novel gene sequences, compositions and methods for enhancing the resistance in crops, in particular but not limited to, potato, to late blight caused by the oomycete pathogen Phytophthora infestans.

Abstract: Methods are disclosed for screening of the occurrence of gene silencing (e.g. post transcriptional gene silencing) in an organism. Also provided are methods for isolating silencing agents so identified.

Abstract: The invention provides seed treatment compositions as well as their use, methods for treating seeds, methods of protecting plants against pests and also treated seeds and plants. In one embodiment there is provided a method of treating a seed with a seed treatment composition to induce a plant resistance mechanism against one or more pests in a plant grown from said seed.

Abstract: A magnet array for use with NMR signal acquisition apparatus uses rod-shaped magnets located at the corners of a square. The square lies in the (x-y) plane of a three dimensional Cartesian coordinate system and the long axes of the magnets extend generally along the z-direction such that the polarisation vectors of the magnets lie substantially in the x-y plane. The magnets are arranged to create a substantially uniform magnetic field B0 in a sample volume at the centre of the polygon. The widths of the magnets are less than the length of the sides of the square so that there is a gap between magnets allowing lateral access in the x-y plane to the sample volume. Each magnet may be rotatable about its longitudinal axis to change one and/or both the B0 field direction and magnitude in the sample volume. At least one magnet may be displaceable in a direction orthogonal to its longitudinal axis to change one and/or both the B0 field direction and magnitude in the sample volume.

Abstract: Higher eukaryotes sense microbes through perception of pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs). The flagellin receptor FLS2 represents so far the only known pattern recognition receptor (PRR) in Arabidopsis. Arabidopsis plants detect a variety of PAMPs including specific epitopes of the bacterial proteins flagellin and EF-Tu. Here, we show that flagellin and EF-Tu activate a common set of signalling events and defence responses, but without clear additive or synergistic effects. Treatment with either PAMP results in increased receptor sites for both PAMPs, a finding employed in a reverse-genetic approach to identify the receptor kinase EFR as the EF-Tu receptor Transient expression of EFR in Nicotiana benthamiana results in formation of specific binding sites for EF-Tu, and responsiveness to this PAMP. Arabidopsis efr mutants show a higher frequency of T-DNA transformation by the bacterium Agrobacterium tumefaciens, revealing a role for EF-Tu perception in restricting this plant pathogen.

Abstract: This invention provides an apparatus for simulating digestion of a foodstuff, which apparatus comprises: (a) an outer containment vessel into which fluid can be introduced and removed via at least one orifice, and (b) an inner digestion chamber comprising a rigid portion (240) through which the foodstuff can be introduced and a flexible portion (250) which tapers from the rigid portion to an aperture (260) from which the foodstuff can be removed wherein said inner chamber is se?urable within the outer vessel such that reversible alteration of fluid pressure within the outer vessel causes reversible partial compression of the flexible portion for mixing foodstuff present therein.

Abstract: The invention provides methods for assaying for the presence or activity of a MAP kinase in a sample, the methods comprising: (a) contacting the sample under conditions necessary for a phosphorylation reaction with a peptide substrate comprising the following target motif: HP(x)SPR, wherein: (x) represents any amino acid; (b) assessing any resulting phosphorylation of the peptide substrate; (c) optionally correlating the result from step (b) with the presence or activity of MAP kinase in the sample. Examples substrates include the Arabidopsis protein AtPhos34. In another aspect the invention provides methods and materials for influencing the salt and\or drought tolerance phenotype of a plant, for example by use of nucleic acid encoding AtPhos34 or variants thereof.

Abstract: This invention relates to isolated polynucleotides encoding a CYP51H. The invention also relates to the construction of recombinant DNA constructs comprising all or a portion of the isolated polynucleotide of the invention, in sense or antisense orientation, operably linked to at least one regulatory sequence.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and means of achieving enhanced expression of a target nucleotide sequence in a transgenic organism, which methods comprise the steps of: (i) providing an organism in which post-transcriptional gene silencing (PTGS) is suppressed, (ii) associating said target nucleotide sequence with one or more heterologous Matrix Attachment Region (MARs), and (iii) causing or permitting expression from the target nucleotide sequence in the organism. Unexpectedly, the MARs do not merely relieve gene silencing, but can actually lead to expression levels higher than can be achieved in wild-type organisms and higher than expression levels in organisms in which PTGS is suppressed but where the MARs are not employed.

Abstract: Provided are methods, such as high throughput methods, of assessing or measuring the ability of an enzyme to modify the supercoil topology of a target nucleic acid, the methods comprising the steps of: (a) providing a solid support to which a capture nucleic acid is or may be immobilised, which capture nucleic acid is capable of binding the target nucleic acid in a manner that is proportional to the supercoil topology of said target nucleic acid (e.g. by triplex formation); (b) incubating a test mixture comprising (i) the enzyme, (ii) the target nucleic acid, (iii) capture nucleic acid, in the presence of (iv) said solid support, such that supercoiled target nucleic acid bound by the capture nucleic acid is immobilised to the solid support, (c) determining the amount of target nucleic acid bound by said capture nucleic acid in step (b) e.g. by use of a detectable label. The method may be used to screen for modulators of the enzyme activity.