Abstract: The present invention relates to novel antibiotics TKR1912-I having the following formula I and TKR1912-II having the following formula II or pharmacologically acceptable salts thereof, which are useful as a remedy for fungal infections, as well as a process for producing them and a microorganism capable of producing them.

Abstract: 5-Membered ring compounds represented by general formula (I), optically active isomers thereof or salts of the same. These compounds have physiological activities including a carcinostatic effect. In said formula the bond shown by the dotted line in the 5-membered ring represents that this 5-membered ring may be either a cyclopentene ring having a double bond or a saturated cyclopentane ring, and when the 5-membered ring is a cyclopentene ring, X is OR1, Y is ═O and Z is H, and when it is a cyclopentane ring, X is ═O, Y is OR2 and Z is OR3, (wherein R1 is R4 or —(CO)—R5; R2 is H, —R6 or —(CO)—R7; and R3 is H, R8 or (CO)—R9 (wherein R4, R5, R6, R7, R8 and R9 are the same or different and each represents an aliphatic, aromatic or aliphatic aromatic group, and R5, R7 and R9 may be each H), provided that the case where R2═R3═H is excluded); and W represents a residue obtained by eliminating SH from an SH-containing compound.

Abstract: A hyperthermostable protease having the amino acid sequence represented by the SEQ ID NO:1 of the Sequence Listing or a sequence derived therefrom by deletion, substitution, insertion or addition of one to several amino acid residues, a gene encoding the hyperthermostable protease, and a process for preparing the protease, aiming at providing by genetic engineering techniques a hyperthermophile protease which is advantageous for industrial use.

Abstract: Crystals of trans-4,5-dihydroxy-2-cyclopenten-1-one of an &agr;-type.

Abstract: The present invention provides a protein regulating the sensitivity of fungus to an antimycotic aureobasidin, a gene coding for this protein, the use thereof, an antibody for the protein and the use thereof. The invention is useful in the diagnosis and treatment for diseases including mycoses. The invention also provides a novel chromosome integration vector capable of imparting a novel selective marker of a drug resistance to a fungal transformant, a transformant transformed with this vector and a process for producing the same. In particular, it provides a protein capable of imparting the resistance to aureobasidin and acting as a selective marker and a DNA coding for the same.

Abstract: The present invention has its object to provide a noble antifungal substance which is use of as clinical medicine in the therapy of fungal infectious diseases. The present invention is related to an antibiotic TKR459 having the following chemical formula (1) or its pharmacologically acceptable salt.

Abstract: The invention provides an anti-human influenza virus antibody which recognizes the stem regions of haemagglutinin molecules of the H1N1 and H2N2 subtypes and has a neutralization activity but does not recognize the stem region of the H3N2 subtype and has no neutralization activity. Also provided is an immunogenic artificial polypeptide having an antigenicity substantially same as the stem region of haemagglutinin molecules, particularly lacking the globular head region of haemagglutinin molecules. This antibody is useful in the diagnosis and treatment of influenza A virus, while the polypeptides are useful as a vaccine.

Abstract: There can be provided a fungal antigen which is an insoluble fraction obtainable from fungal cells of which cell wall has been substantially removed or at least partially removed; a process for producing the same; a nucleic acid encoding the fungal antigen; a biologic product containing the fungal antigen; a method of stimulating immunological responses by using the biologic product; a method of suppressing allergic reaction to fungi in a vertebrate; and a method for diagnosing a disease caused by fungi in a vertebrate.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a thermostable DNA polymerase-associated factor capable of enhancing DNA synthesizing-activity of a DNA polymerase; a thermostable DNA polymerase-associated factor possessing an activity of binding to a DNA polymerase and a method for producing the same; a gene encoding the DNA polymerase-associated factor; a method of DNA synthesis by using a DNA polymerase in the presence of the DNA polymerase-associated factor; and a kit comprising the DNA polymerase-associated factor. According to the present invention, there can be provided in vitro DNA synthesis and a DNA amplification system which are more excellent than conventional techniques by utilizing the DNA polymerase-associated factor of the present invention.

Abstract: The antibiotic TKR2999 having the physicochemical properties described below and its pharmacologically acceptable salt: (1) FAB-MS m/z 971 [M+H)]+, (2) the molecular formula: C44H78N10O14, and high-resolution FAB-MS m/z 971.5776 [M+H]+, (3) the ultraviolet absorption spectrum in methanol has an end absorption, (4) the infrared absorption spectrum by KBr method shows the major absorption wave numbers at 3320, 2920, 1680, 1540, 1210, 1140, 840, 800, and 720 cm−1, (5) aspartic acid, threonine, serine, glycine, alanine, &bgr;-alanine, and ornithine are detected by the amino acid analysis using ninhydrin reaction, and (6) the solubility is that it is soluble in methanol, and practically insoluble in hexane, chloroform, and water.

Abstract: The production of IgA is selectively inhibited by orally administering 15-deoxyspergualin or pharmacologically acceptable salts thereof, thus preventing and treating IgA-associated immunological diseases such as IgA nephropathy.

Abstract: An anticancer agent in which 4-cyclopentene-1,3-dione represented by the following formula [I] and/or 4-hydroxy-2-cyclopentenone represented by the following formula [II] are/is effective component(s).

Abstract: The present invention has for its object to provide novel biologically active substances which is of value as a therapeutic agent for fungal infections and immune disorders. This invention is related to a biologically active substance TKR2449 analog(s) which is represented by the following general formula (A); (In the formula, R1, R2 and R3 are the same or differ each other, and each represents hydrogen or an alkyl group of carbon number of 1 to 4. R4 is a linear or branched alkyl or alkenyl group of carbon number of 1 to 8.).

Abstract: The invention is directed to isolated DNAs having nucleic acid sequences which encode proteins which regulate aureobasidin sensitivity. Also disclosed are recombinant plasmids containing the DNAs, transformants containing the plasmids, and methods of producing the proteins.

Abstract: The production of IgA is selectively inhibited by orally administering 15-deoxyspergualin or pharmacologically acceptable salts thereof, thus preventing and treating IgA-associated immunological diseases such as IgA nephropathy.

Abstract: A method for transferring a gene into target cells by a retrovirus with the use of serum-free medium. This method comprises infecting target cells with a retrovirus in serum-free medium optionally containing low-density lipoprotein and/or cytokines in the presence of a functional substance such as fibronectin in an amount effective in elevating the gene transfer efficiency of the retrovirus into the target cells by co-localizing the retrovirus and the target cells.

Abstract: An antirheumatic agent which is characterized in containing at least one compound selected from a group consisting of 4,5-dihydroxy-2-cyclopenten-l-one represented by the following formula [I] and an optically active substance and a salt thereof as an effective component.

Abstract: Cell compositions from which cancer cells have been selectively eliminated by using apoptosis inducers specific to cancer cells.

Abstract: An isolated endo-fucoidan-lyase is described. The enzyme acts on fucoidan, has a pH optimum from 6 to 10, and has an optimum pH from 30 to 40° C. The enzyme can be isolated from Flavobacterium sp. FERM BP-5402. The enzyme is used to obtain sugar compounds which are useful in the study on carbohydrates.

Abstract: There are provided hyperthermostable proteases having an amino acid sequences represented by SEQ ID Nos. 1, 3 and 5 of the Sequence Listing or functional equivalents thereof and hyperthermostable protease genes encoding those hyperthermostable protease. There is also disclosed a process for preparation of a hyperthermostable protease by culturing a transformant containing the gene.