Abstract: The invention related to the field of genetic engineering tools, methods and techniques for gene or genome editing. Specifically, the invention concerns isolated polypeptides having nuclease activity, host cells and expression vectors comprising nucleic acids encoding said polypeptides as well as methods of cleaving and editing target nucleic acids in a sequence-specific matter. The poly peptides, nucleic acids, expression vectors, host cells and methods of the present invention have application in many fields of biotechnology, including, for example, synthetic biology and gene therapy.

Abstract: Thermostable Cas9 nucleases. The present invention relates to the field of genetic engineering and more particularly to nucleic acid editing and genome modification. The present invention provides an isolated Cas protein or polypeptide fragment thereof having an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 or a sequence of at least 77% identity therewith. The Cas protein or polypeptide is capable of binding, cleaving, marking or modifying a double stranded target polynucleotide at a temperature in the range 20° C. and 100° C. inclusive. The invention further provides isolated nucleic acid molecules encoding the Cas9 nucleases, expression vectors and host cells. The invention also provides PAM sequences recognized by the Cas protein or polypeptide, The Cas9 nucleases disclosed herein provide novel tools for genetic engineering in general, in particular at elevated temperatures and are of particular value in the genetic manipulation of thermophilic organisms; particularly microorganisms.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for determining a physical vessel parameter of a vascular tissue in a vascular plant (10), wherein the method comprises: a detection stage comprising detecting acoustic emission radiation (121) from the vascular plant (10) and providing an emission-related signal; and an analysis stage comprising determining the physical vessel parameter based on the emission-related signal, wherein the physical vessel parameter comprises an elasticity or a vessel dimension, and wherein the analysis stage comprises fitting at least part of the emission-related signal to a model of flexural modes of a cylindrical beam, and determining the physical vessel parameter based on the model.

Abstract: Thermostable Cas9 nucleases. The present invention relates to the field of genetic engineering and more particularly to nucleic acid editing and genome modification. The present invention provides in isolated Cas protein or polypeptide fragment thereof having an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 or a sequence of at least 77% identity therewith, wherein the Cas protein or polypeptide is capable of DNA cleavage at a temperature in the range 50° C. and 100° C. inclusive. The invention further provides isolated nucleic acid molecules encoding said Cas9 nucleases, expression vectors and host cells. The Cas9 nucleases disclosed herein provide novel tools for genetic engineering at elevated temperatures and are of particular value in the genetic manipulation of thermophilic organisms; particularly microorganisms.

Abstract: The invention related to the field of genetic engineering tools, methods and techniques for gene or genome editing. Specifically, the invention concerns isolated polypeptides having nuclease activity, host cells and expression vectors comprising nucleic acids encoding said polypeptides as well as methods of cleaving and editing target nucleic acids in a sequence-specific matter. The poly peptides, nucleic acids, expression vectors, host cells and methods of the present invention have application in many fields of biotechnology, including, for example, synthetic biology and gene therapy.

Abstract: The invention relates to the field of genetic engineering tools, methods and techniques for gene or genome editing. Specifically, the invention concerns isolated polypeptides having nuclease activity, host cells and expression vectors comprising nucleic acids encoding said polypeptides as well as methods of cleaving and editing target nucleic acids in a sequence-specific manner. The polypeptides, nucleic acids, expression vectors, host cells and methods of the present invention have application in many fields of biotechnology, including, for example, synthetic biology and gene therapy.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel method of preparing a liquid flavouring ingredient by use of fermentation. In particular, the method involves recycling a part of the microorganisms used in the fermentation of flavour and aroma compounds back to the bioreactor for fermentation, while another part of the microorganisms are maintained in the obtained liquid flavouring ingredient. The obtained liquid flavouring ingredient is suitable for use as a taste enhancer and can be used in food products, such as dairy products, sauces, dressings, seasonings, meat products, bread, and sauerkraut.

Abstract: It has been found that an extracellular polypeptide derived from Akkermansia municiphila is capable of modulating and/or promoting gut mucosal immune system function and/or maintaining and/or restoring metabolic status and/or increasing the physical integrity of the gut mucosal barrier in a mammal. The polypeptide or host cells comprising such polypeptide may be employed to prevent and/or treat a variety of conditions that benefit from an increased physical integrity of the gut mucosal barrier and/or an improved gut mucosal immune system function and metabolic status.

Abstract: The disclosure is concerned with a novel human intestinal isolate capable of converting L-lysine into butyrate and/or of converting fructose-lysine into butyrate. The novel isolate can be used as a probiotic or supplement to promote production of butyrate in the GI tract, thereby preventing and/or treating conditions or diseases that benefit from the production of butyrate. Additionally, the isolate may prevent and/or treat conditions or diseases caused by an excess of pathogenic bacteria in the GI tract, mediated by L-lysine, or mediated by fructose-lysine or other advanced glycation end products.

Abstract: Described is a novel human intestinal isolate capable of converting L-lysine into butyrate and/or of converting fructose-lysine into butyrate. The novel isolate can be used as a probiotic or supplement to promote production of butyrate in the GI tract, thereby preventing and/or treating conditions or diseases that benefit from the production of butyrate. Additionally, the isolate may prevent and/or treat conditions or diseases caused by an excess of pathogenic bacteria in the GI tract, mediated by L-lysine, or mediated by fructose-lysine or other advanced glycation end products.

Abstract: The invention related to the field of genetic engineering tools, methods and techniques for gene or genome editing. Specifically, the invention concerns isolated polypeptides having nuclease activity, host cells and expression vectors comprising nucleic acids encoding said polypeptides as well as methods of cleaving and editing target nucleic acids in a sequence-specific matter. The poly peptides, nucleic acids, expression vectors, host cells and methods of the present invention have application in many fields of biotechnology, including, for example, synthetic biology and gene therapy.

Abstract: Thermostable Cas9 nucleases. The present invention relates to the field of genetic engineering and more particularly to nucleic acid editing and genome modification. The present invention provides an isolated Cas protein or polypeptide fragment thereof having an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 or a sequence of at least 77% identity therewith. The Cas protein or polypeptide is capable of binding, cleaving, marking or modifying a double stranded target polynucleotide at a temperature in the range 20° C. and 100° C. inclusive. The invention further provides isolated nucleic acid molecules encoding the Cas9 nucleases, expression vectors and host cells. The invention also provides PAM sequences recognized by the Cas protein or polypeptide, The Cas9 nucleases disclosed herein provide novel tools for genetic engineering in general, in particular at elevated temperatures and are of particular value in the genetic manipulation of thermophilic organisms; particularly microorganisms.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure relate to genetically modified plants comprising NODULE INCEPTION (NIN) and NIN-LIKE PROTEIN (NLP) that have been genetically altered to be responsive to cytokinin so that the NIN or NLP protein can induce root nodulation upon appropriate signaling.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of genetic engineering and more particularly to nucleic acid editing and genome modification. The present invention provides an isolated Cas protein or polypeptide fragment thereof having an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 or a sequence of at least 77% identity therewith. The Cas protein or polypeptide is capable of binding, cleaving, marking or modifying a double stranded target polynucleotide at a temperature in the range 30° C. and 100° C. inclusive. The invention further provides isolated nucleic acid molecules encoding the Cas9 nucleases, expression vectors and host cells. The invention also provides PAM sequences recognized by the Cas protein or polypeptide, The Cas9 nucleases disclosed herein provide novel tools for genetic engineering at elevated temperatures and are of particular value in the genetic manipulation of thermophilic organisms; particularly microorganisms.

Abstract: The present invention relates to microbial host cells that have been engineered for increased tolerance to temperature shifts, for increased performance at temperatures different from the microorganism's optimal temperature and/or for changing at least one of the microorganism's cardinal temperatures by replacing an endogenous NAD+ biosynthesis gene by a heterologous gene encoding a corresponding enzyme with another temperature profile and/or from a microorganism with a different optimum growth temperature. The invention further relates to processes wherein the engineered microbial host cells are used for producing a fermentation product, and to the use nucleotide sequences encoding NAD+ biosynthesis gene for changing at least one of a microorganism's cardinal temperatures and/or for improving a microorganism's tolerance to temperature shifts.

Abstract: A novel Akkermansia species has been isolated from fresh faeces obtained from the reticulated python. The species has been named Akkermansia glycaniphilus. It is capable of growing on mucus as a sole carbon and nitrogen source. The species can be used as a medicament, probiotic or cosmetic, e.g., for promoting weight loss, for promoting gut mucosal immune system function, for maintaining, restoring and/or increasing the physical integrity of the gut mucosal barrier, and for prevention or treatment of a variety of associated diseases or disorders.

Abstract: A R8 phytophthora resistance gene from potato is described that produces a protein capable of inferring oomycete resistance, such as resistance to Phytophthora infestans when expressed in a plant. Also described is a method for providing at least partial resistance or increasing resistance in a plant against an oomycete infection comprising providing a plant or a part thereof with a nucleotide sequence of this gene or a functional fragment thereof, for example wherein said plant is a plant from the Solanaceae family, more preferably Solanum tuberosum.

Abstract: A mosquito attractant composition is described comprising heptanal, octanal, nonanal, (E)-2-octenal and (E)-2-decenal. More particularly a composition wherein the compounds are present in the following proportions: nonanal 1.00, octanal 0.32±0.16, heptanal 0.06±0.03, (E)-2-octenal 0.04±0.02 and (E)-2-decenal 0.13±0.065.

Abstract: The invention relates to the field of genetic engineering tools, methods and techniques for gene or genome editing. Specifically, the invention concerns isolated polypeptides having nuclease activity, host cells and expression vectors comprising nucleic acids encoding said polypeptides as well as methods of cleaving and editing target nucleic acids in a sequence-specific manner. The polypeptides, nucleic acids, expression vectors, host cells and methods of the present invention have application in many fields of biotechnology, including, for example, synthetic biology and gene therapy.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a microfluidic device, said method comprising placing a length of material in a liquid polymer, configuring the length of material to define the path of a microfluidic channel, curing or setting the polymer liquid to form a solid polymer around the configured length of material, and dissolving the configured length of material with a solvent to provide a microfluidic channel in the solid polymer.