Abstract: Disclosed is the novel bacteriophage TG1, TG1 derivatives, and the corresponding genome or nucleic acid components of such bacteriophages and derivatives of such genome, which are useful as DNA cloning vectors into organisms, such as bacteria, for example, Streptomyces cattleya NRRL 8057; portions of such phage genome are additionally useful as adjuncts in recombinant DNA cloning procedures, for example: (1) to permit the maintenance of cloned DNA in the host, either in an integrated state or as an autonomous element; (2) to serve as promoters for increasing expression of endogenous or foreign genes wherein said promoters are ligated to such genes or otherwise serve as promoters; and (3) to serve as regulatory elements for achieving control over endogenous and foreign gene expression; as cloning vectors, TG1, its deletion mutants, and other derivatives serve for the amplification and transfer of DNA sequences (genes) coding for useful functions, for example, genes necessary for the production of the antibioti

Abstract: A method for stimulating the production of human IFN-.gamma. in a culture of cells is disclosed. In this method, an effective amount of a diterpene compound is added to a culture of IFN-.gamma. producing cells.

Abstract: A method for transforming a plant cell in vitro with a Ti plasmid. The method involves inoculating the plant cell with a strain of Agrobacterium tumefaciens, containing the Ti plasmid, in the presence of an opine metabolite, that is normally synthesized only by a plant cell which has already been transformed by the Ti plasmid, or in the presence of the precursors of the opine metabolite. However, the opine metabolite or its precursors, which are used, must also be able to induce conjugative activity of the Ti plasmid.

Abstract: A method for reducing the sulfur content of coal wherein comminuted coal is contacted with an enrichment culture which contains acid tolerant Thiobacillus species in combination with acid tolerant hetrotrophic microorganisms in an amount effective to act in a symbotic or synergistic manner with the Thiobacillus species. The initial pH of the coal culture combination may be selected so as to enhance the development of a commercially practical rate of sulfur removal.

Abstract: A new antibiotic having .beta.-lactamase inhibitory activity, PA-39504-X.sub.1 of the formula: ##STR1## being useful as a medicament and a veterinary drug for inhibiting the growth of gram-positive and gram-negative pathogenic microorganisms and a process for preparing the same, being characterized by cultivating Streptomyces argenteolus PA-39504 or Streptomyces tokunonensis PA-31088 in a suitable medium and recovering PA-39504-X.sub.1 from the cultured broth.

Abstract: An L-threonine microorganism is produced by inserting a restriction endonuclease fragment of chromosomal DNA controlling .alpha.-amino-.beta.-hydroxy valeric acid resistance from a Brevibacterium or Corynebacterium into a plasmid and transforming a Brevibacterium or Corynebacterium which is sensitive to .alpha.-amino-.beta.-hydroxy valeric acid.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for the preparation of a concentrate containing sterol compounds of natural origin, which concentrate is suitable as a starting material for the transformation of sterol compounds by fermentation, which comprises the steps of:(a) transesterifying distillation residues from the processing of natural fats and/or oils with a lower alcohol; and(b) subjecting the product of step (a) to molecular distillation to produce a main fraction having a content of up to about 50 percent by weight of sterol compounds.The invention also relates to sterol concentrates produced thereby and their transformation to valuable secondary products.

Abstract: An antibiotic complex, consisting of two major components, has been isolated from fermentations of a new subspecies of Streptomyces albus culture. The two major components from the complex are two new macrolide antibiotics, which are active as antibacterial agents against certain gram-positive and gram-negative microorganisms.

Abstract: A process for producing high dispersion metal crystallites dispersed substantially homogeneously in a carbonaceous material matrix is disclosed. The novel metal crystallite dispersions disclosed herein have the added advantage of being locked into the matrix thereby preventing migration of the metal crystallites.

Abstract: A new microorganism strain of species Claviceps purpurea (Fr.) Tul. CCM F-725 producing ergocornine and ergocryptine.

Abstract: A microorganism containing a recombinant DNA transfer vector having the coding sequences for human chorionic somatomammotropin.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for enhancing the degradation of the side chain of sterols possessing branched chains at C-24 utilizing microbiological means by including an exogenous source of bicarbonate ion (HCO.sub.3 --) in the medium in which the degradation is being carried out.

Abstract: A process for the microbiological conversion of steroids to (2+)-(7aS) 2,3,7,7-tetrahydro-7a-methyl-(1H)-indene-1,5(6H)-dione, hereinafter referred to as the indenedione.

Abstract: L-isoleucine is produced by a fermentation process comprising aerobically culturing in an aqueous culture medium an L-isoleucine producing microorganism obtained by isolating a transformed strain resistant to .alpha.-amino-.beta.-hydroxy valeric acid prepared by incorporating into a recipient strain of the genus Brevibacterium orCorynebacterium, which is sensitive to .alpha.-amino-.beta.-hydroxy valeric acid, a plasmid DNA obtained from a microorganism of the genus Brevibacterium or Corynebacterium into which has been inserted a fragment of chromosomal DNA derived from a DNA-donor strain of the genus Brevibacterium or Corynebacterium which is resistant to .alpha.-amino-.beta.-hydroxy valeric acid; and recovering L-isoleucine which accumulates in the resulting culture liquid.

Abstract: A process for the production of Monascus-pigment comprises cultivating, in a nutrient medium containing maltitol, a microorganism of genus Monascus capable of producing said pigment, and harvesting the resultant pigment from the culture.The process advantageously leads to an extremely higher Monascus-pigment production in comparison with that obtained by conventional process, and, therefore, provides a sufficient amount of the pigment to food industry, where demand for naturally-occurring coloring agent with a high degree of safety is increasing.

Abstract: A process for producing a recombinant between simian virus 40 (SV40) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) is given. When tissue culture cells are infected with the recombinant, hepatitis B surface antigen is produced. Because a single cloned gene is used, the surface antigen produced is homogeneous and can be produced without conventional dependence on human sera. The antigen is excreted into the culture medium as 22 nm particles with the same physical properties, antigenic composition and constituent polypeptides as those found in the sera of patients with Type B hepatitis. The antigen is useful for the preparation of vaccines.

Abstract: A new microorganism, Streptomyces fradiae NRRL 12201, which produces mycarosyltylactone (5-O-mycarosyl-20-dihydro-20,23-dideoxytylonolide) and a process for preparing tylactone (20-dihydro-20,23-dideoxytylonolide) and mycarosyltylactone by submerged aerobic fermentation of this microorganism, or a mycarosyltylactone-producing mutant or recombinant thereof, are provided.

Abstract: Microorganism having a gene derived from a higher organism is produced by isolating cells from a higher organism containing messenger RNA, extracting the messenger RNA, synthesizing a double stranded cDNA using the messenger RNA as a template, inserting the cDNA into a plasmid and transforming a microorganism with the resultant recombinant plasmid.

Abstract: The Specification discloses:1. Recombinant microbial cloning vehicles comprising heterologous DNA coding for the expression of mammalian hormone (e.g, somatostatin) and other polypeptides, including plasmids suited for the transformation of bacterial hosts. The latter incorporate a regulon homologous to the host in its untransformed state, in reading phase with the structural gene for the heterologous DNA;2. Cloning vehicles coding for the microbial expression of a protein variously comprising (a) a polypeptide hapten and additional protein sufficient in size to confer immunogenicity on the product of expression, which may find use in raising antibodies to the hapten for assay use or in the manufacture of vaccines; and (b) a desired polypeptide product and additional protein from which the desired product may be cleaved; and3. Methods of preparing synthetic structural genes coding for the expression of mammalian polypeptides in microbial cloning systems.

Abstract: A process for preparing 11.beta.,21-dihydroxy-2'-methyl-5'.beta.H-1,4-pregnadieno(16,17-d)-oxazole -3,20-dione, comprises fermenting 11.beta.,21-dihydroxy-2'-methyl-5'.beta.H-4-pregneno (16,17-d)-oxazole-3,20-dione with a living culture of Arthrobacter simplex.