Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods of producing hexoses from saccharides by enzymatic processes. The methods utilize fructose 6-phosphate and at least one enzymatic step to convert it to a hexose.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a kit and methods for the detection of absence or presence of a ?-lactamase, for example a penicillinase, in a sample comprising or derived from a body fluid taken from a patient suffering from an infection. In some embodiments, the goal of the invention is to rapidly identify infections which can be treated effectively with a penicillin compound. The invention contributes to slowing down the occurrence of resistances to last generation antibiotics. This is achieved by using penicillin compounds for treating infections whenever this can be done efficiently. In brief, the present invention provides a tool for maximizing the use and efficiency of penicillin antibiotics. In other embodiments, the test kit of the invention can be used to detect cephalosporinases (including ESBLs) or carbapenemases.

Abstract: The present invention relates to pasteurized Akkermansia muciniphila or fragments thereof for treating a metabolic disorder in a subject in need thereof. The present invention also relates to a composition, a pharmaceutical composition and a medicament comprising pasteurized Akkermansia muciniphila or fragments thereof for treating a metabolic disorder. The present invention also relates to the use of pasteurized Akkermansia muciniphila or fragments thereof for promoting weight loss in a subject in need thereof.

Abstract: Described are compositions of matter, protocols, and treatment means for induction of immune mediated killing in dogs suffering from cancer. The invention provides means of extracting peripheral blood from a canine patient, expanding immunocytes capable of killing cancer cells in vitro, and re-administering said immunocytes into a patient in need of therapy. In one embodiment, immunocytes expanded are T cells possessing tumor cytotoxic activity induced by stimulation of NKG2D.

Abstract: A quick screening method for microbial strains includes the steps of: feeding a carrier worm with Styrofoam for a plurality of days; and sampling a digestive system of the carrier worm and placing the sampled digestive system of the carrier worm into a culture medium. The digestive system of the carrier worm includes at least one Styrofoam degrading microbial strain. The culture medium includes an emulsion formed by dissolving the Styrofoam with chloroform and adding a surfactant to the dissolved Styrofoam. A culture medium for fast culturing of the at least one microbial strain is also provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods through which a biological sample of a mammal can be precisely assigned and identified, comprising administering at least one essentially non-metabolizable marker substance and a dye.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for detecting organisms in a liquid sample, comprising the provision of a capture area including particles in a liquid medium and subjected to a hydrodynamic flow, wherein the organisms to be detected are capable of binding to these particles, the method comprising the steps of: (a) circulating the sample through the capture area; (b) circulating a growth medium through the capture area; and (c) determining the presence, nature or concentration of organisms in the capture area; said particles being retained in the capture area as a fluidized bed for at least one part of these steps. The invention also relates to a system for implementing this method.

Abstract: A method for estimating portal blood flow and hepatic function in a subject is provided. In one example, the STAT test is an in vitro simplified, convenient test intended for screening purposes that can reasonably estimate the portal blood flow from a single blood sample taken 60 minutes after orally administered deuterated-cholate. The test can be administered to a patient having, or suspected of having, Chronic Hepatitis C, Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC), Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD), or any chronic liver disease.

Abstract: A gelled biological growth medium in a culture container, as well as kits and methods of producing the growth medium, utilize gelling of a liquid growth medium containing low methoxyl pectin on a film of calcium salt deposited on a growth surface of the culture container. The salt acts as a trigger for gelation and is conveniently deposited on the walls by evaporation of methanol or another volatile solvent.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a bacteriocin-producing Paenibocillus ehimensis strain NPUST-1, which can intensify the growth and immune response of aquaculture organisms. Also, the strain can increase the survival rate of aquaculture organisms after pathogen infection. A bacteriocin produced by the Paenibocillus ehimensis strain NPUST-1, Peocin, is a starvation/stationary phase protection protein, which has antimicrobial activity against various pathogen including aquaculture pathogens, foodborne pathogens and clinical pathogens. The bacteriocin Peocin is a starvation/stationary phase protection protein having antimicrobial activity found for the first time.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods of treating or preventing respiratory condition and/or for treating an IgE-mediated allergy and/or for reducing an allergic response to an allergen and/or for inducing anergy to an allergen in a subject and/or improving lung function in a subject suffering from an allergy comprising administering to a subject a population of cells enriched for STRO-1+ cells and/or progeny thereof and/or soluble factors derived therefrom.

Abstract: Described is an object surface coating comprising one or more polymers and a peptide covalently linked to at least one of said one or more polymers, said peptide comprising a) a first cleavage site, wherein said first cleavage site is cleaved by a first compound specifically provided by a microbe belonging to a first group consisting of a limited number of microbial strains, species or genera, and not cleaved by any compound provided by any microbe not belonging to said first group, b) a first fluorescent agent having an emission wavelength of 650-900 nm, c) a first non-fluorescent agent having an absorption wavelength of 650-900 nm, for quenching said emission of said first fluorescent agent, wherein cleavage of said first cleavage site results in the release of said first non-fluorescent agent from the coating, the release of said first non-fluorescent agent being indicative for the presence of a microbe belonging to said first group.

Abstract: A method of conditioning a subject in need of transplantation of progenitor cells in suspension of a tissue of interest is disclosed. The method comprising: (a) administering to a subject a therapeutically effective amount of an agent capable of inducing damage to the tissue of interest, wherein the damage results in proliferation of resident stem cells in the tissue; and subsequently (b) subjecting the subject to an agent which ablates the resident stem cells in the tissue. A method of transplanting progenitor cells in suspension of a tissue of interest to a subject in need thereof is also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention features methods and compositions for assessing risk, particularly immediate risk, of thrombotic events in patients with suspected or known vascular disease, and more particularly to assessing risk of thrombotic events in patients with coronary artery disease, particularly acute myocardial infarction, stroke, unstable angina, stable angina, or restenosis. Risk of thrombosis can be assessed by analysis of platelet reactivity and/or velocity of thrombin or fibrin formation, and determining whether the patient has a score associated above a risk threshold value. In other embodiments, risk of thrombosis in a patient is evaluated in the context of a profile generated from values obtained from one or more assays that evaluate various factors associated with thrombosis and/or atherosclerosis.

Abstract: A composition useful for application to plants, seeds or soil to inhibit fungal infections comprises a protein source inoculated with from 5×107 cfu to 5×109 cfu of a Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain per gram of the protein source.

Abstract: Systems for the monitoring of bacterial levels in samples, using spectral analysis of the light diffracted from a substrate with an ordered array of pores having diameters enabling the targets to enter them. The trapping pore array is cyclically illuminated by light of different wavelengths, and the light diffracted from the pore array is imaged by a 2-dimensional detector array, with one pixel, or a small group of pixels receiving light from each associated pore. The temporal sequence of frames provides a series of images, each from the reflection of a different wavelength. A time sequenced readout of the signal from the pixel or pixels associated with each pore region, provides a spectral plot of the reflected light from that pore region. Spectral analysis of the light intensity from this series of different wavelength enables the effective optical thickness (EOT) of each pore to be extracted.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods for detecting and quantitatively measuring a binding property of a compound to a target macromolecule, wherein the target macromolecule is subject to denaturation and is linked to a labeling peptide, such as a short enzyme fragment. The method uses a fluid mixture comprising (i) a chimeric molecule comprising a target macromolecule linked to the labeling peptide, wherein the target macromolecule may be a chimeric protein expressed by and within an intact viable cell and (ii) a compound being measured for binding to the target macromolecule, wherein said target macromolecule is subject to denaturation. After allowing for binding of the compound (e.g. a small molecule inhibitor of the target macromolecule), one detects a signal from the labeling peptide, such as by enzyme fragment complementation.

Abstract: A dietary supplement composition is formulated in a therapeutic amount to treat and alleviate symptoms of joint pain. The composition includes pro-inflammatory low molecular weight microbial fermented sodium hyaluronate fragments having a molecular weight of 0.5 to 300 kilodaltons (kDa) in an oral dosage form.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of sulfocysteine and derivatives thereof to increase the gluthathione pool in cells.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing a botulinum toxin comprising: (a) treating a culture of a botulinum toxin-producing strain with acid to form a botulinum toxin-containing precipitate; (b) adding a buffer to the botulinum toxin-containing precipitate of step (a), followed by clarification by at least one method selected from the group consisting of depth filtration (DF), microfiltration (MF), ultrafiltration (UF), sterile filtration, membrane chromatography (MC) and centrifugation; (c) subjecting the botulinum toxin-containing solution of step (b) to UF diafiltration, ammonium sulfate precipitation or hydrochloric acid precipitation, and then diluting a retentate resulting from the UF diafiltration in a buffer or dissolving a precipitate resulting from the ammonium sulfate precipitation or hydrochloric acid precipitate in a buffer; and (d) subjecting the retentate dilution, ammonium sulfate precipitate solution or hydrochloric acid precipitate solution of step (c) to anion-exchange chrom