Abstract: Serum-free media which support the growth of insect cells and the production thereby of recombinant proteins and viral products are herein disclosed. The serum free media can support insect cell growth at large scale under agitated and/or sparged, preferably well-aerated conditions.The serum free medium disclosed support insect cell growth to cell densities comparable to serum-containing culture and the production of viral and recombinant products to levels equivalent to those found in serum containing culture.

Abstract: A method for somatic embryogenesis of soybean, (Glycine max), Glycine soja and other Glycine species is provided using immature cotyledon tissue, preferably with the embryonic axis removed, comprising culturing said tissue on a medium containing auxin, preferably NAA at a concentration of at least about 15 mg/l. A further method for such somatic embryogenesis is provided wherein the culture medium contains a synergistically acting lowered carbohydrate and auxin concentration. Particularly embryogenic cells of such tissue are identified and improved maceration methods for contacting such cells with regeneration and transformation media are disclosed.Methods for transforming somatic tissue from soybean and other Glycine species are also provided.Whole, fertile, transformed plants are obtained.

Abstract: A recombinant DNA comprising 3 fragments of Hepatitis B virus DNA recombined with a vector consisting essentially of 0.31 Kb replication orgin of SV40 DNA inserted into EcoRI cleavage site of Escherichia coli plasmid which is deficient in the 1.426-2.521 Kb region of inhibiting replication in mammalian cells, wherein each HBV DNA fragment is a 3.2 Kb BamHI fragment consisting of 1.9 Kb HBc gene and 1.3 Kb HBs gene, and said HBV DNA fragments are arranged in a head-to-tail tandem relationship wherein the HBc gene positions at the head and the HBs gene positions at the tail, mammalian cells transformed with the recombinant DNA, and a method of production of Hepatitis B virus proteins, i.e. HBsAg and/or HBeAg. These HBV proteins have the same immunological properties as those of the natural HBV proteins originated from human blood plasma and can be used for the preparation of HBV vaccine and diagnostic reagents.

Abstract: Nodulation regulatory genes (nodD genes) of Bradyrhizobium japonicum strains have been isolated and sequenced. Recombinant DNA molecules and vectors containing these regulatory genes are described. These genes, molecules and vectors are useful in the genetic engineering of Rhizobium and Bradyrhizobium strains. A method for selective expression of structural genes in response to the application of chemical factors which induce B. japonicum nod genes which employs these genes is described.

Abstract: The filterability of glucose syrups obtained from impure wheat or other cereal starch is improved by treatment with Disporotrichum. Also the separation of starch from other constituents of impure cereal starch is improved by addition of xylanase before the starch is separated.

Abstract: Entomogenous nematodes can be used as biological insecticides for the control of certain pests. The present invention provides a large-scale production in liquid culture of these entomogenous nematodes using an improved liquid culture medium. The medium uses an emulsifier to provide a well homogenized growth medium. The invention also provides a method of cultivating entomogenous nematodes on a commercial scale, in liquid culture, in fermenters by controlling the agitation rate as a function of oxygen demand.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a lymphoblastoid cell culture medium making it possible in particular to prepare products which can be administered to man by intravenous injection, the said culture medium containing, in addition to the constituent components of ISCOVE's medium, only human albumin as protein.

Abstract: An affinity gel for the isolation of serine proteases from a biological sample. The affinity gel is modified for specificity for serine proteases by coupling an organophosphorous compound to the gel. The reaction is carried out in two steps. The hydrophilic gel is reacted with a phosphoryl trifluoride and then the coupled gel is further reacted with an alcohol to form the organophosphorous compound.

Abstract: Tissue of Taxus brevifolia has been successfully cultured to produce taxol, related alkaloids, and alkaloid precursors. These procedures will provide a supply of chemotherapeutic agents.

Abstract: An enzyme having .alpha.-glycerol-3-phosphate oxidase activity characterized in that it has a Km of less than 2.5 mM is disclosed, as is the production and use thereof.More particularly, such enzymes may be obtained from Propionibacterium species and may have Km values of less than 50 .mu.M, hence are advantageous for triglyceride/glycerol/.alpha.-glycerol-3-phosphate determinations and test kits.

Abstract: This invention relates to a seed dressing material for application to seeds of plants adapted to be grown in an environment with or without legume-growth-factor, to enhance the trace mineral uptake or growth of the plants. This material comprises effective amounts of fungal spores of the family Coprinus, preferably spores of Coprinus comatus, and a further ingredient selected from GTF chromium and yest, or combinations thereof. The plants resulting from the growth of seeds treated with the dressing material of this invention reach maturity faster, and have increased contents of zinc and chromium, both necessary dietary trace elements for mammals.

Abstract: Antibodies, nucleic acid sequences, and methods for inhibition of lysis for a novel serine esterase produced by both murine and human cytotoxic T lymphocytes. The serine esterase has an apparent molecular weight of approximately 28,000-31,000, as determined by SDS gel electrophoresis under reducing conditions, and trypsin-like activity. Inhibition of the esterase correlates with inhibition of the cells' cytolytic activity. Specific inhibition of the serine esterase is useful as a method for immunosuppression as well as for the inhibition of cytolytic activity of T lymphocytes, both in vivo and in vitro. The genes encoding the murine and human serine esterase are homologous.

Abstract: Process for regenerating cultivars from immature embryos.It comprises three stages:formation of embryogenic calluses in a medium containing a hormone of the cytokinin type,culturing the calluses in a medium of the same nature as above,culturing the plantlets.Application to sunflower cultivars.

Abstract: The present invention involves a readily produced skin autograft or allograft composite suitable for the supplementation or replacement of injured skin. A sheet of collagen-coated pliable material such as synthetic surgical dressing is used as a foundation for the skin autograft composite. The synthetic surgical dressing, if not precoated with collagen, may be placed in a container and coated with collagen. Epidermal cells, preferably obtained from a prospective recipient of the skin autograft composite being produced, are cultured in an appropriate medium substantially preventing cell differentiation to form epidermal cells on the surface of a collagen-coated container. When substantially confluent, the epidermal cells are enzymatically detached from the culture vessel and layered upon a collagen coated desiccated surgical dressing infused with low calcium culture medium.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for the genetic transformation of soybean plants and plant lines by particle mediated transformation. Foreign genes are introduced into regenerable soybean tissues by coating on carrier particles which are physically accelerated into plant tissues. The treated plant tissues are then recovered and regenerated into whole sexually mature plants. The progeny are recovered from seed set by these plants and a portion of these progeny will contain in their genome the foreign gene. The procedure may be used to create novel genetically engineered soybean plants and lines.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for cloning and producing the Hinc II restriction endonuclease by (1) introducing the restriction endonuclease gene from Haemophilus influenzae Rc into a host whereby the restriction gene is expressed; (2) fermenting the host which contains the vector encoding and expressing the Hinc II restriction endonuclease, and (3) purifying the Hinc II restriction endonuclease from the fermented host which contains the vector encoding and expressing the Hinc II restriction endonuclease activity.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus implanting living cells with a foreign substance with the aid of laser beams. According to this invention living cells are exposed to a laser microbeam of energy sufficient to modify a selected part of the cell to be temporarily transparent to a foreign substance. After the foreign substance gets in the host cell, the selected part of the cell recovers to the original state, thereby confining the foreign substance in the cell.

Abstract: This invention relates to improved methods for transposon tagging as a route to plant gene isolation. The specific improvements comprise efficient means for preselecting plants which have undergone transposition. Through use of this preselection, it is possible to substantially reduce the number of plants which must be inspected to locate individuals having the transposon excised and inserted into a gene of interest. The result is a substantial savings in time, costs and efficiency associated with growing and screening large numbers of plants for tagging and isolation of a desired plant gene.

Abstract: An acyloxyacyl hydrolase from the human promyelocyte cell line HL-60 has been found to specifically hydrolyze fatty acids from their ester linkages to hydroxy groups of 3-hydroxyfatty acids, the latter being being bound in turn to lipopolysaccharide glycosaminyl residues. The hydrolyzed fatty acids may include dodecanoic acid, tetradecanoic acid and hexadecanoic acid. This enzyme showed a molecular weight by gel exclusion chromatography between about 50,000 Daltons and about 70,000 Daltons, and a molecular weight by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis with sodium dodecylsulphate, using reduced molecular weight standards, of approximately 54,000 to 60,000 Daltons.Altered bacterial lipopolysaccharide substantially without fatty acids bound in ester linkage to hydroxy groups of 3-hydroxyfatty acids covalently linked to a glucosaminyl moiety of lipopolysaccharide lipid A are produced.

Abstract: A nucleic acid fragment encoding a herbicide-resistant plant acetolactate synthase protein is disclosed. This nucleic acid fragment contains at least one nucleotide mutation resulting in one amino acid change in one of seven substantially conserved regions of acetolactate synthase amino acid homology. This mutation results in the production of an acetolactate synthase protein which is resistant to sulfonylurea herbicide compounds compared to the wild-type protein. Transformation of herbicide sensitive plants or plant cells with the fragment results in resistance to the herbicide.