Abstract: Disclosed are microbial cells useful for degrading insecticides and chlorinated organics and for the production of a protein which degrades insecticides and chlorinated organics, which microbial cells contain and express a heterologous DNA molecule encoding an insect detoxication protein (e.g., an esterase, a cytochrome p450, a glutathione transferase). Preferably, the host cell is a bacteria which grows in soil (e.g., is from the genera Pseudomonas or Bacillus). Methods of using the cells and proteins and compositions thereof are also disclosed.

Abstract: Novel vaccines for use against Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae are disclosed. The vaccines contain at least one Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae outer membrane lipoprotein A, or an immunogenic fragment thereof. Also disclosed are DNA sequences encoding these proteins, vectors including these sequences and host cells transformed with these vectors. The vaccines can be used to treat or prevent porcine respiratory infections.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the determination of an enzyme from an isoenzyme mixture in a liquid sample by inhibition of the disturbing isoenzymes and determination of the non-inhibited enzyme, wherein the isoenzyme mixture is contacted with one or more substances which are able to inhibit the disturbing isoenzymes, the sample containing the inhibiting substance(s) is transferred to a small-pored reaction medium and the disturbing enzyme is there inhibited and the determination of the non-inhibited enzyme is carried out in the resulting liquid.The present invention also provides a test carrier for carrying out this process.

Abstract: Methods for recombinant production in procayotic microorganisms such as E. coli of ribotoxins such as restrictocin, alpha-sarcin and mitogillin are described. Known methods were relatively low yielding and not cost effective for commercial use such as in the pharmaceutical industry where relatively large quantities of toxin with consistent batch to batch quality may be required for immunotoxin production. Use of recombinant methods of production open up the possibility of making ribotoxin analogues. Toxicity of ribotoxins was recognised as a concern in development of a high yielding cost effective production method. Methods for high yielding intracellular accumulation or secretion of ribotoxins are described. Use of protease deficient strains and other methods of minimising breakdown of ribotoxin by protease are preferred. Vectors and host strains for use in the methods are described.

Abstract: The invention concerns a DNA which codes for a protein with N-methylhydantoinase activity and which has(1) the nucleic acid sequence shown in FIG. (1),(2) a sequence corresponding to it within the scope of the degeneracy of the genetic code or(3) a sequence which hybridizes with a sequence from (1) or/and (2) under stringent conditions.Furthermore the invention also concerns a recombinant vector which contains a DNA according to the present invention, a cell which is transformed with a vector according to the present invention as well as a process for producing a recombinant protein with NMHase activity.

Abstract: Novel carbonyl hydrolase mutants derived from the DNA sequences of naturally-occurring or recombinant non-human carbonyl hydrolases are disclosed. The mutant carbonyl hydrolases, in general, are obtained by in vitro modification of a precursor DNA sequence encoding the naturally-occurring or recombinant carbonyl hydrolase to generate the substitution of one or more amino acid residues in the amino acid sequence of a precursor carbonyl hydrolase. Such mutant carbonyl hydrolases have properties which are different from those of the precursor hydrolase and are especially useful in detergent formulations. The substituted amino acid residues correspond to position +123 and/or +274 in Bacillus amyloliquefaciens subtilisin.

Abstract: This invention relates to safe and effective methods for the extraction of nucleic acids. In particular, methods are described for isolating nucleic acid from a sample containing a biological mixture of nucleic acids and other biological compounds wherein the sample is combined with an extraction solution containing at least one organic compound such as benzyl alcohol or a benzyl alcohol derivative to form an aqueous and non-aqueous phase. The nucleic acid is isolated from the aqueous phase. Preferably, the resulting combined solution also contains bentonite, as defined below. Typically, the sample will first be combined with a lysing agent before extraction. The lysing agents preferred are chaotropic salts such as guanidinium hydrochloride and guanidinium isothiocyanate.