Abstract: Methods, processes and materials for the production and recovery of Tiacumicins produced by culturing a microorganism belonging to the species Dactylosporangium aurantiacum subspecies hamdenensis having the ability to produce and accumulate one or more Tiacumicin in a nutrient medium comprising a carbon source, a nitrogen source, trace elements such as inorganic salts, and an adsorbent, wherein said nitrogen source comprises fish powder, and wherein said Tiacumicin is produced in a yield greater than about 50 mg/L broth.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for using human placental alkaline phosphatase or an active derivative to reduce blood glucose level in a mammal. Treatment regimens provided by the invention may be used to control Type 1 and Type 2 forms of diabetes in humans. The methods and treatment regimens may be effective to maintain the human's blood glucose level below about 10 mM, and preferably within the normal range of 4 mM to 7 mM. The methods and treatment regimens may be used in combination with administration of known anti-diabetic medicaments. Also provided by the invention is a method for inducing weight loss or reducing an expected weight gain caused by or associated with obesity or Type 2 diabetes. The invention further provides a preparation for administration to a human, the preparation comprising homogeneous purified human placental alkaline phosphatase in a physiologically acceptable carrier.

Abstract: The inhibitor of Hepatitis B virus and HIV activity according to the present invention comprises a Lentinus edodes mycelium extract obtained by the steps of inoculating Lentinus edodes fungus in a solid culture medium comprising bagasse, then disentangling the solid culture medium containing the proliferated mycelium, adding water and at least one enzyme selected from a group consisting of cellulase, protease and glucosidase to the disentangled solid culture medium with keeping the solid culture medium at 30 to 50° C., grinding and milling the solid culture medium in the presence of the enzyme to obtain a Lentinus edodes mycelium extract, and then heating the extract to a temperature of not higher than 95° C. to inactivate the enzyme and sterilize the extract.

Abstract: L-Glutamic acid, L-proline or L-arginine is produced by culturing a bacterium belonging to the genus Escherichia, which is L-isoleucine auxotrophic and has ability to produce L-glutamic acid, L-proline or L-arginine, in a medium containing L-isoleucine, to produce and accumulate L-glutamic acid, L-proline or L-arginine in a culture, and collecting L-glutamic acid, L-proline or L-arginine from the culture.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for determining the activity of ornithine decarboxylase and for identifying effectors of ornithine decarboxylase activity, to the effectors of ornithine decarboxylase activity, and to the use thereof as pharmaceuticals for the treatment of disorders of the polyamine level.

Abstract: Described herein are novel ammonia-oxidizing bacteria as well as isolated nucleotide sequences representative of 16S rDNA of these ammonia-oxidizing bacteria. Particular bacteria of the present invention are tolerant of freshwater environments, saltwater environments or both. Furthermore, in various embodiments, various bacteria of the present invention are capable of surviving a freeze-drying process, and may remain viable thereafter. Methods for preventing or alleviating the accumulation of ammonia in aqueous environments, such as aquaria and wastewater are also provided, using the ammonia-oxidizing bacteria of the present invention.

Abstract: A method for determining whether a urine sample has been obtained from a subject suffering from a kidney disorder involving kidney damage. The method is based on determining the level of a proteolytic enzyme in urine from the subject. Sample and optionally comparing this level with a reference value. The proteolytic enzyme preferably is a matrix metalloproteases, in particular MMP-2 or MMP-9. The method is particularly suitable for subjects with a condition or disorder that is associated with an increased risk of kidney disorders, such as diabetes. The method may adavnatageously be applied for early detection of kidney damage, in particular when the subject does not yet show any sign of microalbuminuria. The method may also be applied to a subject undergoing dialysis for determining whether the subject is suffering from remodelling of the peritoneal membrane. Thus, the method is particularly suited for patients undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis.

Abstract: An isolated microorganism comprising a Propionibacteria strain. When the microorganism is fed to a ruminant, protein and fat levels in milk produced by the ruminant are increased, while body condition and milk production levels are maintained. When fed to the ruminant, the microorganism also has positive effects on various metabolic hormones and metabolites, e.g, an increase in energy balance, plasma non-esterified fatty acids levels, and plasma leptin level. Supplementation with propionibacteria reduced dry matter intake but did not affect milk production in the cows. Therefore, the propionibacteria of the invention made the cows more energy efficient as cows produced the same amount of milk, yet consumed less dry matter.

Abstract: The invention relates to biocatalytic methods for preparing enantiomerically pure stereoisomers of 1-(2,6-dichloro-3-fluorophenyl)ethanol. Disclosed are methods of preparation of the desired (S)-enantiomer, which methods are based on a combination of enzymatic resolution, chemical esterification and chemical hydrolysis with inversion of 1-(2,6-dichloro-3-fluorophenyl)ethyl esters or stereoselective bio-reduction of 2,6-dichloro-3-fluoro-acetophenone with a biocatalyst such as an enzyme or a microorganism. The chiral (S)-enantiomer can be used in the synthesis of certain enantiomerically enriched, ether linked 2-aminopyridine compounds that potently inhibit auto-phosphorylation of human heptocyte growth factor receptor.

Abstract: Fluorogenic lysophosphatidic acid derivatives which can be used as substrates in a continuous, fluorogenic assay that can be performed in microtiter plates. The assays permit measuring LysoPLD activity levels in normal events such as pregnancy or disease states such as cancer. In addition, the present invention can be adopted to high throughout screening(HTS) for identification of potential inhibitors of lysoPLD activity.

Abstract: The invention relates to Corynebacterium ammoniagenes CJXSP 0201 KCCM 10448 producing 5?-xanthylic acid. More specifically, the invention relates to Corynebacterium ammoniagenes CJXSP 0201 KCCM 10448 which is a mutant strain of Corynebacterium ammoniagenes KCCM 10340 having a resistance to osmotic pressure. In order to obtain mutant strain having enhanced respiratory activity, the present invention adopted Corynebacterium ammoniagenes KCCM 10340 as parent strain and treated it with UV radiation and mutation derivatives such as N-methyl-N?-nitro-n-nitrosoguanidine (NTG) according to ordinary procedure. Therefore, Corynebacterium ammoniagenes CJXSP 0201 KCCM 10448 of the present invention makes it possible to overcome growth-standing phase rapidly on early culture and for same period of fermentation, can accumulate 5?-xanthylic acid in culture medium at a high yield and concentration rate.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods for enhancing the efficiency of biological processes that involve successive enzymatic reactions. More specifically, the invention relates to methods for enhancing the efficiency of an enzymatic purification process by increasing the temperature between successive enzymatic purification steps.

Abstract: The invention relates to the field of bacteriocin producing microorganisms. The invention more specifically relates to the characterization of a novel food grade bacteriocin, namely a lantibiotic, named macedocin and produced by Streptococcus macedonicus ACA-DC 198. Macedocin inhibit a broad spectrum of lactic acid bacteria as well as several food spoilage and pathogenic bacteria, among others Clostridium tyrobutyricum, and is heat stable and active in a broad pH range. The invention further relates to the use of non-pathogenic microorganisms for producing macedocin in food fermentation processes, such as for preparing milk products, butter, cheese and fermented meat and vegetables, as well as in non-fermented food products such as raw meat, modified atmosphere-packed meat products, ready-to-eat meals, and canned food products, and its use for the preparation of functional starter cultures and cocultures.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a process which comprises selectively hydrolyzing one enantiomer of racemic mixtures of an N-substituted ?-amino acid alkyl ester or N-substituted 2-homopipecolic acid ester represented by the formula (I): wherein Ar, R1, R2, R3, R4 and R5 are the same as defined in the specification, in the presence of a hydrolase to form an optically active ((R) or (S))—N-substituted ?-amino acid or optically active ((R) or (S))—N-substituted 2-homopipecolic acid represented by the formula (II): and simultaneously to obtain an unreacted optically active ((S) or (R))—N-substituted ?-amino acid alkyl ester or unreacted optically active ((S) or (R))—N-substituted 2-homopipecolic acid ester represented by the formula (III): which has a reverse steric absolute configuration to that of the compound represented by the formula (II).

Abstract: A method for obtaining a response of a tissue model system to an activator includes contacting a bio-artificial tissue model system with an activator and measuring cellular mechanical response thereto of at least one of contractile force and tissue stiffness. A method for obtaining a response of a tissue model system to an activator includes contacting a bio-artificial tissue model system with an activator and measuring cellular mechanical response thereto of at least one of contractile force and hysteresis.

Abstract: The present invention relates to virulent (lytic) Listeria monocytogenes phage from the Myoviridae family, preferably P100, alone or in combination with other virulent phages. P100 and the endolysin from P100 can be administered to food products, to the components that will be added to food products, and/or to the infrastructure of the food processing plants within which such food products are processed, or the containers or wraps in which such foods are stored and/or shipped, in order to reduce Listeria monocytogenes contamination. P100 can also be used in the present invention to identify Listeria monocytogenes bacteria present on (or within) foodstuffs, as well as those Listeria monocytogenes bacteria present in the equipment or the general environment of the food processing plants in which the foodstuffs are being processed and in animals infected with Listeria monocytogenes. The phage and the endolysin of the present invention can also be used to treat animals infected with Listeria monocytogenes.

Abstract: An improved fermentation process for preparing pseudomonic acid A (mupirocin) is disclosed. The metabolically controlled fermentation process provides culturing a Pseudomonas sp. strain in a submerged medium at a temperature within about 20-30° C. The pH of the fermentation medium is regulated to be at about 5.5-6.0 by feeding the fermentation medium with an assimilable carbon source, a mineral salt, or an acidic/alkali solution. Accordingly, the resulting fermentation broth contains an increased yield of highly purified pseudomonic acid A as the main component. The pseudomonic acid B as an impurity in the fermentation broth is significantly decreased.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention generally comprise stabilizers for biological products that are free from animal origin excipients/components, such stabilizers functioning well in lyophilization procedures.

Abstract: The present invention provides a newly isolated mutant culture of Actinoplanes teichomyceticus BNG 2315. This culture is capable of producing teicoplanin more than 60 times productivity than those reported before (e.g., Actinoplanes teichomyceticus nov. sp. ATCC 31121). The present invention also provides a fermentation process for the production of teicoplanin in an aerobic condition using the mutant strain Actinoplanes teichomyceticus BNG 2315 in a culture-medium comprising carbon sources, nitrogen sources and mineral salts.

Abstract: The present invention provides a seeding material for accurate and reproducible monitoring of BOD load of pulp and paper wastewater, wherein the bacteria are isolated from various locations in India and comprise Micrococcus sp., Staphylococcus sp., Kurthia zopfii, Alcaligenes faecalis, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, the microbial composition being capable of exerting an appropriate BOD for pulp and paper industrial wastewater due to the specificity of bacterial strains present therein towards the refractory organic compounds found in these effluents.