Abstract: The present invention relates to a substantially purified heparanase obtained from the human SK-HEP-1 cell line and a method to purify the heparanase from a centrifuged dialyzed homogenate of the SK-HEP-1 cells or a cell culture medium containing the heparanase from the SK-HEP-1 cell line.

Abstract: Described herein is a bacterium having high antimutagenicity against mutagens and belonging to the genus of Lactobacillus. The mutagens may comprise both a base-pair change mutagen and a frameshift mutagen. The bacterium preferably has high intestine reachability and can be Lactobacillus casei.

Abstract: The control of weed trees in reforestation areas is expensive chemical herbicides and falling into disfavour and ultimately may be banned completely. Moreover, the application of herbicides is labor intensive. A simple, effective solution to the problem is to use a biological method of controlling weed trees in which a wooden charge containing a fungus capable of killing the trees is injected into the trees. Preferably the fungus is indigenous to the area of the trees being treated. Red Alder can be effectively controlled using the fungus Nectria ditissima.

Abstract: A method of controlling hydrocarbon contamination at a zone of contaminant concentration that includes determining the locus of contamination; and dispersing into the locus a substance that reacts with the hydrocarbon to produce CO.sub.2 and water to thereby decontaminate the locus; the dispersing including concentrating the substance in a porous zone, and forcing fluid under pressure into and through that zone to entrain and carry the substance to the contamination locus.

Abstract: A process for the separation of taxanes, particularly taxol, from ornamental yew tissue is described. The process involves a specific solvent mixture of ethanol and water which is between 50 to 80 percent by volume ethanol and decolorizing of the resulting extract using activated carbon containing the crude taxanes. The taxanes are separated from the crude extract by a normal phase chromatographic step which preferably is through vacuum or medium pressure column chromatographic separation, using inexpensive silica gel as an absorbent.

Abstract: A microbiological process for the production of 5-hydroxypyrazinecarboxylic acid and/or its salts with microorganisms using nicotinic acid and/or its salts.

Abstract: This invention relates to a fungal microorganism MF5757 (ATCC 74167) isolated from bark discs of Quercus prinus L. (Chestnut Oak) and useful in a fermentation process to form a compound of formula (I): ##STR1## which is a squalene synthetase inhibitor and thus useful as a cholesterol lowering agent.