Abstract: A new and practical method for synthesizing heterocyclic polyhydroxylated alkaloids using enzymatic aldol condensation and catalytic intramolecular reductive amination is disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention comprises compositions and methods that are useful for topically treating inflammation caused by a wide variety of diseases. The compositions comprise an effective amount of a proteolytic enzyme, such as bromelain, in combination with capsaicin in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

Abstract: A method for replication of hepatitis C virus genome comprising infecting animal cells that have been infected with mouse retrovirus, with hepatitis C virus, and then culturing those cells. The present invention further provides a method for distinguishing a hepatitis C virus with high infectivity and a hepatitis C virus with less infectivity, comprising centrifugating a sample comprising a virus to be tested in a liquid medium to determine the density of the virus, and assigning the virus to a hepatitis C virus with high infectivity if the density thereof is up to about 1.06 g/ml, and assigning the virus to a hepatitis C virus with less infectivity if the density thereof is at least 1.

Abstract: Methods are described for regulating neuropeptide secretion to alleviate premature labor, hypertension, fluid imbalance, and risk of heart disease: using neuroactive steroids targeted for a newly-identified site of action in the nerve terminals of neurosecretory neurons. The steroids 17 betaestradiol and dehydroepiandrosterone increase the release of neuropeptide hormones such as oxytocin and vasopressin. Pregnalone derivatives decrease the release of the same hormones.

Abstract: Nitrogen-containing phenol compounds are biodegradable by a consortium of microorganisms. The consortium was isolated from waste sludge by successive subculturing into medium containing picric acid as the only carbon source. During the period of degradation, picric acid was seen to degrade to a colored intermediate which later disappeared. UV-Vis spectrometry, HPLC and GC-mass spectrophotometry showed that the entire ring structure was eventually destroyed. The consortium contains microorganisms from the genera Arthrobacter, Avrobacterium and Pseudomonas.

Abstract: A sterilized plant culture medium comprising a dye in an amount which imparts a visible color to the culture medium and which permits seed germination is provided which is useful for attracting children, for observing and studying seed germination, root and shoot formation and whole plant development, and for color-coding plant cultures.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a cell strain capable of separating and multiplying an EB virus and derived from human lymphocyte cancer cells and a method of separating and multiplying the EB virus by means of said cell strain. The present cell strain can be applied to the separation and multiplication of the wild type virus present in various places, as well as to the separation and multiplication of the virus produced by homologous recombination etc. The virus newly separated and multiplied can be applied to vaccine etc. For the more efficient separation and multiplication of the virus, several markers can be inserted into the present cell strain.

Abstract: A basal nutrient culture medium for the in vitro culture of Pinus taeda, loblolly pine, is disclosed. The medium contains nitrate, ammonium, potassium, phosphorate, calcium, magnesium, sulfate, chlorine, sodium, borate, manganese, iron, zinc, copper, iodine, molybdenum oxide, cobalt, thiamine and EDTA.

Abstract: A basal nutrient culture medium for the in vitro culture of Pinus taeda, loblolly pine, is disclosed. The medium contains nitrate, ammonium, potassium, phosphorate, calcium, magnesium, sulfate, chlorine, sodium, borate, manganese, iron, zinc, copper, iodine, molybdenum oxide, cobalt, thiamine and EDTA.

Abstract: Phthalyl amidase is an enzyme previously unknown in the art that catalyzes removal of the phthalyl moiety from phthalyl-containing amides. The current invention provides a phthalyl amidase, a method for producing it by culturing the natural organism from which the activity was identified, and methods for using the phthalyl amidase to remove the phthalyl moiety from phthalyl-containing amides. The enzyme is isolated from Xanthobacter agilis.

Abstract: Phthalyl amidase is an enzyme previously unknown in the art that catalyzes removal of the phthalyl moiety from phthalyl-containing amides. The current invention provides 2 phthalyl amidase, 2 method for producing it by culturing the natural organism from which the activity was identified, and methods for using the phthalyl amidase to remove the phthalyl moiety from phthalyl-containing amides. The ezyme is isolated from Xanthobacter agilis.

Abstract: A strain of the fungus Colletotrichum gloeosporioides NRRL 21046 has been discovered, which is herbicidally active against the weeds coffee senna and sicklepod when applied as a postemergent. Compositions of the fungus provide a methodology for a biologically based herbicidal control. This affords an alternative to expensive chemical sprays and thereby a means for protecting the environment.

Abstract: A plastein material is made by reversing the normal hydrolytic activity of a serine protease. The protease produces a plastein material by acting on a proteinaceous substrate. The substrate is preferably whey, casein or soy protein.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to an oriented tissue-equivalent formed by contracting a collagen solution with connective tissue cells. In the method of the present invention, the contraction of collagen fibrils by the connective tissue cells is restrained along an axis of cell alignment defined by at least two structural members within the gel, whereby the connective tissue cells align along the axis thereby producing an oriented tissue-equivalent. In a preferred embodiment fibroblast cells are used to contract a collagen gel to form connective tissue into a ligament configuration.

Abstract: The Antibiotic Complex AB-023 and its components: Antibiotic AB-023a and ibiotic AB-023b are disclosed, which are obtained by the controlled aerobic culture of Streptomyces sp. NCIMB 40212 in an aqueous nutrient culture substrate. Antibiotics AB-023 display a biological activity against pathogen fungi which attack agricultural crops and man.

Abstract: Compounds useful as intermediates in the preparation of taxanes such as taxol are prepared by contacting one or more C-13 acyloxy-bearing taxanes with an enzyme or microorganism capable of hydrolyzing said acyloxy groups to hydroxyl groups. In a preferred embodiment the microorganism is Nocardioides albus ATCC55424, Nocardioides albus ATCC55425 or Nocardioides luteus ATCC55426 or the hydrolase enzyme is isolated from the microorganisms.

Abstract: O-acylated cephalosporins are produced by reacting 3-hydroxymethylcephalosporins with an acyl donor containing at least three carbon atoms and an enzyme which is a Rodosporidium toruloides esterase, a wheat germ lipase, an Aspergillus niger lipase, an orange peel acetylesterase or a Bacillus subtilis esterase. A preferred enzyme is the esterase from Rodosporidium toruloides ATCC 10657. The enzyme can be used while in whole cells or in soluble or inmobilized form.

Abstract: This invention relates to a serum-free eukaryotic cell culture medium supplement. The supplement comprises carbon sources, vitamins, inorganic salts, amino acids and a protein digest. The medium supplement of the present invention enables the maintenance of mammalian cell cultures at cell densities equal to or greater than that obtained with batch culture methods while increasing longevity and productivity.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for treating culture medium with a dilute acid such as nitric acid, are disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, nitric acid is sprayed on to a floating oily layer of hydrophobic materials at the surface of a stilled culture rich in aerobic bacteria, which materials can obstruct oxygen take up. The nitric acid surface treats the protective hydrophobic third phase, increasing its surface viscosity and the undesired lipid or oily materials to be readily removed mechanically. Oxygen take up and thence microorganismic growth are promoted. Quite small quantities of dilute acid are effective and leave no toxic residue. An optional embodiment entrains nitrogen dioxide in the aeration gases to form nitric acid in situ for surface treatment of thin oily films occluding bubbles in the culture broth.

Abstract: Growth inhibition assays for both microorganisms and mammalian cells are performed by incubating the microorganisms or cells in a growth medium in the presence of resazurin and a suspected growth inhibiting agent. By observing a color change accompanied by the reduction of resazurin to resorfurin, continued cell viability can be determined. The present invention reduces system errors by inhibiting the autoreduction of resazurin by the growth media by incorporating suitable redox stabilizing agents in the medium. In a preferred embodiment the poising agent is potassium ferrocyanide, ferric salt or ferricinium and the medium is maintained at a potential from about +0.3 volts to about +0.45 volts. A second poising agent can be used to inhibit the reduction of resorfin to dihydroresorfin. Preferred second poising agents are methylene blue, toluidine blue, azure I and gallocyanide in amounts to maintain the potential of the growth medium above -0.1 volts.