Abstract: Provided herein are biocatalysts and systems thereof for pterin-dependent enzymes and pathways and methods of making and using the same. Provided herein in some embodiments are biocatalysts having a pterin source and a pterin-dependent enzymatic pathway biologically coupled to the pterin source. Tetrahydrobiopterin (referred to herein as BH4 or BH 4) can be the pterin source. The BH4 can be synthesized by a tetrahydrobiopterin synthesis pathway. The tetrahydrobiopterin synthesis pathway can include a GTP cyclohydrase; a pyruvoyl tetrahydropterin synthase; a sepiapterin reductase, and/or any combination thereof. The biocatalyst can further contain a pterin-dependent enzymatic pathway. The pterin-dependent enzymatic pathway can be amino acid mono-oxygenase, phenylalanine hydroxylase, tryptophan hydroxylase, tyrosine hydroxylase, nitric oxide synthase, alkylglycerol monooxygenase, and/or any combination thereof.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of sustainable agriculture. Specifically, the invention provides microbial compositions and methods useful for the production of crop plants. In particular, the compositions and methods disclosed herein are useful for enhancing plant growth.

Abstract: The present invention relates to bacterial ghosts, and more particularly, to a method of preparing bacterial ghosts from gram-positive bacteria by hydrochloric acid treatment. Specifically, according to the present invention, when gram-positive bacteria were cultured after being treated with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of hydrochloric acid capable of inhibiting colony formation of gram-positive bacteria, bacterial ghosts were effectively formed. Since the formed bacterial ghosts have no intracellular proteins or DNA while preserving cell wall integrity, the risk of side effects such as secondary infection caused by bacterial growth when the bacterial ghosts are administered to humans is low. Therefore, the bacterial ghosts prepared from gram-positive bacteria according to the method of the present invention may be effectively used as a vaccine or a foreign antigen carrier for preventing or treating gram-positive bacterial infection.

Abstract: Provided are methods and systems of obtaining oil from a stillage composition.

Abstract: Tributyrin and/or tributyrin derivatives are used to selectively increase the levels of Bifidobacteria in the gut. In preferred methods, the tributyrin and/or tributyrin derivatives are orally administered alone or in combination with a food item or other nutritionally acceptable carrier, and may further include Bifidobacteria. Tributyrin-enhanced Bifidobacterium strains are also contemplated that include Bifidobacteria previously cultured in tributyrin and/or tributyrin derivatives.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the production of chitin and/or chitosan from insects. More specifically, the invention relates to a method for the production of chitin and/or chitosan from insect cuticles, comprising an insect cuticle pressing step, followed by a step involving the enzymatic hydrolysis of the insect cuticles using a proteolytic enzyme, the cuticles having been treated with an oxidising agent prior to the enzymatic hydrolysis.

Abstract: The device, that can be implanted in the intestinal cavity, comprises a reactor comprising a semi-permeable or porous membrane or coating linked to a element for attachment to an intestinal or gastric wall. The reactor can be in the form of a ribbon, a structure having more than two faces or an open structure delimiting a lumen, comprising, or formed from, a semi-permeable or porous membrane. The reactor can also delimit, at least partially with the semi-permeable or porous membrane of same, a closed inner space. The reactor can comprise or carry enzymes or micro-organisms, in particular bacteria or yeast. The reactor is used for generating a chemical reaction with one or more molecules present in the intestine, or for producing one or more biologically active molecules. It can, in particular, be used for consuming sugars, disaccharides and simple sugars or producing essential amino acids or other molecules having a positive effect on the health.

Abstract: A blood product (10), a method for preparing the blood product, a blood product obtainable by the method and a blood product preparing container means. The blood product comprises components from whole blood, especially fibrin, thrombocytes and leukocytes. The blood product (10) comprises a first layer (21), a second layer (22) and a third layer (23). The second layer (22) is adjacent to the first layer (21) and the third layer (23). The first layer (21) defines a first outer surface (24) of the blood product (10) and the third layer (23) defining a second outer surface (25) of the blood product (10). The first layer (21) comprises a majority of fibrin, the second layer (22) comprises a majority of thrombocytes and the third layer (23) comprises a majority of leukocytes.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods of measuring acyl-CoA dehydrogenase activity in a biological sample in a multiwell microplate setting.

Abstract: An organic material production system includes: a pretreatment device (12) that pulverizes a biomass material (11); a hydrothermal decomposition apparatus (14) that hydrothermally decomposes a pulverized biomass (13) by causing it to countercurrently contact with hot compressed water (15), elutes lignin components and hemicellulose components into the hot compressed water (15), and separates the lignin components and the hemicellulose components from a biomass solid residue; a first enzymatic hydrolysis device (19-1) that treats cellulose in a biomass solid residue (17), discharged from the hydrothermal decomposition apparatus, with an enzyme (18) to enzymatically hydrolyze it to a sugar solution containing hexose; a fermenter (21) that produces ethanol by fermentation using a sugar solution (20) obtained by the first enzymatic hydrolysis device (19-1); and a refiner 25 that refines an alcohol fermentation liquid (22), so as to separate it into ethanol (23) and a residue (24).

Abstract: A method for monomerization of MMP-7 aggregates is provided. A method for monomerization of MMP-7 aggregates which comprises treating MMP-7 aggregates with a buffer solution comprising a monovalent cation chloride (sodium chloride, potassium chloride, etc.) at a low concentration or with a buffer solution not comprising a monovalent cation chloride, a process for preparing MMP-7 which involves said method for monomerization, and a (pharmaceutical) composition comprising MMP-7 in the aforementioned buffer solution. In case that a (pharmaceutical) composition comprising MMP-7 at a low concentration is prepared, the aforementioned buffer solution comprising sugar alcohols or sugars is used.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are muscle implants and methods of making muscle implants comprising one or more decellularized muscle matrices. The muscle matrices can, optionally, be joined to one or more decellularized dermal matrices. The muscle implants can be used to enhance muscle volume or to treat muscle damage, defects, and/or disorders. The decellularized muscle matrices in the implants retain at least some of the myofibers found in a muscle tissue prior to processing.

Abstract: A composition for use in treating penile defects, including erectile dysfunction and Peyronie's disease, is provided. The composition includes adipose tissue and stem cells. The stem cells may be derived from adipose tissue. In embodiments the composition includes additional additives such as growth factors, anti-inflammatories, antioxidants, compositions useful for wound healing, and collagenases. Also provided is a method of treating a penile defect in a patient. The method includes providing a composition containing adipose tissue and stem cells, and implanting that composition into a patient in need of treatment for a penile defect. In some embodiments the patient has Peyronie's disease. In other embodiments, the patient has erectile dysfunction.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed here provide engineered modified hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), artificially prostaglandin E2 (PGE2)-stimulated HSCs, compositions comprising these HSCs, methods of using these modified HSCs for treating autoimmune diseases and disorders and for suppressing the immune system. In particular, the engineered modified HSCs or PGE2-stimulated HSCs express the surface marker, programmed cell death-1 ligand 1 (PD-L1).

Abstract: The invention relates to a microorganism from the species Lysobacter enzymogenes, having nematicidal activity and the ability to promote plant growth. The invention also provides methods for obtaining a biomass of said microorganism, as well as methods for biologically controlling nematodes, for treating and preventing plant infection caused by nematodes, and for promoting plant growth based on the use of said microorganism or of phytosanitary products obtained therefrom.

Abstract: Bacterial strains are provided that can be isolated from the microflora of lowbush blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium), and that are capable of increasing the antioxidant content of their growth medium. The bacteria can be used, for example, to increase the antioxidant content of various foodstuffs, as probiotics or as additives to animal feed. Antioxidant-enriched compositions produced by fermentation processes utilizing the bacteria are also provided. The antioxidant-enriched compositions can be used in the preparation of cosmetics and nutritional supplements. The antioxidant-enriched compositions also have therapeutic applications.

Abstract: A blood product (10), a method for preparing the blood product, a blood product obtainable by the method and a blood product preparing container means. The blood product comprises components from whole blood, especially fibrin, thrombocytes and leukocytes. The blood product (10) comprises a first layer (21), a second layer (22) and a third layer (23). The second layer (22) is adjacent to the first layer (21) and the third layer (23). The first layer (21) defines a first outer surface (24) of the blood product (10) and the third layer (23) defining a second outer surface (25) of the blood product (10). The first layer (21) comprises a majority of fibrin, the second layer (22) comprises a majority of thrombocytes and the third layer (23) comprises a majority of leukocytes.

Abstract: There is provided a method of analyzing a biological sample component that allows easy and accurate quantification and counting of any of a plasma component and a blood cell component in a trace and unknown amount of a whole blood sample collected from a finger, for example. The method of the present invention is a method of analyzing a biological sample component in a trace amount of blood, comprising analyzing a diluent buffer into which the blood has been mixed and an internal standard substance and/or an external standard substance contained in the diluent buffer, calculating a dilution ratio, and analyzing a biological component in a plasma or serum component in the blood.

Abstract: The invention relates to a kit for detecting biofilms, which is in particular compatible with the agri-food industry and comprises a biofilm staining solution containing a stain in solution in a dilution phase compatible with the agri-food industry, wherein said stain is Coomassie blue, and a cleaning solution comprising said dilution phase.

Abstract: A custom-made matrix suitable for receiving a tissue sample is described, as well as the use thereof to obtain a multiplex histological preparation. The disclosure also relates to a multiplex biopsy array comprising tissue and/or cell samples arranged in a matrix material and to a method for the preparation of a multiplex biopsy array. Methods for preparing blocks of matrix material to be used in multiplex biopsy arrays are also described, as well as methods for loading biopsy samples in the blocks, and methods for treating and processing the blocks to form biopsy arrays. The biopsy arrays made using the block of matrix material can be used to prepare sections and slides for histological procedures, including quantitative analyses and parallel processing.