Abstract: A polynucleotide encoding a biosensor polypeptide comprising a modified circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase and a linker linking the C-terminal portion of the thermostable luciferase to the N-terminal portion of the thermostable luciferase. The modified circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase is modified relative to a parental circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase. The linker contains a sensor region capable of interacting with a target molecule in a cell. The modified circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase has an enhanced response after interaction of the biosensor with the target molecule relative to the parental circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase in the presence of the target molecule. Alternatively, the modified circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase has an enhanced response after interaction of the biosensor with the target molecule relative to the modified circularly-permuted thermostable luciferase in the absence of the target molecule.

Abstract: Biologically active peptides that are derived from or are similar to sequences identical with the N-terminus of the ?S1 fraction of milk casein. These peptides are capable of stimulating and enhancing immune response, protecting against viral infection, normalizing serum cholesterol levels, and stimulating hematopoiesis. The casein-derived peptides are non-toxic and can be used to treat and prevent immune pathologies, hypercholesterolemia, hematological disorders and viral-related diseases, alone or in combination with other peptides or blood cell stimulating factors.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for purifying factor B, comprising the steps consisting in: (i) obtaining a blood plasma fraction containing factor B; (ii) subjecting the fraction obtained in step (i) to a heparin-like affinity chromatography; (iii) subjecting the factor B-enriched fraction obtained in step (ii) to a cation exchange chromatography; (iv) subjecting the factor B-enriched fraction obtained in step (iii) to an anion exchange chromatography, (v) eluting the factor B.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for modifying glycans (e.g., glycans expressed on the surface of live cells or cell particles) are provided herein.

Abstract: The invention provides variants of the Thermoanaerobacter brockii CglT beta-glucosidase that have improve beta-glucosidase activity compared to the wild type enzyme. The invention also provides polynucleotides that encode the variants, as well as methods of producing the variants, enzyme compositions comprising the variants, and methods for using the variants in industrial applications.

Abstract: The invention provides non-naturally occurring microbial organisms having a toluene, benzene, p-toluate, terephthalate, (2-hydroxy-3-methyl-4-oxobutoxy)phosphonate, (2-hydroxy-4-oxobutoxy)phosphonate, benzoate, styrene, 2,4-pentadienoate, 3-butene-1ol or 1,3-butadiene pathway. The invention additionally provides methods of using such organisms to produce toluene, benzene, p-toluate, terephthalate, (2-hydroxy-3-methyl-4-oxobutoxy)phosphonate, (2-hydroxy-4-oxobutoxy)phosphonate, benzoate, styrene, 2,4-pentadienoate, 3-butene-1ol or 1,3-butadiene.

Abstract: Disclosed are a novel flavor compound-producing yeast strain and methods of using the strain to produce flavor compounds.

Abstract: From a bacterial strain isolated from an environmental sample, after enrichment in medium containing 1-butanol as the carbon source, a new enzyme with butanol dehydrogenase activity was identified. The enzyme can convert butyraldehyde to 1-butanol, isobutyraldehyde to isobutanol, as well as 2-butanone to 2-butanol and thus is useful for biosynthesis of butanol in recombinant microbial hosts producing these substrates. The encoding gene, named sadB, was isolated from the strain identified as an isolate of Achromobacter xylosoxidans.

Abstract: Optimized enzymatic conditions incorporate a single oxygen atom into digested peptides using a peptidase. The incorporation of a single oxygen atom is especially useful for proteolytic 18O labeling in comparative proteomics. The optimized proteolytic 18O labeling minimizes the generation of a mixture of isotopic isoforms of the peptides resulting from incorporation of either one or two 18O atoms. The outcome is accurate quantification of isotopically labeled peptides.

Abstract: Methods and compositions provide suitable support material for culturing cells with a desirable metabolic activity. For example, keratinocytes directly grown on flexible supports show metabolic activity. Therapeutic methods and compositions, including wound healing technologies, using the cells grown on flexible supports, wherein the cells exhibit increased metabolic activity are disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel JP170 like subtilases from wild-type bacteria, hybrids thereof and to methods of construction and production of these proteases. Further, the present invention relates to use of the claimed subtilases in detergents, such as a laundry or an automatic dishwashing detergent.

Abstract: The present invention relates to viral capsid proteins, as a medicament for the treatment of a pathologic disorder. More particularly, the invention relates to the viral capsid proteins VP1, VP2 and VP3, preferably, the SV40 VP1 or any peptide, fragment, mutant, derivative and mixtures thereof or of virus-like particles (VLP's) comprising the same, as the active ingredient in compositions for the treatment of pathologic disorders, preferably disorders associated with inactivation of cellular proteins involved with quality control processes, particularly, chaperones. The invention further provides methods for the treatment of such disorders and the use of the SV40 capsid proteins for the preparation of pharmaceutical compositions.

Abstract: The invention provides, biologically active spinosyns, hybrid spinosyn polyketide synthases capable of functioning in Saccharopolyspora spinosa to produce the spinosyns, and methods of controlling insects using the spinosyns.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods of producing isolated heat stable polypeptides by expressing the polypeptides in a prokaryotic host cell and subjecting the host cell to heat lysis. The invention further provides screening methods by producing a plurality of isolated heat stable polypeptides by expressing each of the plurality of polypeptides in a prokaryotic host cell and subjecting the host to heat lysis.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for producing a polypeptide having biological activity, comprising: (a) cultivating a fungal host cell in a medium conducive for the production of the polypeptide, wherein the fungal host cell comprises a first polynucleotide encoding the polypeptide operably linked to a second polynucleotide encoding a variant signal peptide or a variant prepropeptide; and (b) isolating the secreted polypeptide having biological activity from the cultivation medium.

Abstract: A method for improving blood HDL/LDL cholesterol ratio, reducing blood triglyceride level, reducing blood sugar level, and/or reducing body weight, that includes ingesting a composition containing a concentrated soybean germ product. The soybean germ product includes soybean germ protein; 1.0% by weight or less of saponin relative to the total weight of the soybean germ product; and 0.5% by weight or less of isoflavone relative to the total weight of the soybean germ product.

Abstract: Methods for selective extraction and fractionation of algal proteins from an algal biomass or algal culture are disclosed. A method of selective removal of products from an algal biomass provides for single and multistep extraction processes which allow for efficient separation of algal proteins. These proteins can be used as renewable sources of proteins for animal feedstocks and human food. Further, lipids remaining in the algal biomass after extraction of proteins can be used to generate renewable fuels.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel subtilase variants exhibiting alterations relative to the parent subtilase in one or more properties including: Wash performance, thermal stability, storage stability or catalytic activity. The variants of the invention are suitable for use in e.g. cleaning or detergent compositions, such as laundry detergent compositions and dishwash compositions, including automatic dishwash compositions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a chimeric hirudin protein comprising a carrier attached to the N-terminus of hirudin, with an intervening plasmin cleavage site. The chimeric hirudin protein contains a relatively inactive form of hirudin. However, when such chimeric hirudin protein being cleaved by plasmin in the vicinity of a clot and, ultimately causing the release of active hirudin and the reduction of the size of the clot. The chimeric hirudin protein exhibited much slower clearance in mice than unfused wild-type hirudin.

Abstract: Process for extracting hydrophobin from a solution wherein carrageenan is added to the solution and the pH of the solution is brought below 3.5, and the ionic strength of the solution is below 0.5.