Abstract: Most of the problems of prior art techniques for growing cells in hollow fiber devices can be avoided by growing the cells in short lengths (e.g., two inches (5.0 cm.) or less) of microporous hollow fibers. The fibers are prepared by chopping commercial lengths of hollow fibers into small pieces, preferably two inches (5 cm.) or smaller. Such chopped hollow fibers or bundles of hollow fibers are then added to a suitable medium for growth of cells and the medium is incubated. Very high cell densities have been observed in the chopped fibers.

Abstract: Disclosed are gastric acid-resistant polymer-coated buffered digestive enzymes/ursodeoxycholate compositions, process for their preparations and methods of treating digestive disorders, pancreatic enzyme insufficiency, impaired liver function, cystic fibrosis, for regulating the absorption of dietary iron and cholesterol, and for dissolving gallstones by administering the compositions to a mammal in need of such treatment.

Abstract: Antifungal composition comprising synergistic combination of fungal cell wall degrading enzyme selected from the , group consisting of chitinolytic enzymes, glucanolytic enzymes and cellulases and non-enzymatic fungicides selected from the group consisting of sterol synthesis inhibiting fungicides (e.g., flusilazole and miconazole) and thiol group inactivating fungicides which are not specific to fungal cell membranes (e.g., captan) are applied in an antifungal effective amount to fungus to be inhibited or to a locus to be protected from said fungus.

Abstract: Vitiligo and other tyrosinase-positive depigmentation disorders are treated by topical application of a pseudocatalase and subsequent exposure to a sub-minimal erythema dose of UVB light. After a course of treatment, pigmentation of the affected areas can be maintained by treatment with the pseudocatalases without UVB light treatment. The preferred pseudocatalases are transition metal co-ordination complexes, especially manganese (II) bicarbonate.

Abstract: There is disclosed a process for the production of biotin, in which a culture of a microorganism of the genus Sphingomonas, having an ability to produce biotin, is prepared in a medium, and biotin produced and accumulated in the medium is collected. Also disclosed are microorganisms of the genus Sphingomonas, having an ability to produce biotin, which are useful for this production process of the present invention.

Abstract: The present invention is directed toward a method for producing beta-carotene using a mated culture of Mucorales fungi. The method includes mutating and selecting negative (minus mating type) and positive (plus mating type) Mucorales fungal microorganisms, culturing the selected negative and positive microorganisms in an effective medium to form a mated culture that produces beta-carotene, and recovering beta-carotene therefrom. The present invention provides mated cultures that overproduce beta-carotene and is also directed to certain negative and positive microorganisms used to overproduce beta-carotene. The present invention also provides beta-carotene formulations produced by the claimed method, and the use of such formulations, for example, to enhance pigmentation, to reduce damage caused by reactive oxygen species or phototoxic molecules, to prevent or treat cancer or cardiovascular disease, to provide a Vitamin A supplement, to enhance lactation, and to increase fertility.

Abstract: Lactobacillus delbrueckii sub-species bulgaricus ATCC-55163, a strain of Lactobacillus delbrueckii sub-species bulgaricus that can produce essentially stereoisometrically pure L-(+)-lactic acid, and a process for producing essentially stereoisometrically pure L-(+)-lactic acid using the strain are disclosed. A method for producing a mutant strain of Lactobacillus that produces essentially stereoisometrically pure lactic acid is also disclosed.

Abstract: An integration vector which directs the stable integration of a DNA segment, including for example, a cloned structural gene and/or a selectable marker into a defined, nonessential region of the Bradyrhizobium japonicum genome is provided. The integration of the DNA occurs via homologous recombination between the DNA sequences which flank the DNA segment and identical sequences in the genome. The integration site is preferably the region of the B. japonicum genome flanked by the sequences RS.alpha.9 and RS.beta.3, near nifDK which is a nonessential region of the chromosome.