Abstract: This process makes it possible to prepare a compound of controlled enantiomeric purity, D-P or L-P respectively, from a substrate S consisting of the oxidized form of the corresponding D/L-P racemate or of the said D/L-P racemate, or else of the optical isomer which is the inverse of that which it is wished to prepare. In accordance with this process, the said substrate S, the said D/L-P racemate or the optical isomer inverse of that which it is wished to prepare, respectively, is introduced into an electrochemical reactor together with an oxidoreductase enzyme capable of catalyzing the oxidation of the optical isomer which is the inverse of that which it is wished to prepare; a potential difference is applied between the electrodes in order to perform the nonstereospecific cathodic reduction of the said substrate S until the isomer having the required enantiomeric purity is obtained; and the cosubstrate of the said enzyme is regenerated by anodic oxidation in the said electrochemical reactor.

Abstract: A process is provided for obtaining one or more bone marrow cell growth factors having granulocyte/macrophage progenitor cell colony stimulating activity, said process comprising: (a) adding to the culture medium of an in vitro, established bone marrow culture a growth factor-stimulating amount of a dithiocarbamate; (b) separating the said dithiocarbamate from the in vitro treated bone marrow culture, adding fresh culture medium to said in vitro treated bone marrow culture, and permitting the concentration of said growth factor or factors to increase in said fresh culture medium; and (c) isolating said growth factor or factors from said fresh culture medium.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing protease from Endothia parasitica, wherein a glucanase or a mixture of glucanases acting on the viscosity increasing polysaccharides co-produced by the fungus, is introduced in the medium during or after fermentation.

Abstract: Fermentation of the microorganism Actinoplanacete sp. (MA6559), ATTC No. 53771, in the presence of the HIV reverse transcriptase inhibitor ##STR1## yields 3-[2-(benzoxazol-2-yl)ethyl]-5-(1-hydroxyethyl)-6-methyl-2(1H)-pyridinone and 3-[2-(benzoxazol-2-yl)ethyl]-5-ethyl-6-hydroxymethyl-2(1H)-pyridinone, both of which are useful in the prevention or treatment of infection by HIV and the treatment of AIDS.

Abstract: Para-amino-salicylic acid (PASA) or a water-soluble salt thereof, e.g. of an alkali metal, alkaline earth metal, ammonia or an amine is used for the stabilization of the enzymatic activity of peroxidase in aqueous medium. The stabilizing agent may be in the form of an aqueous solution compatible with peroxidase medium in which PASA or its salt is dissolved in a quantity efficacious for stabilization, preferentially comprised between about 8 .mu.g/ml and about 2000 .mu.g/ml of the solution based on PASA. With such stabilizing agent, one can efficaciously stabilize solutions of peroxidase, whether free or conjugated to immunological carrier reagents, and prepare these reagents in advance in a diluted form ready for use.

Abstract: A process is provided for obtaining one or more bone marrow cell growth factors having granulocyte/macrophage progenitor cell colony stimulating activity, said process comprising: (a) adding to the culture medium of an in vitro, established bone marrow culture a growth factor-stimulating amount of a dithiocarbamate; (b) separating the said dithiocarbamate from the in vitro treated bone marrow culture, adding fresh culture medium to said in vitro treated bone marrow culture, and permitting the concentration of said growth factor or factors to increase in said fresh culture medium; and (c) isolating said growth factor or factors from said fresh culture medium.

Abstract: Process for the production of gamma- or delta-lactones according to the general formula: ##STR1## in which R is a saturated, mono-, di- or triunsaturated linear alkyl chain comprising from 2 to 10 carbon atoms and in which R.sub.1 is alkylene comprising 2 or 3 carbon atoms, entailing the operation which consists in culturing, in a substrate comprising a hydroxide or hydroperoxide of linoleic acid or of linolenic acid, of their esters or of their glycerides, or of an oleic acid derivative obtained by the photooxygenation of oleic acid or autoxidation of fats which contain it, a microorganism capable of performing beta-oxidations of said substrate.

Abstract: Treating human beings with pharmacological quantities of DHEA results in their blood having increased serum DHEA and DHEA-S and lower rates of platelet aggregation. Reducing the rate of platelet aggregation can significantly reduce the incidence of morbidity and mortality from vascular events such as myocardial infarction and stroke, as well as reduce the occurrence of restenosis following vascular interventions. The concentration of DHEA and DHEA-S in the blood and the pre-incubation time of DHEA and DHEA-S with the blood will affect its impact on platelet aggregation. Hence, prior treatment of patients who are at risk with DHEA may produce the most beneficial affects. In addition, treatment of blood with DHEA-S reduces thromboxane production. Thromboxane is produced after platelets are subjected to many different types of agonists and is responsible for recruiting other platelets to aggregate and form a thrombus; therefore, blocking the production of thromboxane will reduce or prevent platelet aggregation.

Abstract: A method of isolating and purifying galactose oxidase from a fungus media is disclosed. The supernatant liquid from the fermentation broth is subjected to ultrafiltration and then separated on a carboxy-sulfon cation exchange column using high performance liquid chromatography. Copper ions must be present to insure enzyme activity.

Abstract: 2,5-anhydro-D-mannitol is added to blood platelet storage containers at a sufficient level to maintain pH stability of blood platelets within the suitable range (pH 7.2 to 7.4) for use in blood transfusions.

Abstract: Methods and compositions are provided for producing plant fatty acids employing mixtures of enzymes, where the composition is modified by reducing or enhancing the relative proportion of one or more enzymes or adding an exogenous enzyme. Particularly, compositions can be produced having enhanced amounts of fatty acids containing 14 or fewer carbon atoms using thioesterase II or acyl carrier protein.

Abstract: A method for the production of oligodextrans containing an .alpha.(1.fwdarw.2) bond which uses glycosyltransferase from Leuconostoc mesenteroides, particularly strain B-1299, sucrose and an accepter moiety such as glucose, maltose, isomaltose, isomaltotriose or methyl .alpha.-glucose. Optionally, this product may be further treated with an endodextranase or glucosamylase.

Abstract: Vigorous growth of endothelial cells from human blood vessels in vitro is achieved using a culture medium containing endothelial cell growth factor and heparin and/or dextran sulfate. Cell population doubling times of 13 to 21 hours for 60 to 85 populations doublings are obtained, and cloned human endothelial cell strains are established having similar proliferative capacities.

Abstract: A process for preparing optically active 1-substituted-3-hydroxybutane or its derivatives of formula (II) or (III) ##STR1## comprising treating an ester derivative of racemic 1-substituted-3-hydroxybutane of formula (I), ##STR2## wherein R.sub.1 is chloromethyl group or methyl group and R.sub.2 is p-toluenesulfonyloxy group or phenylthio group, provided that when R.sub.1 is methyl group R.sub.2 is not p-toluenesulfonyloxy group, with a lipase derived from the genus Pseudomonas.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for releasing into aqueous medium polypeptides produced by yeasts and localized at least partially within the periplasmic space thereof without breaking the yeast cell. The process involves treating the yeasts in aqueous medium with a neutral water-soluble mineral salt and a non-ionic water-soluble polyethoxylated alkylphenol surfactant having an HLB of between 8 and 15.

Abstract: Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) glycoprotein gp160 is produced in its native form using a clone of HUT78 cells chronically infected with HTLV-III.sub.451, known as 6D5.sub.451, and grown in serum-free medium. gp160 is also produced in its native form using a clone of 6D5.sub.451 that contains no HTLV-III virus.

Abstract: A method and composition for the enzymatic assay of liquid test sample, such as urine or serum, for a specific analyte, such as glucose. The method utilizes a dry phase test strip comprising a carrier matrix impregnated with a stabilized enzyme reagent composition including an oxidase enzyme, such as glucose oxidase, that is capable of interacting with the analyte of interest; a chromogen that changes color in response to the analyte-oxidase enzyme interaction to reveal the presence and/or concentration of the analyte in the test sample; and a stabilizer, such as a hydrazide, like GIRARD'S Reagent T, or an amino acid, like arginine, or an amino acid derivative, like the tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane salt of glutamic acid, to improve the heat stability and shelf life of the dry phase test strip.

Abstract: An optical probe enables the study of enzyme activity by absorbance spectroscopy or by sensitive fluorescence methods. In particular, the probe provides the ability to monitor the activity of cytochrome P-450.sub.scc enzyme, the rate limiting enzyme for steroid biosynthesis. Located on the inner mitochondrial membrane, P-450.sub.scc catalyzes the conversion of cholesterol to pregnenolone and isocapraldehyde by sequential oxidations of the cholesterol side chain. The fluorogenic probe includes a cholesterol-like steroid linked to a chromophore through a linking group. The chromophore is selected to have little optical response when linked to the steroid substrate and an enhanced optical response when cleaved from the substrate and linking group. Thus, a fluorescent anion that can be optically detected is generated by the side-chain cleavage reaction during steroidogenesis.

Abstract: L-Serine derivatives produced by the enzyme catalyzed aldol condensation of glycine and an aldehyde in aqueous solution are recovered in high yield by extracting the aqueous product solution containing said serine derivatives with an organic phase comprising (i) an aldehyde, or (ii) mixtures of an aldehyde and a water immiscible organic solvent, followed by re-extracting the organic phase with an aqueous phase having a pH of less than about 7.0. The L-erythro isomers of L-serine derivatives such as L-phenylserine may be preferentially prepared by the use of this extraction/re-extraction procedure in combination with bioreactor reaction conditions which include a pH of from about 7.5 to 10, an aldehyde concentration of from about 1 to about 90 grams/liter, a glycine concentration of from about 10 to about 300 grams/liter, and a molar ratio of glycine to aldehyde of from about 4:1 to about 100:1.

Abstract: The invention provides a novel bile acid sulfate sulfatase, a process for its preparation, and a method of assaying bile acid 3.alpha.-sulfates and total bile acids using the bile acid sulfatase.