Abstract: Methods and compositions are provided for killing or inhibiting the growth of yeast or sporular microorganisms by contacting the microorganisms, in the presence of a peroxide and chloride or bromide, with a haloperoxidase and at least one antimicrobial activity enhancing agent. Suitable antimicrobial activity enhancing agents include certain .alpha.-amino acids, and are preferably compounds of the formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 is hydrogen, an unsubstituted, or hydroxy or amino substituted, straight or branched chain alkyl group having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, or an unsubstituted, or hydroxy or amino substituted arylalky group having from 7 to 12 carbon atoms, and R.sub.2 is hydrogen or a straight or branched chain alkyl group having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms.

Abstract: A method for growing endocrine precursor cells in vitro, such as pancreatic islet precursors, by culturing such cells in the presence or absence of cell matrix proteins capable of promoting hemidesmosome formation, such as those produced by the rat bladder carcinoma cell line 804G.

Abstract: A neuraminidase enzyme with unusually high activity under extracellular culture conditions has been discovered in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells and other types of cells. By affecting the neuraminidase activity of the cell culture, the degradation of glycoprotein oligosaccharides produced by these cultured cells can be controlled.

Abstract: Desired cells are positively separated from a mixture of cells using multiple stages of affinity surfaces. Bound cells from each surface are removed and subjected to a further surface for further enrichment.

Abstract: A process of parthenogenic activation of mammalian oocytes which includes increasing intercellular levels of divalent cations in the oocyte; and reducing phosphorylation of cellular proteins in the oocyte. One method of accomplishing this is by introducing Ca.sup.2+ free cation, such as ionomycin, to the oocyte and then preventing phosphorylation of the cellular proteins within the oocyte by adding a serine-threonine kinase inhibitor, such as 6-dimethylaminopurine (DMAP).

Abstract: Normal mammalian tissue and the culturing process has been developed for the three groups of organ, structural and blood tissue. The cells are grown in vitro under microgravity culture conditions and form three dimensional cells aggregates with normal cell function. The microgravity culture conditions may be microgravity or simulated microgravity created in a horizontal rotating wall culture vessel.

Abstract: Isolated human mesenchymal stem cells which can differentiate into more than one tissue type (e.g. bone, cartilage, muscle or marrow stroma), a method for isolating, purifying, and culturally expanding human mesenchymal stem cells (i.e. "mesenchymal stem cells" or "hMSCs"), and characterization of and uses, particularly research reagent, diagnostic and therapeutic uses for such cells. The stem cells can be culture expanded without differentiating. Monoclonal antibodies specific for human mesenchymal stem cells and the monoclonal hybridoma cell lines (ATCC nos. 10743-10745) that synthesize and secrete these monospecific antibodies, and uses of the monoclonal antibodies for diagnostic and/or therapeutic purposes.

Abstract: A method of establishing direct feed microorganisms such as Lactobacillus reuteri in the gastrointestinal tract of avian organisms, in which the direct feed microorganisms are added to whey and fed in the form of pellets (compacted whey particles) to the organisms.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved three-dimensional cell culture system in which cells are grown on a three-dimensional matrix while cycling the cultures between metabolically favorable and metabolically unfavorable (but noncytotoxic) conditions. The invention is based, at least in part, on the discovery that cycling the cultures in this manner optimizes the formation of extracellular matrix and produces an overall structure that more closely resembles naturally occurring tissue.

Abstract: The present invention provides culture methods of T lineage precursor cells comprising a step of culturing the T lineage precursor cells under a condition that a dissolved oxygen concentration in the nutrient medium is higher than a dissolved oxygen concentration in the nutrient medium when the medium is in contact with normal atmospheric air.According to the methods of the present invention, by using a submerged (suspension) culture which is a general method for culturing cells or tissues, the derivation of matured T cell(s) differentiated from T precursor cells in terms of their phenotypes of differentiation antigens and of their functions is realized to be accomplished.

Abstract: Ascospores of wood-penetrating, pitch-grading fungi of the class of Ascomycotina and Deuteromycotina, e.g. Ophiostromas, may be screened to provide fungi combining the properties of good growth on non-sterile wood substrates and minimized or even enhanced brightness effects for use in pitch reduction of wood substrates, e.g. logs and wood chips. A new and improved method of isolating such ascospores involving effective suspension in an oil consumable by the fungus, e.g. a vegetable oil, and then treatment of the oil with a dispersing agent is also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates to an agent for promoting growth in animal cells. The agent contains a serum-free medium and lysozyme. The agent can optionally contain cytokines. The invention further relates to an in vitro method of stimulating the growth of T lymphoblastoid cells and peripheral blood lymphocytes, which comprises the step of culturing the T lymphoblastoid cells or peripheral blood lymphocytes in a serum-free culture medium comprising human lysozyme, as a growth stimulating agent, at a concentration of about 4-100 mg/liter.

Abstract: A method of establishing direct feed microorganisms such as Lactobacillus reuteri in the gastrointestinal tract of avian organisms in which eggs are inoculated with living cells of the microorganism.

Abstract: Methods and compositions are provided for killing or inhibiting the growth of yeast or sporular microorganisms by contacting the microorganisms, in the presence of a peroxide and chloride or bromide, with a haloperoxidase and at least one antimicrobial activity enhancing agent. Suitable antimicrobial activity enhancing agents include certain .alpha.-amino acids, and are preferably compounds of the formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 is hydrogen, an unsubstituted, or hydroxy or amino substituted, straight or branched chain alkyl group having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, or an unsubstituted, or hydroxy or amino substituted arylalky group having from 7 to 12 carbon atoms, and R.sub.2 is hydrogen or a straight or branched chain alkyl group having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms.

Abstract: A method for culturing mammalian cells using fish serum. The method uses serum extracted from the blood of fishes to culture mammalian cells for various purposes. The technique has the key advantages of 1) freedom from mammalian infectious agents that could contaminate cell lines or endanger researchers or recipients of therapeutants derived from mammalian cell culture; 2) consistent and reproducible serum content and quality; 3) low cross-reactivity; and 4) provision of the appropriate serum nutrients to maintain the growth of mammalian cells. Fish serum is used together with designated defined media to allow mammalian cells to grow and populations of these cells to be maintained. Blood serum is derived from captive stocks of fish raised under controlled conditions such that the diet, habitat, genetics, life history, and reproductive status of the fish remains substantially consistent and reproducible.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods for attenuating virulent gram negative bacteria to produce avirulent bacteria. The methods comprise passaging the wild-type bacteria through phagocytic cells, such as macrophages or polymorphonuclear leukocytes, or through lysosomes derived from such cells, a sufficient number of times until the bacteria become avirulent to the animal host. The bacteria are preferably from the family Enterobacteracea and most preferably from the genus Salmonellae. The invention further comprises the avirulent bacteria produced by the methods, pure cultures of such bacteria, and methods of using the bacteria, preferably in a vaccine for administration to an animal host to induce an immune response to the wild-type gram negative bacteria in the host.

Abstract: A novel high density liquid or paste yeast preparation, which comprises approximately 1-20% (w/w) of a polyol selected from propylene glycol, glycerol, nonfermentable mono- or oligosaccharides or sugar alcohols such as xylose, mannitol and sorbitol, soluble oligo- or polymeric carbohydrates such as partially hydrolysed starch, cellulose, agarose, or polyethylene glycol, or mixtures thereof, and fresh yeast. The high density yeast preparation has a density of more than 800 g yeast (of dry matter 27-29 %) per liter of preparation, and the concentration of the polyol in the extracellular liquid is 5-50 % (w/v). The preparation has an improved capacity for retaining its activity, dissolving instantly, and for being easily batched. It is uniformily suspendable and tolerant of repeated freezing and thawing. The liquid high density yeast preparation has a viscosity of less than 200 centiPoise (cP) at 20.degree. C.

Abstract: A method for culturing mammalian cells using fish serum. The method uses serum extracted from the blood of fishes to culture mammalian cells for various purposes. The technique has the key advantages of 1) freedom from mammalian infectious agents that could contaminate cell lines or endanger researchers or recipients of therapeutants derived from mammalian cell culture; 2) consistent and reproducible serum content and quality; 3) low cross-reactivity; and 4) the appropriate serum nutrients to maintain the growth of mammalian cells. Fish serum is used together with designated defined media to allow mammalian cells to grow and populations of these cells to be maintained. Blood serum is derived from captive stocks of fish raised under controlled conditions such that the diet, habitat, genetics, life history, and reproductive status of the fish remains substantially consistent and reproducible.

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: The present invention relates to a process for producing plantlets using plant tissue culture techniques. The object of the invention is to provide a process which enables simple, highly reproducible and efficient production of seedlings in a large scale. The feature of the invention comprises culturing a root as an explant in a liquid medium containing at least inorganic salts, a carbon source and an auxin to induce the formation of a cell mass, and culturing the resultant cell mass in a redifferentiation medium containing at least inorganic salts and a carbon source, to produce plantlets.