Abstract: A new acidic polysaccharide is isolated from a culture of cells of the algae Chlorella pyrenoidosa. The process for producing this polysaccharide is also disclosed. This substance exhibits antitumor activity and antiviral activity and induces the production of interferon.

Abstract: A functional extrachromosomal element capable of replication in filamentous fungi is provided. The extrachromosomal element employs (1) a mitochondrial replicating element or (2) a lower organism replication sequence recognized by the fungus, in combination with foreign DNA to provide replication, transcription, and translation of foreign regulatory elements and genes. The extrachromosomal element is exemplified by a mitochondrial replicating system from Neurospora.The cell strain E. coli HB101 containing the plasmid pALS-1-1 has been deposited at the A.T.C.C. on July 13, 1982, for patent purposes and given the designation ATCC 39157.The cell strain E. coli HB101 containing the plasmid pALS-2 has been deposited at the A.T.C.C. on July 13, 1982, for patent purposes and given the designation ATCC 39158.

Abstract: Bacterial compositions and a method for separating protein overproducing bacteria from bacteria which do not overproduce protein. The separation makes use of an increase in density of the protein overproducing bacteria relative to that of normal bacteria.

Abstract: This invention relates to microbial methods and materials useful in the degradation of organic chemicals having toxic and obnoxious characteristics into innocuous materials compatible with the environment and to the process comprising identification, production and utilization of microorganisms for said purposes.

Abstract: A method for using selected strains of Streptococcus lactis subspecies diacetilactis, which have been modified to be non-lactose fermenting, for the preservation of foods containing lactose is described. The subspecies is more generally known as Streptococcus diacetilactis. The selected Streptococcus diacetilactis strains have been modified by curing to remove at least one natural plasmid which controls the fermentation of lactose to lactic acid while retaining the ability of this subspecies to inhibit bacterial spoilage in foods. The plasmid removed by curing is about 41 megadaltons (Mdal) in mass. The method using the modified strains of Streptococcus diacetilactis is particularly adapted for the preservation of milk products.

Abstract: Small cosmid cloning vectors having two antibiotic resistance markers, selected from chloramphemicol resistance, streptomycin and spectinomycin resistance and tetracycline resistance markers, at least one having a unique restriction site.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for the preparation of a compound having the general formula: ##STR1## wherein n is an integer of from 2 to 4, R.sub.1 is an ester-forming moiety effective as a protecting group for a carboxyl group, and R.sub.2 is hydroxymethyl, formyl or carboxyl. The compounds (I) are useful as intermediates for the preparation of polyprenyl compounds having hypotensive and anti-ulcer activity. The process of the invention includes cultivating a microorganism selected from a strain of the genus Nocardia called BPM 1613, FERM-P No. 1609, Corynebacterium equi IAM 1038, Candida lipolytica IFO 0746, and Mycobacterium smegmatis IFO 3083, in a nutritive culture medium, in the presence of a compound having the general formula: ##STR2## wherein R.sub.3 is an ester-forming moiety effective as a protecting group for a carboxyl group, whereby the microorganism utilizes the compound (II) as a carbon source and oxidizes the compound (II), thereby converting the compound (II) into the compound (I).

Abstract: A process for producing anti-IL-2 antibody from hybridoma cells generated by fusing activated, IL-2 immunized, murine lymphocyte cells with neoplastic murine myeloma cells. Fusion is accomplished by mixing the two cell lines together in the presence of a fusing agent. After fusion, the hybridoma cells are cultured in vitro in a supplemented tissue culture medium to thereby produce anti-IL-2 antibody. Also, the hybridoma cells are cloned by a limiting dilution procedure to isolate even more potent sources of anti-IL-2 antibody. Anti-IL-2 antibody is then purified from either tissue culture medium conditioned by hybridoma cells, or from peritoneal ascites of mice challenged with hybridoma cells.

Abstract: A medium is provided which is useful in a fast and convenient system for multiplying cassava plants vegetatively by means of in vitro micropropagation of nodal cultures. This medium includes in parts per million the following:______________________________________ about 1200 NH.sub.4 NO.sub.3 from about 1000-1500 KNO.sub.3 about 300 MgSO.sub.4.7H.sub.2 O from about 150-300 NaH.sub.2 PO.sub.4.H.sub.2 O from about 150-300 CaCl.sub.2.2H.sub.2 O from about 18.5-37 Na.sub.2.EDTA from about 13.9-27.8 FeSO.sub.4.7H.sub.2 O. ______________________________________and suitable amounts of essential ingredients for a cassava micropropagation medium.In paticular, the medium also contains in part per million about: 3.0 H.sub.3 BO.sub.3, 10.0 MnSO.sub.4.H.sub.2 O, 6.0 ZnSO.sub.4.7H.sub.2 O, 0.25 Na.sub.2 MoO.sub.4.2H.sub.2 O, 0.025 CuSO.sub.4.5H.sub.2 O, 0.025 CaCl.sub.2.6H.sub.2 O, 0.75 KI, 2.5 Nicotinic acid, 10.0 Thiamine HCl, 1.0 Pyridoxine HCl, 100.0 M-inositol, 0.5 Glycine, 0.5 Folic acid, 0.05 Biotin, 0.

Abstract: A method of culture of human cells is disclosed which comprises effecting the cultivation in a culture medium containing an extract of micro algae, such as Chlorella, Scenedesmus or Spirulina, said method permitting the normal successive cultivation of human cells to be maintained efficiently without any morphological and genetic mutations over a greater number of successive of generations than has hitherto been possible even by the incorporation of animal serum in the culture medium, even when the addition amount of such animal serum is reduced substantially or animal serum is completely excluded.

Abstract: Expression of the crystal protein of Bacillus thuringiensis in Escherichia coli is described by use of plasmids containing heterologous DNA coding for the crystal protein. Genetically engineered bacterial host strains transformed by the plasmids of the invention express Bacillus thuringiensis crystal proteins without exhibiting the growth phase limitations characteristic of the natural bacterial host species.

Abstract: A method and materials are provided for replication of virulent Treponema pallidum in tissue culture, employing a modified Eagle's minimum essential medium, wherein said in vitro cultivated T. pallidum can be utilized as a source of relatively pure organisms, free of host tissue, for the preparation of a vaccine against syphilis and as a source of organisms for use in specific immunological tests for syphilis.

Abstract: A novel separation technique is described that is particularly useful for effecting separations in enzyme immunoassay procedures. A mixture, in an aqueous liquid vehicle, of (1), ligand-enzyme conjugate, and of (2), the conjugate bound through its ligand moiety to a receptor, is brought into contact with an insoluble, immobilized pseudo-substrate material, to which the enzyme normally binds. Free conjugate binds and becomes insoluble. Bound conjugate remains in the liquid phase. The ligand may be an antigen and the receptor, the antibody to the antigen.This separation technique makes feasible several sensitive immunoassay procedures. The material to be assayed may be, for example, rubella virus; hepatitis B surface antigen; gonorrhea antigen; the antibody to any of the foregoing; a general antibody, i.e., an immunoglobulin; a hormone such as choriomammotropin; a steroid, hapten, or the like.

Abstract: An immunoassay for the detection of antibodies for canine heartworm (D. immitis) in the blood serum of dogs by immobilizing D. immitis microfilariae on a solid support which is then inoculated with a sample of the blood serum being tested, incubated and washed to remove unreacted material then developed utilizing an enzyme-labeled indicating anti-antibody reagent and a substrate therefor. Also disclosed is a related method for detecting canine heartworm microfilariae in canine blood.

Abstract: Inhibition of lactate oxidase and an enzymatic analysis of an aqueous liquid containing lactate or lactic acid for an analyte other than lactate or lactic acid are disclosed. Undesired lactate oxidase activity, if any, in an enzymatic reagent composition, is inhibited by a lactate oxidase inhibitor selected from glyoxalic acid, oxalic acid, glycolic acid, and salts thereof. Preferred enzymatic analyses are performed in the presence of a lactate oxidase inhibitor with an enzymatic reagent composition producing hydrogen peroxide as a detectable species.

Abstract: A process for the production of useful steroids obtained by side chain degradation of sterol source materials through the use of microorganisms is described.

Abstract: A specific binding assay for determining a ligand in a liquid medium employing an organic prosthetic group residue, such as a residue of flavin adenine dinucleotide, flavin mononucleotide, or heme, as a label component in the labeled conjugate. Preferably, the label component is the prosthetic group residue alone or is a holoenzyme residue comprising such prosthetic group residue combined with an apoenzyme in the form of a holoenzyme complex. In the former case, the label component preferably is monitored in the assay by adding an apoenzyme after the binding reaction has been initiated and measuring the resultant holoenzyme activity. In the latter case, the label component is monitored simply by measuring holoenzyme activity. The assay method may follow conventional homogeneous and heterogeneous schemes. Preferred apoenzymes for use in the assay are apoglucose oxidase and apoperoxidase. The assay offers the advantages of colorimetric read-out and of being readily adaptable to automated techniques.

Abstract: This invention refers to the obtention of strains of the fungus Phycomyces blakesleeanus accumulated by the .beta.-carotene pigments in amounts which permit the use of these strains in the production on an industrial scale of said pigment. By genetic manipulations, strains simultaneously and constitutively incorporating various stimulating effects have been isolated. The resulting strains produce .beta.-carotene in a proportion of approximately 2.5% of its dry weight, which constitutes almost 1000 times more than that which the natural microorganism would produce under the same conditions. This production level, together with the simplicity in cultivating and manipulating same, makes them interesting in the development of an industrial process for producing .beta.-carotene by fermentation. The .beta.-carotene produced by fermentation, besides its low cost, would have the advantage of not being contaminated with the reagents and catalysts used in the organic synthesis.

Abstract: An improved heterogenous specific binding assay method which employs a substance having reactant activity, i.e., a reactant, as a labeling substance in the detection of a ligand in a liquid medium. The method is carried out using reagent means which comprises, as its labeled constituent, a conjugate formed of a specific binding substance coupled to the reactant. The reactant advantageously is an enzymatic reactant such as an enzyme substrate or coenzyme. The activity of the conjugated reactant as a constituent of a predetermined reaction system is utilized as means for monitoring the extent of binding of the labeled constituent in conventional heterogenous specific binding assay schemes. The presence of a ligand in a liquid medium may be determined following conventional competitive binding manipulative techniques.

Abstract: For the production of biological masses of microbial origin, the yeast strain NRRL-Y 11119 uses ethanol as a carbon source and an energy source simultaneously. Proteic biomasses of a very good quality are obtained.