Abstract: Isolated Lactobacillus strains are useful in preventing or delaying the development of Type 1 Diabetes (T1D). A probiotic composition comprising the Lactobacillus strains and use of the composition in T1D prevention are provided.

Abstract: Isolated Lactobacillus strains are useful in preventing or delaying the development of Type 1 Diabetes (T1D). A probiotic composition comprising the Lactobacillus strains and use of the composition in T1D prevention are provided.

Abstract: A biological inoculant for enhancing the growth of plants is disclosed. The inoculant includes the bacterial strains Herbaspirillum seropedicae 2A, Pantoea agglomerans P101, Pantoea agglomerans P102, Klebsiella pneumoniae 342, Klebsiella pneumoniae zmvsy, Herbaspirillum seropedicae Z152, Gluconacetobacter diazotrophicus PA15, with or without a carrier. The inoculant also includes strains of the bacterium Pantoea agglomerans and K. pneumoniae which are able to enhance the growth of cereal grasses. Also disclosed are the novel bacterial strains Herbaspirillum seropedicae 2A, Pantoea agglomerans P101 and P102, and Klebsiella pneumoniae 342 and zmvsy.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for controlling crown gall disease in plants using an effective quantity of ?-proteobacteria that produces trifolitoxin (TFX). The present invention also provides a biocontrol agent for use in the above method, and a plant coated with the biological control agent. The biocontrol agent is characterized as a biologically pure culture of an ?-proteobacteria strain that produces TFX, or an ?-proteobacteria strain genetically engineered to produce TFX. The ?-proteobacteria strain employed may include any one of the many strains of Agrobacterium capable of producing crown galls, including Agrobacterium vitis and, in particular, A. vitis F2/5. The ?-proteobacteria strain employed may be genetically engineered to produce TFX by introducing a genetic construct into the Agrobacterium so as to cause the Agrobacterium to carry and express the tfx operon from Rhizobium.

Abstract: A biological inoculant for enhancing the growth of plants is disclosed. The inoculant includes the bacterial strains Herbaspirillum seropedicae 2A. Pantoea agglomerans P101, Pantoea agglomerans P102, Klebsiella pneumoniae 342, Klebsiella pneumoniae zmvsy, Herbaspirillum seropedicae Z152, Gluconacetobacter diazotrophicus PA15, with or without a carrier. The inoculant also includes strains of the bacterium Pantoea agglomerans and K. pneumoniae which are able to enhance the growth of cereal grasses. Also disclosed are the novel bacterial strains Herbaspirillum seropedicae 2A, Pantoea agglomerans P101 and P102, and Klebsiella pneumoniae 342 and zmvsy.

Abstract: A biological inoculant for enhancing the growth of plants is disclosed. The inoculant includes the bacterial strains Herbaspirillum seropedicae 2A, Pantoea agglomerans P101, Pantoea agglomerans P102, Klebsiella pneumoniae 342, Klebsiella pneumoniae zmvsy, Herbaspirillum seropedicae Z152, Gluconacetobacter diazotrophicus PA15, with or without a carrier. The inoculant also includes strains of the bacterium Pantoea agglomerans and K. pneumoniae which are able to enhance the growth of cereal grasses. Also disclosed are the novel bacterial strains Herbaspirillum seropedicae 2A, Pantoea agglomerans P101 and P102, and Klebsiella pneumoniae 342 and zmvsy.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for controlling crown gall disease in plants using an effective quantity of &agr;-proteobacteria that produces trifolitoxin (TFX). The present invention also provides a biocontrol agent for use in the above method, and a plant coated with the biological control agent. The biocontrol agent is characterized as a biologically pure culture of an &agr;-proteobacteria strain that produces TFX, or an &agr;-proteobacteria strain genetically engineered to produce TFX. The &agr;-proteobacteria strain employed may include any one of the many strains of Agrobacterium capable of producing crown galls, including Agrobacterium vitis and, in particular, A. vitis F2/5. The &agr;-proteobacteria strain employed may be genetically engineered to produce TFX by introducing a genetic construct into the Agrobacterium so as to cause the Agrobacterium to carry and express the tfx operon from Rhizobium.

Abstract: A novel category of microorganisms has been identified from its ribosomal DNA (rDNA) sequence. That sequence, P36, is characteristic of this category of microorganisms, here termed metathermophiles. Methods for isolating samples of metathermophiles using the rDNA sequence are described.

Abstract: Root nodule bacterial strains are designed specifically to aid in the growth of soybeans. A high copy number plasmid is described to make trifolitoxin, an antibiotic. The plasmid is preferably hosted in a Sinorhizobium species which is capable of nodulating roots of soybean plants. The phenotype of trifolitoxin production confers a competitive advantage on the inoculant strains by inhibiting competitive strains. To facilitate soybean growth a separate hydrogen uptake capability is also included in the inoculant, either in the same Sinorhizobium strain or in a companion trifolitoxin-resistant strain of root nodule bacteria introduced in the same inoculant.

Abstract: A plasmid for use in root nodule bacteria is described which is intended both to increase yield of inoculated legume plants inoculated with the bacteria as well as aiding in the competitiveness of the bacteria with native strains. The plasmid include a hydrogen uptake element which aids in energy efficient nitrogen fixation by the plant bacteria symbiotic pair as well as a toxin and resistance element intended to aid in the competitive fitness of the inoculant bacterial strain.

Abstract: The sequences of a Rhizobium bacteria responsible for competitiveness with respect to plant nodulation have been isolated and permanently transferred to superior nodulating Rhizobium genome. This has resulted in a stable construct that can form a plant inoculant that yields effective nodulation, while reducing the risk of suppression by other bacteria in the environment.