Abstract: An engineered bacterium for producing ethanol from one or more carbohydrates is disclosed. The bacterium can be made by (a) inactivating within a Lactobacillus casei bacterium one or more endogenous genes encoding a lactate dehydrogenase; or (b) introducing into a Lactobacillus casei bacterium one or more exogenous genes encoding a pyruvate decarboxylase and one or more exogenous genes encoding an alcohol dehydrogenase II; or (c) performing both steps (a) and (b). The resulting engineered bacterium produces significantly more ethanol than the wild-type Lactobacillus casei bacterium, and can be used in producing ethanol from a substrate such as biomass that includes carbohydrates.

Abstract: An engineered bacterium for producing ethanol from one or more carbohydrates is disclosed. The bacterium can be made by (a) inactivating within a Lactobacillus casei bacterium one or more endogenous genes encoding a lactate dehydrogenase; or (b) introducing into a Lactobacillus casei bacterium one or more exogenous genes encoding a pyruvate decarboxylase and one or more exogenous genes encoding an alcohol dehydrogenase II; or (c) performing both steps (a) and (b). The resulting engineered bacterium produces significantly more ethanol than the wild-type Lactobacillus casei bacterium, and can be used in producing ethanol from a substrate such as biomass that includes carbohydrates.

Abstract: An engineered bacterium for producing ethanol from one or more carbohydrates is disclosed. The bacterium can be made by (a) inactivating within a Lactobacillus casei bacterium one or more endogenous genes encoding a lactate dehydrogenase; or (b) introducing into a Lactobacillus casei bacterium one or more exogenous genes encoding a pyruvate decarboxylase and one or more exogenous genes encoding an alcohol dehydrogenase II; or (c) performing both steps (a) and (b). The resulting engineered bacterium produces significantly more ethanol than the wild-type Lactobacillus casei bacterium, and can be used in producing ethanol from a substrate such as biomass that includes carbohydrates.

Abstract: Methods, formulations and kits containing levulinate or levulinic acid are disclosed that have potent and unexpected properties to inhibit the growth and/or proliferation of Listeria monocytogenes bacteria in a food sample.

Abstract: A latococcal- and streptococcal-phage-resistant starter culture for fermenting milk comprises a food-grade bacterium from the genera Pediococcus, Leuconostoc, Lactococcus, Streptococcus, or Lactobacillus transformed with a genetic element containing genes for a lactose fermentation phenotype. A method of making a lactococcal-phage-resistant starter culture comprises transforming a non-lactose fermenting, food-grade bacterium with a genetic element carrying determinants for a lactose fermentation phenotype. A method of making cheese with lactococcal-phage-resistant starter culture is also disclosed.