Abstract: The invention relates to a method, to a surface, to a particle, and to a kit for the detection of low molecular weight analytes such as crop protection agents in samples. In particular, the invention relates to a method for the detection of glyphosate through protein-functionalised surfaces and functionalised particles by means of reflection interference contrast microscopy (RICM).

Abstract: The invention relates to methods for coating a substrate with at least one monolayer of self-assembling proteins, using stabilized aqueous solutions with self-assembling proteins, and also to substrates obtainable as a result. Methods for stabilizing solutions with self-assembling proteins, and the stabilized solutions obtainable therefrom, are likewise provided by the invention. According to the coating method, at least one monolayer of a self-assembling protein is produced on a substrate by first providing a stabilized aqueous solution which comprises at least one self-assembling protein.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods for coating a substrate with at least one monolayer of self-assembling proteins, using stabilized aqueous solutions with self-assembling proteins, and also to substrates obtainable as a result. Methods for stabilizing solutions with self-assembling proteins, and the stabilized solutions obtainable therefrom, are likewise provided by the invention. According to the coating method, at least one monolayer of a self-assembling protein is produced on a substrate by first providing a stabilized aqueous solution which comprises at least one self-assembling protein.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for verifying and/or identifying hormonally effective substances using the pheromone system of yeast, to yeast cells for carrying out the method, and to the use thereof. The method according to the invention comprises the following steps: a) adding yeast culture medium or buffer to a sample which presumably contains a hormonally effective substance, b) thereafter contacting the sample with haploid yeast cells that possess features 1 through 3: 1. the DNA sequence coded for a heterologous hormone receptor is placed under the control of a constitutive promoter, 2. the DNA sequence coded for a yeast pheromone is placed under the control of a promoter that can be regulated by the hormone receptor, 3.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device and a method for the detection and amplification of a primary signal, utilizing an intracellular communication system, and the use thereof for the detection of substances such as phosphorus, sulfur, nitrogen, hormones, metabolic intermediates, fermentation products, and so forth. The device according to the invention for the detection and amplification of a primary signal contains cells of a first type for which a gene, which is responsible for the synthesis of a signal molecule, is under the control of a promoter which is regulated by the primary signal, and cells of a second type for which a specific gene is under the control of a promoter which is regulated by the separated signal molecule, in such a way that the secretion of the signal molecule is induced by a primary signal taken up by a cell of the first type, and the primary signal is amplified by the cells of the second type by the expression of the specific gene under the control of the signal molecule.

Abstract: The invention relates to devices and methods for detecting a substance by cell surface polarizations and the detection thereof by means of PPR or particle-mediated fluorescence. The device for detecting a substance by cell surface polarization according to the invention has cells, wherein a gene the expression of which leads to the polarized presentation of a protein on the surface of the cell is placed under the control of a promotor which can be regulated by the substance to be detected, nanoparticles which are functionalized with a molecule which can bind specifically to the surface-exposed protein, and at least one optical measurement device, such that an accumulation of the nanoparticles on the surface of the cells can be detected by particle plasmon resonance or particle-mediated fluorescence.

Abstract: The invention relates to whole-cell sensors for monitoring bioavailable nitrogen, phosphorus and sulphur, individually or in at least one combination in a medium, and to the use thereof. The whole-cell sensors consist of genetically modified yeast cells which are immobilised in a xerogel matrix and contain at least one marker gene controlled by a promoter of a gene, the transcription of said gene being significantly increased or reduced in the absence of nitrogen, phosphorus or sulphur, and the yeast cells are at least coupled to a signal detector.

Abstract: In a method for detection of microorganisms and/or their activity with biosensors, on a surface of a substrate over portions thereof at least one ligand for binding a receptor or at least one receptor for a ligand or at least one ligand for binding a receptor and at least one receptor for either the one or a further ligand are immobilized chemically, physically, or biologically, wherein physical or physicochemical changes, caused at receptors by binding of ligands that are emitted by microorganisms in the process of quorum sensing are measured.

Abstract: The present invention relates to expression constructs encompassing the nucleic acid sequence coding for a shuttle peptide construct processable by yeast cells; to corresponding expression vectors comprising such constructs; to methods carried out with the aid thereof for recombinant preparation of target proteins; to hosts transformed therewith; to shuttle peptides and nucleic acid sequences coding therefor; to nucleic acid sequences coding for such shuttle peptides fused to a foreign protein; to hydrophobin proteins prepared using shuttle peptides of this kind and to the use of hydrophobins for the coating of objects such as, for example, leather.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the biotechnological production of xylitol, in which micro-organisms capable of metabolizing xylose to xylitol are used by modifying micro-organisms such that oxidation of NADH by enzymes other than the xylose reductase is reduced or excluded, cultivating the micro-organisms in a substrate containing xylose and 10-40 grams per liter of sulfite salt, and enriching the xylitol and recovering it from the substrate.