Abstract: To perform sterilization using a sterilization member that has a treatment surface that is a surface on which a plurality of protrusions each having a leading end that is thinner than a diameter of a microorganism that is to be killed are provided, a sterilization member on which each protrusion has a height that is greater than or equal to half the diameter of the microorganism that is to be killed is used as the sterilization member, and a fluid that contains the microorganism that is to be killed is caused to strike the treatment surface to kill the microorganism that is to be killed.

Abstract: A sterilization apparatus characterized in that the sterilization apparatus comprises a reactive oxygen species irradiation unit for irradiating a reactive oxygen species-containing gas which is a reaction product of plasma generated using an alternating current and a water-containing gas containing steam, the sterilization apparatus further containing an inlet unit for steam flow for supplying the water-containing gas heated to a temperature of from 50° to 300° C., wherein the reactive oxygen species-containing gas contains water in an amount equal to or greater than the amount of saturated steam. The sterilization apparatus of the present invention shows excellent sterilization activity, so that it can be suitably used in sterilization of containers for foodstuff, bottle caps sealing the openings of the containers, medical devices, foodstuff such as vegetables and meat, and the like.

Abstract: In a sterilizing system, a sterilizing device receives supply of oxygen and steam. The sterilizing device produces oxygen plasma containing ozone from the supplied oxygen and discharges the produced oxygen plasma and reactive oxygen produced through reaction between the supplied steam and the oxygen plasma as a sterilizing agent. And, the sterilizing system includes an ozone collecting unit for collecting ozone contained in the discharged oxygen plasma.

Abstract: In a sterilizing system, a sterilizing device receives supply of oxygen and steam. The sterilizing device produces oxygen plasma containing ozone from the supplied oxygen and discharges the produced oxygen plasma and reactive oxygen produced through reaction between the supplied steam and the oxygen plasma as a sterilizing agent. And, the sterilizing system includes an ozone collecting unit for collecting ozone contained in the discharged oxygen plasma.

Abstract: A sterilization apparatus characterized in that the sterilization apparatus comprises a reactive oxygen species irradiation unit for irradiating a reactive oxygen species-containing gas which is a reaction product of plasma generated using an alternating current and a water-containing gas containing steam, the sterilization apparatus further containing an inlet unit for steam flow for supplying the water-containing gas heated to a temperature of from 50° to 300° C., wherein the reactive oxygen species-containing gas contains water in an amount equal to or greater than the amount of saturated steam. The sterilization apparatus of the present invention shows excellent sterilization activity, so that it can be suitably used in sterilization of containers for foodstuff, bottle caps sealing the openings of the containers, medical devices, foodstuff such as vegetables and meat, and the like.

Abstract: A method of culturing a microorganism capable of producing at least any one of a highly unsaturated fatty acid or a compound containing a highly unsaturated fatty acid as a constituent fatty acid in a culture medium containing at least a carbon source and a nitrogen source, using an aeration-agitation culture device capable of adjusting and controlling an agitation power and an aeration amount. The method comprises the steps of performing mechanical agitation for a predetermined time after start of culture, where the agitation power per unit liquid amount is 269 (W/m3) or less, and after the predetermined time has passed, adjusting and controlling at least any one of the maximum aeration amount and a maximum power required for agitation to a range which satisfies that KLA (=(P/V)0.95Vs0.67) is 59 or more, an air flow rate parameter Vs0.67 is 0.075 or more, and a required agitation power parameter (P/V)0.

Abstract: An edible oil obtained by culturing a microorganism belong to the genus Mortierella subgenus Mortierella in a medium containing a nitrogen source derived from soybean is discussed. The oils obtained have a low 24,25-methylenecholest-5-en-3?-ol content.

Abstract: An edible oil obtained by culturing a microorganism belong to the genus Mortierella subgenus Mortierella in a medium containing a nitrogen source derived from soybean is discussed. The oils obtained have a low 24,25-methylenecholest-5-en-3?-ol content.

Abstract: An edible oil obtained by culturing a microorganism belong to the genus Mortierella subgenus Mortierella in a medium containing a nitrogen source derived from soybean is discussed. The oils obtained have a low 24,25-methylenecholest-5-en-3?-ol content.

Abstract: A method for preservation of a microorganism capable of microbial production of a polyunsaturated fatty acid or a compound comprising a polyunsaturated fatty acid as a constituent fatty acid, which method comprises: (a) forming spores in a spore-forming medium at pH 4-7 containing a nutrient source comprising an inorganic salt and a saccharide; (b) suspending the spores obtained in (a) in sterilized water, or sterilized water containing a surfactant and/or an inorganic salt to prepare a spore suspension, and adding a cryoprotectant at 5-15% to prepare a cryopreserving spore suspension; and (c) preserving the cryopreserving spore suspension obtained in (b) at between ?100° C. and ?20° C.

Abstract: A method for isolating one compound or more than one compound from a biomass which contains microorganisms that have produced the compound or compounds, the method comprising the following steps: (a) preparing or obtaining wet cells having an average moisture content of between 30% and 80%; (b) subjecting the wet cells to primary drying to obtain primary dried cells having an average moisture content of between 5% and 50%; (c) subjecting the primary dried cells obtained in (b) to secondary drying to obtain secondary dried cells having an average moisture content of no greater than 10%; and (d) extracting or isolating, purifying and/or refining the compound or each of the compounds from the secondary dried cells obtained in (c).

Abstract: There are provided polyunsaturated fatty acids-containing oils/fats or triglycerides with high digestion and absorption properties and resistance to oxidative damage, which are suitable for applications in fields such as modified milk for infants, food products and healthy foods and/or supplements, produced by transesterification of polyunsaturated fatty acids-containing oils/fats or triglycerides with vegetable oils/fats or triglycerides using 1,3-position specific type lipases.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for producing a highly unsaturated fatty acid-containing lipid which is less expensive than existing ones, which comprises culturing a microorganism belonging to the genus Mortierella with the use of, as a medium carbon source, a saccharified starch, which is less expensive than glucose, does not contribute to an increase in osmotic pressure of the culture medium, and can be utilized by the Mortierella microorganism, and collecting a highly unsaturated fatty acid-containing lipid from the culture.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a production method of an oil containing triglyceride in which medium chain fatty acids are bound to the 1- and 3-positions of the triglyceride and polyunsaturated fatty acid is bound to the 2 position by allowing lipase, which specifically acts on ester bonds at the 1- and 3-positions that has been immobilized on a porous ion exchange resin support having a pore size of about 100 Angstroms or more, to act on a mixture of medium-chain fatty acids and raw material oil containing at least one polyunsaturated fatty acid selected from the group consisting of ?6 series polyunsaturated fatty acid having 18 or more carbon atoms and 3 or more double bonds and ?9 series polyunsaturated fatty acid having 18 or more carbon atoms and 2 or more double bonds, but not containing ?3 series polyunsaturated fatty acid, oils and fats or triglycerides obtained by that method, and the use of the oils and fats or triglycerides in a food, beverage or pharmaceutical composition.

Abstract: A process for producing a crude oil having lowered unsaponifiable matter content and/or ester-type sterol content and comprising a highly unsaturated fatty acid as a constituent fatty acid, characterized in that a microorganism capable of producing a fat or oil comprising an unsaturated fatty acid as a constituent fatty acid is cultured in a medium containing a nitrogen source concentration of 2 to 15% within a culture tank equipped with an agitation impeller satisfying the requirement that the ratio of the diameter of agitation impeller (=d) to the inner diameter of the culture tank (=D) is d/D=0.30 to 0.6.

Abstract: A process for producing lipids containing arachidonic acid comprising culturing a microorganism in which ?3 desaturase activity has been decreased or is lacking at a temperature lower than the optimum growth temperature from the start of culturing or after culturing at the optimum growth temperature, said microorganism being obtained by the mutation treatment of a microorganism capable of producing arachidonic acid and belonging to the genus Mortierella and the like; and then recovering lipids containing arachidonic acid from the culture.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a production method of an oil containing triglyceride in which medium chain fatty acids are bound to the 1- and 3-positions of the triglyceride and polyunsaturated fatty acid is bound to the 2 position by allowing lipase, which specifically acts on ester bonds at the 1- and 3-positions that has been immobilized on a porous ion exchange resin support having a pore size of about 100 Angstroms or more, to act on a mixture of medium-chain fatty acids and raw material oil containing at least one polyunsaturated fatty acid selected from the group consisting of ?6 series polyunsaturated fatty acid having 18 or more carbon atoms and 3 or more double bonds and ?9 series polyunsaturated fatty acid having 18 or more carbon atoms and 2 or more double bonds, but not containing ?3 series polyunsaturated fatty acid, oils and fats or triglycerides obtained by that method, and the use of the oils and fats or triglycerides in a food, beverage or pharmaceutical composition.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a production method of an oil containing triglyceride in which medium chain fatty acids are bound to the 1- and 3-positions of the triglyceride and polyunsaturated fatty acid is bound to the 2 position by allowing lipase, which specifically acts on ester bonds at the 1- and 3-positions that has been immobilized on a porous ion exchange resin support having a pore size of about 100 Angstroms or more, to act on a mixture of medium-chain fatty acids and raw material oil containing at least one polyunsaturated fatty acid selected from the group consisting of ?6 series polyunsaturated fatty acid having 18 or more carbon atoms and 3 or more double bonds and ?9 series polyunsaturated fatty acid having 18 or more carbon atoms and 2 or more double bonds, but not containing ?3 series polyunsaturated fatty acid, oils and fats or triglycerides obtained by that method, and the use of the oils and fats or triglycerides in a food, beverage or pharmaceutical composition.

Abstract: A method of culturing a microorganism capable of producing at least any one of a highly unsaturated fatty acid or a compound containing a highly unsaturated fatty acid as a constituent fatty acid in a culture medium containing at least a carbon source and a nitrogen source, using an aeration-agitation culture device capable of adjusting and controlling an agitation power and an aeration amount. The method comprises the steps of performing mechanical agitation for a predetermined time after start of culture, where the agitation power per unit liquid amount is 269 (W/m3) or less, and after the predetermined time has passed, adjusting and controlling at least any one of the maximum aeration amount and a maximum power required for agitation to a range which satisfies that KLA (=(P/V)0.95Vs0.67) is 59 or more, an air flow rate parameter Vs0.67 is 0.075 or more, and a required agitation power parameter (P/V)0.

Abstract: The invention provides a ventilating/stirring culture tank that has a longitudinal tubular container 2 that is capable of freely containing culture fluid, within which a rotation shaft 3 that is supported coaxially with the axis of the container 2, a stirring impeller 4 that is attached to the rotation shaft in order to stir the culture fluid, and an air feed pipe 5 for feeding air into the container, are provided, and wherein an opening 6 for introducing culture medium material and fungal cells is provided in an upper part of the container, in which a ratio (HT/D) of height (HT) to inner diameter (D) of a cylindrical portion 7 of the container is greater than 3.8, and a baffle plate 8 for causing turbulence within the culture fluid that is being stirred is attached to an inner side of a peripheral wall of the container.