Abstract: A process is described for cultivating thermophilic bacteria of the genus Bacillus having the ability to produce acetate kinase, wherein said cultivation is carried out continuously at a dilution rate (D) in the range from about 0.9 .mu..sub.max to 1.0 .mu..sub.max, wherein D is the dilution rate (1/hr), and .mu..sub.max is the maximum specific growth rate (1/hr), to thereby produce bacterial cells having a high content of acetate kinase.

Abstract: Optically active .beta.-halolactic acids can be produced by contacting an .alpha.,.beta.-dihalopropionic acid with 2-halo acid dehalogenase. When the pH of the reaction system is above 9, this process gives optically active glycidic acid. Treatment of the optically active .beta.-halolactic acid thus obtained with an alkali also gives optically active glycidic acid.

Abstract: A shaped chitin body containing a high content of a physiologically active substance, such as a drug to be used for the cure or prevention of disease, is prepared by incorporating said physiologically active substance into a dope comprising (a) a water-insoluble chitin, (b) lithium chloride, and (c) N-methylpyrrolidone and/or dimethylacetamide, with the amount of said physiologically active substance incorporated being 0.5 wt. % or more with respect to the amount of the chitin contained in said dope, and thereafter coagulating the resulting mixture with a coagulant to obtain a shaped body.The high content of the physiologically active substance thus incorporated in the shaped chitin can be slowly released therefrom over a long period of time. The shaped-chitin of the present invention is characterized by long duration of the physiological activity of the active substance contained therein.

Abstract: A reagent composition for determining blood triglycerides comprising a color former and a thermostable lipoprotein lipase obtained from Streptomyces 7825 (FERM P-9983, FERM BP-2489) is presented.

Abstract: The present invention is directed toward a thermostable lipoprotein lipase capable of hydrolyzing triglycerides in lipoproteins to glycerol and fatty acids, a process for producing the thermostable lipoprotein lipase, and a blood triglyceride determining reagent containing the thermostable lipoprotein lipase. The thermostable lipoprotein lipase exhibits about 100% retention of the hydrolyzing activity when treated in a buffer having a pH of from bout 4 to 7 at about 60.degree. C. for about 15 minutes and a glycerol forming activity/fatty acid forming activity ratio of at least about 15%. The process comprises cultivating a thermophilic actinomycetes, particularly Streptomyces 7825 (FERM P-9983, FERM BP-2489 is cultivated to produce a thermostable lipoprotein lipase.

Abstract: The present invention is directed toward a thermostable lipoprotein lipase capable of hydrolyzing triglycerides in lipoproteins to glycerol and fatty acids, a process for producing the thermostable lipoprotein lipase, and a blood triglyceride determining reagent containing the thermostable lipoprotein lipase. The thermostable lipoprotein lipase exhibits about 100% retention of the hydrolyzing activity when treated in a buffer having a pH of from about 4 to 7 at about 60.degree. C. for about 15 minutes and a glycerol forming activity/fatty acid forming activity ratio of at least about 15%. The process comprises cultivating a thermophilic actinomycetes, particularly Streptomyces 7825 (FERM P-9983, FERM BP-2489 and recovering lipoprotein lipase from the culture.

Abstract: A shaped chitin body prepared by treating a shaped body of chitin with an alkali solution, such that within a dilute aqueous solution of acetic acid, the volume of said shaped chitin body will increase by a factor of at least about 10 while substantially retaining its shape. This shaped chitin body has versatile capabilities comparable to those of chitosan. A nonwoven fabric made of a fibrous chitin body is particularly effective as a wound dressing.

Abstract: The present invention provides a porous chitin shaped article which has a wet strength of not less than about 1 g/mm.sup.2. The shaped article has preferably a porosity of more than 90%.The present invention also provides a process for preparing the above chitin shaped article, which comprises:dissolving chitin in a solvent to form a dope, dispersing a water-soluble polymer, which is solid at ambient temperature, in said dope to form a coagulated article, andremoving the water-soluble polymer from said coagulated article by treating with aqueous solution.

Abstract: Strain UK 788 (FERM-P No. 5141) that belongs to Bacillus stearothermophilus, the cell of which is longer than about 10 microns and which permits easier release of intracellular components than a type culture Bacillus stearothermophilus, IAM 11001 is disclosed. Also, a process for producing a useful enzyme selected from the group consisting of a heat-resistant polynucleotide phosphorylase, heat-resistant maleate dehydrogenase, heat-resistant glucokinase, heat-resistant glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and heat-resistant pyruvate kinase by culturing such UK 788 and recovering the desired enzyme from the culture is disclosed. Since the cell of the strain UK 788 is easy to settle and its membrane is also easy to break, the useful enzymes mentioned above can be efficiently produced on an industrial scale.