Abstract: The present invention relates to pectate lyases comprising the amino acid sequence Asn Leu Asn Ser Arg Val Pro (NLNSRVP) (amino acids 236-242 of SEQ ID NO: 2) belonging to Family 1 of polysaccharide lyases have good performance in industrial processes under neutral or alkaline conditions such as laundering and textile processing. The pectate lyase may be derivable from Bacillus species.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of producing a vegetable product, comprising the steps of: a) crushing, chopping or slicing a vegetable into pieces of 1 to 30 mm; b) before of after step a) blanching the vegetable pieces at a temperature of 60° C. to 90° C.; c) holding the blanched vegetable pieces in the presence of an endo-acting pectinase activity at a temperature from 60° C. to 90° C.; and d) optionally blending the macerated vegetable pieces.

Abstract: A catheter for insertion into the human body and which includes one or more optionally scanning ultrasonic transducers (7) and a needle guide, which can be operated from the outside and used for collecting tissue samples from the human body. The catheter includes two substantially semicircular parts (2, 3), where a rod (4) is inserted between said parts and at the end is provided with an ultrasonic transducer (7), said two semicircular parts (2, 3) being kept together by means of an outer tube (5) passed over the two semicircular parts (2, 3), and where the surface of one semicircular part (2) is provided with a longitudinal groove (6) for the insertion of a flexible needle (12) for the extraction of tissue samples. The resulting catheter is very user-friendly and easy to disassemble for disinfecting and sterilising purposes.