Abstract: To provide a microorganism capable of producing a large amount of carotenoids, mainly astaxanthin, and to provide a method of producing carotenoids using the microorganism, a microorganism having improved carotenoid productivity is used, which is obtainable by breeding a carotenoid producing Paracoccus bacteria which is featured by producing 720 mg or more carotenoid per 1 L of culture medium. Also used is a method of producing carotenoids using the bacterium.

Abstract: The present invention intends to provide an IL-6R•IL-6 fusion protein and the like in which IL-6R and IL-6 are directly linked without a linker. The IL-6 receptor•IL-6 fusion protein of the present invention has a structure in which one amino acid residue constituting IL-6 receptor and one amino acid residue constituting IL-6 are directly bonded.

Abstract: The present invention intends to provide an IL-6R•IL-6 fusion protein and the like in which IL-6R and IL-6 are directly linked without a linker. The IL-6 receptor•IL-6 fusion protein of the present invention has a structure in which one amino:acid residue constituting IL-6 receptor and one amino acid residue constituting IL-6 are directly bonded.

Abstract: The present invention intends to provide an IL-6R•IL-6 fusion protein and the like in which IL-6R and IL-6 are directly linked without a linker.

Abstract: Novel arylthiadiazole derivatives and salts thereof useful for preventing and treating human viral infection and a novel virucide which contains the arylthiadiazole derivative or a salt thereof are provided. N,N-dimethyl ?3-(3-(amino-2,6-dichlorophenyl)-1,2,5-thiadiazol-4-yl! carbamate or its salt, and virucide containing the same as an effective component.

Abstract: Disclosed is (a) 1,2,5-thiadiazole derivatives represented by the following formulae [I] or [III]: ##STR1## wherein X and Y are the same or different and each represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, an alkyl group having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, a nitro group, a trifluoromethyl group, a carboxyl group, an alkoxycarbonyl group having from 2 to 5 carbon atoms, a naphthyl group or a tetrahydronaphthyl group; and A represents an alkyl group having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, --C(.dbd.O)OR.sup.1, --C(.dbd.O)NR.sup.2 R.sup.3, a phenyl group which may be substituted by at least one of an alkyl group having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms and an alkoxy group having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, --CHR.sup.4 C(.dbd.O)R.sup.5 or --C(.dbd.O)R.sup.6, in which R.sup.1 represents an alkyl group having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are the same or different and each represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, R.sup.

Abstract: Tetrahydroisoquinoline derivatives useful as fungicides are disclosed of formula [I]: ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 represents C.sub.1 -C.sub.5 linear or branched alkyl, C.sub.2 -C.sub.5 linear or branched alkenyl, C.sub.2 -C.sub.5 linear or branched alkynyl; R.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.4, R.sup.5 and R.sup.6, the same or different, represent hydrogen, C.sub.1 -C.sub.10 linear or branched alkyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.10 linear or branched alkenyl, C.sub.2 -C.sub.10 linear or branched alkynyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.10 linear or branched alkoxy, C.sub.2 -C.sub.10 linear or branched alkenyloxy, C.sub.2 -C.sub.10 linear or branched alkynyloxy, benzyloxy, hydroxy, haloalkyl, amino, mono- or di-substituted amino substituted with C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 linear or branched alkyl, phenyl or halogen; R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 may be bonded through a group of the formula --O--CH.sub.2).sub.m O-- wherein m represents integer of 1 or 2 or --CH.dbd.CH).sub.2 to form a ring; and R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 may be bonded through a group of the formula --O--CH.sub.2).

Abstract: Tetrahydroisoquinoline derivatives of the following formula [I] and acid addition salts thereof, and ##STR1## (wherein in all of these formulae, R.sup.1 represents C.sub.1 -C.sub.5 straight or branched alkyl, C.sub.2 -C.sub.5 straight or branched alkenyl or C.sub.2 -C.sub.5 straight or branched alkynyl; R.sup.2 represents hydrogen atom, C.sub.1 -C.sub.10 straight or branched alkyl, C.sub.2 -C.sub.10 straight or branched alkenyl, C.sub.2 -C.sub.10 straight or branched alkynyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.10 straight or branched alkoxy, C.sub.2 -C.sub.10 straight or branched alkenyloxy, C.sub.2 -C.sub.10 straight or branched alkynyloxy, or C.sub.1 -C.sub.10 straight or branched halogenated alkyl; R.sup.3, R.sup.4 R.sup.5 and R.sup.6, the same or different represent hydrogen atom, C.sub.1 -C.sub.10 straight or branched alkyl, C.sub.2 -C.sub.10 straight or branched alkenyl, C.sub.2 -C.sub.10 straight or branched alkynyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.10 straight or branched alkoxy, C.sub.2 -C.sub.10 straight or branched alkenyloxy, C.sub.