Abstract: The present invention pertains to an in vitro method in which the frequency of the targeted nucleotide sequence containing the DNA fragment of interest is increased stepwise, by several rounds of 1) dilution of a sample containing the DNA fragment of interest into several replicates (separation), 2) randomly amplifying DNA in the replicates (concentration), 3) detecting the DNA fragment of interest in at least one of the diluted and amplified replicates (selection) and repeating steps 1) through 3) until the DNA fragment of interest can be sequenced by standard sequencing techniques.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for isolating a microorganism containing a known genetic element. The method employs several rounds of 1) dilution of a mixed culture containing the selected microorganism in several replicates, 2) growing the replicates, 3) detecting the organism in at least one of the replicates and repeating steps 1) through 3) until the organism can be isolated by standard procedures.

Abstract: Strict anaerobic thermophilic bacterium belonging to the group of Thermoanaerobacter italicus subsp. marato subsp. nov. and mutants and derivatives thereof. The bacterium is particularly suitable for the production of fermentation products such as ethanol, lactic acid, acetic acid and hydrogen from lignocellulosic biomass.