Abstract: Compositions, methods, and systems for modifying sterol metabolism in a subject is disclosed. In some embodiments, the subjects may be administered one or more mammalian cells modified to express at least one sterol degrading enzyme derived from a bacterium. In many embodiments, the cell is a macrophage or monocyte stably expressing three or more enzymes that aid in opening the ? ring of cholesterol. The disclosed compositions and methods may be useful in lowering cholesterol levels in a subject in need thereof. In some embodiments, the subject may have a genetic predisposition to atherosclerosis.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to the field of biotechnology as it applies to the production of aryl sulfates using polypeptides or recombinant cells comprising said polypeptides. More particularly, the present invention pertains to polypeptides having aryl sulfotransferase activity, recombinant host cells expressing same and processes for the production of aryl sulfates employing these polypeptides or recombinant host cells.

Abstract: The present application relates to recombinant microorganisms expressing a dehydratase useful in a one-step, direct fermentative production of one or more primary alkenes from one or more saturated primary or secondary alcohols. Known, well developed high-yielding pathways that use renewable feedstock can be introduced into the recombinant microorganisms to obtain the alcohol precursors. Also provided are methods of producing one or more primary alkenes using the recombinant microorganisms, as well as compositions comprising the recombinant microorganisms and/or optionally the primary alkene products.

Abstract: Provided herein is a non-Nicotiana transgenic plant comprising an exogenous polynucleotide encoding Nicotiana benthamiana Roq1 or a variant thereof. These plants have enhanced resistance to at least one species of Xanthomonas, Pseudomonas, Ralstonia, and/or another pathogen containing a homolog of XopQ whose recognition is mediated by Roq1.

Abstract: An engineered microbe that contains a designed platform for the conversion of one-carbon substrates to chemical products is described. The designed platform embodies a new metabolic architecture that consolidates carbon fixation, central metabolism, and product synthesis into a single pathway. This is made possible by the key finding that 2-hydroxyacyl-CoA lyase, an enzyme in the ?-oxidation pathway, is capable of catalyzing the C—C bond formation between formyl-CoA and aldehydes of different chain lengths, allowing for the elongation of the carbon backbone of said aldehyde by one-carbon units. These novel microbes present an opportunity for the production of chemicals from single-carbon feedstocks such as carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, formate, formaldehyde, methanol or methane.

Abstract: Provided are plants that express, or overexpress, a pPLAIII? protein. Constitutive or seed-specific expression of pPLAIII? protein in Arabidopsis increases seed oil content, the amount of C20 and C22 fatty acids, and the amount of C56, C58, and C60 triacylglycerols, effectively resulting in significantly higher oil yield per plant. Use of pPLAIII? is therefore an effective biotechnological tool to significantly increase plant yield, including oil, and the amount of high value long chain fatty acids in agricultural and horticultural crops, especially oilseed crops.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a eukaryotic cell that is genetically modified comprising one or more heterologous gene encoding: a) D-glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and/or b) 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase; and/or c) glucose dehydrogenase, gluconolactonase and gluconate kinase, wherein a), b) and glucose dehydrogenase in c) are NAD+ dependent.

Abstract: Production of transformed plants is achieved by placing Agrobacterium-inoculated explants directly onto a medium containing selective agents for suppressing growth of Agrobacterium and killing non-transformed explant cells.

Abstract: A process of transiently transfecting a plant or leaves on a plant, comprising contacting said plant or said leaves with a suspension comprising Agrobacterium cells of strain CryX or a derivative strain of strain CryX, wherein said derivative strain has the chromosomal background of strain CryX or said derivative strain contains the vir plasmid of strain CryX or a derivative of said vir plasmid.

Abstract: Hopanoids, hopanoids-producing nitrogen-fixing bacteria, and related formulations, systems and methods are described herein. In particular, hopanoids alone or in combination with hopanoid-producing nitrogen-fixing bacteria can be used as biofertilizer to stimulate plant growth and yield with enhanced tolerance to diverse stresses found in plant-microbe symbiotic microenvironments.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to identify a novel gene that effectively increases plant biomass and to provide said gene as well as techniques utilizing the same. This invention provides a nucleic acid encoding a protein, wherein the protein comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 and an amino acid sequence having at least 25% identity or at least 75% similarity to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:7 or 11, and has an activity to increase plant biomass, as well as techniques utilizing the same.

Abstract: The present invention relates to new methods of selecting and breeding organisms, in particular organisms which exhibit symbiotic behaviour with symbionts, and to new organisms and symbiota developed thereby, such as plant or grass and endophyte symbiota. Multiple symbionts are deployed in multiple organisms and selected for improved symbiotic compatibility and performance early in the breeding process. Methods include producing improved organisms from germplasm, by inoculating host organism germplasm libraries with symbionts selected from symbiont libraries and selecting improved host organisms exhibiting desired symbiota characteristics, and selection of organism-symbiont associations with a desired genetic and metabolic profile by metagenomic analysis of nucleic acid libraries from an organism or organism-symbiont association.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for enhancing at least one growth parameter of a leguminous plant via co-inoculation of a leguminous plant with at least one rhizobial microorganism together with at least one actinobacterial microorganism. In further aspects, the present invention also relates to leguminous plants co-inoculated with at least one rhizobial microorganism together with at least one actinobacterial microorganism, as well as specific actinobacterial strains and inoculant compositions which are useful in accordance with the present invention.

Abstract: Methods of, and compositions for, assembling one or more transcription units in a genome without a linked selectable marker or other unwanted transcription unit are provided. Also provided methods of, and compositions for, assembling one or more transcription units in a genome with a reduced frequency of vector backbone.

Abstract: A process of expressing a sequence of interest in a plant, plant part, or plant cell culture, comprising: (a) providing a plant, plant part, or plant cell culture containing in cell nuclei a heterologous DNA having a sequence encoding an RNA replicon operably linked or linkable to a transcription promoter, wherein said sequence encoding an RNA replicon contains (i) sequences for replicon function of said RNA replicon, said sequences being derived from a sequence of a plant RNA virus, (ii) a sequence of interest, whereby said sequences for replicon function exhibit at selected localities of said sequences of said plant RNA virus function-conservative differences from said sequence of said plant RNA virus, said differences causing an increased frequency of replicon formation compared to an RNA replicon not exhibiting said differences; and (b) causing expression of said sequence of interest.

Abstract: Provided are plants that express, or overexpress, a pPLAIII? protein. Constitutive or seed-specific expression of pPLAIII? protein in Arabidopsis increases seed oil content, the amount of C20 and C22 fatty acids, and the amount of C56, C58, and C60 triacylglycerols, effectively resulting in significantly higher oil yield per plant. Use of pPLAIII? is therefore an effective biotechnological tool to significantly increase plant yield, including oil, and the amount of high value long chain fatty acids in agricultural and horticultural crops, especially oilseed crops.

Abstract: Hopanoids, hopanoids-producing nitrogen-fixing bacteria, and related formulations, systems and methods are described herein. In particular, hopanoids alone or in combination with hopanoid-producing nitrogen-fixing bacteria can be used as biofertilizer to stimulate plant growth and yield with enhanced tolerance to diverse stresses found in plant-microbe symbiotic microenvironments.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for increasing plant growth and yield are provided. Compositions comprise the high yield gene TEL, promoters and enhancers to increase the expression of a TEL gene in a plant of interest. By enhancing the expression of at least one TEL gene in a plant, an improvement in plant growth and yield is achieved, resulting in an increase in crop yield in a field planted with such plants. A plant of interest may be transformed with a DNA construct comprising a promoter that is capable of driving expression in the plant operably linked to a coding sequence for a TEL gene. The DNA construct may comprise at least on enhancer that acts to increase expression of the TEL coding sequence. A promoter or enhancer can be inserted into the genome of the plant of interest at a site that increases the expression of the endogenous TEL coding sequence in the plant.

Abstract: A method of producing a stably transformed corn plant in a single container is demonstrated. This method allows for the automation of the transformation process and reduces labor, material, and ergonomic costs associated with traditional plant tissue culture systems.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of a composition comprising a superoxide dismutase (SOD) enzyme and/or an active plant extract containing SOD, for stimulating the overexpression of plant antioxidant enzymatic proteins, stimulating plant vitality and/or increasing plant productivity and/or preventively or curatively protecting said plants against biotic or abiotic stresses.

Abstract: The present invention is to provide a preparation of variant recombinant whole cell biocatalysts, referred herein as “designer cells” having significantly enhanced carbonyl reductase activity for use in the efficient production of variant industrially important enantiomerically enriched alcohols. More specifically, the alcohol is optically pure ethyl (S)-4-chloro-3-hydroxybutyrate, which is useful as chiral building block and an intermediate for the production of hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors.

Abstract: The invention relates to a new gene that is able to provide plants with resistance against pathogens, more preferably Verticillium, Ralstonia or Fusarium. Said gene is typical for Brassicaceae and encodes for a proteins having a sequence as depicted in FIG. 7 or FIG. 2A. Also provided are methods for enhancing the pathogen resistance of plants, wherein said plants preferably are Brassicaceae, but wherein the resistance also is functional in other plants. Further provided are host cells with a nucleotide construct encoding said protein.

Abstract: A method of producing a stably transformed corn plant in a single container is demonstrated. This method allows for the automation of the transformation process and reduces labor, material, and ergonomic costs associated with traditional plant tissue culture systems.

Abstract: A method for enhancing various economically important yield-related traits in plants is provided. More specifically, a method for enhancing one or more yield-related traits in plants is provided, by modulating expression in a plant of a nucleic acid encoding a POI (protein of interest) polypeptide. Also provided are plants having modulated expression of a nucleic acid encoding a POI polypeptide, the plants having one or more enhanced yield-related traits compared with control plants Unknown POI-encoding nucleic acids and constructs comprising the same that useful in performing the methods of the invention are further provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides herein a polynucleotide sequence encoding the tubby-like protein, CaTLP1, from chickpea (Cicer arientium L.) that is responsive to abiotic stress and is involved in plant growth and development. Further, the recombinant DNA construct and recombinant vector comprising the polynucleotide sequence encoding CaTLP1, host cell comprising the recombinant vector and a process for producing a transgenic plant that expresses the CaTLP1 protein are also provided herein.

Abstract: The present invention discloses gene targets, constructs and methods for the genetic control of plant disease caused by nematodes of the genus Meloidogyne (root knot nematodes). The present invention relates to achieving a plant protective effect through the identification of target coding sequences and the use of recombinant DNA technologies for post-transcriptionally repressing or inhibiting expression of the target coding sequences in the cells of plant-parasitic nematodes. The disclosed gene targets show significant conservation at the nucleotide level between orthologs from different Meloidogyne species, facilitating genus-wide targeting by RNA interference.

Abstract: Luciferases which are different from those known heretofore have been desired. A luciferase mutant comprising an amino acid sequence in which at least one amino acid selected from the group consisting of valine at the position of 44, alanine at the position of 54 and tyrosine at the position of 138 is substituted with other amino acid(s) in the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2.

Abstract: Derivatives of Agrobacterium vitis strain F2/5 are disclosed. These derivatives were generated following homologous recombination with an internal fragment of targeted genes resulting in gene disruption by insertion of a copy of suicide vector pVIK165. The genes disrupted were F-avi5813 encoding a phosphopantetheinyltransferase, F-avi4329 encoding an aminotransferase and F-avi0838 (rirA) encoding an iron responsive transcriptional regulator. Such derivatives control crown gall on grapevines. In addition, these derivatives did not induce roots necrosis but enhanced root development and callus formation. On young stem explants, it was shown as well that the F2/5 derivatives are necrosis-negative.

Abstract: The invention relates to recombinant expression of variant forms of M. thermophila CBH1a and homologs thereof, having improved thermoactivity, specific activity, and other desirable properties. Also provided are methods for producing ethanol and other valuable organic compounds by combining cellobiohydrolase variants with cellulosic materials.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of RNA-mediated gene silencing in insect species. The present invention is based, in part, on the inventors' sequencing of genes from eucalyptus invasive species Bronze bug pest, Thaumastocoris peregrinus. In certain aspects, the invention provides Bronze bug nucleic acids, derivatives thereof and the use of such nucleic acids and derivatives as Bronze bug control agents.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of RNA-mediated gene silencing in insect species. The present invention is based, in part, on the inventors' sequencing of genes from eucalyptus invasive species Gb pest, Glycaspis brimblecombei. In certain aspects, the invention provides Gb nucleic acids, derivatives thereof and the use of such nucleic acids and derivatives as Gb control agents.

Abstract: The embodiments described herein pertain to cells, and methods for preparing cells, that can be used as biocatalysts by altering enzymes that compete for a substrate or product of a pathway of interest such that the targeted enzyme is sensitive to a site-specific protease, which protease is expressed but relocated in the cell to a site where it is not in contact with the targeted enzyme in the intact cell. Upon cell lysis, the protease contacts the target enzyme, which is then inactivated by protease cleavage.

Abstract: The present invention provides isolated polynucleotide sequences encoding ?-mannosidase. The present invention further provides DNA constructs comprising the polynucleotide sequence coding for ?-mannosidase in sense or anti-sense orientation, RNAi constructs, recombinant vectors comprising the constructs, and host cells comprising the recombinant vector. The present invention further provides transgenic plants, plant cells, transgenic progeny and seeds expressing the polynucleotide with reduced ?-mannosidase protein accumulation, having enhanced fruit shelf life.

Abstract: A process of transiently transfecting a plant or leaves on a plant, comprising contacting said plant or said leaves with a suspension comprising Agrobacterium cells of strain CryX or a derivative strain of strain CryX, wherein said derivative strain has the chromosomal background of strain CryX or said derivative strain contains the vir plasmid of strain CryX or a derivative of said vir plasmid.

Abstract: Provided herein are non-naturally occurring microbial organisms having a formaldehyde fixation pathway and a formate assimilation pathway, which can further include a methanol metabolic pathway, a methanol oxidation pathway, a hydrogenase and/or a carbon monoxide dehydrogenase. These microbial organisms can further include a butadiene, 1,3-butanediol, crotyl alcohol or 3-buten-2-ol pathway. Additionally provided are methods of using such microbial organisms to produce butadiene, 1,3-butanediol, crotyl alcohol or 3-buten-2-ol.

Abstract: The invention relates, in part, to nucleic acid constructs, genetically modified host cells and methods employing such constructs and host cells to increase the production of 3-methyl-2-butenol from IPP. Thus, in some aspects, the invention provides a genetically modified host cell transformed with a nucleic acid construct encoding a fusion protein comprising a phosphatase capable of catalyzing the dephosphorylation of dimethylallyl diphosphate (DMAPP) linked to an IPP isomerase capable of converting IPP to DMAPP, wherein the nucleic acid construct is operably linked to a promoter. In some embodiments, the genetically modified host cell 5 further comprises a nucleic acid encoding a reductase that is capable of converting 3-methyl-2-butenol to 3-methyl-butanol. In some embodiments, the reductase is encoded by a nucleic acid construct introduced into the cell. In some embodiments, the IPP isomerase is a Type I isomerase. In some embodiments, the IPP isomerase is a Type II isomerase.

Abstract: The present invention relates to expression cassettes comprising at least one transcription regulating nucleotide sequence obtainable from the group of genes of monocotyledonous plants consisting of caffeoyl-CoA-O-methyltransferase genes, C8,7-sterol isomerase genes, hydroxyproline-rich glycoprotein (HRGP) genes, lactate dehydrogenase genes, and chloroplast protein 12 like genes. More preferably the transcription regulating sequences are obtainable from Zea mays or Oryza sativa. The transcription regulating sequences are especially useful for root/kernel-preferential, leaf/endosperm-preferential, root/silk/kernel-preferential, or constitutive expression.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and compositions for improving the efficiency of Agrobacterium- and Rhizobium-mediated plant cell transformation by use of additional transformation enhancer sequences, such as overdrive or TSS sequences, operably linked to a T-DNA border sequence on a recombinant construct that comprises T-DNA.

Abstract: The present invention concerns antibodies to Bv8 and the uses of same.

Abstract: A method of deactivating an explosive composition being used in a blasting operation, which method comprises exposing the explosive composition to a micro-organism that is indigenous to the environment in which the explosive composition is being used and that is capable of producing an enzyme that degrades the explosive composition, wherein the explosive composition has associated with it a chemical inducing agent that promotes production of the enzyme by the micro-organism.

Abstract: The invention provides non-naturally occurring microbial organisms having a 4-hydroxybutyrate, gamma-butyrolactone, 1,4-butanediol, 4-hydroxybutanal, 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA and/or putrescine pathway and being capable of producing 4-hydroxybutyrate, wherein the microbial organism comprises one or more genetic modifications. The invention additionally provides methods of producing 4-hydroxybutyrate, gamma-butyrolactone, 1,4-butanediol, 4-hydroxybutanal, 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA and/or putrescine or related products using the microbial organisms.

Abstract: A high efficiency plant expression promoter from Capsicum annuum serine hydroxymethyl transferase gene and uses thereof. This high efficiency plant expression promoter and 5?-untranslated region (5?-UTR) from Capsicum annular, serine hydroxymethyl transferase gene, a high efficiency plant expression vector having the same, a plant transformed with said vector, a process for high efficiency expression of a foreign gene by using said vector and a transformed plant which expresses with high efficiency a foreign gene based on said process and seeds of the transformed plant.

Abstract: A non-naturally occurring microbial organism includes a microbial organism having a 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol pathway that includes at least one exogenous nucleic acid encoding a 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol pathway enzyme expressed in a sufficient amount to produce 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol. A method for producing 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol includes culturing a non-naturally occurring microbial organism having a 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol pathway. The pathway includes at least one exogenous nucleic acid encoding a 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol pathway enzyme expressed in a sufficient amount to produce 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol, under conditions and for a sufficient period of time to produce 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol.

Abstract: A non-naturally occurring microbial organism has cyclohexanone pathways that include at least one exogenous nucleic acid encoding a cyclohexanone pathway enzyme. A pathway includes a 2-ketocyclohexane-1-carboxyl-CoA hydrolase (acting on C—C bond), a 2-ketocyclohexane-1-carboxylate decarboxylase and an enzyme selected from a 2-ketocyclohexane-1-carboxyl-CoA hydrolase (acting on thioester), a 2-ketocyclohexane-1-carboxyl-CoA transferase, and a 2-ketocyclohexane-1-carboxyl-CoA synthetase.

Abstract: The invention provides calcium-binding photoproteins which can detect light emission with a higher sensitivity. The proteins of the invention comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2 can be used for the detection and measurement of calcium ions. The proteins of the invention are useful as reporter proteins, luminescent markers, etc. The polynucleotides of the invention are useful as reporter genes, etc.

Abstract: Provided herein is a non-naturally occurring microbial organism having a methanol metabolic pathway that can enhance the availability of reducing equivalents in the presence of methanol. Such reducing equivalents can be used to increase the product yield of organic compounds produced by the microbial organism, such as adipate, 6-aminocaproate, hexamethylenediamine or caprolactam. Also provided herein are methods for using such an organism to produce adipate, 6-aminocaproate, hexamethylenediamine or caprolactam.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the production of fine chemicals in a microorganism, a plant cell, a plant, a plant tissue or in one or more parts thereof. The present invention relates further to a process for the control of the production of fine chemicals in a microorganism, a plant cell, a plant, a plant tissue or in one or more parts thereof. The invention furthermore relates to nucleic acid molecules, polypeptides, nucleic acid constructs, vectors, antisense molecules, antibodies, host cells, plant tissue, propagation material, harvested material, plants, microorganisms as well as agricultural compositions and to their use.

Abstract: Recombinant microorganisms having an improved ability to co-metabolize in medium both fructose and glucose are described. The recombinant microorganisms comprise a promoter operably linked to a native or non-native nucleotide sequence that encodes a fucose: H+ symporter polypeptide. The recombinant microorganisms are useful for the production of a variety of products including glycerol and glycerol derivatives such as 1,3-propanediol and 3-hydroxypropionic acid.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates, in some embodiments, to materials, systems, organisms, and methods for enhancing abiotic stress tolerance (e.g., cold, salinity, drought, heat, wind) and/or enhancing biomass in plants. For example, enhancing abiotic stress tolerance may be achieved in plants having Arabidopsis thaliana BCL-2-associated athanogene 4 (AtBAG4) nucleic acids and/or polypeptides, Caenorhabditis elegans Ced-9 nucleic acids and/or polypeptides, and/or human Bcl-2-161 nucleic acids and/or polypeptides.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of incorporating nonstandard amino acids into a protein by utilizing a modified aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase to charge the nonstandard amino acid to a modified tRNA, which forms strict Watson-Crick base-pairing with a codon that normally forms wobble base-pairing with natural tRNAs.