Abstract: Disclosed herein are novel microbial polycultures of two or more cell strains, capable of producing flavanones, flavonoids, and anthocyanidin-3-O-glucosides, and methods of use thereof. Also disclosed is a microbial cell capable of producing phenylpropanoic acids, and methods of use thereof.

Abstract: Site-selective functionalized glycopeptide antibiotics, methods of making and using are described herein. The compounds exhibit improved activity against methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA), methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), vancomycin-sensitive S. aureus (VSE), vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE), or combinations thereof. The compounds can be administered as the neutral free acid or free base or can be administered as a pharmaceutically acceptable acid-addition or base-addition salt. The compounds can be formulated with one or more pharmaceutically acceptable excipients to prepare pharmaceutical compositions. The compounds can be administered by a variety of routes of administration including enteral, parenteral, topical, or transmucosal.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions and methods to identify novel bacteria and metabolites derived therefrom. More specifically, the invention describes a novel method to isolate bacteria producing metabolites of interest from environmental samples. Particularly, the invention discloses a method to select rare antibiotic producing bacteria. The invention can be used from any sample and allows the isolation of bacteria having e.g., pharmaceutical or agrochemical interest.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a microorganism which is novel at the elemental composition level, and to provide a technique for providing such a microorganism. The present inventor has succeeded in causing a microorganism to efficiently contain a non-essential element by decreasing the content of an essential nutrient source for the microorganism, a C source, an N source, a P source, or an S source, and by adding an X compound containing the non-essential element as a constitutive element in a manner to make up for the decreased amount, and then culturing the microorganism.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods for inducing and stabilizing an enzyme activity. Optionally, the enzyme is in a microorganism capable of producing the enzyme. In some embodiments, the enzyme can be nitrile hydratase, amidase, or asparaginase I. Provided are compositions comprising enzymes or microorganisms having induced and/or stabilized activity. Also provided are methods of delaying a plant development process by exposing a plant or plant part to the enzymes or microorganisms having induced and/or stabilized activity.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel selective synthesis of 9?-hydroxy-steroid derivatives of the general formula (I) (I)—wherein the meaning of -A-A?- is —CH2—CH2— or —CH?CH— group—by the bioconversion of compounds of the general formula (II) (II) wherein the meaning of -A-A?- is —CH2—CH2— or —CH?CH— group—by using Nocardia farcinica bacterium strain, deposition number of which is NCAIM (P)—B 001342, as hydroxylating microorganism in the bioconversion.

Abstract: A method to prevent contamination of feed line(s) and nutrient feed reservoirs(s) is disclosed. In this method the growth medium which flows from the nutrient feed reservoir through the feed line to the bioreactor contains at least one nutritional component supplied at a concentration which is inhibitory to cell growth. The inhibitory nutritional component in the growth medium prevents back growth of cells from the bioreactor into the feed line(s). The growth medium with inhibitory nutritional component is diluted in the bioreactor.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions and methods to identify novel bacteria and metabolites derived therefrom. More specifically, the invention describes a novel method to isolate bacteria producing metabolites of interest from environmental samples. Particularly, the invention discloses a method to select rare antibiotic producing bacteria. The invention can be used from any sample and allows the isolation of bacteria having e.g., pharmaceutical or agrochemical interest.

Abstract: The present invention is to construct a DNA replication reaction system which is excellent in versatility and is easily used. An amino acid sequence of a PCNA monomer which is one of factors involved in DNA replication is prepared so that amino acid residues causing mutual charge repulsion constitute a site which causes, when an N terminal region of the PCNA monomer and a C terminal region of another PCNA monomer act as an interface to form a multimeric complex, an intermolecular interaction of the monomers in an interface region of the monomers.

Abstract: The invention relates to the field of biochemistry, molecular biology and microbiology. More specific the invention relates to methods and means for metabolic engineering and improved product formation by a filamentous micro-organism or a low G+C gram-positive bacterium. The invention discloses that DasR and DasR binding sites play an important and universal role in the control of gene expression in micro-organisms Based on this finding, the invention provides multiple useful applications, such as a method for regulating the expression of a gene of interest, a method for controlling metabolism, a method for decreasing undesired expression and many more. Moreover, the invention also provides means that can be used to establish said methods: for example a micro-organism in which the DasR binding site in operable linkage with a particular gene has been modified to obtain increased or decreased expression of a protein (being a desired or undesired protein) encoded by said gene.

Abstract: An immune modulator composition and/or pharmaceutical composition comprising a whole cell of a bacterium from the genera Rhodococcus, Gordonia, Nocardia, Dietzia, Tsukamurella and Nocardioides, wherein said immune modulator composition in use modifies a cellular immune response.

Abstract: The present invention relates to 11-O-desmethylmacbecin analogues that are useful, e.g. in the treatment of cancer, B-cell malignancies, malaria, fungal infection, diseases of the central nervous system and neurodegenerative diseases, diseases dependent on angiogenesis, autoimmune diseases and/or as a prophylactic pretreatment for cancer. The present invention also provides methods for the production of these compounds and their use in medicine, in particular in the treatment and/or prophylaxis of cancer or B-cell malignancies.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, there are provided novel Siah-Mediated-Degradation-Proteins (SMDPs) and/or SCF-Complex Proteins (SCPs). Nucleic acid sequences encoding such proteins and assays employing same are also disclosed. The invention SMDPs and/or SCPs can be employed in a variety of ways, for example, for the production of anti-SMDP and/or SCP antibodies thereto, in therapeutic compositions, and methods employing such proteins and/or antibodies for drug screening, functional genomics and other applications. Also provided are transgenic non-human mammals that express the invention protein. Also provided are compositions and methods for targeting the destruction of selected polypeptides in eukaryotic cells based on the ubiquitin-independent mechanism by which ornithine decarboxylase is degraded by the 26S proteasome.

Abstract: A process of the large-scale fermentation of a highly productive ansamitocin-producing strains. A method for isolating crude ansamitocins. A method for purifying ansamitocins.

Abstract: Use of an immune modulator composition and/or pharmaceutical composition comprising a whole cell of a bacterium from the genera Rhodococcus, Gordonia, Nocardia, Dietzia, Tsukamurella and Nocardioides, for use in the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of an autoimmune disease or autoimmune disorder, including certain vascular disorders.

Abstract: A microorganism that is a mutant bacterial strain of the species Actinosynnema pretiosum, designated PF4-4, (ATCC PTA-3921), being capable of producing maytansinoid ansamitocins such as ansamitocin P-3 in improved yield compared to previous known strains, and capable of growth under varied culture conditions, and methods of producing maytansinoid ansamitocins by culturing PF4-4 in a suitable growth medium.

Abstract: An objective of the present invention is to provide a method for producing substance PF1022 derivatives, in particular PF1022-220 and PF1022-260, by a direct fermentation method, and a transformant to be used for this method. According to the present invention, there is provided a transformant producing substance PF1022 derivatives, which can be obtained by introducing a gene involved in a biosynthetic pathway from chorismic acid to p-aminophenylpyruvic acid into a phenylalanine auxotrophic host induced from an organism that produces a substance PF1022. According to the present invention, there is also provided a process of producing substance PF1022 derivatives, comprising steps of culturing the abovementioned transformant and collecting the substance PF1022 derivatives.

Abstract: A microorganism that is a mutant bacterial strain of the species Actinosynnema pretiosum, designated PF4-4, (ATCC PTA-3921), being capable of producing maytansinoid ansamitocins such as ansamitocin P-3 in improved yield compared to previous known strains, and capable of growth under varied culture conditions, and methods of producing maytansinoid ansamitocins by culturing PF4-4 in a suitable growth medium.

Abstract: The present invention relates to subtilase enzymes of the I-S1 and I-S2 sub-groups having an additional amino acid in the active site loop (c) region from positions 125 to 132. The variant subtilases of the present invention exhibit improved wash performance in a detergent in comparison to its parent enzyme.

Abstract: A composition containing a peripheral benzodiazepine receptor ligand for topical use in the treatment of cutaneous stress.

Abstract: The present invention provides an Agrobacterium tumefaciens outer membrane protein designated aopB, its variants, homologs and fragments and corresponding DNA molecules. The invention also relates to a method whereby aopB.related proteins are used as carriers to display passenger proteins on the surface of bacteria.

Abstract: A nitrile compound having a complicated structure (e.g., 2-hydroxy-4-methylthiobutyronitrile) is converted into an amide compound with high production efficiency, by using a novel microorganism of which the gene 16S rRNA has a specific base sequence. As the microorganism, Rhodococcus sp. Cr4 strain and Rhodococcus sp. Am8 strain or the like is employed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a genomic DNA of Buchnera. That is, this invention provides genes derived from Buchnera sp., comprising DNA of the following (a) or (b); (a) a DNA selected from a group consisting of a DNA having a nucleotide sequence ranging from a start point to an end point as shown in Table 1 in a nucleotide sequence represented by SEQ ID NO:1, or a DNA complementary thereto, and (b) a DNA hybridizing to the DNA of (a) under stringent conditions and encoding a protein having a function same as that of the product expressed by the DNA.

Abstract: The present invention provides amino acid sequences of peptides that are encoded by genes within the human genome, the transporter cofactor peptides of the present invention. The present invention specifically provides isolated peptide and nucleic acid molecules, methods of identifying orthologs and paralogs of the transporter cofactor peptides, and methods of identifying modulators of the transporter cofactor peptides.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to the identification of mutant strains of methicillin resistant bacteria, in particular methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus, to identify the characteristics of such bacteria and develop drugs that can reverse, inhibit, or reduce bacterial resistance to beta lactam antibiotics, e.g., methicillin. The invention particularly relates to identification of a novel mutant strain of methicillin resistant S. aureus that manifests a unique phenotype, having a block in cell wall synthesis at or close to the branch point in hexose metabolism involved in the synthesis of cell wall components. Accordingly, the invention provides for methods of treatment and corresponding pharmaceutical compositions for treating bacterial, particularly staphylococcal, infections.

Abstract: The invention provides MurA polypeptides and polynucleotides encoding MurA polypeptides and methods for producing such polypeptides by recombinant techniques. Also provided are methods for utilizing MurA polypeptides to screen for antibacterial compounds.

Abstract: The invention provides galK promoter polynucleotides and methods for producing and using such polynucleotides, as well as their variants, agonists and antagonists, and their uses.

Abstract: The present invention relates to Nocardia sp. CYKS2 (KCTC 0432 Br) capable of selective removal of organically bound sulfurs from carbonaceous fossil fuel such as petroleum and coal by cleaving bonds between carbon and sulfur atoms in the said sulfur-containing organic compounds, and a method for biological desulfurization using this strain at the room temperature and atmospheric pressure. Since Nocardia sp. CYKS2 (KCTC 0432 Bp) utilizes various organic sulfur compounds in fossil fuel besides dibenzothiophene as a sole sulfur source, the method for biological desulfurization employing the Nocardia strain has advantages over the conventional chemical methods as followings: The desulfurization can be carried out at a mild condition; the cost for installation and operation of equipments can be reduced; and, the desulfurization of highly complex organic sulfur compounds can be realized.

Abstract: The invention provides three human vesicle membrane protein-like proteins (VMP) and polynucleotides which identify and encode VMP. The invention also provides expression vectors, host cells, agonists, antibodies, and antagonists. The invention also provides methods for treating and preventing disorders associated with expression of VMP.