Abstract: The present invention provides an isolated AZF1 gene sequence, recombinant vectors, and recombinant yeast which are useful in methods of enhanced biofuel production, particularly ethanol production. Methods of bioengineering recombinant yeast with isolated AZF1 gene sequence useful for biofuel production are also provided.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosed technology are directed to a method for combining seed priming and vacuum infiltration to facilitate deep penetration of chemicals or other substances into seeds. By combining the two processes, the germination process of seeds can be started allowing a relatively lengthy period of disinfection. The lengthy period of disinfection under vacuum provides maximum penetration into the seed in order to eradicate diseases occurring deep inside the seed. Any type of seed priming may be used in the disclosed method, including, but not limited to, osmopriming, matrix priming, or hydropriming. Further, any type of seed may be treated, including most vegetable crops, ornamentals, and agronomic crops.

Abstract: A container holding, and a method of storing, freeze-dried biological samples. The container includes a chamber having an upper portion and a lower portion. The chamber includes a wall, and the lower portion of the chamber is fluidly connected to the upper portion of the chamber such that, when liquid is received at the upper portion, the received liquid can pass to and accumulate in the lower portion. Further, the freeze-dried material is located in the lower portion, and the container includes a physical structure in the form of a stop protruding inwards from the wall, the physical structure being for inhibiting the freeze-dried material from moving from the lower portion of the chamber to the upper portion of the chamber.

Abstract: Hepatic progenitors comprise two populations of human hepatic stem cells, primitive and proximal hepatic stem cells, and two populations of committed progenitors, one for biliary cells and one for hepatocytes. Human primitive hepatic stem cells are a very small fraction of the liver cell population and give rise to proximal hepatic stem cells constituting a much larger fraction of the liver. Human proximal hepatic stem cells give rise to biliary and hepatocyte committed progenitors. Primitive and proximal stem cells are the primary stem cells for the human liver. Human primitive hepatic stem cells may be isolated by immunoselection from human livers or culturing human liver cells under conditions which select for a human primitive hepatic stem cell. Proximal hepatic stem cells may be isolated by immunoselection, or by culturing human liver cells under conditions which include a developmental factor.

Abstract: This invention provides cross-linked glycopeptide-cephalosporin compounds and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof which are useful as antibiotics. This invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions containing such compounds; methods for treating bacterial infections in a mammal using such compounds; and processes and intermediates useful for preparing such compounds.

Abstract: A method of measuring in vivo nitric oxide and nitrite levels in individuals by providing a salivary nitrite test substrate, testing salivary nitrite levels with the test substrate, measuring nitrite levels detected in the testing; and correlating the measured nitrite levels with in vivo nitric oxide bio-availability.

Abstract: This invention provides cross-linked glycopeptide—cephalosporin compounds and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof which are useful as antibiotics. This invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions containing such compounds; methods for treating bacterial infections in a mammal using such compounds; and processes and intermediates useful for preparing such compounds.

Abstract: This invention provides cross-linked glycopeptide-cephalosporin compounds and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof which are useful as antibiotics. This invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions containing such compounds; methods for treating bacterial infections in a mammal using such compounds; and processes and intermediates useful for preparing such compounds.

Abstract: This invention provides cross-linked glycopeptide-cephalosporin compounds and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof which are useful as antibiotics. This invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions containing such compounds; methods for treating bacterial infections in a mammal using such compounds; and processes and intermediates useful for preparing such compounds.

Abstract: This invention provides cross-linked glycopeptide-cephalosporin compounds and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof which are useful as antibiotics. This invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions containing such compounds; methods for treating bacterial infections in a mammal using such compounds; and processes and intermediates useful for preparing such compounds.

Abstract: This invention provides cross-linked glycopeptide-cephalosporin compounds and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof which are useful as antibiotics. This invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions containing such compounds; methods for treating bacterial infections in a mammal using such compounds; and processes and intermediates useful for preparing such compounds.

Abstract: This invention provides cross-linked glycopeptide-cephalosporin compounds and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof which are useful as antibiotics. This invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions containing such compounds; methods for treating bacterial infections in a mammal using such compounds; and processes and intermediates useful for preparing such compounds.

Abstract: This invention provides cross-linked glycopeptides—cephalosporin compounds and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof which are useful as antibiotics. This invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions containing such compounds; methods for treating bacterial infections in a mammal using such compounds; and processes and intermediates useful for preparing such compounds.

Abstract: The invention enables efficient, rapid, and sensitive enumeration of living cells by detecting microscopic colonies derived from in situ cell division using large area imaging. Microbial enumeration tests based on the invention address an important problem in clinical and industrial microbiology—the long time needed for detection in traditional tests—while retaining key advantages of the traditional methods based on microbial culture. Embodiments of the invention include non-destructive aseptic methods for detecting cellular microcolonies without labeling reagents. These methods allow for the generation of pure cultures which can be used for microbial identification and determination of antimicrobial resistance.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel obligately symbiotic thermophile Symbiobacterium toebii SC-1 (Accession NO: KCTC 0685BP), and a thermostable L-tyrosine phenol-lyase and L-tryptophan indole-lyase produced by Symbiobacterium toebii SC-1. The present invention also relates to a pure culture method of Symbiobacterium toebii SC-1, a method of growth measurement for Symbiobacterium toebii SC-1 and its relative symbiotic bacteria showing low-growth yield using nitrate respiration, and a screening method of relative symbiotic strains of Symbiobacterium toebii SC-1 from the environment using a specific antibody to it. Therefore, the thermostable L-tyrosine phenol-lyase and L-tryptophan indole-lyase produced by Symbiobacterium toebii SC-1 in this invention can provide more stable catalysts in enzymatic biotransformation processes which enzymatically produce valuable medico-amino acids 3,4-dehydroxy-L-phenylalanine (L-DOPA) and L-tryptophan.

Abstract: The invention relates to novel Methylobacterium species that are capable of degrading nitroaromatic and nitramine compounds. Compositions, kits and methods of using the Methylobacterium species for the degradation of nitroaromatic and nitramine pollutants are provided. More specifically, compositions and methods for the degradation or bioremediation of nitroaromatic and nitramine explosives and explosive residues are provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel obligately symbiotic thermophile Symbiobacterium toebii SC-1(Accession NO: KCTC 0685BP), and a thermostable L-tyrosine phenol-lyase and L-tryptophan indole-lyase produced by Symbiobacterium toebii SC-1. The present invention also relates to a pure culture method of Symbiobacterium toebii SC-1, a method of growth measurement for Symbiobacterium toebu SC-1 and its relative symbiotic bacteria showing low-growth yield using nitrate respiration, and a screening method of relative symbiotic strains of Symbiobacterium toebii SC-1 from the environment using a specific antibody to it. Therefore, the thermostable L-tyrosine phenol-lyase and L-tryptophan indole-lyase produced by Symbiobacterium toebii SC-1 in this invention can provide more stable catalysts in enzymatic biotransformation processes which enzymatically produce valuable medico-amino acids 3,4-dehydroxy-L-phenylalanine (L-DOPA) and L-tryptophan.

Abstract: Methods for identifying and monitoring increased or decreased levels of inducible nitric oxide synthase in biological samples are provided. A collection device for detecting inducible nitric oxide synthase in biological samples is also provided. Detection of inducible nitric oxide synthase is useful in the diagnosis of inflammatory responses such as infections mediated by bacteria, yeast or viruses, transplant rejection, rheumatoid arthritis, interstitial cystitis and cancer.

Abstract: The method of producing luminescent bacteria is based on the transfer of genetic information for biological luminescence to obligate chemolithoautotrophic nitrifying microorganisms. In particular, luciferase DNA or a luciferase-beta-galactosidase transcription fusion is transferred into ammonia-oxidizing bacteria with the aid of plasmid- or transposon vector systems. The bioluminescent nitrification microorganisms, particularly Nitrosomonas strains modified by genetic engineering, are used in order to identify specific inhibitors during nitrification processes, the viability of these microorganisms being determined by measuring the decrease in luminescence. A particularly important application is that inhibitors in a nitrifying biological sewage treatment plant can be detected in this manner.

Abstract: The present invention provided compositions, methods and kits for detection and quantitation of pathogenic organisms. The composition of the invention is an oligonucleotide probe comprising a bacteriophage covalently linked to one site on an oligonucleotide probe complementary to a conserved region of a pathogenic organism. At a second site, the oligonucleotide probe is linked to a matrix. The oligonucleotide probe contains a region complementary to one strand of a restriciton endonuclease recognition site or an oligoribonucleotide moiety. The number of pathogenic organisms present in a biological fluid sample may be quantitated in accordance with the method of the invention by combining the composition of the invention with the sample, allowing hybridization to occur. Hybridization generates a DNA-RNA hybrid, and by adding the appropriate nucleolytic enzyme capable of cleaving DNA-RNA hybrids; bacteriophage will be released for measurement.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method to determine the concentration of an unknown substance in a colorimetric reaction using a fluorometric reader. The change in color can be monitored by observing the change of fluorescence of a known amount of a suitable fluorophore in the reaction chamber. Under appropriate conditions the absorption spectrum of the chromophore overlaps with the emission spectrum of the fluorophore thereby allowing the change in fluorescence to be proportional to the intensity of color in the reaction and thus, proportional to the quantity of the substance of interest. Specifically, 8-methoxypyrene tri-sulfonic acid is used as the fluorophore.

Abstract: Methods for the isolation of mutant rhizobial strains with improved competition of nodulation (Comp.sup.+) is presented. Mutants are selected for constitutive expression of inducible nod genes (in the absence of inducer) and screened for hyperinduction of nod genes in the presence of inducer. Mutants which are defective in nodulation or in symbiotic nitrogen fixation are eliminated from further testing. Selections for constitutive nod expression and for hyperinduction of nod genes are facilitated by the use of plasmid carrying a selectable marker fused to an inducible nod gene and a plasmid carrying a reporter gene fused downstream of an inducible nod gene. The methods exemplified are particularly useful for the isolation and identification of Comp.sup.+ mutants of Bradyrhizobium japonicum.

Abstract: The invention relates to NAD(P)H-dependent nitrate reductase from yeasts, to a process for the preparation thereof and to the use thereof in a reagent for determining nitrate. The nitrate reductase is characterized by a molecular weight of about 350 000 D and can be obtained by yeast cells which have been cultivated in a completely synthetic nutrient medium with nitrate as the sole nitrogen source and which contain nitrate reductase being disrupted in phosphate buffer, the crude extract being chromatographed on an anion exchanger, the fractions containing nitrate reductase being mixed with protein, concentrated by ultrafiltration and dried by fluidized bed granulation. The reagent for determining nitrate contains, besides the nitrate reductase prepared in this way, also NAD(P)H and a color reagent for determining nitrite.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the production of proteins or protein-containing gene products by transformation of eukaryotic host cells with a recombinant DNA molecule containing the gene for the desired protein, culturing the cells and isolating the gene product after expression, wherein, as host cells, there is used a yeast strain which is deficient in proteases A and B.

Abstract: The present invention provides a stabilized, NAD(P)H-dependent, soluble nitrate reductase of the assimilatory type, characterized by a molecular weight of about 90,000 D in the case of electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulphate and a residual activity after 3 weeks at 35.degree. C. of more than 60%, obtainable by preparing a suspension of the comminuted starting material in tris/tartaric acid buffer (pH 7-8.5), adding soluble polyethyleneimine thereto in such an amount that 10 to 20% of the nitrate reductase activity passes into the precipitation obtained, separating off the precipitate and working up the supernatant according to conventional biochemical methods of fractionation in the above-mentioned digestion buffer, dialyzing the enzyme solution obtained and lyophilizing in a zwitterionic buffer.

Abstract: A nutrient growth medium which is highly selective for pathogenic Neisseria is provided. The nutrient growth medium includes an antibiotic agent which is a combination of vancomycin and lincomycin. The combination of lincomycin and vancomycin allows the use of lower concentrations of vancomycin than are generally employed in culture media used for the selective isolation of pathogenic Neisseria species.

Abstract: A microbiological culture test process for detecting the presence of nitrate-reducing microorganisms in an inoculum sample, which comprises(a) culturing a microorganism to be tested in the presence of adequately nitrite-free nitrate, for a period sufficient to allow reduction of nitrate by any microorganism (if present) that has the capacity to reduce nitrate to nitrite, (e.g. 1-6 hours);(b) exposing the culture medium after culture to (diazotizing) acid conditions in the presence of an amino-containing fluorophor thereby to cause diazotization of the fluorophor to the extent of any nitrite present in the medium to form a diazonium derivative (or further reaction product thereof) which is substantially less fluorescent (or fluoresces at a substantially different wavelength) than said amino-containing fluorophor, and(c) assessing the fluorescence of the culture medium as treated by step (b), thereby to show a reduction in fluorescence in the presence of a nitrate-reducing microorganism.

Abstract: A composition for assaying nitrites comprising a diazotizable amine, an acid component and a coupling component, wherein the coupling component is a compound of the following formula I: ##STR1## wherein R represents a hydrogen atom or a straight-chain alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, such as a methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, n-butyl, n-pentyl or n-hexyl group and n represents an integer of 1 to 6, with the proviso that the sulfoalkyl group may be substituted with at least 1 hydroxyl group,or a water-soluble salt thereof as well as test devices carrying the composition. This composition is far more sensitive than conventional compositions for assaying nitrites. With this composition, for example, a trace amount of as small as 0.02 mg/100 ml of a nitrite to be detected in urine in the diagnosis of a bacterial infection such as urinary tract infection can be detected surely.

Abstract: A strain of Neisseria gonorrhoeae ATCC 31953 is described which is abnormal in that it has characteristically poor growth on chocolate agar at a temperature range of about 30.degree. C. to about 37.degree. C. in a CO.sub.2 atmosphere suitable for growth of N. gonorrhoeae. This strain is resistant to nalidixic acid at the 5-10 mcg/ml level and resistant to streptomycin at the 1000 mcg/ml level or greater. N. gonorrhoeae ATCC 31953 is a test strain suitable for use in the method described for the laboratory diagnosis of gonorrhea.

Abstract: A method for detecting the presence of nitrite ions in fluids by pretreat nitrite containing fluids to enhance the detectability with nitrite detecting reagents of the nitrite ions therein, which pretreatment step comprises passing the nitrite containing fluids through activated charcoal prior to combination with a nitrite detection reagent.Also a test kit for carrying out the above method.

Abstract: Process for the preparation of test reagents comprising antigens or antibodies adsorbed on a surface, for example, the surface of synthetic or natural polymer particles in which the test material to be adsorbed is dissolved in a solvent in contact with the adsorbing surface and precipitated by the addition of a liquid which is miscible with the solvent, but does not dissolve the test material.

Abstract: Method for rapid, high intensity visual indication of the presence of Neisseria bacteria species utilizing a new and improved peptone buffer and pH indicator reagent system as the specimen carrier for oxidation series testing, which series test may also include beta lactamase enzyme detection utilizing the reaction of the same reagent system carrying the specimen with a penicillin substrate.

Abstract: Electrochemical method for determining the concentration of a carbon source and L-amino acid in a fermentation medium or cultured broth by contacting a microbial electrode consisting of an oxygen-sensitive electrode or a carbon dioxide gas-sensitive electrode combined with fixed microbial cells of a microorganism capable of assimilating said carbon source or decarboxylating said L-amino acid with a sample solution and sensing electrically the rate of current decrease which is caused by the consumed oxygen in the solution in proportion to the concentration of carbon source; or the electric motive force which is caused by the liberation of carbon dioxide in the sample solution in proportion to the concentration of L-amino acid. Microbial electrodes and systems useful in carrying out the aforementioned method are disclosed.

Abstract: Method and compositions for infectious disease diagnosis and epidemiology involving labeled nucleotide probes complementary to nucleic acid coding for a characteristic pathogen product. Clinical isolates are cultivated, expanding the number of microorganisms, the resulting colonies lysed, the genome normally denatured and then fixed. Alternatively, clinical samples (stool, sputum, pus, etc.) are spotted onto an inert support. The sample is treated in such a way that the DNA is liberated from microbes present in the sample and complexed onto the support. The DNA is normally denatured and fixed in this process. Subsequently, a labelled polynucleotide probe specific for a DNA sequence characteristic of a pathogenic product suspected of being present in the clinical sample is contacted with the fixed genomic single stranded nucleic acid under hybridizing conditions. Hybridization of probes to the single stranded nucleic acid is diagnostic of the presence of the pathogen.

Abstract: An over the counter swab kit for self detection of gonorrhea in the male using an ampul containing 1% N, N, N' N' tetramethyl-p- phenylenediamene or tetramethyl chromogen. The method of taking a sample is also shown in which the open end of a tube is filled with a plug in the form of fibrous material. After a sample is taken of exudate from a male, the 1% solution of tetramethyl chromogen reacts with Neisseria gonorrhea which may be present in the exudate to produce a color change. The plug, before the test, is in a dry condition, the plug is activated only by the tetramethyl chromogen which is placed below the plug in the tube and the ampul broken to release its contents. A sufficient amount of 1% tetramethyl chromogen is held within the frangible ampul to wet the plug and this amount is 1/2 the volume than is used in the saline ampul in my companion patent application entitled Over the Counter Swab Kit for Self Detection of Gonorrhea in the Male Using Saline Ampul.

Abstract: A medium for determining Escherichia coli sensitivity to a pre-selected antimicrobial agent. The medium contains nutrient sources, inhibitors to inhibit growth of gram-positive and of other gram-negative micro-organisms, and an indicator which will show metabolic activity or lack thereof by E. coli in the medium, and a specific antimicrobial agent whose effectiveness against E. coli is being tested. If a given agent is effective against E. coli when E. coli is added to the medium containing that agent, the medium will remain clear. If the specific agent is ineffective against E. coli the color of the medium containing E. coli and that agent will change to blue as the E. coli metabolizes in the medium and produces acid.

Abstract: A single basal growth medium for receiving various substrates for the purpose of rapid identification of any species of non-fermentative Gram-negative bacilli (NFB), wherein the medium is low in organic nitrogen but is supplemented with inorganic nitrogen from an ammonium ion source to enhance NFB growth. The medium also serves to identify members of the family Enterobacteriaceae, cytochrome oxidase positive fermenters, Gram-positive bacilli, Gram-positive cocci, and anaerobes.

Abstract: The concentration of ammonia in an aqueous liquid is determined by contacting a sample of the liquid with dissolved oxygen and with a microbial electrode comprising an oxygen-sensitive electrode, a porous membrane, and nitrifying bacteria confined or immobilised by the membrane which are in direct or close contact with the diaphragm of the electrode. The rate of oxygen consumption under otherwise uniform conditions is as precise a measure of concentration of ammonia as a conventional colorimetric method and distillation-titration method.

Abstract: The method and apparatus for testing the susceptibility of bacteria to antibiotics described in the U.S. Pat. No. 3,832,532 and related patents are adapted for identifying various strains of bacteria by determining the light scatter indices (LSI) for a special group of antimicrobials, which have particularly significant characteristics with respect to identifying the strains of microorganisms, and analyzing them by a computer method, such as a quadratic discriminant function statistical technique, to identify the microorganisms to which the antimicrobials are applied. It has been found that 14 antimicrobial agents provide an extremely reliable identification and it is believed that the identifying group of agents could be reduced without sacrificing too much reliability. The agents preferably should be those which are not in common therapeutic use to avoid errors resulting from strains which have become immune to various therapeutically-utilized antibiotic agents.

Abstract: A microorganism identification test container comprises a tray member provided with a plurality of integrally formed open wells. A number of the wells are microorganism identification test wells having biochemical test media which in hydrated form permits growth of microorganisms with the generation of a volatile color-forming compound. Another number of wells are negative control wells corresponding to each of the test wells provided and including an inhibitor which in aqueous solution prevents color formation in the negative control wells from the volatile color-forming compound generated in the test wells. The wells are preferably disposed in a number of generally parallel rows or lines wherein one line or row contains a series of biochemical test media and an adjacent line or row contains the corresponding negative control medium for each test.

Abstract: A microbial growth medium for the isolation and rapid detection of Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Neisseria meningitidis, having incorporated therein an iron-dextran complex in a quantity sufficient to stimulate maximum colony growth.

Abstract: Serological method for determining presence of Neisseria gonorrhoeae antibodies in human sera and products utilized in such testing.

Abstract: Bacteria of the genus Neisseria can be detected in a sample by testing for the presence of an enzyme capable of oxidizing 1,2-propanediol and reducing NAD (nicotinamide-adenine-dinucleotide). The complete structure of the enzyme is not known but, because of those two characterizing properties, the nomenclature 1,2-propanediol dehydrogenase therefor is proposed herein.