Abstract: A method for the production of clavulanic acid by the fermentation of a clavulanic acid producing microorganism at a controlled level of at least 50 mg/l ammonia has been provided for.

Abstract: This invention provides protease-activatable Pseudomonas exotoxin A-like (“PE-like”) proproteins. The proproteins comprise (1) a cell recognition domain of between 10 and 1500 amino acids that binds to a cell surface receptor; (2) a modified PE translocation domain comprising an amino acid sequence sufficiently homologous to domain II of PE to effect translocation to a cell cytosol upon proteolytic cleavage, wherein the translocation domain comprises a cysteine-cysteine loop that comprises a protease activatable sequence cleavable by a protease and wherein the cysteine-cysteine loop is substantially un-activatable by furin; (3) optionally, a PE Ib-like domain comprising an amino acid sequence up to 1500 amino acids; (4) a cytotoxicity domain comprising an amino acid sequence substantially homologous to domain m of PE, the cytotoxicity domain having ADP-ribosylating activity; and (5) an endoplasmic reticulum (“ER”) retention sequence.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a novel bacterial autoinducer, methods of its manufacture, isolation and purification, uses of autoinducer isolated and purified using same, and the uses of the autoinducer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to genetically attenuated superantigen toxin vaccines altered such that superantigen attributes are absent, however the superantigen is effectively recognized and an appropriate immune response is produced. The attenuated superantigen toxins are shown to protect animals against challenge with wild type toxin. Methods of producing and using the altered superantigen toxins are described.

Abstract: A procedure for the preparation of pseudomonic acid A comprising submerged cultivation of a Pseudomonas bacterium strain capable of biosynthesis of the substantially pure pseudomonic acid A in aerated conditions via fermentation; and isolation of the desired compound is disclosed. In particular, the procedure of the present invention comprises cultivation of the Pseudomonas sp. bacterium strain No. 19/26 deposited under accession No. NCAIM(P)B 001235 in the National Collection of the Agricultural and Industrial Microorganisms, Budapest, Hungary, or its pseudomonic acid A-producing mutant or variant, on a medium at a temperature of between about 20° C. and 30° C. containing organic nitrogen and carbon sources and, optionally, mineral salts.

Abstract: The subject invention concerns materials and methods usefull in the control of non-mammalian pests and, particularly, plant pests. In a specific embodiment, the subject invention provides new Bacillus thuringiensis toxins usefull for the control of lepidopterans. The subject invention further provides nucleotide sequences which encode the toxins of the subject invention. The nucleotide sequences of the subject invention can be used to transform hosts, such as plants, to express the pesticidal toxins of the subject invention. The subject invention further concerns novel nucleotide primers for the identification of genes encoding toxins active against pests. The primers are useful in PCR techniques to produce gene fragments which are characteristic of genes encoding these toxins. The primers are also usefull as nucleotide probes to detect the toxin-encoding genes.

Abstract: The present invention describes the use of chemically defined media for the fermentative production of valuable compounds on an industrial scale. Microbial strains which are suitable for fermentation on an industrial scale using a chemically defined medium include fungal, yeast and bacterial strains. Suitable strains can be obtained as wild type strains or by screening and selection after mutagenic treatment or DNA transformation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of preparing a phenotypically antibiotic-resistant subpopulation of stationary phase bacteria by treating stationary phase bacteria with high doses of antibacterial agents, the subpopulation thus identified, a process for identifying new antibacterial agents by testing against the antibiotic-resistant subpopulation, the compounds thus identified and their uses, particularly in treating bacterial infections involving dormant bacteria.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the preparation of ampicillin in which 6-aminopenicillanic acid (6-APA) is subjected to an enzymatic acylation reaction with the aid of a phenylglycine derivative, with the total concentration of the 6-APA present in the reaction mixture, plus ampicillin, being greater than 250 mM, the concentration of 6-APA in solution being kept lower than 300 mM and the molar ratio of acylation agent to 6-APA which is employed being less than 2.5.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for preparing a &bgr;-lactam antibiotic, wherein an N-substituted &bgr;-lactam, having general formula (I), wherein R0 is hydrogen or C1-3 alkoxy; Y is CH2, oxygen, sulfur, or an oxidized form of sulfur; Z is (a), (b), (c) or (d), wherein R1 is hydrogen, hydroxy, halogen, C1-3 alkoxy, optionally substituted, optionally containing one or more heteroatoms, saturated or unsaturated, branched or straight C1-5 alkyl, preferably methyl, optionally substituted, optionally containing one or more heteroatoms C5-8 cycloalkyl, optionally substituted aryl or heteroaryl, or optionally substituted benzyl; and X is (CH2)m-A-(CH2)n, wherein m and n are the same or different and are chosen from the group of integers 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4 and A is CH═CH, C═C, CHB, C═O, optionally substituted nitrogen, oxygen, sulfur or an optionally oxidized form of sulfur, and B is hydrogen, halogen, hydroxy, C1-3 alkoxy, or optionally substituted methyl, or a salt thereof, is contacted with at least

Abstract: The antibiotic TKR2999 having the physicochemical properties described below and its pharmacologically acceptable salt: (1) FAB-MS m/z 971 [M+H)]+, (2) the molecular formula: C44H78N10O14, and high-resolution FAB-MS m/z 971.5776 [M+H]+, (3) the ultraviolet absorption spectrum in methanol has an end absorption, (4) the infrared absorption spectrum by KBr method shows the major absorption wave numbers at 3320, 2920, 1680, 1540, 1210, 1140, 840, 800, and 720 cm−1, (5) aspartic acid, threonine, serine, glycine, alanine, &bgr;-alanine, and ornithine are detected by the amino acid analysis using ninhydrin reaction, and (6) the solubility is that it is soluble in methanol, and practically insoluble in hexane, chloroform, and water.

Abstract: Disclosed are Bacillus thuringiensis strains comprising novel crystal proteins which exhibit insecticidal activity against coleopteran insects including red flour beetle larvae (Tribolium castaneum) and Japanese beetle larvae (Popillia japonica). Also disclosed are novel B. thuringiensis crystal toxin genes, designated cryET33 and cryET34, which encode respectively the coleopteran-toxic proteins, CryET33 (29-kDa) crystal protein, and CryET34 (14-kDa) crystal protein. Also disclosed are methods of making and using transgenic cells comprising the novel nucleic acid sequences of the invention.

Abstract: A method and composition for treating a patient suffering from a disease, disorder or condition and associated pain include the administration to the patient of a therapeutically effective amount of a neurotoxin selected from a group consisting of Botulinum toxin types A, B, C, D, E, F and G.

Abstract: Culturally modified lactic acid bacterial cells containing a porphyrin compound and their use in a novel method of reducing the oxygen content in a food and feed product or starting material is provided and means of improving the shelf life and/or quality of such products by using the culturally modified bacterial cells. Such culturally modified cells are useful in the manufacturing of a food and a feed product and for the manufacturing of metabolites produced by modified cells.

Abstract: A method and composition for treating a patient, suffering from a disease, disorder or condition and associated pain include the administration to the patient of a therapeutically effective amount of a neurotoxin selected from a group consisting of Botulinum toxin types A, B, C, D, E, F and G.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing &ggr;-polyglutamic acid (&ggr;-PGA) from high-viscous culture broth, more particularly, to an economical and efficient process for preparing &ggr;-polyglutamic acid from high-viscous culture broth with easy removal of microorganisms and a subsequent concentrating process employing a filtration membrane. The present invention provides the process for preparing &ggr;-polyglutamic acid from high-viscous culture broth which comprises the steps of: culturing &ggr;-polyglutamic acid-producing microorganism for 15-30 hours under condition of pH 5.0-7.5 and 30-40° C. to obtain high-viscous culture broth with a concentration of 20-30 g/L; removing microorganism from the high-viscous culture broth thus obtained by adjusting pH to 2-4 or 7-9 and centrifuging at 3,000-9,000 rpm for 10-50 minutes; and, obtaining &ggr;-polyglutamic acid by concentrating the culture broth employing filter and precipitating &ggr;-polyglutamic acid by addition of alcohol.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a method for obtaining a factor which potentiates the pesticidal activity of a Bacillus related pesticide, a chemical pesticide and/or a virus with pesticidal properties.

Abstract: Proteinaceous antibiotics produced by ruminal bacteria are provided. The diverse group of ruminal bacteria known as Butyrivibrio spp. is a preferred source of such proteinaceous antibiotics. The proteinaceous antibiotics are generally resistant to gastric proteases, exhibit a high level of hydrophobicity, are effective to inhibit growth of target organisms under anaerobic conditions, are ineffective in aerobic conditions, and have a molecular weight of less than about 5 kDa. Also provided are methods for identifying ruminal bacteria which produce such proteinaceous antibiotics, and methods for producing the proteinaceous antibiotics.

Abstract: This invention provides compositions and methods for treating or preventing footrot, in particular bovine footrot, by administering Porphyromonas and/or Prevotella and/or subunits and/or toxins thereof or neutralizing agents such as antibodies thereto. A model useful for evaluating the effectiveness of footrot treatments or preventatives is also provided.

Abstract: The invention provides novel antibiotics of the pacidamycin group of uridyl peptide antibiotics and methods of preparing and using those compounds.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a novel depsipeptide has been isolated from a new marine strain L-13-ACM2-092 belonging to the family Micromonosporaceae. Its production by aerobic fermentation under controlled conditions of the strain, and the isolation and purification of PM-93135 are described herein. The compound and the fermentation broth demonstrate significant activity against several cancer cell lines. The compound also shows activity against several gram positive bacteria.

Abstract: A process for the isolation of clavulanic acid and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, such as potassium clavulanate, from the aqueous fermentation broth of a clavulanic acid-producing microorganism comprises the microfiltration of the broth without prior treatment.

Abstract: The invention relates to isolated polynucleotides and the proteins encoded thereby, and to their use in controlling lamellicorn beetles (Scarabaeidae). In addition, the invention relates to a method of producing those proteins. The polynucleotides of the invention encode proteins that are identical to or at least related to the crystal proteins characteristic of Bacillus popilliae and that are suitable for the inhibition of the feeding activity and/or for the destruction of adult and/or larval scarabaeids, especially Melolontha species and species closely related thereto.

Abstract: The invention relates to cDNA genetic sequences, vehicles containing same as well as hosts tansformed therewith, for the production of chimeric immunoglobulin molecules, functional fragments thereof and immunoglobulin derivatives exhibiting novel functional properties comprising human constant region modules and non-human variable region modules, or for class switching antibody molecules and/or chains. The invention also relates to DNA coding for pectate lyase signal peptide has been cloned on a plasmid to create a secretion vector which is capable of producing a chosen protein which is transported across the bacterial membrane. The secretion vector has been used to secrete extracellular thaumatin and extracellular chimeric antibody fragments. The proteins produced by this vector have biological activity. The thaumatin is properly folded and the antibody fragments are capable of binding antigens on target cancer cells.

Abstract: The invention relates to lipopeptides with very homologous amino-acid sequences but different fatty acid residues (lipid portion) which are synthesized by Actinoplanes sp. during fermentation and are released into the culture medium, to a process for isolating the lipopeptides from the culture medium and purifying them, to the use of the lipopeptides as pharmacologically active substances, in particular against Gram-positive bacteria, and to Actinoplanes sp. DSM 7358 for producing the abovementioned lipopeptides.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the biosynthesis of &bgr;-lactam antibiotics. More specifically, the invention relates to processes of producing &bgr;-lactam antibiotics in vivo and in vitro. Also contemplated is a novel enzyme capable of catalyzing certain steps involved in &bgr;-lactam biosynthesis. Further, the invention relates to a DNA construct encoding the novel enzyme, a recombinant vector or transformation vehicle comprising the DNA construct, and finally a cell comprising the DNA construct or recombinant vector.

Abstract: This invention relates to micro-organisms capable of selectively producing streptogramin components A and B, the preparation of said micro-organisms, and streptogramin A or B.

Abstract: A soluble form of DTctGMCSF is produced with high yield in insect cells, preferably using the baculovirus expression vector system (BEVS).