Abstract: The disclosure provides variant Cel6a enzymes having increased thermostability, methods of making and using such polypeptides.

Abstract: Methods to digest carbohydrates, especially lignocelluloses and hemicelluloses, using fungal proteins previously not recognized as having this activity are described.

Abstract: Provided is a modified Family 1 carbohydrate binding module (CBM) comprising amino acid substitutions at one or more of positions 10, 11, 12, 14, 17, 21, 24, 29, 31, 33, and 37, said position determined from alignment of a Family 1 CBM amino acid sequence with SEQ ID NO: 30, and exhibiting from about 50% to about 99.9% amino acid sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 30. Also provided are modified glycosidase enzymes comprising the modified Family 1 CBM, genetic constructs and genetically modified microbes for expressing the modified Family 1 CBM or modified glycosidase enzyme. The modified Family 1 CBM confers reduced lignin binding and/or increased hydrolyzing activity in the presence of lignin to the modified glycosidase enzyme, which may be used in a process for hydrolyzing cellulose or hemicellulose in the presence of lignin.

Abstract: A method to treat a lignocellulosic material including: pretreating the lignocellulosic material to produce a slurry; adding an alkali material to the slurry in a first conveyor; adding a first portion of an enzyme solution to the slurry while the slurry is in, entering or passing through the discharge of a second conveyor; transferring the slurry with the enzyme solution from the second conveyor slurry to a mixer; mixing the slurry with a second portion of the enzyme solution, and transferring the slurry with the enzyme solution mixed with the first and second portions of the enzyme solution to a first reactor vessel for enzymatic hydrolysis, wherein the viscosity of the slurry is reduced in the first reactor vessel.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for pretreating lignocellulosic biomass containing alkali and/or alkaline earth metal (AAEM). The method comprises providing a lignocellulosic biomass containing AAEM; determining the amount of the AAEM present in the lignocellulosic biomass; identifying, based on said determining, the amount of a mineral acid sufficient to completely convert the AAEM in the lignocellulosic biomass to thermally-stable, catalytically-inert salts; and treating the lignocellulosic biomass with the identified amount of the mineral acid, wherein the treated lignocellulosic biomass contains thermally-stable, catalytically inert AAEM salts.

Abstract: Described herein are methods, compositions and synthetic biology approaches for solvent production, including but not limited to butanol production. Described herein are recombinant bacteria and yeast strains which may be used in production of a solvent, including but not limited to butanol, from lignocellulosic and other plant-based feedstocks. Described herein are methods of producing solvents, including but not limited to butanol, using bacteria and yeast strains. Described herein are methods of producing organisms that display highly efficient butanol production.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an isolated mutant eubacterium comprising at least one mutation resulting in a substitution of at least one amino acid in the beta-subunit of the RNA-polymerase encoded for by the rpoB-gene providing an altered production of a product of interest when said production of a product of interest is compared to the production of the same product in an isogenic wild type strain grown at identical conditions, wherein the substitution of at least one amino acid occurs at any of positions 469, 478, 482, 485, or 487 of SEQ ID NO:2, or at the equivalent positions in any eubacterial RNA-polymerase beta-subunit family member. Another aspect of the invention relates to a process for producing at least one product of interest in a mutant eubacterium and to a use of the mutant eubacterium according to the invention for producing at least one product of interest.

Abstract: Provided are a feed composition, which can be stored for a long time and is easily produced and adjustable in components, and which can increase the body weight and reduce a feed conversion ratio of farm animals to which the feed composition is fed, and a production method for the feed composition. In the feed composition, a liquid feed additive obtained by fermenting a carbohydrate-containing carbohydrate raw material by Aspergillus is substituted for 5 to 50% on a dry matter basis of a feed raw-material.

Abstract: Biomass (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) is processed to produce useful products, such as fuels. For example, systems are described that can use feedstock materials, such as cellulosic and/or lignocellulosic materials, to produce ethanol and/or butanol, e.g., by fermentation.

Abstract: The invention provides variants of the Clostridium thermocellum endoglucanase (CelG) that have improved endoglucanase activity compared to the wild type enzyme. Also provided are related polynucleotides, compositions, vectors, host cells, and methods of use.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to cellulase variants. In particular the present disclosure relates to cellulase variants having reduced binding to non-cellulosic materials. Also described are nucleic acids encoding the cellulase, compositions comprising said cellulase, methods of identifying cellulose variants and methods of using the compositions.

Abstract: This invention provides nucleic acids and proteins involved in oligosaccharide modification in the species Bifidobacteria. The invention provides methods for utilizing the proteins of the invention to generate human milk oligosaccharides or oligosaccharide mimics. The invention also provides compositions containing the human milk oligosaccharides or oligosaccharide mimics and methods for use.

Abstract: The invention provides apparatus and processes for cultivating algae.

Abstract: The present invention provides fungal xylanase and/or beta-xylosidase enzymes suitable for use in saccharification reactions. The present application further provides genetically modified fungal organisms that produce xylanase and/or beta-xylosidases, as well as enzyme mixtures exhibiting enhanced hydrolysis of cellulosic material to fermentable sugars, enzyme mixtures produced by the genetically modified fungal organisms, and methods for producing fermentable sugars from cellulose using such enzyme mixtures.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an electromagnetic bioaccelerator for obtaining biomass by simulating environmental marine conditions, comprising at least the following elements: octagonal biomass converters (1), seawater reserve tanks (3), particle filters (4), UV light filters (5), feedback and mixture tanks (6), pressurization feed tanks (8), manometers (9), pressure controllers (10), buffer tanks (11), expansion tanks with a safety valve (12), heat exchangers (13), temperature control thermostats (14), recycled water feedback tanks (15), reinjection pumps (16), centrifuges for separating the biomass from the water (17), desuperheaters (18); control panels (25), recirculation pumps (26), densimeters (27), biomass mechanical extraction systems by means of centrifugation (32) and biomass accumulation tanks (33).

Abstract: A method is provided in which pretreated and densified cellulosic biomass particulates can be hydrolyzed at a high solids loading rate as compared with the solids loading rate of loose hydrolysable cellulosic biomass fibers. The resulting high concentration sugar-containing stream can be easily converted to biofuels or an entire suite of other useful bioproducts.

Abstract: Methods are provided for changing a molecular structure of a biomass feedstock. The methods include a screw extrusion process.

Abstract: Methods and systems for producing a biofuel using genetically modified sulfur-oxidizing and iron-reducing bacteria (SOIRB) are disclosed. In some embodiments, the methods include the following: providing a SOIRB that have been genetically modified to include a particular metabolic pathway to enable them to generate a biofuel; feeding a first source of ferric iron to the SOIRB; feeding sulfur, water, and carbon dioxide to the SOIRB; producing at least the first particular biofuel, a first source of ferrous iron, sulfate, excess ferric iron, and an SOIRB biomass; electrochemically reducing the excess ferric iron to a second source of ferrous iron; providing an iron-oxidizing bacteria that have been genetically modified to include a particular metabolic pathway to enable them to generate a second biofuel; producing at least the second biofuel, a second source of ferric iron, and an IOB biomass; and feeding the second source of ferric iron to the SOIRB.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to nanocomposite materials. The present invention relates more particularly to hybrid fibers as well as devices including them and methods for making them. Accordingly, one aspect of the invention is a hybrid fiber including a plurality of nanowires, each nanowire having a length, a width, and a thickness, the length being at least 10 times the width and at least 10 times the thickness; and a plurality of binder elements, each binder element having a length, a width, and a thickness, each substantially smaller than the average length of the nanowires and at least one of which is less than about 10 nm in dimension, the binder elements being arranged to intercouple individual nanowires. In certain embodiments, the binder elements are carbon nanotubes, and the nanowires are formed from silicon carbide.

Abstract: A method of producing a sugar solution includes a pretreatment step of treating cellulosic biomass with a treatment agent containing ammonia to obtain an ammonia-treated product, an ammonia-treated sugar solution preparation step of enzymatically saccharifying the ammonia-treated product to obtain an ammonia-treated sugar solution, and a purified sugar solution preparation step of removing coumaramide and/or ferulamide in the ammonia-treated sugar solution by purification to obtain a purified sugar solution having a concentration of coumaramide and/or ferulamide of 10 to 1,100 ppm.

Abstract: The production of a diutan polysaccharide exhibiting increased viscosity properties as compared with previously produced polysaccharide of the same type of repeating units. Such an improved diutan polysaccharide is produced through the generation of a derivative of Sphingomonas sp. ATCC 53159 that harbors a multicopy broad host range plasmid into which genes for biosynthesis of diutan polysaccharide have been cloned. The inventive methods of production of such an improved diutan polysaccharide, as well as the novel cloned genes required to produce the improved diutan within such a method, are also encompassed within this invention. Additionally, the novel engineered Sphingomonas strain including the needed DNA sequence is encompassed within this invention.

Abstract: Fermentation media containing an isoflavone-depleted soybean meal or isoflavone-depleted soybean meal product and at least one exogenous added ingredient that comprises a substrate for microbial growth are provided. Methods of making a fermentation medium comprising an isoflavone-depleted soybean meal or isoflavone-depleted soybean meal product and methods for obtaining a fermentation product are also provided. The present invention is further directed to fermentation broths obtained by the media and methods. The present invention is also directed to feed additives produced from fermentation broths obtained by the methods.

Abstract: The present invention provides a fermentation process for producing a cellulase enzyme mixture comprising the steps of (a) providing a fungal cell of the genus Myceliophthora or a taxonomically equivalent genus; (b) culturing the fungal cell in a submerged liquid batch culture in which the carbon source comprises about 0% of cellulase-inducing carbon source; (c) culturing the fungal cell from the batch culture from step (b) in a submerged liquid fed-batch and/or continuous culture; and (d) providing the culture of step (c) with a feed solution containing a about 100 wt % non-inducing carbon source (such as glucose, dextrose, sucrose, molasses, fructose, glycerol, xylose, or a combination thereof), wherein the feed solution is provided at a rate that maintains the concentration of non-inducing carbon source in the culture below that which would otherwise repress production of the cellulase enzyme mixture, so as to produce a culture filtrate containing at least 10 g protein/L.

Abstract: Isolated polypeptides are disclosed comprising an amino acid sequence encoding a monomer of a fibrous polypeptide attached to a heterologous polysaccharide binding domain. Composites comprising same, methods of generating same and uses thereof are all disclosed.

Abstract: Biomass (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) is processed to produce useful products, such as fuels. For example, systems are described that can use feedstock materials, such as cellulosic and/or lignocellulosic materials, to produce ethanol and/or butanol, e.g., by fermentation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel bacteria and the uses thereof. The invention particularly relates to bacteria having a metabolic pathway ratio between Pentose phosphate and glycolysis greater than 0.5, and their uses in the chemical, pharmaceutical or agro-chemical industries, e.g., for producing compounds of industrial interest.

Abstract: Methods are disclosed for increasing the level of C5 monosaccharides produced from lignocellulosic biomass using a multistage fractionation process to handle recalcitrant C5 oligosaccharides without producing unwanted degradation products. Methods for reducing C5 monosaccharides degradation products produced from lignocellulosic biomass are also disclosed. In addition, compositions and products produced by the methods are disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a cell for the production of an antibody molecule such as an antibody useful for various diseases having high antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxic activity, a fragment of the antibody and a fusion protein having the Fc region of the antibody or the like, a method for producing an antibody composition using the cell, the antibody composition and use thereof.

Abstract: An in vitro method to produce a glycoside is described which includes the steps of contacting the cellodextrin phosphorylase from Clostridium stercorarium with alpha-glucose-1-phosphate or alpha-galactose-1-phosphate and an acceptor, and glycosylating the acceptor. The acceptor may be an alkyl beta-glucoside, an aryl beta-glucoside, a glucolipid, an alkyl beta-sophoroside, an aryl beta-sophoroside or a sophorolipid. Alkylcellobiosides, arylcellobiosides, cellobiolipids, cellotriolipids, glucosophorolipids and cellobiosesophorolipids are produced when alpha-glucose-1-phosphate is used as donor. Corresponding lactosides are produced when alpha-galactose-1-phosphate is used as donor.

Abstract: Methods are disclosed for increasing the level of soluble C5 saccharides produced from lignocellulosic biomass comprising acidifying fractionated lignocellulosic biomass to prevent the recondensation of soluble C5 saccharides, including C5 oligosaccharides and xylose and arabinose monomers, to insoluble higher molecular weight C5 oligosaccharides.

Abstract: Biomass (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) is processed to produce useful products, such as fuels. For example, systems can use feedstock materials, such as cellulosic and/or lignocellulosic materials and/or starchy or sugary materials, to produce ethanol and/or butanol, e.g., by fermentation.

Abstract: Probiotic microorganisms are micro encapsulated by dispersing the probiotic microorganism in an aqueous suspension of a film forming protein and a carbohydrate; in an oil in water emulsion of a film forming protein and a carbohydrate and a fat; or in an oil which is subsequently dispersed in a film forming protein and a carbohydrate. The emulsion or suspension may be dried to form a powder. The probiotic may be dispersed in oil and then emulsified with the aqueous suspension and then dried to produce an encapsulated oil be dried to produce a powder. Oil suspended probiotics may be preferred where the probiotic is water sensitive. The preferred protein is casein or whey protein and the carbohydrate may be a resistant starch or a saccharide with a reducing sugar group. Where the probiotic is oxygen sensitive the protein carbohydrate is heated to create Maillard reaction products in the encapsulating film.

Abstract: Methods of producing clean (e.g., low sulfur and metal ion content, and free of fermentation inhibitors) sugar and lignin-rich streams, and downstream conversion products, from lignocellulosic biomass, may include obtaining non-chemically pretreated, milled lignocellulosic biomass, reacting the milled lignocellulosic biomass with an enzymatic agent to produce a slurry that includes converted monomeric lignocellulosic sugars and lignin-rich residuals, and separating the slurry into a sugar stream that includes the converted monomeric lignocellulosic sugars and a lignin-rich stream that includes the lignin-rich residuals. The sugar stream, not including water, includes at least 75% monomeric lignocellulosic sugar, less than 0.20% sulfur, and less than 3.0% metal ion content, and the lignin-rich stream includes at least 35% lignin and less than 0.50% sulfur.

Abstract: Provided is a method for preparing a cellulose derivative having solubility improved and therefore having less undissolved floating portions when the derivative is added into water. More specifically, provided is a method for preparing a cellulose derivative, comprising a step of depolymerizing a cellulose derivative to produce a depolymerized cellulose derivative having a viscosity at 20° C. in a 2% by weight aqueous solution of the depolymerized cellulose derivative reduced by at least 10% compared with that of the cellulose derivative before the depolymerization so that the number of undissolved floating portions in the aqueous solution of the depolymerized cellulose derivative is decreased compared with that of the cellulose derivative before the depolymerization. Depolymerization is effected preferably by an acid, alkali or enzyme.

Abstract: The present invention relates in particular to proteins, coding nucleic acid sequences for same, vectors comprising said coding sequences, a method for producing said proteins, and an oligosaccharide hydrolysis method using same. In particular, the invention relates to the protein of sequence SEQ ID no. 1. The present invention can be applied to the recycling of bio-natural resources formed by organisms and microorganisms including ulvans, in particular green algae.

Abstract: Biomass (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) is processed to produce useful products, such as fuels. For example, systems are described that can use feedstock materials, such as cellulosic and/or lignocellulosic materials, to produce ethanol and/or butanol, e.g., by fermentation.

Abstract: Biomass (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) is processed to produce useful products, such as fuels. For example, systems are described that can use feedstock materials, such as cellulosic and/or lignocellulosic materials, to produce ethanol and/or butanol, e.g., by fermentation.

Abstract: The present application discloses an improved method for conducting saccharide—protein conjugation reactions using carbodiimide condensation chemistry. Depending on the nature of the saccharide or protein carrier involved, the quality of the conjugate may be improved by adding one of the reaction components slowly to the reaction mixture. Immunogenic compositions are further provided comprising the saccharide-protein conjugates made by the methods disclosed.

Abstract: Feedstocks, obtained at least in part from a plant material that has been modified with respect to its wild type, are processed to produce useful intermediates and products, such as energy, fuels, foods or materials. For example, systems are described that can treat such feedstock materials, e.g., to reduce the recalcitrance of the feedstock, and use the treated feedstock materials to produce an intermediate or product, e.g., by saccharification and/or fermentation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of use of glycosyltransferases and related compounds. The invention exploits the reversibility of glycosyltransferases to generate new sugars, unnatural biomolecules and numerous one-pot reactions for generation of new biomolecules having varied backbones such as enediynes, vancomycins, bleomycins, anthracyclines, macrolides, pluramycins, aureolic acids, indolocarbazoles, aminglycosides, glycopeptides, polyenes, coumarins, benzoisochromanequinones, calicheamicins, erythromycin, avermectins, ivermectins, angucyclines, cardiac glycosides, steroids or flavinoids. In preferred embodiments, the invention specifically relates to biosynthesis of anticancer (the enediyne calicheamicin, CLM), anthelmintic agents (the macrolides avermectin, ivermectin and erythromycin) and antibiotic (the glycopeptide vancomycin, VCM) natural product-based drugs developed by reversible, bidirectional glycosyltransferase-catalyzed reactions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to polypeptides comprising a carbohydrate-binding module amino acid sequence and an alpha-amylase amino acid sequence as well as to the application of such polypeptides.

Abstract: A scalable and sustainable process for production of renewable chemicals and biofuel from seaweed in its own juices or in seawater without desalination of the seaweeds is provided herein. The process as disclosed in the preset invention is an eco-friendly process for production of renewable chemicals and biofuel with an easy method of disposing of the waste streams. Further, the process as disclosed in the present invention is cost effective, suitable since transporting and storing the raw material obtained in the form of slurry of the seaweeds because of its lesser bulk is easy, easier handling due to its free flowing nature and its direct use for further processing to obtain renewable chemicals and/or biofuel.

Abstract: Methods of producing cellulosic or lignocellulosic materials for use in papermaking include treating a cellulosic or lignocellulosic dry feedstock having a first average molecular weight with ionizing radiation, and controlling the dose of ionizing radiation such that the average molecular weight of the feedstock is reduced to a predetermined level. A method of producing an irradiated paper product includes treating a paper product including a first carbohydrate-containing material having a first molecular weight with ionizing radiation, and controlling the dose of ionizing radiation so as to provide an irradiated paper product with a second carbohydrate-containing material having a second molecular weight higher than the first molecular weight. Pulp and paper products are produced.

Abstract: Disclosed are variants of Humicola grisea Cel7A (CBH1.1), H. jecorina CBH1 variant or S. thermophilium CBH1, nucleic acids encoding the same and methods for producing the same. The variant cellulases have the amino acid sequence of a glycosyl hydrolase of family 7A wherein one or more amino acid residues are substituted.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compounds derived from sugars which reproduce the epitopes of Shigella flexneri serotypes 3a and X and to the use thereof for the preparation of vaccine compositions. More specifically, the subject matter of the present invention relates to novel glycoconjugated compounds comprising oligosaccharides or polysaccharides described hereinafter, to the method for synthesizing these oligosaccharides or polysaccharides and glycoconjugates, to derivatives of these oligosaccharides or polysaccharides, to compositions containing same, and also to the use of the glycoconjugates for vaccination purposes. Finally, the present invention relates to methods for diagnosing a Shigella flexneri infection using one or more oligosaccharides or polysaccharides or conjugates thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel lower eukaryotic host cell producing human-like glycoproteins characterized as having a terminal ?-galactose residue and essentially lacking fucose and sialic acid residues. The present invention also provides a method for catalyzing the transfer of a galactose residue from UDP-galactose onto an acceptor substrate in a recombinant lower eukaryotic host cell, which can be used as a therapeutic glycoprotein.

Abstract: Provided are isolated polypeptides having endoglucanase activity and isolated polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides. Also provided are nucleic acid constructs, vectors and host cells comprising the polynucleotides as well as methods of producing and using the polypeptides.

Abstract: A process for production of C5 and C6 sugar enriched syrups from lignocellulosic biomass and fermentation products therefrom is described. A lignocellulosic biomass is treated with a C1-C2 acid (e.g., acetic acid) with washing thereof with a C1-C2 acid miscible organic solvent, (e.g., ethyl acetate). A soluble hemicellulose and lignin enriched fraction is obtained separately from a cellulose pulp enriched fraction and lignin is removed from the soluble hemicellulose fraction. These fractions contain acylated (e.g., acetylated) cellulose and hemicellulose, which are deacylated by treatment with an alkali and/or with an acetyl esterase enzyme. The deacylated fractions are then digested with suitable cellulolytic and/or hemicellulolytic enzymes, preferably in the presence of non-ionic detergent to yield the C5 and C6 enriched syrups.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a thermophilic arabinose isomerase and a method of manufacturing tagatose using the same, and more precisely, a gene encoding arabinose isomerase originating from the thermophile Thermotoga neapolitana DSM 5068, a recombinant expression vector containing the gene, a method of preparing a food grade thermophilic arabinose isomerase from the recombinant GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) strain transformed with the said expression vector, and a method of preparing tagatose from galactose using the said enzyme.

Abstract: A method is presented for the production of cellulosic ethanol, acetic acid and derivatives from the extract containing fibers and hemicelluloses after steam cooking of biomass in a host plant. The process is integrated with the host plant process to minimize the effect of loss of heat value from the extracted hemicelluloses and eliminate the need for the waste water treatment plant.