Abstract: The invention belongs to the field of biotechnology. It concerns a biocatalyst, i.e. a dead or living microorganism or a polypeptide, preferably in isolated form, which exhibits acylase enzymatic activity without lipase- or esterase-activity. The biocatalyst is capable of stereoselectively hydrolysing a racemic acylamide which has an aliphatic acyl residue and which is not a derivative of a natural amino acid.

Abstract: The instant invention encompasses isolated stable esterase enzymes characterized by the ability to remain stable at certain temperatures, substrate specificities, and activity profile.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions containing bacteria capable of degrading hydrocarbons, such as petroleum or petroleum products and methods for their use.

Abstract: An improved method for regulating plant growth has been developed. The plant soil medium in which plants are grown is regulated to a pH in the range of about 2 to about 9, and preferably to a range of about 6.8 to 7.2. Then, Actinomyces viscosus strain GA is applied directly to the plant soil medium. The Actinomyces viscosus, GA delivers a natural biological control agent to plants, rather than a synthetic agent, which acts as a growth retardant and a flower initiator.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a DNA fragment containing a gene encoding acylamino acid racemase. The acylamino acid racemase can be produced industrially at high efficiency using the DNA fragment.

Abstract: New glycopeptide antibiotics MM 49728, MM 55266, MM 55267/1, MM 55267/2 and MM 55268 are produced by fermentation of Amycolatopsis sp. NCIB 40089.

Abstract: A novel choline oxidase being thermostable at 50.degree. C. at pH 7 to 9 is disclosed. A method for producing the enzyme by using actinomycetes is also disclosed.

Abstract: Two new antibiotics which are now nominated as benanomicin A and benanomicin B, respectively, are fermentatively produced by the cultivation of a new microorganism, designated as MH193-16F4 strain, of Actinomycetes. Benanomicins A and B each show antifungal activity and are useful as a therapeutic antifungal agent. A new compound, dexylosylbenanomicin B is now produced by chemical conversion of benanomicin B, and this semi-synthetic antibiotic also shows antifungal activity and is useful as a therapeutic antifungal agent.

Abstract: Novel peptide analogues which exhibit inhibitory activity against aspartic proteinases, a novel species of actinomycetous microorganism which produces said novel peptide analogues, a process for producing said novel analogues by culturing said species and a pharmaceutical composition containing said analogues.

Abstract: Two new antibiotics which are now nominated as benanomicin A and benanomicin B, respectively, are fermentatively produced by the cultivation of a new microorganism, designated as MH193-16F4 strain, of Actinomycetes. Benanomicins A and B each show antifungal activity and are useful as a therapeutic antifungal agent. A new compound, dexylosylbenanomicin B is now produced by chemical conversion of benanomicin B, and this semi-synthetic antibiotic also shows antifungal activity and is useful as a therapeutic antifungal agent.

Abstract: Described is a new immunosuppressant, L-685,487, a monodemethylated rearranged derivative of L-683,590, produced under fermentation conditions utilizing the microorganism, unidentified Actinomycete (Merck Cultrue Collection MA 6474) ATCC No. 53828. The macrolide immunosuppressant is useful in preventing human host rejection of foreign organ transplants, e.g. bone marrow and heart transplants.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, recombinant plasmids are described which, when inserted into microbial hosts, direct the synthesis of proteins in which preS polypeptides found on the surface of human hepatitis B virus are fused to the enzyme .beta.-galactosidase. The recombinant plasmids are produced by inserting DNA sequences encoding the preS polypeptides into the lacZ gene, which codes for E. coli .beta.-galactosidase, carried by the plasmids. Large amounts of the preS-.beta.-galactosidase fusion proteins can be isolated from microbial cultures carrying the recombinant plasmids. Antigenic determinants of fusion protein so produced are recognized by antibodies to the preS determinants of native hepatitis B virus. The .beta.-galactosidase activity of such fusion protein is detected by a suitable chromogenic or fluorogenic substrate. PreS-.beta.

Abstract: A plasmid transformation system for Rhodococcus was developed using an Escherichia coli-Rhodococcus shuttle plasmid. Rhodococcus sp. H13-A contains three cryptic indigenous plasmids, designated pMVS100, pMVS200 and pMVS300, of 75, 19.5 and 13.4 kilobases (Kb), respectively. A 3.8 Kb restriction fragment of pMVS300 was cloned into pIJ30, a 6.3 Kb pBR322 derivative, containing the E. coli origin of replication (ori) and ampicillin resistance determinant (bla) as well as a Streptomyces gene for thiostrepton resistance, tsr. The resulting 10.1 Kb recombinant plasmid, designated pMVS301, was isolated from E. coli DH1 (pMVS301) and transformed into Rhodococcus sp. AS-50, a derivative of strain H13-A, by polyethylene glycol-assisted transformation of Rhodococcus protoplasts and selection for thiostrepton-resistant transformants. This strain was deposited with the ATCC on Feb. 1, 1988 and assigned ATCC 53719.The plasmid contains the Rhodococcus origin of replication.

Abstract: A method for introducing hydroxyl groups into vitamin D compounds at 1.alpha.- and/or 25-positions by use of a solution containing the mycelium of Actinomycetales being capable of hydroxylating vitamin D compound or the enzyme produced from the mycelium, is disclosed.

Abstract: L-aminoacylases S.sub.1 and S.sub.2 derived from actinomycetes and having physicochemical characteristics such that it is a L-aminoacylase which acts on a N-acyl-L-amino acid to give a L-amino acid, its substrate profile is wide, and it acts not only on a N-acyl derivative of a natural L-amino acid, but also on a N-acyl derivative of a synthetic L-amino acid, while it does not act on a N-acyl-D-amino acid, a DL-N-acetyl-.alpha.methylbenzylamine and a N-acetyl-D-glucosamine, etc.

Abstract: A strain of Actinomadura sp., NRRL 15758, is capable of producing the CL-1724 complex of antibiotic substances in isolable quantities under conditions of aerobic fermentation in a culture medium containing assimilable sources of carbon and nitrogen.

Abstract: N-acyl-DL-3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)serine or a catecholic hydroxyl-protected derivative thereof is stereospecifically de-acylated by reaction with a microorganism of the genus Streptomyces or Streptoverticillium having an acylase or with an extract of said microorganism containing said acylase, to produce L-3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)serine or the hydroxyl-protected derivative thereof, with the N-acyl-D-3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)serine compound remaining unaltered. The L-3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)serine compound so produced can be separated from the N-acyl-D-3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)serine compound owing to the difference in the properties of them.

Abstract: The novel antibiotics boxazomycin A and B, which have the formula: ##STR1## wherein R is --CH.sub.2 OH for boxazomycin A; and R is --CH.sub.3 for boxazomycin B. These new antibiotics, which are produced by cultivating a novel strain of Pseudonocardia (ATCC 53205), inhibit growth of aerobic Gram-positive bacteria and anaerobes with enhanced activity observed in acidic medium.

Abstract: A vaccine for preventing or at least inhibiting periodontitis of humans and animals, which is induced or deteriorated by the action of oral microorganisms, which comprises an antigen isolated from the pili of an oral microorganism capable of inducing and/or deteriorating periodontitis and having the pili on the cell surface. For example, antigens isolated from the pili of Actinomyces viscosus, Actinomyces naeslundii, Actinobacillus actinomycem comitans, Bacteroides gingivalus and mutant strains thereof may be used solely or in combination for the preparation of the present vaccine. In one embodiment, the vaccine comprises an antigen isolated from the pili of Actinomyces viscosus which is a representative periodontitis-inducing oral microorganisms in association with one or more other antigens isolated from other virulent oral microorganisms.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a novel collagenase "discolysin". It is useful for biochemical researches and the treatment of many diseases caused by collagen, such as hernia of intervertebral disc. It can be produced by culturing a discolysin-producing bacterium belonging to genus of Streptomyces in a culture medium and then collecting discolysin from the culture medium.

Abstract: This disclosure describes a new antibacterial and anti-tumor agent designated LL-D05139.beta., produced in a microbiological fermentation under controlled conditions using a new genus Glycomyces harbinensis gen. nov., sp. nov., and mutants thereof.

Abstract: A purified isolate of an actinomycete identified as ATCC 39364 is capable of producing the antimicrobial/antitumor compound 2-amino-1,9-dihydro-6H-purine-6-one-7-oxide, commonly known as guanine-N.sup.7 -oxide.Guanine-N.sup.7 -oxide is produced by cultivating isolate ATCC 39364 under aerobic conditions in a culture medium containing assimilable sources of carbon and nitrogen until a substantial amount of the compound is produced and thereafter isolating the compound.The antibiotic/antitumor compound guanine-N.sup.7 -oxide and pharmaceutical compositions comprising this compound or one of its pharmaceutically acceptable salts together with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier are also disclosed as is a method of treating microbial infections in a mammal or of treating tumors in a mammal.

Abstract: A selective medium composition for the growth and detection of Actinomyces viscosus or Actinomyces naeslundii, which composition comprises: a solid medium selective to induce the growth of Actinomyces viscosus or Actinomyces naeslundii; a nutrient agent to induce the substantial growth of Actinomyces viscosus or Actinomyces naeslundii; a cadmium compound; a fluoride compound; a flavine compound; and the cadmium compound, the fluoride compound and the flavine compound all present in a concentration sufficient to inhibit the substantially full growth of interfering microorganisms, but in a concentration insufficient to inhibit the substantial growth of Actinomyces viscosus or Actinomyces naeslundii.

Abstract: Extracellular products of oral bacteria have been isolated and have been found to have immunosuppressive activity. Genus Streptococcus and genus Actinomyces are preferred, particularly Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus intermedius, Streptococcus salivarius, Actinomyces viscosus and Actinomyces naeslundii.

Abstract: A process for preparing N-carbamoyl-D-(2-thienyl or 3-thienyl)glycine by subjecting 5-(2-thienyl or 3-thienyl)hydantoin to the action of a cultured broth, cells or treated cells of microorganisms having an ability of stereospecifically hydrolyzing the hydantoin ring. N-carbamoyl-D-(2-thienyl or 3-thienyl)glycine is a useful intermediate for the preparation of medicines and can be readily converted into D-(2-thienyl or 3-thienyl)glycine.