Abstract: Disclosed is a composition for embedded three-dimensional microbial culture, the composition including nanofibrillar cellulose and at least one nutrient source. Also disclosed is a method for the manufacture of a composition for embedded three-dimensional microbial culture, the method including the steps of providing nanofibrillar cellulose, mixing the nanofibrillar cellulose with water and at least one nutrient source and optional additives to obtain a mixture, and optionally drying the mixture.

Abstract: The invention concerns the application of compositions of micro-organisms in biological control of vine cryptogamic diseases. Said composition comprises a mixture of at least one bacterium and at least one yeast, the bacterium or bacteria and the yeast(s) being non-toxic for the plant. The invention also concerns bacterial and yeast strains, as well as biofungicide formulations containing an efficient amount of at least one composition of micro-organisms including in mixture at least one bacterium and one yeast, the bacterium or bacteria and the yeast(s) being non-toxic for the plant, and a composition of filamentous fungi, in particular of the genus Pichia, Pythium, Trichoderma, Gliocladium, Ampelomyces, Talaromyces, Epicococcum, combined with an inert carrier. The invention is useful for treating cryptogamic plant diseases, in particular crop plants and vine.

Abstract: A method for converting organic solid waste into humic products and the corresponding apparatus, in which a preliminary aerobic fermentation of the organic solid waste is performed, followed by a second aerobic fermentation of the organic waste in the presence of specific microorganisms in order to provide a basic precursor on which the selective metabolization occurs of specific bacterial strains to provide the humic product.

Abstract: Paenibacillus polymyxa strain ATCC 202127 capable of producing a peptide antibiotic against fungi, and specifically Leptosphaeria spp. is disclosed. Further, mutants of said strain capable of producing the peptide are also disclosed. In addition, a method of controlling a fungal disease of a crop is disclosed. The method comprises applying an amount of the strain or mutants thereof to at least one of a medium for growing the crop, seeds of the crop prior to planting, and plants of the crop. The strain can also inhibit the growth of bacteria such as Micrococcus spp., Streptomyces spp. or Escherichia spp. The fungi which the strain or mutants thereof capable of producing the peptide are effective against include in addition to Leptosphaeria spp., the fungus selected from Sclerotinia spp., Rhizotonia spp., Pythium spp., Fusarium spp., Alternaria spp., Aspergillus spp., Sporobolomyces spp., Trichoderma spp., Penicillium spp. or Marasmius spp.

Abstract: A process and composition for treating an animal waste in a waste holding facility to reduce sulfides and enhance efficient degradation of large amounts of organic matter with reduced odor. The process includes administering a probiotic material capable of promoting organic digestion to an animal and maintaining a sulfide gas concentration of less than 10 ppm from a waste produced by the animal. Maintaining a low sulfide gas concentration can be done by adding an innoculum of sulfide-utilizing bacteria to the waste produced by the animal.

Abstract: An antimicrobial agent with a high degree of safety is provided, which is derived from a natural product and can exhibit growth-inhibitory activity against acid-resistant and heat-resistant bacteria such as Alicyclobacillus acidoterrestris, which is resistant against pasteurization and causes spoilage of fruit juice. The antimicrobial agent against acid-resistant and heat-resistant bacteria contains as an effective ingredient alpha-type thionin and/or beta-type thionin. A preservative for fruit juice is also provided, which contains as an effective ingredient the alpha-type thionin and/or beta-type thionin.

Abstract: To reduce the effects of the contaminants in the measurement of microorganisms and the reduction of the time necessary for the measurement. Measurement is performed of the microorganism prior to and following culture, and the difference between the two is found. This prevents errors caused by the effect of contaminants contained in the specimens. Since the measurement of the microorganism is performed by means of a flow cytometer, the microorganisms can be measured even when the culture period is short. Moreover, the measurements are accurate, since the contaminants are not measured. Furthermore, the growth form of the microorganisms can be determined by measuring the changes in the intensity of the light emission over the duration of emission of the forward scattered light detected by means of a flow cytometer.

Abstract: A medium for detecting staphylococci is described. The medium contains components selective for growing staphylococci, and a glucopyranoside indicator substance in sufficient quantity to distinguish colonies containing Bacillus and other microorganisms from colonies containing staphylococci. Methods of detecting staphylococci utilizing such medium are also described.

Abstract: A biodegradable resin molded article molded from a kneaded material obtained by kneading, melting or mixing a biodegradable resin raw material and at least one of a biodegradable additive and an additive made of a substance existing in the nature, an injection molded article of a biodegradable resin containing a biodegradable resin and an anti-biotic substance, a molded article of a resin composition including a polymer material having an ester bond in the polymer main chain thereof and an alkali or acid component in an amount effective for neutralizing an acidic or alkaline component contained in the polymer material, and a resin molded article having a layer of a biodegradable resin, and a layer of a photolytic resin covering the resin layer and containing an antibiotic.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for the rapid detection of biotoxic contaants in a test material comprising combining a sample of the test material with activated spores essentially devoid of detectable enzymatic activity, which activity becomes manifest and increases measurably following germination of the spores and with at least one germinant capable of triggering germination of the spores and a substrate which is catalytically convertible to a product by the enzymatic activity, incubating the mixture for a period of less than one hour to accelarate germination of the spores, increase of the enzyme activity, and a catalytic conversion of the substrate, and detecting the formation of the product of the catalytic conversion of the substrate and the enzyme, the level of the product being maximal in the absence of any biotoxic contaminants, and decreasing in direct proportion to the toxicity of contaminants in the test sample.

Abstract: Soil isolates, identified as strains of Bacillus polymyxa, NRRL B-18475 and NRRL B-18476, produce large quantities of a pure and uniform extracellular polysaccharide fructan (levan), in a sucrose medium. The levan consists entirely of fructose and the residues linked by .beta., 2-6 fructofuranoside linkage.

Abstract: The present invention relates to Bacillus polymyxa Haitai 1 (KCCM-10001) capable of producing polysaccharides which are viscous and thermally stable, and have the capacities of water holding, film forming and emulsifying, and can reversibly form a gel when heated, and to polysaccharides having the above characteristics which are produced by utilizing the said microorganism.

Abstract: A method for recovering silver from a refractory manganese dioxide-silver ore. The ore is contacted with an effective amount of a culture of direct manganese-reducing Bacillus polymyxa bacteria. The ore-bacteria mixture is maintained at an approximately neutral pH until a sufficient amount of the manganese dioxide in the ore is reduced from Mn(IV) to Mn(II). The silver present in the ore is then recovered by conventional methods such as cyanide leaching.

Abstract: The preparation of an L-amino acid, particularly valine, leucine, isoleucine, alanine and phenylalanine, from the corresponding .alpha.-keto carboxylic acid by bacterial fermentation in the presence of ammonium ions is carried out with the aid of thermophilic Bacillus strains at temperatures above 45.degree. C., in particular above 60.degree. C. Bacillus strains DSM 406, 452, 461, 42, 463, 465 and 466 are particularly suitable for this purpose. The greater solubility of the amino acid at the elevated fermentation temperature permits the separation out of the amino acid from the reaction mixture simply by cooling, whereafter the depleted reaction mixture can be pumped back into the fermenter. Especially favorable yields are achieved by supplying oxygen to the fermenter to an amount of less than about 20% dissolved oxygen.

Abstract: Bacillaceae capable of inhibiting the growth of Verticillium dahliae have been found to protect agricultural crops against verticillium wilt. In particular, by applying Bacillus polymyxa 9A to potato seed pieces prior to planting, verticillium wilt in the resulting potato plants is substantially prevented.Bacillus polymyxa 9A was deposited at the American Type Culture Collection on Dec. 27, 1983, and granted accession no. 39564.

Abstract: An heteropolysaccharide known as Biopolymer PS 87 comprises glucose, galactose, mannose, glucuronic acid and fucose. Biopolymer PS 87 is pseudoplastic, has a consistency at 20.degree. C. of at least 150 poise and a yield stress value at 20.degree. C. of at least 30 dynes/cm.sup.2. Biopolymer PS 87 is synthesized by a strain of Bacillus polymyxa or a genetically similar micro-organism and has many domestic and industrial uses as a suspending agent or thickener.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a process for the microbiological modification of hardwood in that a microorganism, or an enzymatically active preparation thereof, specially selected for the hardwood in question, is supplied to the surface of the wood for attack thereof under carefully regulated conditions as regards temperature, relative moisture content, O.sub.2 content and CO.sub.2 content. Thereafter, the process is discontinued in a suitable manner, for example by treatment with steam or hot water, followed by drying; or by drying only.

Abstract: The invention relates to a novel process for the production of 1-desoxynojirimycin which involves culturing an organism of the Bacillaceae family in a nutrient solution as a temperature of about 15.degree. to 80.degree. C. in a fermentation vessel, whilst aerating and then isolating the 1-desoxynojirimycin, said nutrient solution containing sorbitol as the source of carbon.

Abstract: The present invention relates to processes for producing syrups or syrup solids containing fructose-terminated oligosaccharides, characterized by subjecting a mixture containing liquefied starch and either fructose or sucrose to the action of immobilized cyclodextrin glucanotransferase E.C. 2.4.1.19.