Abstract: At least one acryl or allyl monomer is polymerized in an aqueous suspension containing a fumarase-producing microorganism. The resultant immobilized fumarase-producing microorganism is contacted with bile acids or salts thereof. Then, the immobilized fumarase-producing microorganism is subjected to enzymatic reaction with fumaric acid or a salt thereof. L-Malic acid is prepared without the production of the by-product succinic acid.

Abstract: A method of producing inosine and/or guanosine comprising cultivating a microorganism in a medium containing a carbohydrate, in which method a carbohydrate is added either continuously or intermittently to the medium when and in the state that the concentration of the carbohydrate in the medium is less than about 1 percent so that the carbohydrate concentration of the medium is maintained below about 1 percent.

Abstract: A process for the continuous production of acrylamide or methacrylamide from acrylonitrile or methacrylonitrile by use of a microorganism capable of promoting the hydration of acrylonitrile or methacrylonitrile into the corresponding amide.Said process comprising immobilizing the microorganism or enzyme extracted therefrom, continuously bringing the acrylonitrile or methacrylonitrile into contact with the immobilized microorganism or enzyme in at least one reactor containing an aqueous medium at a pH pf 6 to 10 to cause the hydration reaction, and recycling a part of the reacted solution to dilute the unreacted acrylonitrile or methacrylonitrile and water therewith.

Abstract: L-glutamic acid is produced by culturing a mutant microorganism belonging to the genus Corynebacterium or Brevibacterium which mutant is temperature-sensitive remediable with an unsaturated higher fatty acid. L-glutamic acid is recovered from the culture liquor.

Abstract: An L-glutamic acid producing microorganism which is constructed by incorporation into a recipient strain of the genus Brevibacterium or Corynebacterium of a hybrid plasmid having inserted therein a DNA fragment with genetic information related to L-glutamic acid production which is derived from a donor strain of the genus Brevibacterium or Corynebacterium, is useful for the production of high levels of L-glutamic acid by fermentation.

Abstract: L-leucine is prepared by cultivation of an analogue-resistant mutant of Brevibacterium thiogenitalis in an aqueous nutrient medium under aerobic conditions. The cultivation is preferably carried out at about 30.degree. C. and at a pH of 5 to 8. L-leucine is recovered from the fermentation broth.

Abstract: A process is disclosed in which an optically active monoalkyl ester of .beta.-(S)-aminoglutaric acid is prepared by subjecting a dialkyl ester of .beta.-protected aminoglutaric acid to the action of a culture broth, cells, or treated cells of a microorganism capable of stereoselectively hydrolyzing only one of the ester groups in the above-mentioned dialkyl ester to produce an optically active monoalkyl ester of .beta.-protected (S)-aminoglutaric acid, and then removing the amino-protecting group from the product. An optically active monoalkyl ester of .beta.-(S)-aminoglutaric acid is useful as a starting material for synthesizing .beta.-lactam antibiotics of carbapenem type such as thienamycin.

Abstract: A process for producing acrylamide from acrylonitrile by utilizing a microorganism or enzyme capable of hydrating acrylonitrile into acrylamide in the form of a highly concentrated aqueous solution of acrylamide which comprises bringing acrylonitrile in contact with the microorganism or enzyme in an aqueous medium at a pH of from 6 to 10, at a temperature of from the freezing point to 50.degree. C., and under such conditions that the concentration of acrylamide in the reaction solution after the completion of the reaction is from 5% by weight to less than 20% by weight, and concentrating the resulting reaction solution; this invention further includes an embodiment wherein the reaction solution is concentrated by cooling the reaction solution after the reaction to from -4.degree. C. to -9.degree. C. to crystallize ice, separating the ice, and using the ice so separated for cooling during the hydration reaction.

Abstract: A method for producing L-lysine by fermentation, which comprises, culturing aerobically in a culture medium a mutant of the genus Brevibacterium or Corynebacterium which is resistant to ethylene glycol and capable of producing L-lysine, and recovering the L-lysine which accumulates in the culture medium.

Abstract: A process is disclosed in which an amino acid-producing microorganism having an ability to assimilate lactic acid is aerobically cultivated in the presence of at least one lactic acid microorganism in an aqueous nutrient medium containing at least one carbohydrate which is assimilable by the lactic acid microorganism but nonassimilable or weakly assimilable by the amino acid-producing microorganism as the main carbon source and an accumulated amino acid is recovered from the culture broth. An industrially advantageous production of an amino acid has become feasible by utilizing inexpensive carbon sources or those organic substances in agricultural or livestock wastes that have heretofore not been effectively utilized.

Abstract: A novel Bacillus isolated from the soil is unique in its capacity to produce xanthanase, and is especially productive of the enzyme when cultured in the presence of other soil organisms. Both crude and purified xanthanases recovered from the fermentation broth effectively degrade xanthan gum. Moreover, tolerance of the Bacillus to sodium chloride levels as high as about 4%, render it useful for the in situ degradation of the heteropolysaccharide in petroleum recovery fluids and other thickened industrial brines.

Abstract: When sensitivity to decoyinine is given by mutation to L-phenylalanine-producing mutants of the genus Brevibacterium and Corynebacterium, the productivity of L-phenylalanine of the new mutants is improved.

Abstract: A method for producing L-glutamic acid by fermentation which comprises culturing aerobically in a culture medium a mutant of the genus of Brevibacterium or Corynebaterium which is resistant to Decoyinine or Tubercidin and capable of producing L-glutamic acid, and recovering the L-glutamic acid accumulated in the culture medium.

Abstract: Mutants of the genus Brevibacterium or Corynebacterium requiring acetic acid for growth produce L-glutamic acid in an improved yield, especially when they are cultured in an aqueous culture medium containing both saccharide and aliphatic alcohol or acid as the carbon source.

Abstract: A microbial process for producing a cholanic acid derivative of the formula: ##STR1## wherein X is ##STR2## or .dbd.O; and R is hydrogen, an alkali metal or an alkaline earth metal, which comprises cultivating a microbe which is capable of growing in a medium containing cholic acid or a salt thereof as a substrate to produce the cholanic acid derivative, selected from the genera Arthrobacter, Brevibacterium and Corynebacterium, in a culture medium containing the substrate and collecting the resulting derivative.

Abstract: Mutants of the genus Brevibacterium or Coryne-bacterium resistant to a respiratory inhibitor or ADP phosphorylation inhibitor produced L-glutamic acid in a high yield, when they are cultured aerobically in an aqueous culture medium.

Abstract: Mutants of the genus Bervibacterium or Corynebacterium are given resistance to keto-malonic acid, fluoro-malonic acid, monofluoro-acetic acid or aspartate antagonist and used to produce L-arginine by aerobic fermentation.

Abstract: Disclosed are optically active acylated cephalosporin analogs which are useful as antibacterial agents and methods for preparing such compounds.

Abstract: A mutant of the genus Brevibacterium or Corynebacterium resistant to a compound having vitamine-P activity produces L-glutamic acid in a high yield, when it is cultured in an aqueous medium aerobically.

Abstract: L-isoleucine is prepared by cultivation of an analogue-resistant mutant of Brevibacterium thiogenitalis in an aqueous nutrient medium under aerobic conditions in the presence of from 0.001 to 15 w/v percent of a post-threonine precursor for L-isoleucine. The cultivation is preferably carried out at about 30.degree. C. and at a pH of 5 to 9. L-isoleucine is recovered from the fermentation broth.

Abstract: A process for producing L-aspartic acid economically and efficiently from fumaric acid or a salt thereof and ammonia or an ammonium salt using a cultured product obtained by aerobically culturing an microorganism belonging to the Genus Brevibacterium and having resistance to .alpha.-amino-n-butyric acid.

Abstract: L-lysine is produced by culturing mutants of Corynebacterium or Brevibacterium which are sensitive to fluoropyruvic acid.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing acrylamide or methacrylamide utilizing microorganisms having a nitrilase activity. This process involves (1) utilizing highly active novel bacteria belonging to the genus Corynebacterium or the genus Nocardia, (2) conducting the reaction utilizing microorganisms having a nitrilase activity at temperatures as low as the freezing point of the medium to 15.degree. C. so as to conduct the reaction for a long period of time while maintaining a high concentration of acrylamide or methacrylamide, and (3) conducting the reaction according to a newly devised continuous column process to obtain a highly concentrated acrylamide or methacrylamide aqueous solution with economic advantages.

Abstract: A process for removing melamine from liquids containing melamine by biological means. The aqueous solution or suspension of melamine is brought into contact with microorganisms or enzyme preparations having melaminase activity, and the resulting mixture is maintained under anaerobic conditions whereby at least a portion of the melamine is biodegraded.

Abstract: Choline oxidase is produced by fermentation of a microorganism belonging to the genus Brevibacterium or Corynebacterium and which is capable of producing choline oxidase. Choline oxidase is useful for the determination of choline.

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.

Abstract: A method of producing L-isoleucine which comprises culturing the strain of Brevibacterium flavum VNII Genetika 10-89 deposited under the number CMIM B-1507 in a nutrient medium containing sources of nitrogen, carbon, mineral salts and vitamins and under aerobic conditions.Said strain makes it possible to produce L-isoleucine with a yield of 17 g/l and more.

Abstract: A method for producing 4-formyl-2-amino-butyric acid(FABA), which comprises: culturing a mutant capable of producing FABA and belonging to the genus Brevibacterium or Corynebacterium in a culture medium until a substantial amount of FABA has accumulated in the culture medium, and recovering the accumulated FABA from the culture medium.

Abstract: Novel microbial transformation process to selectively convert steroids with or without 17-alkyl side chains of from 2 to 10 carbon atoms, inclusive, to 3a.alpha.-H-4.alpha.-[3'-propanol]-7a.beta.-methylhexahydro-1,5-indaned ione hemiketal having the following structure: ##STR1## This compound can be used as an intermediate to make useful 19-nor steroids.