Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the preparation of indole applicable in flavoring and perfume compositions wherein a micro-organism which does not or hardly metabolize indole is cultured aerobically or anaerobically in a culture medium containing as the substrate tryptophan of natural origin. The produced indole in the fermentation broth may be isolated therefrom with a food grade extraction agent.

Abstract: Disclosed are the entire coding sequence for unprocessed and mature trichosanthin from Trichosanthes kirilowii, and primers derived from this coding sequence for use in obtaining the coding sequences of ribosome inactivating proteins which have regions of amino acid sequence identical to those of trichosanthin. Also disclosed is a recombinant trichosanthin protein produced from the coding sequence, and the mature protein with amino-terminal and/or carboxy-terminal extensions.

Abstract: Microbial cells are immobilized by entrapment in gellan gum, also known as deacetylated heteropolysaccharide S-60. Entrapment can be carried out by forming a mixture of a paste of microbial cells and an aqueous solution of gellan gum and adding the mixture drop-wise to an aqueous solution of cations to produce beads of hardened gellan gum entrapping the microbial cells. The microbial cells preferably contain aspartase activity and can be E. coli ATCC 11303, and the cations are preferably magnesium ions. In an alternative embodiment, the mixture of microbial cell paste and aqueous gellan gum solution is admixed with a porous cationic exchange resin which is preferably in magnesium ion form and the microbial cells are entrapped in hardened gellan gum in and on the resin.

Abstract: The isolation of the tyrB gene contained in E. coli ATCC 11303 and its cloning onto a multicopy plasmid results in a 10-fold increase in the L-phenylalanine yield after the transformation of the starting strain with this plasmid.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for producicng L-threonine, which comprises culturing in a medium a microorganism belonging to the genus Escherichia and having a resistance to cysteine or cystine, or their analogue and an ability to produce L-threonine until L-threonine is accumulated in the culture broth, and recovering L-threonine therefrom.

Abstract: A method, and composition suitable for use therein, which produces enhanced microorganism growth in vitro. The microorganism, for example fungi (e.g. yeast) or bacteria cells, is cultured in a medium containing an exogenously added growth promoter selected from picolinic acid and a metal picolinate, most preferably selected from picolinic acid, chromic tripicolinate and zinc dipicolinate. The method is applicable both to eukaryote and prokaryote cells.

Abstract: Nucleic acid probes capable of specifically hybridizing to rRNA of E. coli and Shigella species and not to rRNA of non-E. coli/Shigella are described along with methods utilizing such probes for the specific detection of E. coli and/or Shigella in food and other samples.

Abstract: To prepare a microorganism producing .alpha.-galactosidase, not only a DNA containing an .alpha.-galactosidase gene but also a vector which is appropriate to the transformable cells to be used and contains antibiotic resistance genes are completely split with restriction endonuclease Sal I, the fragment of approximately four megadaltons of relative molecular weight is obtained from the fragments of the DNA containing the .alpha.-galactosidase gene, is mixed with the solution of the vector also split with Sal I, and is recombined in the presence of DNA ligase with the formation of a recombinant DNA.

Abstract: 2', 3'-Dideoxy purine nucleosides represented by following general formulae [I] and/or [II] ##STR1## (wherein X and Y indicate nitrogen atoms or carbon atoms and R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 indicate each independently any of hydrogen atom, hydroxyl group, amino group, alkyl group, halogen atom, alkoxy group and mercapto group), process for the preparation thereof and applications thereof to the antiviral agent, antiretroviral agent, therapeutic drug and preventive drug for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), and experimental medicine and experimental reagent to be used in genetic engineering are claimed.

Abstract: Escherichia coli carrying a hybrid plasmid having been constructed by inserting a desired foreign gene into an expression vector so as to permitting expression of said desired foreign gene therein was cultured at a temperature 40.degree. C. or over so that the expression of said desired foreign gene was suppressed. This E. coli (i.e., transformant) was cultured at 40.degree. C. or over in a first process to suppress the expression of the foreign gene and to support sufficient cell growth and thereafter below 40.degree. C. in a second process to release the suppression of the expression so as to permit effective production of the foreign gene product, which resulted in high concentration of the foreign gene product in the final culture.

Abstract: An E. Coli which can produce phenylalanine and which has an optimum phenylalanine production capability at a temperature of 30.degree. to 35.degree. C., and a process for preparing L-phenylalanine by use of the novel E. coli MWPEC 12-45 (ATCC 67460).

Abstract: The use of T7 bacteriophage to produce DNA length standards by enzymatically joining terminally repetitious, blunt-ended DNA has now been demonstrated. It is now possible to precisely control the formation of concatemeric DNAs thereby generating custom-made size-ranges of length standards. Furthermore, the standards thus produced are stable over time providing a highly reproducible and convenient product for the molecular biologist.

Abstract: A method of transforming eukaryotic or prokaryotic hosts sensitive to an antibiotic of the phleomycin family to confer resistance to the antibiotic is disclosed in which a phleomycin resistance gene is used as a selectable marker.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for producing L-threonine, the process involves culturing in a medium a microorganism of the genus Escherichia capable of producing L-threonine which has resistance to at least one of rifampicin, lysine, methionine, aspartic acid and homoserine, or a decreased ability to degrade L-threonine, accumulating L-threonine in the culture liquor and recovering L-threonine therefrom.

Abstract: Disclosed are DNA segments encoding hyaluronic acid synthase which are employed to construct recombinant cells useful in the production of hyaluronate synthase or hyaluronic acid (HA). In preferred aspects, chromosomal DNA from Streptococcus equisimilis is partially digested with EcoRI and the resultant fragments are ligated to form recombinant vectors. These vectors are useful in the transformation of host cells such as E. coli or Streptococcal hosts. Resultant transformants are screened by novel screening assays to identify colonies which have incorporated HA synthase DNA in a form that is being actively transcribed into the corresponding HA synthase enzyme. These colonies may be selected and employed in the production of the enzyme itself or its product, HA.

Abstract: An E. coli which can produce phenylalanine and which has an optimum phenylalanine production capability at a temperature between 30.degree. C. and 35.degree. C., and a process for preparing L-phenylalanine by use of the novel E. coli. The novel E. coli is designated MWPEC 13-60 (ATCC 67459).

Abstract: A method, and composition suitable for use therein, which produces enhanced microorganism growth in vitro. The microorganism, for example fungi (e.g. yeast) or bacteria cells, is cultured in a medium containing an exogenously added growth promoter selected from pinolinic acid and a metal picolinate, most preferably selected from picolinic acid, chromic tripicolinate and zinc dipicolinate. The method is applicable both to eukaryote and prokaryote cells.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for producing L-threonine, the process involves culturing in a medium a microorganism belonging to the genus Escherichia and having resistance to rifampicin, lysine, methionine, aspartic acid and homoserine, accumulating L-threonine in the culture and recovirng L-threonine therefrom.

Abstract: A method for the prevention of Fusarium diseases comprising the application of a microorganism that decomposes or detoxifies fusaric acid to the plant or to the soil. The microorganisms are the genuses Cladosporium and Pseudomonas that have the ability to decompose and/or detoxify fusaric acid.

Abstract: Process for producing transformable, competent cells including the steps of growing the cells in a growth conducive medium at a temperature of less than 37.degree. C. and freezing the cells, and cells produced by the process.

Abstract: Antibodies are produced by hyperimmunizing a mammal, such as cow, with a vaccine derived from E. coli bacteria. The bacterial strains in the vaccine are selected on the basis of their virulence characteristics, especially adhesion factors (pili), associated with gastroenteric disease in humans. The antibodies can be recovered from the mammal's milk or serum, and used in human foods.

Abstract: Microorganisms have been developed which may be characterized as possessing substantially all of the following qualities or capabilities:(a) capable of having foreign genetic information introduced thereinto and recovered therefrom along with its expression with production of useful gene products;(b) the microorganism being dependent for growth and survival upon defined conditions;(c) the microorganism being incapable of establishment or growth or colonization and/or survival under conditions or in ecological niches that are considered to be natural and/or undesirable for said microorganism;(d) the microorganism being capable of causing genetic information incorporated therein to undergo degradation under conditions or ecological niches that are considered to be natural and/or undesirable for said microorganism;(e) the microorganism being capable of permitting cloning vectors incorporated therein to be dependent for their replication, maintenance and/or function on said microorganism;(f) the microorganism bei

Abstract: In processes for recovery of biologically active polypeptides from fermentation cultures of recombinant host organisms, cell death is frequently a prerequisite for isolation processing of the recombinant product outside the fermentation vessel. Disclosed are improved methods for effecting efficient host cell death inside the fermentation vessel through uniformly contacting host cells in culture with microbicidal concentrations of benzyl alcohol. Illustratively, E. coli, B. subtilis, and P. aeruginosa cultures are advantageously treated with from 0.5 to 10.0% (v/v) of benzyl alcohol in the absence of pH or temperature changes within the fermentor.

Abstract: This invention pertains to an improved process for the preparation of gamma-irone by bioconversion comprising treating an iris rhizome substrate selected from the group consisting of iris rhizomes, iris rhizome parts, iris rhizome extracts, iris rhizome extraction wastes, plant cell cultures of iris rhizomes, and mixtures thereof, with a bacteria selected from the genera group consisting of Enterobacteriacea, Pseudomonacea, the active enzyme fractions of such bacteria, and mixtures thereof, in the presence of a plant cell culture medium.

Abstract: The invention relates to DNA sequences, recombinant DNA molecules and transformed host organisms, and to their use in a process for the genetic engineering preparation of a polypeptide having the biological activity of the enzyme mutarotase.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and linear DNA fragments for use in the deletion of a gene from a bacteria with a single step procedure that is applicable to any essential or nonessential gene which has been cloned. Chromosomal deletions are constructed by transformation of a cell strain with linear DNA fragments containing a locus for resistance to an antibiotic, or any other gene allowing for rapid phenotypic selection, flanked by sequences homologous to closely spaced regions on the cell chromosome on either side of the gene to be deleted, in combination with the immediate subsequent deletion or inactivation of the recA gene. By selecting for a double-crossover event between the homologous sequences, shown by the antibiotic resistance or other detectable phenotype, a chromosome disruption can be selected for which has effectively deleted an entire gene.

Abstract: Genomic and cDNA sequences coding for a protein having substantially the same biological activity as human protein C and recombinant transfer vectors comprising these sequences are disclosed.Methods are disclosed for producing a protein which has substantially the same biological activity as human protein C. The protein, which may be in the form of activated protein C, is produced by mammalian host cells transfected with a plasmid capable of integration in mammalian host cell DNA. The plasmid includes a promoter followed downstream by a nucleotide sequence which encodes a protein having substantially the same structure and/or activity as human protein C, the nucleotide sequence being followed downstream by a polyadenylation signal.

Abstract: A cloned gene encoding Protein G, or functionally active portions thereof, vectors containing the cloned gene, and microorganisms transformed by those vectors are disclosed.

Abstract: The invention concerns novel and useful mutant microbes which are capable of releasing substantial amounts of any of several periplasmic or recombinant proteins into the culture medium when carrying an expressed Kil gene. Though E. coli are exemplified, the invention is broadly applicable to the making of mutants of other microbes, for example, Salmonella, Klebsiella, and Rhizobium. A key feature of the invention is the use of a novel selection procedure employing a plasmid comprising the kil gene.

Abstract: This invention features a method of isolating a mutant strain of Escherichia coli, having a defective periplasmic protease, the method comprising the steps of: mutagenizing an E. coli cell, wherein the cell comprises: (a) an inner and an outer membrane, (b) a periplasmic space between the membranes, (c) a protein which in a first state is mobile, being able to move through the outer membrane and enter medium surrounding the cells, the protein in the first state being detectable in the medium, and in a second state is not mobile, remaining inside the cell, and (d) a periplasmic protease which converts the protein from the second state to the first state in the cell, and selecting a mutant cell which produces a reduced level of the detectable protein in the medium compared to the E. coli cell, wherein the mutant cell comprises the defective periplasmic protease.This invention also features mutant strains of E. coli having a defective periplasmic protease.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for producing L(-)-tetrahydrofolic acid which comprises allowing dihydrofolate reductase to act upon dihydrofolic acid in the presence of (1) NADP or NADPH, and (2) glucose and glucose dehydrogenase. L(-)-tetrahydrofolic acid is useful as the intermediate for L(-)-leucovarin.

Abstract: One of the E. coli strains of the Clarke and Carbon collection [Cell, 9, 91-99] has been found to contain a plasmid which we have isolated and termed pLC3-13, which contains genetic information coding for prolipoprotein signal peptidase. A 4.3 kb fragment containing this genetic information has been prepared, other plasmids have been prepared containing at least this fragment and strains of E. coli have been transformed thereby.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method which is specific to determining and is capable of enumerating Escherichia coli (E. coli) in a sample water or sewage specimen. The method comprises adding to a cultured specimen a chromogenic reagent which when subjected to in situ E. coli .beta.-glucuronidase activity produces clearly defined vivid colorization of any individual colonies derived from E. coli cells in the test specimen.

Abstract: Novel recombinant DNA cosmid shuttle vectors and a method of using them in the construction of genomic DNA libraries are described. The vectors demonstrate the incorporation of both the size selection and in vitro packaging mechanisms of lambda into a Streptomyces-E. coli shuttle vector by the incorporation of two or more COS sequences of bacteriophage lambda.

Abstract: An export sequence of export DNA can be identified by transforming a population of cells with a vector having a transposon that includes a structural gene encoding a detectable compound, positioned between insertion sequences. The structural gene encodes a detectable compound that, in wild-type organisms, is translated with an export peptide effective to export the compound. Since the transposon lacks DNA coding for an export sequence capable of exporting the detectable gene product, transformants that export the gene product include a DNA fusion of the transposon to export DNA from the parent cell, in a position to allow expression of the fused DNA. The transformants are analyzed to locate the export DNA or a gene comprising it, and the position of the export DNA in the cell's genome is determined; the orientation of the insertion also is determined.

Abstract: A description is given of a genertic engineering process for the preparation of mesophilic microorganisms which contain a hydantoinase active at elevated temperature, and of DNA sequences which code for this enzyme.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of a pharmaceutically active compound in a stereospecific form of the formula ##STR1## or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or ester thereof, like an alkali metal salt or an alkaline earth metal salt or a pivaloyl ester, wherein R.sub.1 represents an optionally substituted aryl group such as a phenyl or naphthyl group optionally included in a heterocyclic ring system, which is optionally substituted, or represents a heteroaromatic ring system containing in addition to carbon atoms one or more atoms selected from nitrogen, sulphur and oxygen, this ring system being optionally substituted, which comprises subjecting a compound of the formula ##STR2## wherein R.sub.

Abstract: A novel gene conferring resistance to spiramycin in Streptomyces and related organisms was cloned from a genomic library of Streptomyces ambofaciens DNA. A thirty-one Kb fragment of S. ambofaciens DNA including the spiramycin-resistance gene was isolated from this library on a cosmid designated pKC592. The novel spiramycin-resistance gene can be isolated on an .about.2.9 Kb BamHI fragment by subcloning restriction fragments obtained from the pKC592 insert DNA. This BamHI fragment contains all of the information required for the expression of the spiramycin resistant phenotype in Streptomyces. Vectors and transformants containing the novel spiramycin resistance gene are provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides a transcriptional and translational activating sequence derived from the lambda pL transcriptional activating sequence and the E. coli lpp translational activating sequence. The activating sequence has been cloned into recombinant DNA expression vectors into which DNA sequences encoding funtional polypeptides can be readily inserted and expressed. The activating sequence of the present invention has been shown to drive high-level expression of a bovine growth hormone derivative and a human growth hormone derivative in E. coli. Preferred expression vectors of the present invention also comprise the cI857 temperature-sensitive lambda pL repressor gene, a rop.sup.- derivative of the plasmid pBR322 replicon, and a tetracycline resistance-conferring gene.

Abstract: New gram-positive expression control DNA sequences useful in the expression of pro- or eukaryotic proteins in gram-positive organisms are provided having in the downstream direction of transcription a transcription initiation DNA sequence of gram-negative origin combined with a ribosome binding site-encoding DNA sequence, optionally a foreign gene and a transcription termination sequence. Also described are expression vectors containing these expression control DNA sequences and processes using same for the manufacture of pro- and eukaryotic polypeptides. In addition processes for the manufacture of such gram-positive expression control DNA sequences and such expression vectors are described.

Abstract: The present invention provides a micro-organism of the species Escherichia coli or Pseudomonas putida, wherein it constitutively forms creatinamidinohydrolase.The present invention also provides a process for the production of such a micro-organism.

Abstract: A method for obtaining E. coli cell lines which carry the deoR mutation is described, as well as the cell lines themselves. These cell lines are useful in cell transfection and transformation, as they transfect transform at much higher frequencies than the previously available cell lines.

Abstract: A method for the detection of the mutagen effect of a substance or composition by producing culture of a micro-organism harboring a recombinant of a sfi gene and of a gene coding for a dosable enzyme in the presence of said substance or composition and measuring the activity of the dosable enzyme induced under the control of the sfi gene. When the latter is activated due to the mutagen character of said substance or composition, measuring the activity of a distinct enzyme synthesized by the microorganism and coded by a gene not involved in the activation process of the sfi gene and measuring the variation of the ratio of the activity of the abovesaid dosable enzyme to the activity of said distinct enzyme. Then comparing the variation that of the ratio of the activities of the same enzyme in a culture of the same microorganism, but in the absence of the mutagen substance.

Abstract: An expression vector having two structural genes that form a synthetic operon expressed under the control of a single regulatory sequence. The operon genes correspond to the structural component of naturally occurring genes whose expression is controlled by distinct separate regulatory sequences. The operon genes code for enzymes in a biosynthetic pathway for producing a desired compound, and at least one of those operon genes is feedback derepressed. The vector is used to transform host cells that are cultured to produce the desired product.

Abstract: A vaccine useful for the protection of poultry from colibacillosis infections which comprises as an active ingredient pre-inactivated and ultrasonicated E. coli cells, and a method for protecting poultry from colibacillosis infections which comprises inoculating said vaccine into poultry through cloaca.

Abstract: A fusion between DNA sequences coding for hAT and hGRF via a synthetic adaptor coding for an in vitro cleavable amino acid sequence is used to express hGRF at high levels in E. coli.

Abstract: Novel DNA sequences which code for the production of the Pichia protein argininosuccinate lyase are provided. Novel constructs including these sequences, as well as organisms transformed therewith are provided. In addition, novel strains of Pichia defective in argninosuccinate lyase activity are also provided.

Abstract: Vectors and procedures are provided that enable genetic manipulation of the filamentous ascomycetes such as Aspergillus nidulans and Aspergillus niger. The systems of the invention permit transformation of various Aspergillus strains as well as the production and secretion of desired foreign proteins. Also provided are cosmid vectors which enable the isolation, cloning, sequencing and modifications of genes from the filamentous ascomycetes.

Abstract: Compounds having a dithiopyridyl moiety linked to a biotin moiety are useful as thiol specific biotinylating agents. The biotin label can be cleaved in a reducing environment to yield the native thiol.