Abstract: The invention describes compositions and methods for inhibiting microbial infections associated with the use of sanitary products, such as diapers, bandages, sanitary napkins, tampons and the like. The invention comprises providing for use a sanitary product containing an effective amount of a viable non-pathogenic lactic-acid bacteria, such as Bacillus coagulans, or an extracellular product thereof, useful for inhibiting growth of parasites and pathogens on the epithelial tissue in contact with the sanitary product during use of the product. The invention also provides for enhancing biodegradation of sanitary products after use and disposal. Also described are methods using the product and systems containing the compositions.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for enzymatically producing optically active mandelic acid derivatives. An optically active mandelic acid derivative (shown as Formula II) is produced by reacting a culture or cell body of a microorganism, or processed products thereof, with a phenylglyoxylic acid derivative, and then recovering the obtained optically active mandelic acid derivative, wherein the microorganism has the ability to stereo-selectively reduce the phenylglyoxylic acid derivative. An optically active mandelic acid obtained according to the present invention is useful as an intermediate for the synthesis of pharmaceuticals and agricultural chemicals.

Abstract: This invention provides a process for the production of .delta.-decalactone by the microbial reduction of massoia lactone, characterized in that a bacterium having the ability to reduce massoia lactone is used as the microorganism. The .delta.-decalactone produced according to this process has a highly tastable, mild creamlike scent and flavor, and is hence suitable for use in flavor compositions.

Abstract: A microorganism belonging to the Gram-positive cocci having not less than about 55 mol % of guanine plus cytosine content of DNA is cultivated in a medium. Trehalose is produced and extracellularly accumulated in the medium with a good yield. The present method, therefore, brings about a feasible method for the industrial production of trehalose. Preferably, the microorganism used is Deinococcus proteolyticus (IFO 15345), Deinococcus erythromyxa (IFO 15344), Deinococcus radiopugnans (IFO 15348), Micrococcus varians (FERM BP-4238 and IFO 3765), Micrococcus agilis (IFO 15323) or Microccus luteus (IFO 3067 and IFO 12708).

Abstract: 6-Hydroxy nitrogen-containing 6-membered ring compounds of the following general formula (II): ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 represents carboxy group, carbamoyl group, cyano group, formyl group, C.sub.1 -C.sub.5 hydroxyalkyl group, C.sub.2 -C.sub.6 alkoxycarbonyl group, carboxyvinyl group, carboxymethyl group or oxime group, R.sup.2 represents hydrogen atom or carboxy group, and A represents carbon atom or nitrogen atom, can be prepared by reacting a nitrogen-containing 6-membered ring compounds of the following general formula (I): ##STR2## wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and A are as defined in the general formula (II) above, with a microorganism or physico-chemically treated microorganism in an aqueous medium. Efficiency of the above reaction can be raised by conducting the reaction in the presence of phenazine methosulfate.

Abstract: A process for the degradation of keratin, keratinaceous material, collagen or collagenaceous material comprising contacting keratin, keratinaceous material, collagen or collagenaceous material with an enzyme material isolated from a culture of Micrococcus sedentarius. The enzyme material comprises one or more proteases having the ability to degrade keratin, keratinaceous material, collagen or collagenaceous material. The enzyme material is water soluble, non-dialysable through a membrane having a molecular weight cut-off of 10 kDa, has an isoelectric point of 4.6 or 2.7, a molecular weight of 30.3 kDa or 50 kDa, an optimum pH for protease activity at about 8.2 or at about 10.2 and an optimum temperature for protease activity at about 40.degree. C. or 46.degree. C.

Abstract: There is disclosed a process for preparing optically active 3-phenylglycidic acid ester compound, which comprises permitting a culture broth, cells or treated cells of a microorganism having an ability of stereoselectively hydrolyzing a (2R, 3S)-3-phenylglycidic acid ester compound to act on a racemic 3-phenylglycidic acid ester compound which may also have a substituent on the phenyl group, thereby hydrolyzing the (2R, 3S) optically active isomer and separating and collecting the (2S, 3R) antipode from the reaction mixture.

Abstract: An enzyme material isolated from a culture of Micrococcus sedentarius which comprises one or more proteases having an ability to degrade protein, including human callus. In one embodiment the enzyme material is water soluble, non-dialyzable through a membrane having a molecular weight cut-off of 10 kDa, has an isoelectric point of 4.6, a molecular weight of 30.3 kDa, an optimum pH for protease activity at about 8.2, and functions at an optimum temperature of about 40.degree. C. In another embodiment, the enzyme material is water-soluble, non-dialyzable through a membrane having a molecular weight cut off of 10 kDa, has an isoelectric point of 2.7, a molecular weight of 50 kDa, an optimum pH for protease activity at about pH 10.2, and functions at an optimum temperature of about 46.degree. C.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing an organic compound from manure, including the steps of:i) concentrating the manure to form a vapor;ii) condensing said vapor to form a condensate;iii) adding to said condensate micro-organisms which are capable of producing the organic compound; andiv) separating from the condensate the organic compound produced by the micro-organisms.These micro-organisms comprise species of the genera Arthrobacter, Brevibacterium, Corynebacterium, Bacillus, Escherichia, Microbacterium, Micrococcus and Pseudomonas.

Abstract: A method for the quantitative determination of polyamines, which comprises allowing a polyamine oxidizing enzyme, an .omega.-aminoalkylaldehyde dehydrogenase, an oxidized nicotinamide coenzyme and, as required, an acylpolyamine anidohydrolase to act upon a sample solution containing polyamines (for example, urine, blood and other kinds of body fluid), and measuring the reduced nicotinamide coenzyme thus formed by, for example, colorimetry, thereby determining the amount of said polyamines.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process by which a gas containing nitric oxide is contacted with an anaerobic microbial culture of denitrifying bacteria to effect the chemical reduction of the nitric oxide to elemental nitrogen. The process is particularly suited to the removal of nitric oxide from flue gas streams and gas streams from nitric acid plants. Thiobacillus dentrificians as well as other bacteria are disclosed for use in the process.

Abstract: The present invention relates a method for reactivating or regenerating the methane oxidizability of a methane-utilizing bacteria which have partly or wholly lost its methane oxidizability by culturing said methane-utilizing bacteria in a specified condition, and further relates to a method for continuous production of oxides by bringing a methane-utilizing bacteria in contact with alkanes, alkenes or cyclic compounds.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for microbiologically resolving racemic 2,3-o-substituted glycerol esters to obtain optically activated 2,3-o-substituted glycerol with remaining esters also being optically active.

Abstract: Nitrile hydration activity of the nitrilase or the immobilized from thereof can be stably preserved by adding as a stabilizer at least one compound selected from nitriles, amides, and organic acids and salts thereof to a solution or suspension of the nitrilase or of the immobilized form thereof.

Abstract: A polymeric enzyme having a molecular weight higher than or equal to 200,000 and not exhibiting any proteolytic activity on casein derived from a culture of Micrococcus caseolyticus is disclosed, as is a method of producing the enzyme by filtration on gel buffered with an aqueous buffer of an enzymatic system prepared by lyophilization of an aqueous concentrate formed by ultrafiltration of the solution obtained by dissolving, in an aqueous solution of calcium chloride, an enzymatic system precipitated from a supernatant of a micro-organism culture broth by ammonium sulphate, wherein the enzyme is not retained on a gel calibrated for proteins with a molecular weight of between 5,000 and 20,000, buffered with a 20 mM TRIS-HCl buffer, at pH 7.5, containing 1.5 mM calcium chloride, and the enzymatic system is derived from a culture broth of said Micrococcus caseolyticus. The enzyme may be used for the production of aspartame by condensation of L-aspartic acid with methyl DL-phenylalaninate.

Abstract: Microorganisms suitable for the stabilization of meat products. The present invention is intended to provide novel microorganisms, which lead within a short period of time to a particularly pure and agreeable aroma, a satisfactory pickled color and a stable product. The microorganisms Lactobacillus curvatus DSM 4265, Micrococcus varians DSM 4263, and Debaryomyces hanseneii DSM 4260 lead to the desired results.

Abstract: L-phenylalanine is produced by using a microorganism belonging to the species Citrobacter freundii, Erwinia herbicola, Enterobacter cloacae, Klebsiella oxytoca, Salmonella typhimurium, Bacillus cereus, Flavobacterium suaveolens, Serratia marcescens, Pseudomonas putida, Enterobacter cloacae, Proteus mirabilis, Paracoccus denitrificans, Arthrobacter globiformis, Bacillus sphaericus, Corynebacterium hydrocarboclastus, Kluyvera micum or Microbacterium ammoniaphilum and having the ability to convert phenylpyruvic acid into L-phenylalanine in the presence of an amino group donor; or fumaric acid and ammonium ion or urea.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the determination of N-carbamoylsarcosine, wherein a sample solution containing N-carbamoylsarcosine is reacted with N-carbamoylsarcosine-amidohydrolase to give sarcosine, which is then determined.The present invention also provides the enzyme N-carbamoylsarcosine-amidohydrolase, a process for obtaining it and a reagent containing it.

Abstract: Glycosylation or transglycosylation of a specified guanine derivative, namely 9-substituted or non-substituted guanine of formula [I] with a 3-deoxyribose donor such as 3'-deoxyadenosine in the presence of a nucleoside phosphorylase source such as of microorganism origin is disclosed. The nucleoside phosphorylase source is specified.

Abstract: A process for producing wax esters having the general structural formula RCO.sub.2 R', where R and R' are radicals selected from the group consisting of CH.sub.3 (CH.sub.2).sub.a CH.dbd.CH(CH.sub.2).sub.b - and CH.sub.3 (CH.sub.2).sub.c - where a+b=12-14 for R and 13-15 for R' and where c=14-16 for R and 15-17 for R'. The method includes aerobically incubating a culture of microorganisms of the genus Acinetobacter species HO1-N, in an aqueous mineral salts solution containing ethanol as a primary food source. Incubation is performed at a temperature known to produce a desired percentage of diene, monoene and saturated R and R' moieties in the mixture.

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: A biologically pure culture of the microorganism Micrococcus pseudoflaccidifex, ATCC No. 31970, which is capable of producing death in insects by mechanisms associated with wilt disease.

Abstract: The invention disclosed provides a method for synthesizing proteins by means of strains of microorganisms improved as regards their performances in using methanol.

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 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: A method is described for the manufacture of wax esters from saturated hydrocarbons by the metabolic action of microorganisms. These wax esters contain either 0, 1 or 2 internally located carbon-carbon double bonds, with no more than 1 carbon-carbon double bond being in the fatty acid or the fatty alcohol segments. These wax esters are chemically similar to the wax esters of sperm whale oil and jojoba oil, and are useful as lubricants and lubricant additives, for example. They also are a ready source of industrially important mono-ene fatty acids and fatty alcohols, when saponified.

Abstract: It has been found that highly active uricase can be produced by fermentation from the microorganism Micrococcus roseus NRRL B 12196. The optimum activity of this microorganism is close to the pH values of the physiological liquors. The uricase so produced can be exploited in the clinical diagnostics for determining uric acid.

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

Abstract: A process for producing cyclodextrins which comprises using cultured medium of the strains belonging to genus Micrococcus, filtrate thereof or enzyme preparation obtained therefrom, especially, the process in which the ratio of .alpha.-cyclodextrin to .beta.-cyclodextrin can be desirably varied by regulating the condition of the reaction mixture, is disclosed.

Abstract: The new water-soluble substance designated by the number 41,200 RP, is obtained from cells of Micrococcus sedogenes, M 78 strain (NRRL B-3505), and is particularly useful in human or veterinary therapy for increasing resistance to infections of various origins and for stimulating the natural defences of the organism.

Abstract: An improved process for producing a superior flavor in fermented meat, particularly sausage, using Micrococcus varians in admixture with Pediococcus cerevisiae NRRL-B-5627 and/or with other lactic acid producing meat fermenting bacteria for lowering the pH is described. Micrococcus varians is a very poor producer of lactic acid and alone cannot produce acceptable sausage. The improved bacterial compositions develop the solid bright red color associated with sausage and other fermented meats in the presence of edible nitrate and/or edible nitrite. Combinations of the nitrite and nitrate can be used. No acid forming chemicals, such as gluconic acid delta lactone, are used in the fermentation process. The bacterial composition is preferably provided in the form of a frozen cell concentrate for storage and subsequent thawing for use.

Abstract: Optically active cephalosporin analogs are produced by optically selective deacylation of an optically inactive acylated analog. The compounds are useful as intermediates in the preparation of optically active acylated antimicrobial agents.

Abstract: Disclosed are optically active cephalosporin analogs which are produced by optically selective deacylation of an optically inactive acylated analog. The compounds are useful as intermediates in the preparation of optically active acylated antimicrobial agents.

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: Sterile aqueous humor from patients afflicted with the disease endogenous uveitis contains a previously unreported pathogenic microorganism, Micromyces intracellularis, which also has been found in tissue specimens from other diseases. When inoculated into an animal model (e.g., a mouse), the microorganism produces both chronic eye and systemic disease in addition to accelerated mortality and occasional psychotic animal behavior, metabolic disturbances, and neuro-muscular disorders, depending on the mode of inoculation. The animal model therefore provides the basis for a screening process to evaulate chemotherapeutic agents in the treatment of human disease. Using this animal model, a significant decrease in mortality associated with the introduction of Micromyces intracellularis is achieved by the application to the animal model of the chemotherapeutic agents d-2,2'-(ethylenediimino)-di-1-butanol, 4,4'sufonyldianiline, and 3[[(4-methyl-1-piperazinyl)-imino]methyl]-rifamycin SV.