Abstract: "Immuno-therapeutic agents of killed cells prepared from Mycobacterium Vaccae that are useful in the treatment of mycobacterial disease, especially tuberculosis or leprosy, in particular as an adjuvant to chemotherapy".

Abstract: A process for the preparation of a dicarboxylic acid using a thermophilic croorganism, and the microorganism used. The process involves cultivating a microorganism belonging to the genus Mycobacterium which produces a dicarboxylic acid at high temperatures in a medium to which a substrate selected from among normal paraffins, fatty acids, and their derivatives, each containing 6 to 22 carbon atoms, has been added, so that a dicarboxylic acid containing 6 to 22 carbon atoms is formed and accumulated in the medium, and collecting the dicarboxylic acid.

Abstract: A method for producing S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine hydrolase, which comprises cultivating a microorganism having the ability to produce S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine hydrolase within its cells in a nutrient medium to accumulate said hydrolase in the cells, said microorganism being a bacterium belonging to the genera Alcaligenes, Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter, Arthrobacter, Enterobacter, Rhodopseudomonas, Agrobacterium, Micrococcus, Corynebacterium, Brevibacterium, Chromobacterium, Xanthomonas, Flavobacterium, Cellulomonas, Azotobacter and Protaminobacter, or an actinomycete belonging to the genera Streptomyces, Mycobacterium, Nocardia, Streptoverticillium, Micromonospora, Micropolyspora, Streptosporangium and Microellobosporia; and then recovering S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine hydrolase from the cells.

Abstract: The present invention relates to processes for preparing optically-active 4-amino-3-hydroxybutyric acid by asymmetrically cleaving one of the enantiotopic ester groupings of 3-hydroxyglutaric diester by the action of microbial enzymes to obtain a chiral monoacid which is readily converted into optically-active 4-amino-3-hydroxybutyric acid by chemical means.

Abstract: A medium for the rapid cultivation of mycobacteria, in particular leprosy and tubercle bacilli, comprises amino acids, sugars, phospholipids, muscle metabolism compounds, vitamins, inorganic salts and trace minerals.

Abstract: A method for detecting the presence of Mycobacteria in a fluid or tissue which comprises mixing the fluid or tissue containing a secretory product of Mycobacteria with a complex of a tracer-containing molecule and a binding macromolecule having reversible binding affinity for the tracer-containing molecule detecting the tracer-containing molecule, wherein the tracer-containing molecule is a charcoal-adsorbable protein from Mycobacterium tuberculosis which has a molecular weight of 20,000-30,000 and which is immunochemically stable from 4.degree. C. to 250.degree. C. and has a pH range from 3.0 to 9.0. The method is particularly applicable to the detection of infectious tuberculosis in humans and determining the antibiotic sensitivity of infecting Mycobacteria.

Abstract: A process for the production of an alkylene oxide containing at least 3 carbon atoms which comprises cultivating an ethylene-utilizing microorganism under aerobic conditions in a liquid nutrient medium containing the corresponding alkene together with assimilable sources of nitrogen and essential mineral salts, the cultivation being carried out in the presence of ethylene in a molar proportion to alkene below 1:40.

Abstract: A method for detecting the presence of Mycobacteria in a fluid or tissue which comprises mixing the fluid or tissue containing a secretory product of Mycobacteria with a complex of a tracer-containing molecule and a binding macromolecule having reversible binding affinity for the tracer-containing molecule and detecting the tracer-containing molecule, wherein the tracer-containing molecule is a charcoal-adsorbable protein from Mycobacterium tuberculosis which has a molecular weight of 20,000-30,000 and which is immunochemically stable from 4.degree. C. to 250.degree. C. and has a pH range from 3.0 to 9.0. The method is particularly applicable to the detection of infectious tuberculosis in humans and determining the antibiotic sensitivity of infecting Mycobacteria.

Abstract: A method for detecting the presence of Mycobacteria in a fluid or tissue which comprises mixing the fluid or tissue containing a secretory product of Mycobacteria with a complex of a tracer-containing molecule and a binding macromolecule having reversible binding affinity for the tracer-containing molecule and detecting the tracer-containing molecule, wherein the tracer-containing molecule is a charcoal-adsorbable protein from Mycobacterium tuberculosis which has a molecular weight of 20,000-30,000 and which is immunochemically stable from 4.degree.0 C. to 250.degree. C. and has a pH range from 3.0 to 9.0. The method is particularly applicable to the detection of infectious tuberculosis in humans and determining the antibiotic sensitivity of infecting Mycobacteria.

Abstract: Androstane steroids are produced by microbiological conversion of a sterol substrate with a microorganism belonging to the genus Mycobacterium wherein the medium used contains at least 0.1% by weight of egg yoke as a dry weight.

Abstract: Mutants which are used in a novel microbiological process to selectively degrade steroids having 17-alkyl side chains of from 2 to 10 carbon atoms, inclusive, to androsta-1,4-diene-3,17-dione (ADD) and androst-4-ene-3,17-dione (AD). ADD and AD are valuable intermediates to make useful steroids.

Abstract: Mutants which are used in a novel microbiological process to selectively degrade steroids having 17-alkyl side chains of from 2 to 10 carbon atoms, inclusive, to androsta-1,4-diene-3,17-dione (ADD) and androst-4-ene-3,17-dione (AD). ADD and AD are valuable intermediates to make useful steroids.

Abstract: After physical removal of the majority of the oil on the surface of the water, the thin film remaining is treated with microbial metabolites which reduce the surface and interface tension and cause the formation of oil agglomerates. These agglomerates may be drawn off or left to be degraded by hydrocarbon-degrading microorganisms normally present in the sea water or added thereto.

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: Steroidal alcohols are produced by cultivating a microorganism belonging to the genus Mycobacterium and capable of producing 20 .alpha.-hydroxymethylpregna-1,4-dien-3-one or 20 .alpha.

Abstract: In a process for preparing 21-hydroxy-20-methylpregnane derivatives by fermenting a zoosterol or a phytosterol with a culture of Mycobacterium spec. NRRL B-3683 or NRRL B-3805 or a variant or mutant thereof,an improvement comprises conducting the fermentation at a pH value of 6.0-8.0 in the presence of an amount of borate ions or an organic boron compound effective to increase the yield of the 21-hydroxy-20-methylpregnane derivatives produced.

Abstract: 9-(2-O-Acyl-.beta.-D-arabinofuranosyl)adenine compounds and their production by enzymatic removal of the 3-O-acyl and 5-O-acyl groups of a 9-(2,3-di-O-acyl-.beta.-D-arabinofuranosyl)adenine compound or a 9-(2,3,5-tri-O-acyl-.beta.-D-arabinofuranosyl)adenine compound. The monoester compounds are useful as antiviral agents. The compounds are water-soluble and lipophilic, thereby being adaptable to a wide variety of pharmaceutical formulations.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions and methods for use in determining free and total cholesterol levels in fluids such as body fluids. A test for free cholesterol is disclosed based on the determination of hydrogen peroxide released through the action of a chemical system having cholesterol oxidase activity on free cholesterol. A preferred means for determining the released hydrogen peroxide involves the use of a substance having peroxidative activity and an oxidation-reduction indicator. The addition of a chemical system having cholesterol ester hydrolase activity to the free cholesterol test composition provides an integral test composition for the determination of total cholesterol.

Abstract: The side chains of sterols are degraded by fermentation with microorganisms capable of doing so in an improved manner by employing in such fermentations sterol derivatives of the formula ##STR1## wherein n is 1 or 2; R.sub.1 is H or lower alkyl, R.sub.2 is alkyl, whose chain optionally is interrupted by an oxygen atom, or when n is 2, also a hydrogen atom; and R.sub.3 is a sterol side chain.