Abstract: L-Glutamic acid is produced by culturing in a liquid culture medium a microorganism belonging to the genus Pantoea or Serratia and having an ability to produce L-glutamic acid, which increases in an activity of enzyme catalyzing a reaction for L-glutamic acid biosynthesis or which decreases in or is deficient in an activity of an enzyme catalyzing a reaction branching from a pathway for L-glutamic acid biosynthesis and producing a compound other than L-glutamic acid, and collecting produced L-glutamic acid from the culture medium.

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: Novel strains of isolated and purified bacteria have been identified which have the ability to degrade petroleum hydrocarbons including a variety of PAHs. Several isolates also exhibit the ability to produce a biosurfactant. The combination of the biosurfactant-producing ability along with the ability to degrade PAHs enhances the efficiency with which PAHs may be degraded. Additionally, the biosurfactant also provides an additional ability to bind heavy metal ions for removal from a soil or aquatic environment.

Abstract: A bacterial composition, a process and a facility for the pre-treatment of effluent rich in organic fats of animal or vegetable origin. The bacterial composition principally is the bacterial strain Klebsiella oxytoca. The process consists of supplying a homogenisation and/or processing vessel (1) with effluent to be pre-treated, as it is produced, activating a recirculation circuit (2) between the vessel and a biological reactor (3) to obtain a fat dilution rate situated between 0.400 h?1 and 1.500 h?1 for an initial fat concentration of 1 g/l, degrading the fats in the biological reactor (3) using the bacterial composition and discharging the pre-treated effluent to a final treatment unit such as a purification plant.

Abstract: The present invention provides an industrially efficient method for producing an L-amino acid useful as medicament, chemical agent, food material and feed additive, and the method comprising culturing in a medium a microorganism having an ability to produce the L-amino acid and having resistance to a DNA gyrase inhibitor or a microorganism having an ability to produce the L-amino acid and having both resistance to a DNA gyrase inhibitor and resistance to an aminoquinoline derivative, producing and accumulating the L-amino acid therein and recovering the L-amino acid therefrom.

Abstract: Oocydin A is a mono-chlorinated lipophilic macrocyclic lactone that was isolated from a strain of Serratia marcescens that produces oocydin A in culture. Oocydin A has a molecular mass of 470, contains one atom of chlorine, a carboxyl group, and a tetrahydrofuran ring internal to a larger macrocyclic ring. Minimum inhibitory concentrations of circa 0.03 &mgr;g ml−1 were noted for oocydin A against phytopathogenic Oomycetes. Oocydin A can be used as an anti-Oomycete in agricultural applications for crop protection.

Abstract: L-Glutamic acid is produced by culturing in a liquid culture medium a microorganism belonging to the genus Enterobacter or Serratia. Further, the microorganism having an ability to produce L-glutamic acid, which increases in an activity of enzyme catalyzing a reaction for L-glutamic acid biosynthesis, or which decreases in or is deficient in an activity of an enzyme catalyzing a reaction branching from a pathway for L-glutamic acid biosynthesis and producing a compound other than L-glutamic acid, and collecting produced L-glutamic acid from the culture medium.

Abstract: An isolated gene encoding a polypeptide which is required for secretion of esterase originated from a microorganism of the genus Serratia, a recombinant plasmid comprising a plasmid prepared by inserting the isolated gene into a vector plasmid, a microorganism transformed with the recombinant plasmid, and a method for the production of an esterase which comprises cultivating the transformant microorganism as set forth above in a medium and collecting the produced esterase outside and inside the cells. The transformed microorganism have remarkably excellent capability of extracellular secretion of esterase.

Abstract: A gene encoding a polypeptide which participates in the mechanism of secretion of esterase originated from a microorganism of the genus Serratia, a recombinant plasmid comprising a plasmid prepared by inserting said gene into a vector plasmid, a microorganism transformed with said recombinant plasmid, and a method for the production of an esterase which comprises cultivating the transformant microorganism as set forth above in a medium and collecting the produced esterase outside and inside the cells. Said transformed microorganism have remarkably excellent capability of extracellular secretion of esterase.

Abstract: A method for producing a 3-hydroxy nitrogen-containing six-membered cyclic compound is provided. Namely, microbial cells of a microorganism and/or a preparation obtained from the microbial cells is allowed to act on a nicotinic acid derivative or a 2-pyrazinecarboxylic acid derivative represented by the following general formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 may be the same or different, representing hydrogen atom, halogen atom, hydroxyl group, amino group, carboxyl group, cyano group, oxime group, or alkyl group having a number of carbon atom or atoms of 1 to 5 respectively, and A represents carbon atom or nitrogen atom, the microbial cells and/or the preparation obtained from the microbial cells having an ability to perform hydroxylation of the nicotinic acid derivative or the 2-pyrazinecarboxylic acid derivative accompanied by decarboxylation of carboxyl group.

Abstract: Process for the biotechnological preparation of L-thienylalanines in enantiomerically pure form from 2-hydroxy-3-thienylacrylic acidsL-Thienylalanines are prepared via the hydantoin or the azlactone route. The starting substances used for the biotransformation are 2-hydroxy-3-thienylacrylic acids. The innovative step consists in the transamination of the enol form of the 2-hydroxy-3-thienylacrylic acids to give L-thienylalanines with the aid of biotransformation. The transaminiation is carried out in the presence of L-aspartic acid or L-glutamic acid as amino donor.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of a sweetener, in which sucrose is converted enzymatically into a saccharide mixture which is called "isomerized sucrose" and has a disaccharide content of more than 85% by weight, then non-isomerized remaining sucrose is removed from the latter by enzymatic and/or H.sup.+ ion-catalyzed cleavage, and this product is catalytically hydrogenated. Preferably either before or after the catalytic hydrogenation, the resulting mixture is subjected to a chromatographic separation. The sweeteners prepared by this process contain either a mixture of 10 to 50% by weight of 6-O-.alpha.-D-glucopyranosyl-D-sorbitol; 2 to 20% by weight of 1-O-.alpha.-D-glucopyranosyl-D-sorbitol; and 30 to 70% by weight of 1-O-.alpha.-D-glucopyranosyl-D-mannitol or of 5 to 10% by weight of 6-O-.alpha.-D-glucopyranosyl-D-sorbitol; 30 to 40% by weight of 1-O-.alpha.-D-glucopyranosyl-D-sorbitol; and 45 to 60% by weight of 1-O-.alpha.-D-glucopyranosyl-D-mannitol.

Abstract: The stable maintenance of a replicon in a population of growing cells is ensured by providing the replicon with a sequence which encodes a product capable of killing the cell harboring the replicon or the progeny of the cell (or encodes a precursor for the product) and a sequence encoding an antagonist for the killing product (or a precursor for the antagonist). The antagonist is one which suppresses the killing product (or a precursor for the killing product) in cells harboring the replicon, whereas the antagonist activity decays when the replicon is lost from the cell so that the antagonist (or its precursor) is no longer continuously expressed. This means that the killing product (or its precursor) present in the now replicon-free cell is no longer suppressed by the antagonist, resulting in cell death.Cells containing the thus stabilized replicon may be grown on a large scale without any significant loss of the replicon from the cell population even when no selection pressure is applied.

Abstract: Bacterial strains can be reproducibly isolated from soil that are root-colonizing and directly promote plant development. For example, strains of soil bacteria are provided that are good root colonizers and that promote plant growth under gnotobiotic conditions.

Abstract: Bacterial strains can be reproducibly isolated from the rhizosphere that enhance yield in nonroot crops under field conditions.

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 preparing optically active 3-phenylglycidic acid esters comprising reacting a racemic trans-3-phenylglycidic acid with an alkanol in the presence of a hydrolase to esterify preferentially either (2S, 3R) isomer or (2R, 3S) isomer of said racemic compound and isolating and collecting the resulting optically active 3-phenylglycidic acid ester from the reaction mixture, whereby the optically active ester can be produced in a single step and in a highly pure form. The optically active 3-phenylglycidic acid esters are useful for the preparation of 1,5-benzothiazepine derivatives having pharmacological activities such as platelet aggregation inhibitory activity.

Abstract: Anti-fungal and anti-microbial bacterial strains of Serratia are used in the preparation and preservation of animal feedstuffs made from forage. Bacterial strains of Serratia rubidaea are particularly useful for such purposes, and permit hay to be baled at higher moisture content. Mixtures of this strain with another anti-fungal bacterial, such as Bacillus subtilis, and/or lactic acid-producing bacterial strains, such as strains of Lactobacillus, Streptococcus, Enterococcus, Lactococcus and Pediococcus are used in the preparation and preservation of silage.

Abstract: A (1R,2S)-2-hydroxycycloalkanecarboxylic acid ester is efficiently and selectively produced by microbial asymmetric reduction of a 2-oxocycloalkanecarboxylic acid ester with a bacterial strain or its processed material.

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: 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: 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 present invention relates to a continuous process for the enzymatic preparation of isomaltulose. A periplasmatic sucrose-mutase is produced by fermentation of microorganisms which form sucrose-mutase. The cell-free crude enzyme extract is prepared by digestion of the cells and by cross-flow microfiltration. In a single-stage, simultaneous purification and immobilization of the sucrose-mutase from the cell-free crude extract conditioned by diafiltration is obtained by selective bonding to an anionizable carrier matrix. Direct conversion of sucrose into isomaltulose is produced by the sucrose-mutase bonded to the anionizable carrier matrix, preferably in cartridge or cartouche form.

Abstract: Isomaltulose is produced by a process in which at least the isomaltulose-forming enzyme system of an isomaltulose-forming micro-organism is immobilized and then the immobilized enzyme system is contacted with a sucrose solution to convert at least part of the sucrose to isomaltulose.

Abstract: A protein effective in stimulating cell growth activity. The protein has a molecular weight of from 5,000 to about 160,000, is composed predominantly of neutral and acidic amino acids, contains a significant amount of glutamic acid and aspartic acid, and is substantially free of nucleoside phosphotransferase. The protein is useful as wound treatment agent and as promoting agent in the synthesis of DNA. A method of producing the protein and compositions containing the same are also disclosed.

Abstract: A novel superoxide dismutase is produced by cultivating a microorganism belonging to the genus Serratia. The superoxide dismutase is useful as an antiinflammatory agent.An immobilized superoxide dismutase has properties of decreased antigenicity and increased antiinflammatory activity.

Abstract: Culturing aerobically Serratia sp. SC 11,482 A.T.C.C. No. 39006 in a culture medium containing assimilable carbon and nitrogen sources yields 1-carba-2-penem-3-carboxylic acid.

Abstract: Isomaltulose is produced by a process in which at least the isomaltulose-forming enzyme system of an isomaltulose-forming micro-organism genus Erwinia is immobilized on calcium alginate gel and then the immobilized enzyme system is contacted with a sucrose solution to convert at least part of the sucrose to isomaltulose.

Abstract: A test for the detection of bacteria of the genuses Salmonella and Serratia and distinguishing them from the genuses Proteus and Providencia carried out in the presence of a diazonium salt and a synthetic enzymatic substrate in the form of an ester having an aliphatic chain of 7 to 10 carbon atoms. Two reactions may be effected in the same reactive medium. The test may be associated with other tests such as the .beta.-glucosidase, .beta.-galactosidase and .beta.-glucuronidase research tests making it possible to apply it simultaneously to the detection of bacteria belonging to other genuses: Kliebsiella, Enterobacter, Escherichia.

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.