Abstract: A new class of polymeric additives for papermaking is disclosed as well as a process for their manufacture, a method for their use and a paper sheet containing the addition. The additives can be used in paper manufacture as agents for improving retention, paper machine operation and the strength properties of the product. The additives are manufactured from a microbial biomass. The biomass that contains acetyl amino groups or other amides is chemically modified by hydrolysis of the amides to form primary amino groups. Under neutral or acidic conditions these primary amines become cationic, which assures a good absorption of the additive onto fibres and fines of pulp that is generally of anionic nature.

Abstract: A highly deacetylated chitosan obtained from microbial biomass, a method of obtaining chitosan from microbial biomass, and biomass for making chitosan are disclosed. The method includes providing chitin-containing biomass; reacting the chitin-containing biomass in a caustic solution of greater than 25 percent alkali at a reaction temperature greater than 95° C. for a reaction period of at least 10 hours to convert the chitin in the biomass to chitosan; and separating the chitosan from the caustic solution.

Abstract: A process for the production of a modified phytase with a desired property improved over the property of the corresponding unmodified phytase is disclosed, as well as modified phytases, polynucleotides encoding modified phytases, and animal feed including modified phytases.

Abstract: A process for preparing beta-fructofuranosidase enzyme and a process for producing fructooligosaccharides, in which the preparation of the enzyme is obtained by cultivating the fungus Aspergillus niger, either wild or mutated, in a preferably semi-solid culture medium, in order to produce an extracellular enzyme, which is submitted to transfructosylation for producing fructooligosaccharides comprising sugars which are formed by one unit of sacrose and by two, three and four units of fructose.

Abstract: A process for the microbial activation of layer silicates.

Abstract: A process for producing an optical active &bgr;-amino alcohol, the method comprising the step of allowing at least one microorganism selected from the group consisting of microorganisms belonging to the genus Morganella and others, to act on an enantiomeric mixture of an &agr;-aminoketone or a salt thereof having the general formula (I): to produce an optical active &bgr;-amino alcohol with the desired optical activity having the general formula (II) described below in a high yield as well as in a highly selective manner:

Abstract: A process for the production of a modified phytase with a desired property improved over the property of the corresponding unmodified phytase is disclosed, as well as modified phytases, polynucleotides encoding modified phytases, and animal feed including modified phytases.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the preparation of acidic lipase from microbial sources with activity at highly acidic pH, the process comprising growing Aspergillus niger sp. in a fermentation medium containing carbon and nitrogen sources along with nutrients, separating the fungal biomass and recovering the culture filtrate/broth and separating the lipase enzyme.

Abstract: A method of producing erythritol. The method includes growing in a culture an isolated yeast strain that possesses certain unique characteristics and is capable of converting glucose to erythritol in a glucose-containing medium, and purifying erythritol from the culture.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of 4-(R)-hydroxycyclopent-2-en-1 (S)-acetate of the formula 2 by reacting meso-cyclopent-2-en-1, 4-diacetate of formula 1 with a whole cell enzyme in a mixture of a buffer and an organic solvent, filtering the reaction mixture to remove the enzyme, extracting the resultant compound with an organic solvent, and removing the solvent to obtain the desired product.

Abstract: A yeast strain capable of converting glucose to erythritol, said strain having the following identifying characteristics: an absence of motile spores; septate mycelia; asexual reproduction; an absence of reniform cells; conidia optionally formed on short denticles but not on elongate stalks; an absence of ballistoconidia; non-monopolar budding on a broad base; acropetal chains of blastoconidia; dark brown, thick-walled chlamydospores; an ability to assimilate sucrose, glycerol and maltose; an inability to assimilate lactose; an inability to ferment galactose; an ability to grow in a vitamin-free medium; and an ability to grow at 25° C. to 36° C.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for enzymic oxidation of a fatty acid to produce an oxidation product in the presence of water and oxygen wherein the fatty acid, water and enzyme for the oxidation are substantially uniformly distributed throughout a porous bed of solid support material in the substantial absence of a continuous liquid phase, oxygen is passed through the porous bed and the oxidation product is recovered from the porous bed. The invention is of particular value for production of methyl ketones from saturated fatty acids.

Abstract: Method for the production of vanillic acid and vanillin by bioconversion from ferulic acid in a medium containing phospholipids cultured with at least one microorganism from the classes Ascomycetes, Basidiomycetes or Actinomycetes. Vanillin is also produced by bioconversion of vanillic acid by at least one microorganism of the class Basidiomycetes in a medium containing cellobiose.

Abstract: A small diameter flexible electrode designed for subcutaneous in vivo amperometric monitoring of glucose is described. The electrode is designed to allow "one-point" in vivo calibration, i.e., to have zero output current at zero glucose concentration, even in the presence of other electroreactive species of serum or blood. The electrode is preferably three or four-layered, with the layers serially deposited within a recess upon the tip of a polyamide insulated gold wire. A first glucose concentration-to-current transducing layer is overcoated with an electrically insulating and glucose flux limiting layer (second layer) on which, optionally, an immobilized interference-eliminating horseradish peroxidase based film is deposited (third layer). An outer (fourth) layer is biocompatible.

Abstract: This invention relates to an inexpensive phytase with a low Km value for phytic acid, DNA coding for the phytase, recombinant DNA having the DNA introduced thereinto, a transformant carrying the recombinant DNA, a process for preparing a phytase by use of the transformant, and an animal feed comprising the phytase.

Abstract: This invention relates to a protein having phospholipase activity, which is characterised in that it has the mature sequence of Aspergillus lysophospholipase or a sequence derived therefrom and that it may be cleaved at at least one site, wherein, in the event of cleavage, the restriction fragments are optionally either linked by means of at least one bond cleavable under reducing conditions or at least one of the unlinked restriction fragments has phospholipase activity, and to a process for the production of this protein by fermenting a suitably transformed lysophospholipase-producing host organism in a suitable culture medium and isolating the protein having phospholipase activity from the cell-free culture filtrate, wherein fermentation is performed in the acidic to slightly alkaline range.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing optically active 3-quinuclidinol or derivatives, wherein a racemic 3-quinuclidinol ester represented by the general formula (I): ##STR1## wherein R represents a straight-chain or branched alkyl group, and (H.sup.+) represents that said ester may be in the form of a salt formed with a mineral acid or an organic acid, is reacted with a microorganism belonging to the genus Aspergillus, Rhizopus, Candida or Pseudomonas having the ability to asymmetrically hydrolyze said ester linkage, a culture of said microorganism, a treated material from said microorganism, an enzyme produced by said microorganism, or an enzyme derived from swine or cattle.According to the present invention, there is provided a process for easily producing optically active 3-quinuclidinol derivatives which are important synthetic intermediates for pharmaceutical preparations etc.

Abstract: Citric acid and/or the salts thereof are produced from a raw material containing carbohydrates. An aqueous solution of the raw material is converted into a first solution containing citric acid by means of fermentation, and from the first solution a second solution containing citric acid is obtained by means of a cell separation. The second solution is subjected to a protein precipitation at temperatures of 2 to 70.degree. C., and protein is separated by filtration. From the filtration, a third solution containing citric acid is obtained, and the same is passed through a first anion exchanger. The solution containing citric acid, which is discharged from the first anion exchanger, is passed through a second anion exchanger, which is selectively charged with citric acid. The second anion exchanger charged with citric acid is eluted with hydroxide solution or water, and there is thus obtained a fourth solution, in which citrate or citric acid is dissolved.

Abstract: A degumming step in the production of edible oils is disclosed. Vegetable oils from which hydratable phosphatides have preferably been eliminated by a previous aqueous degumming process, are freed from non-hydratable phosphatides by an enzymatic treatment, so that they may be physically refined. The main characteristic of the invention is the use of phospholipase from an Aspergillus strain. The process is gentle, economical and environment-friendly.

Abstract: A method of producing erythritol is disclosed, in which a microorganism having an ability of producing erythritol is cultivated for generation in a medium containing preferably 5 ppm or more of calcium, and erythritol is collected from the culture, thus producing erythritol efficiently.

Abstract: The present invention describes a simple and inexpensive purification method for acid-stable fungal alpha-amylase wherein the alpha-amylase is obtained without significant loss of enzyme activity. The purified acid-stable alpha-amylase which is obtained is substantially free from glucoamylase. The method for obtaining an acid-stable alpha-amylase comprises the steps ofadjusting the pH of the enzyme containing solution to a value between 1 and 8,heating the solution to a temperature and for a time sufficient to inactivate glucoamylase,removing the denatured glucoamylase.The purified acid-stable alpha-amylase is used for the conversion of starch. The purified alpha-amylase is also used in an immobilized form.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel method for testing the developmental status in pancreatic cells of a mammal. The present invention further relates to applications in the medical field that directly arise from the method of the invention. Additionally, the present invention relates to transgenic mammals comprising at least one inactivated Pax4 allele and optionally at least one inactivated Pax6 allele.

Abstract: A process for the microbiological or enzymatic hydrolytic resolution of racemic trans-2-(alkoxycarbonylethyl) lactams of the formula I: ##STR1## wherein R is C.sub.1 -C.sub.7 alkyl, 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl or methoxyethoxyethyl and R.sup.1 is hydrogen or a protecting group is disclosed, whereby an optically enriched compound of the formula Ib or IIa: ##STR2## is obtained.

Abstract: To provide increased levels of oxidase, mutants of Aspergillus niger that constitutively synthesize glucose oxidase when grown in a medium having less than 0.1M (molar) glucose are obtained. To obtain mutants, a microorganism is cultured with a substrate having a nutrient, an auxiliary carbon source and a pH-sensitive indicator; and cultures in which the pH has changed as indicated by the pH-sensitive indicator are selected for further growth. More specifically, Aspergillus niger that has been subjected to mutagens is cultured with an auxiliary carbon source, methyl red and D-glucose at a low concentration below that which will trigger the production of D-glucose oxidase in the microorganism. Portions of the culture indicated by red are separated and increased. One such mutants has accession number NRRL 18927.

Abstract: Methods and expression constructs are provided for the cloning and overexpression of an arabinoxylan degrading enzyme of fungal origin in a selected microbial host cell. The enzyme is shown to be active in the degradation of water-insoluble solids obtained from maize. The enzyme can be used in the preparation of animal feed compositions, human food or in industrial processes.

Abstract: This invention provides a method for killing cells in fermentation mixtures in order to prepare the fermentation mixture for processing to recover or extract a desired product from the fermentation mixture. A preferred method of this invention comprises in either order, adjusting the pH of the fermentation mixture to a value equal to or less than about two pH units below the pK.sub.a of the compatible organic acid using a mineral acid, and adding a sufficient amount of a compatible organic acid and/or organic acid salt to the mixture to effect a substantially complete cell kill. The method of this invention is useful for killing microorganisms such as yeast, bacteria or fungi in any culture or fermentation mixture and is particularly useful in systems where it is desired to kill the cells without lysing them.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for destroying hydrogen peroxide, for example, contact lens disinfecting amounts of hydrogen peroxide, are disclosed. The present invention utilizes non-mammalian-derived catalase, for example, catalase obtained as a result of the action of one or more microorganisms such as Micrococcus luteus, Aspergillus niger and mixtures thereof, to promote the destruction of hydrogen peroxide. Such non-mammalian-derived catalase has substantial advantages, e.g., enhanced stability, relative to bovine catalase, which is conventionally used in such contact lens-related applications.

Abstract: A microorganism or a preparation thereof is permitted to act on a mixture of enantiomers of an epoxide such as 3-chlorostyrene oxide and the product optically active epoxide is recovered. The microorganism able to produce an optically active (S)-epoxide from the mixture of enantiomers of the epoxide include, for example, a microorganism strain belonging to the genus Candida, the genus Rhodosporidium, the genus Rhodococcus and the genus Nosardioides. Examples of the microorganism capable of producing an optically active (R)-epoxide from said mixture include a microorganism strain belonging to the genus Trichosporon, the genus Geotrichum, the genus Corynebacterium, the genus Micrococcus and the genus Brevibacterium. The objective optically active epoxide can efficiently be obtained with ease and simplicity from the corresponding mixture of enantiomers of the epoxide.

Abstract: Prophylactic and therapeutic agents for the prevention and treatment of viral-induced tumors and, in particular, compositions derived from an Aspergillus fermentation extract, and the use thereof, either directly or to prepare a medicament, for the prevention and treatment of viral-induced tumors in mammals. Such tumors include papilloma-induced tumors. The composition is topically administered.

Abstract: Prophylactic and therapeutic agents for the prevention and treatment of viral-induced tumors and, in particular, compositions derived from an Aspergillus fermentation extract, and the use thereof, either directly or to prepare a medicament, for the prevention and treatment of viral-induced tumors in mammals. Such tumors include papilloma-induced tumors. The composition is topically administered.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of determining histamine content as a freshness index of food. An examination liquid is injected in a reaction cell, an amount of dissolved oxygen (DO) is recorded through an oxygen sensor and an amplifier in the recorder. Then, an enzymatic reagent having histamine oxidase activity is injected in the reaction cell, a decrease in the dissolved oxygen is recorded in the recorder, and the histamine concentration is determined on the basis of the decrease by a micro computer.

Abstract: Prophylactic and therapeutic agents for the prevention and treatment of viral-induced tumors and, in particular, compositions derived from an Aspergillus fermentation extract, and the use thereof, either directly or to prepare a medicament, for the prevention and treatment of viral-induced tumors in mammals. Such tumors include papilloma-induced tumors. The composition is topically administered.

Abstract: A short process is disclosed for the production of citric acid in high yield and purity. Conidia of Aspergillus niger are cultured in an aqueous solution of decationized glucose syrup in a fermentation medium whose manganese(II) concentration is 2.5 to less than 20 parts per billion and whose pH value is about 1.5 to about 3.0. The fermentation medium is maintained for about 4-7 days to form citric acid and mycelia pellets in an aqueous product broth. That broth is filtered and then electrodialyzed to form a citric acid-containing aqueous broth. That broth is decolorized and ion-exchanged to remove color and inorganic ions and form an aqueous citric acid solution in which citric acid constitutes at least 98 percent of the organic acid present.

Abstract: O-acylated cephalosporins are produced by reacting 3-hydroxymethylcephalosporins with an acyl donor containing at least three carbon atoms and an enzyme which is a Rodosporidium toruloides esterase, a wheat germ lipase, an Aspergillus niger lipase, an orange peel acetylesterase or a Bacillus subtilis esterase. A preferred enzyme is the esterase from Rodosporidium toruloides ATCC 10657. The enzyme can be used while in whole cells or in soluble or inmobilized form.

Abstract: Prophylactic and therapeutic agents for the prevention and treatment of viral-induced tumors and, in particular, compositions derived from an Aspergillus fermentation extract, and the use thereof, either directly or to prepare a medicament, for the prevention and treatment of viral-induced tumors in mammals. Such tumors include papilloma-induced tumors. The composition is topically administered.

Abstract: An enantiomeric mixture of a 3-chloro-1-(substituted) phenyl-1-propyl ester of a saturated or unsaturated aliphatic acid is treated with an enzyme which can asymmetrically hydrolyze the mixture, for example, a lipase originating in a microorganism of the genus Pseudomonas, Aspergillus, Candida or Chromobacterium to form a mixture of an optically active 3-chloro-1-(substituted) phenyl-1-propanol with an optically active 3-chloro-1-(substituted) phenyl-1-propyl ester of a saturated or unsaturated aliphatic acid, and the optically active 3-chloro-1-(substituted) phenyl-1-propanol or a derivative thereof and the optically active 3-chloro-1-(substituted) phenyl-1-propyl ester of a saturated or unsaturated aliphatic acid or a derivative thereof are each separately recovered from the mixture. The process allows simple and easy preparation of the above optically active compounds having a high optical purity, thus being extremely industrially advantageous.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the preparation of a novel heat-labile phosphatase enzyme from the filamentous fungus Aspergillus niger. This A. niger phosphatase enzyme has a native molecular weight of approximately 80,000 daltons, and is shown by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis under denaturing conditions to be an alpha-2 dimer consisting of identical subunits of molecular weight of approximately 37,000 daltons each. The native intact enzyme molecule has an isoelectric point (pI) of 4.6, and exhibits optimal functional activity under reaction conditions of neutral to slightly alkaline pH conditions (about pH 7.0 to about pH 8.5). This enzyme has two characteristics which make it valuable in molecular biology laboratory protocols. First, the enzyme is readily inactivated by mild heating conditions (50.degree. C.); and second, the enzyme is highly specific for DNA as a substrate for the hydrolysis reaction; it does not hydrolyze adenosine triphosphate (ATP).

Abstract: This invention provides a method for killing fungal cells without lysing in fermentation processes in order to prepare the fermentation mixture for processing to recover or extract an extracellularly expressed enzyme from the fermentation mixture. A preferred method of this invention comprises adjusting the pH of the fermentation mixture to less than 2.79 using a mineral acid, then adding sufficient acetic acid to the mixture to affect a substantially complete cell kill in mixture. A salt of the acetic acid can be used. The organic acid or salt can be added, then the pH adjusted to the desired level. Other organic acids can be used, in which case the pH of the mixture is adjusted to the pK.sub.a of the selected organic acid before the organic acid is added to the mixture.

Abstract: Disclosed are new Aspergillus niger mutants which can be used for identifying active FK-506/ rapamycin type, or cyclosporin A type inununosuppressants in a broth, natural product extract, or composition exhibiting inununosuppressant activity. Specifically disclosed are the new mutants, ATCC No. 74085 (MF 5659), which is sensitive to FK-506 and rapamycin but resistant to cyclosporin A; ATCC No. 74086 (MF 5659) which is resistant to FK-506, cyclosporin A and rapamycin; and ATCC No. 74087 (MF 5661) which is resistant to FK-506 and rapamycin, but sensitive to cyclosporin A.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a process for the production of vanillin through the bioconversion of a vanillin precursor with a tissue culture of undifferentiated callus cells derived from a vanilla plant and/or enzymes obtained therefrom in the presence of a water soluble sulfhydryl compound and optionally, also in the presence of an assimilable carbon source.

Abstract: An aqueous liquid composition is disclosed. The composition comprises a stabilized glucose oxidase solution having a pH of from about 6.0 to 8.0 and contains phosphate at a concentration of 1500 to 2500 mM/l. The glucose oxidase retains at least 80% of its activity after 10 days at 37.degree. C. The glucose oxidase is preferrably derived from Aspergillus niger, has a concentration of from about 5 to about 50 IU/ml and a pH range of from about 7.1 to about 7.3.

Abstract: Disclosed are compositions of particulate citric acid or an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal salt thereof prepared by an improved method and an improved method of preparing a detergent builder composition. The method of preparing particulate citric acid or salts thereof involves spray granulating citric acid or a salt thereof from its partially purified fermentation broth to form granules which are freer flowing and less inclined to fracture than is citric acid or its salts prepared by crystallization techniques which properties render the material prepared by the present method suitable for handling in bulk. The same properties may be imparted to detergent builder compositions by adding detergent builders to the partially purified fermentation broth or by introducing a detergent builder solution into a fluidized bed reactor together with appropriate seed particles to thereby form granules which include such detergent builders.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a one-step microbial process for the preparation of 13.beta.-hydroxy- or 14,15-epoxy-milbemycins of the following formulae I and II ##STR1## in which R.sub.1 and R.sub.1 ' represent methyl, ethyl, isopropyl or sec.-butyl or represent the group ##STR2## in which X represents methyl, ethyl or isopropyl, and A and A' represent the group ##STR3## in which R.sub.2 represents hydrogen, --C(O)-CH.sub.2 O-C(O)-CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 -COOH or --C(O)-CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 -COOH, or mixtures of compounds of the formulae I and II, which process comprises bringing a milbemycin of the formula III ##STR4## dissolved in a liquid phase, in which R.sub.3 represents R.sub.1 or R.sub.1 ' and R.sub.4 represents A or A', and R.sub.1, R.sub.1 ', A and A' have the meanings given for formulae I and II, into contact with a microorganism that is capable of 13.beta.-hydroxylation or 14,15-epoxidation or of both reactions, or into contact with active constituents thereof.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the preparation of a novel heat-labile phosphatase enzyme from the filamentous fungus Aspergillus niger. This A. Niger phosphatase enzyme has a native molecular weight of approximately 80,000 daltons, and is shown by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis under denaturing conditions to be an alpha-2 dimer consisting of identical subunits of molecular weight of approximately 37,000 daltons each. The native intact enzyme molecule has an isoelectric point (pI) of 4.6, and exhibits optimal functional activity under reaction conditions of neutral to slightly alkaline pH conditions (about pH 7.0 to about pH 8.5). This enzyme has two characteristics which make it valuable in molecular biology laboratory protocols. First, the enzyme is readily inactivated by mild heating conditions (50.degree. C.); and second, the enzyme is highly specific for DNA as a substrate for the hydrolysis reaction; it does not hydrolyze adenosine triphosphate (ATP).

Abstract: The method for avoiding pitch troubles includes the treatment with an acylglycerol lipase. The method of the present invention overcomes the pitch troubles in a process for the production of mechanical pulp and/or mechanical pulp-containing paper.

Abstract: Disclosed is an improved method for preparing a particulate citric acid or an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal salt thereof. The method involves spray granulating citric acid or a salt thereof from its partially purified fermentation broth to form granules which are freer flowing and less inclined to fracture than is citric acid or its salts prepared by crystallization techniques which properties render the material prepared by the present method suitable for handling in bulk.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a process for the production of vanillin through the bioconversion of a vanillin precursor with a ferulic acid degrading microorganism in the presence of a water soluble sulfhydryl compound and optionally, also in the presence of an assimilable carbon source.

Abstract: An enzymatic process for the enantiomer-specific preparation of mercapto alkanoic acids by stereoselective hydrolysis of mercapto or thioester alkanoic acid esters.

Abstract: Disclosed is an improved method for preparing a particulate citric acid or an alkali metal alkaline earth metal salt thereof. The method involves spray granulating citric acid or a salt thereof from its partially purified fermentation broth to form granules which are freer flowing and less inclined to fracture than is citric acid or its salts prepared by crystallization techniques which properties render the material prepared by the present method suitable for handling in bulk.

Abstract: Proposed is a process for the fermentative production of citric acid from carbohydrates by means of a microorganism of the species Aspergillus niger in a substrate containing zinc ions and hexacyanoferrate ions wherein carbohydrates not prepurified are employed and the Zn content of the substrate is adjusted to 30 to 250 ppm and the hexacyanoferrate content of the substrate is adjusted to 100 to 500 ppm.