Abstract: This invention provides methods and compositions for producing reduced cholesterol animal foodstuffs and products by feeding livestock and other food-producing animals with feed supplemented with microbial cultures containing hypocholesterolemic compounds produced by microorganisms comprising said microbial cultures. The invention provides low cholesterol poultry, eggs, meat, whole milk, and dairy products.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a cultivation of Paecilomyces sp. which has various efficacies such as anti-tumor and reinforcement of immunity, but could not be used wide in human because of relatively limited supply. The artificial cultivation of Paecilomyces sp. comprises steps of (a) inoculating a dilution of spores of Paecilomyces sp. diluted with water to a concentration of 10.sup.7 .about.10.sup.8 spores/ml into a larva of 4th.about.5th instar of silkworm at a temperature of 26.about.30.degree. C. and a humidity of about 90% or more; and (b) inducing fruitbodies of Paecilomyces sp. by maintaining of the larvae at a temperature of 15.about.30.degree. C. and a humidity of about 90% or more. In particular, Paecilomyces japonica (KCCM-10117), Paecilomyces sp. J300 (KCCM-10116) and Paecilomyces farinosa (KCCM-10115).

Abstract: A process for producing strains of Trichoderma virens which are deficient for production of viridiol for use as biocontrol agents is disclosed. These mutant strains are produced by treatment of viable T. virens with chemical or physical mutagens, preferably by irradiation with ultraviolet light. The treated fungi are then screened for production of viridiol to select for deficient strains. Following recovery, the mutant strains may be used as biocontrol agents for the control of plant diseases by application to the locus of a plant, seedling or seed to be protected. Coating seeds with the biocontrol agent prior to planting has been found to be particularly effective for the control of soilborne root or seedling diseases.

Abstract: A method for degrading nucleic acids in a waste fermentation solution is disclosed. The method comprises exposing the waste solution to RNases and/or DNases released by autolysis of and/or secreted from Paecilomyces lilaninus which are present in or added to the waste solution. The fermentation of the microorganism occurs under sterile conditions. The microorganism can be transformed with nuclease-encoding genes and added to the waste solution before fermentation. The preferred strain of Paecilomyces lilacinus is DSM 5650.

Abstract: A fungal biocontrol preparation for control or prevention of plant fungal diseases comprises sporulated fungal biomass, a carrier and acid. The carrier preferably is vermiculite. The biocontrol preparation is resistant to bacterial proliferation in storage and handling and is effective in controlling damping-off diseases caused by soilborne fungal pathogens.

Abstract: A method for producing (-)trans-2, 3-epoxysuccinic acid, which can be used as a good starting material for the sythesis of optically active compounds such as optically specific single .beta.-lactam antibiotics, characterized in that filamentous fungi capable of producing (-)trans-2,3-epoxysuccinic acid are cultured in liquid medium while either ammonia, sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide is added to maintain the culture medium in a pH range of 5.0 to 7.5 throughout the culturing period.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of a (.+-.)-trans-cyclopropanecarboxylic acid salt thereof of the formula ##STR1## in which R is halogen or C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkyl, andR.sup.1 is hydrogen or the equivalent of a metal ion,which comprises contacting a (.+-.)-trans-cyclo-propane-carboxylic ester of the formula ##STR2## in which R.sup.2 is methyl or ethyl,with a hydrolase which is of microbial origin and isolating the resulting (.+-.)-trans-cyclopropanecarboxylic acid.

Abstract: A process for producing ethanol from plant biomass is disclosed. The process in cludes forming a substrate from the biomass with the substrate including hydrolysates of cellulose and hemicellulose. A species of the fungus Paecilomyces, which has the ability to ferment both cellobiose and xylose to ethanol, is then selected and isolated. The substrate is inoculated with this fungus, and the inoculated substrate is then fermented under conditions favorable for cell viability and conversion of hydrolysates to ethanol. Finally, ethanol is recovered from the fermented substrate.

Abstract: A natural polymer material PF-102 and salts thereof are widely available as a convenient flocculant for fine suspended matters. PF-102 can be produced by, for example, an imperfect fungus Paecilomyces I-1 (FERM BP-1180).

Abstract: The manufacture of optically active compounds of the formula ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 signifies alkyl, phenyl or benzyl and R.sup.2 signifies hydrogen or a customary ester residue,by the fermentative reduction of compounds of the formula ##STR2## wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 have the above significance. The compounds obtained are valuable intermediates in organic syntheses.

Abstract: L-malic acid is produced in a concentration of 170 to 400 g per liter and high yield by biotechnical conversion of fumaric acid neutralized with ammonium hydroxide in nutrient-free solution or suspension. Pure L-malic acid can be obtained economically therefrom with high efficiency in a quality suitable for food and pharmaceutical use. The fermentation can be carried out in simple vessels under non-sterile conditions. The conversion rate of the fumarate and the attainable concentration of L-malate are promoted by the ammonium ions.

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: New antibiotic U-53,946 produced by the controlled fermentation of the new microorganism Paecilomyces abruptus sp. nov., NRRL 11110. This antibiotic is active against Gram-positive bacteria, for example, Sarcina lutea, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Mycobacterium avium, and Streptococcus pyogenes, and the yeast Saccharomyces pastorianus. Accordingly, they can be used in various environments to eradicate or control these microorganisms.