An object of the present invention is to provide a unit capable of efficiently and quickly detaching a graft from a device without causing damage or wrinkles. The above problem has been solved by a medical device that transfers a graft to a target site, the medical device including the graft and a support with the graft placed on one surface, in which the graft and the support are frozen in a state where the graft is placed, and the graft can be detached from the support and transferred to the target site by thawing the frozen graft placed on the support.

A soil improving agent having a pellet shape and an excellent pathogenic microbe/virus eliminating ability is provided. The soil improving agent having a pellet shape includes lactic acid bacteria being live cells and a pellet-forming carrier, and the pellet-forming carrier has a volume mean diameter of 50 to 130 μm.

A soil improving agent having a pellet shape and an excellent pathogenic microbe/virus eliminating ability is provided. The soil improving agent having a pellet shape includes lactic acid bacteria being live cells and a pellet-forming carrier, and the pellet-forming carrier has a volume mean diameter of 50 to 130 μm.

A storage stable frozen lactic acid bacteria (LAB) culture that comprises LAB that are that are able to utilize sucrose, has a weight of at least 50 g frozen material and a content of viable bacteria of at least 10.sup.9 colony forming units (CFU) per g frozen material.

A storage stable frozen lactic acid bacteria (LAB) culture that comprises LAB that are that are able to utilize sucrose, has a weight of at least 50 g frozen material and a content of viable bacteria of at least 10.sup.9 colony forming units (CFU) per g frozen material.

The disclosure provides an anti-TGFbetaRII immunoglobulin single variable domain. Suitably, an anti-TGFbetaRII immunoglobulin single variable domain in accordance with the disclosure is one having an amino acid sequence as set forth in any one of SEQ ID NO:1-28 having up to 5 amino acid substitutions, deletions or additions. The disclosure further provides a polypeptide and pharmaceutical composition for treating a disease associated with TGFbeta signalling and suitably a disease selected from the group of: tissue fibrosis, such as pulmonary fibrosis, including idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis; liver fibrosis, including cirrhosis and chronic hepatitis; rheumatoid arthritis; ocular disorders; fibrosis of the skin, including keloid of skin; Dupuytren's Contracture; kidney fibrosis such as nephritis and nephrosclerosis; wound healing; scarring reduction; and a vascular condition, such as restenosis.

The disclosure provides an anti-TGFbetaRII immunoglobulin single variable domain. Suitably, an anti-TGFbetaRII immunoglobulin single variable domain in accordance with the disclosure is one having an amino acid sequence as set forth in any one of SEQ ID NO:1-28 having up to 5 amino acid substitutions, deletions or additions. The disclosure further provides a polypeptide and pharmaceutical composition for treating a disease associated with TGFbeta signalling and suitably a disease selected from the group of: tissue fibrosis, such as pulmonary fibrosis, including idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis; liver fibrosis, including cirrhosis and chronic hepatitis; rheumatoid arthritis; ocular disorders; fibrosis of the skin, including keloid of skin; Dupuytren's Contracture; kidney fibrosis such as nephritis and nephrosclerosis; wound healing; scarring reduction; and a vascular condition, such as restenosis.

Described is a method for the production of 3-buten-2-one comprising the enzymatic conversion of 4-hydroxy-2-butanone into 3-buten-2-one by making use of an enzyme catalyzing 4-hydroxy-2-butanone dehydration, wherein said enzyme catalyzing 4-hydroxy-2-butanone dehydration is (a) a 3-hydroxypropiony-CoA dehydratase (EC 4.2.1.116), (b) a 3-hydroxybutyryl-CoA dehydratase (EC 4.2.1.55), (c) an enoyl-CoA hydratase (EC 4.2.1.17), (d) a 3-hydroxyoctanoyl-[acyl-carrier-protein] dehydratase (EC 4.2.1.59), (e) a crotonyl-[acyl-carrier-protein] hydratase (EC 4.2.1.58), (f) a 3-hydroxydecanoyl-[acyl-carrier-protein] dehydratase (EC 4.2.1.60), (g) a 3-hydroxypalmitoyl-[acyl-carrier-protein] dehydratase (EC 4.2.1.61), (h) a long-chain-enoyl-CoA hydratase (EC 4.2.1.74), or (i) a 3-methylglutaconyl-CoA hydratase (EC 4.2.1.18). The produced 3-buten-2-one can be further converted into 3-buten-2-ol and finally into 1,3-butadiene.

Described is a method for the production of 3-buten-2-one comprising the enzymatic conversion of 4-hydroxy-2-butanone into 3-buten-2-one by making use of an enzyme catalyzing 4-hydroxy-2-butanone dehydration, wherein said enzyme catalyzing 4-hydroxy-2-butanone dehydration is (a) a 3-hydroxypropiony-CoA dehydratase (EC 4.2.1.116), (b) a 3-hydroxybutyryl-CoA dehydratase (EC 4.2.1.55), (c) an enoyl-CoA hydratase (EC 4.2.1.17), (d) a 3-hydroxyoctanoyl-[acyl-carrier-protein] dehydratase (EC 4.2.1.59), (e) a crotonyl-[acyl-carrier-protein] hydratase (EC 4.2.1.58), (f) a 3-hydroxydecanoyl-[acyl-carrier-protein] dehydratase (EC 4.2.1.60), (g) a 3-hydroxypalmitoyl-[acyl-carrier-protein] dehydratase (EC 4.2.1.61), (h) a long-chain-enoyl-CoA hydratase (EC 4.2.1.74), or (i) a 3-methylglutaconyl-CoA hydratase (EC 4.2.1.18). The produced 3-buten-2-one can be further converted into 3-buten-2-ol and finally into 1,3-butadiene.

The present disclosure relates to a method for preparing killed lactic acid bacteria using a bioreactor including a culture device and a membrane filter, and to killed lactic acid bacteria prepared by the preparation method.