The present invention relates to a variant of Terminal deoxynucleotidyl Transferase (TdT) which (i) comprises the amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID N 2 or a functionally equivalent sequence, with at least an amino acid substitution at position corresponding to residue C302 or functionally equivalent residue, wherein the position is numbered by reference to the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID N 1, (ii) is able to synthesize a nucleic acid fragment without template and (iii) is able to incorporate a modified nucleotide into the nucleic fragment.

A nitrifying bacteria formulation that can cause a sufficient nitrification reaction even in a high ionic concentration (salt concentration), and efficiently collect high-concentration nitrate-form nitrogen from ammonia produced in animal husbandry facilities, composting facilities, sewage treatment plants, etc.; and a method for culturing bacteria to be contained in the nitrifying bacteria formulation. A nitrifying bacteria formulation includes: ammonia-oxidizing bacteria and nitrite-oxidizing bacteria, wherein the ammonia-oxidizing bacteria include bacteria belonging to the Nitrosococcus, the proportion of the number of the bacteria belonging to the Nitrosococcus with respect to the total number of bacteria in the nitrifying bacteria formulation is at least 0.1%, and the proportion of the number of the nitrite-oxidizing bacteria with respect to the total number of bacteria in the nitrifying bacteria formulation is at least 0.1%. A method for culturing bacteria to be contained in the nitrifying bacteria formulation may also be provided.

A nitrifying bacteria formulation that can cause a sufficient nitrification reaction even in a high ionic concentration (salt concentration), and efficiently collect high-concentration nitrate-form nitrogen from ammonia produced in animal husbandry facilities, composting facilities, sewage treatment plants, etc.; and a method for culturing bacteria to be contained in the nitrifying bacteria formulation. A nitrifying bacteria formulation includes: ammonia-oxidizing bacteria and nitrite-oxidizing bacteria, wherein the ammonia-oxidizing bacteria include bacteria belonging to the Nitrosococcus, the proportion of the number of the bacteria belonging to the Nitrosococcus with respect to the total number of bacteria in the nitrifying bacteria formulation is at least 0.1%, and the proportion of the number of the nitrite-oxidizing bacteria with respect to the total number of bacteria in the nitrifying bacteria formulation is at least 0.1%. A method for culturing bacteria to be contained in the nitrifying bacteria formulation may also be provided.

A method for producing tissue constructs formed of one or more materials, dispensed or applied in patterned layers on two or more platforms, build plates or print surfaces by two or more stations, performing dispensing, mechanical modification, chemical modification, biological modification, or inspection operations. The platforms are positioned relative to the stations and station operations are directed by signals from a controller causing station operations on platforms to be performed simultaneously, for each patterned layer until all layers have been applied in sequence.

A method for producing tissue constructs formed of one or more materials, dispensed or applied in patterned layers on two or more platforms, build plates or print surfaces by two or more stations, performing dispensing, mechanical modification, chemical modification, biological modification, or inspection operations. The platforms are positioned relative to the stations and station operations are directed by signals from a controller causing station operations on platforms to be performed simultaneously, for each patterned layer until all layers have been applied in sequence.

Cells are grown in 3D culture and topological features obtained by photomicrography are correlated to cell viability and cell interactions.

Cells are grown in 3D culture and topological features obtained by photomicrography are correlated to cell viability and cell interactions.

Bioconversion processes are disclosed in which biocatalysts including microorganisms or isolated enzymes that are substantially irreversibly retained in the interior of an open, porous, highly hydrophilic polymer are cycled between at least two different fluid media for the bioconversion of one or more substrates to one or more bioproducts. The processes are particularly attractive for using gas phase or using liquid feedstocks containing the substrate.

Bioconversion processes are disclosed in which biocatalysts including microorganisms or isolated enzymes that are substantially irreversibly retained in the interior of an open, porous, highly hydrophilic polymer are cycled between at least two different fluid media for the bioconversion of one or more substrates to one or more bioproducts. The processes are particularly attractive for using gas phase or using liquid feedstocks containing the substrate.

Site-specific modification of proteins with microbial transglutaminase (MTG) is a powerful and versatile strategy for a controlled modification of proteins under physiological conditions. Solid-phase microbead-immobilization is used to site-specifically and efficiently attach different functional molecules important for further downstream applications to proteins of therapeutic relevance including scFV, Fab-fragment and antibodies. MTG remained firmly immobilized with no detectable column bleeding and enzyme activity was sustained during continuous operation. Immobilized MTG shows enhanced selectivity towards a certain residue in the presence of several reactive residues which are all targeted when the conjugation was carried out in solution. The generation of dual site-specifically conjugated IgG1 with immobilized and MTG in solution is reported, i.e. site-specific conjugation to glutamine and lysine residues of IgG1 antibody. Site-specific glutamine conjugation with small peptides containing a lysine residue and a functional moiety is also described.