The present invention relates to a novel human epidermal growth factor (hEGF)-trigger factor (TF) fusion protein and a use thereof. More particularly, the human epidermal growth factor (hEGF)-trigger factor (TF) fusion protein of the present invention has fused therein: a signal peptide of a Bacillus subtilis-derived xylanase; a human epidermal growth factor (hEGF); and an Escherichia coli-derived trigger factor (TF). Therefore, the present invention not only enhances the water solubility and expression rate of a target protein, but also notably enhances useful effects such as the effects of increasing skin cell growth and healing a wound, and thus may be widely used in various industries as an active ingredient for a functional cosmetic composition and a pharmaceutical composition.

The present invention relates to a method for solubilising arabinoxylan-containing material (particularly insoluble arabinoxylan-containing material), comprising admixing a xylan-containing material with a xylanase comprising a polypeptide sequence shown herein as SEQ ID No. 3, SEQ ID No. 2, SEQ ID No. 1, SEQ ID No. 9, SEQ ID No. 10. SEQ ID No. 11 or SEQ ID No. 15, or a variant, homologue, fragment or derivative thereof having at least 75% identity with SEQ ID No. 3 or SEQ ID No. 2 or SEQ ID No. 1 or SEQ ID No. 9 or SEQ ID No. 10 or SEQ ID No. 11 or SEQ ID No. 15; or a polypeptide sequence which comprises SEQ ID No. 3, SEQ ID No. 2, SEQ ID No. 1, SEQ ID No. 9, SEQ ID No. 10. SEQ ID No. 11 or SEQ ID No. 15 with a conservative substitution of at least one of the amino acids; or a xylanase which is encoded by a nucleotide sequence shown herein as SEQ ID No. 6, SEQ ID No. 5, SEQ ID No. 4, SEQ ID No. 12. SEQ ID No. 13. SEQ ID No. 14. SEQ ID No. 16. SEQ ID No. 17 or SEQ ID No. 18, or a nucleotide sequence which can hybridize to SEQ ID No. 6, SEQ ID No. 5, SEQ ID No. 4, SEQ ID No. 12, SEQ ID No. 13, SEQ ID No. 14. SEQ ID No. 16. SEQ ID No. 17 or SEQ ID No. 18 under high stringency conditions, or a nucleotide sequence which has at least 75% identity with SEQ ID No. 6, SEQ ID No. 5, SEQ ID No. 4, SEQ ID No. 12, SEQ ID No. 13, SEQ ID No. 14, SEQ ID No. 16. SEQ ID No. 17 or SEQ ID No. 18, or a nucleotide sequence which differs from SEQ ID No. 6 or SEQ ID No. 5 or SEQ ID No. 4 or SEQ ID No. 12 or SEQ ID No. 13 or SEQ ID No. 14 or SEQ ID No. 16 or SEQ ID No. 17 or SEQ ID No. 18 due to the degeneracy of the genetic code, or a xylanase obtainable (or obtained) from Fusarium verticilloides. The present invention also relates to a novel xylanase comprising (or consisting of) a polypeptide sequence shown herein as SEQ ID No. 3, SEQ ID No. 2 or SEQ ID No. 1, or a variant, homologue, fragment or derivative thereof having at least 99% identity with SEQ ID No. 3 or SEQ ID No. 2 or SEQ ID No. 1; or a xylanase which is encoded by a nucleotide sequence shown herein as SEQ ID No. 6, SEQ ID No. 5 or SEQ ID No. 4, or a nucleotide sequence which can hybridize to SEQ ID No. 4 or SEQ ID No. 5 under high stringency conditions, or a nucleotide sequence which has at least 97.7% identity (preferably 98% identity) with SEQ ID No. 6, SEQ ID No. 5 or SEQ ID No. 4. The present invention yet further relates to methods relating to feedstuffs, malting and brewing, processing of grain-based materials such as during the production of bioethanol or biochemical (e.g. bio-based isopropanol), or wheat gluten-starch separation processes and the like.

The present invention relates to polypeptides having xylanase activity and polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides. The invention also relates to nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the polynucleotides as well as methods of producing and using the polypeptides. The invention also relates to compositions comprising the polypeptides of the invention and the use of the polypeptides of the invention to release xylose and in animal feed.

A probiotic composition comprised of a probiotic, a prebiotic, a complex-starch reducing enzyme, an enzymatic co-factor, and a pH modifier. The probiotic composition facilitates the creation of a biofilm within the GI tract of poultry that outcompetes and excludes pathogens. The probiotic composition can be incorporated into an eggwash and sprayed onto an egg, the sprayed egg developing a stable probiotic population within the GI tract of the pre-hatched chick. The probiotic composition can also be incorporated into poultry feed by applying the probiotic composition as a mash prior to pelleting. The probiotic composition can also be applied post-pelleting as a wet or dry spray, directly onto the pellets. In some instances, the probiotic composition can be added a drinking water source used by poultry as a water additive. Poultry that consume feed or water that contain the probiotic composition develop a stable probiotic population within their GI tracts.

Strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast that are genetically modified so as to co-express a gene coding a glucoamylase of fungal origin, a gene coding a glucoamylase of Saccharomyces cerevisiae var. diastaticus, and a gene coding a xylanase of fungal origin. The production yield of bioethanol through these strains is greater than that of strains that are otherwise identical but that do not include the gene coding the xylanase of fungal origin. Also, a method for obtaining these yeasts, as well as the use of these yeasts in the production of bioethanol.

Methods, compositions, and systems for propagation and fermentation, particularly large scale operations for production of ethanol and dried distiller's grain are provided. Addition of Z. mobilis to propagation and/or fermentation decreases lactic acid bacterial contamination.

Methods of using thermostable serine proteases are described herein.

Provided are methods of making and using an antimicrobial composition, optionally including adding one or more enzymes to a suspension of lees, wherein the lees was formed by fermenting fruit with yeast and the one or more optional enzymes comprise a protease, a carbohydrase, or a combination of a protease and a carbohydrase; and forming a dried lees by drying the lees. In some examples the fruit includes chardonnay grapes, pinot noir grapes, cabernet franc grapes, or a combination of any two or more of chardonnay grapes, pinot noir grapes, and cabernet franc grapes; the yeast includes one or more Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains of yeast; and drying the lees by heating it. In some examples, trub made from fermenting a grain such as barley is used instead of lees. An antimicrobial composition made as provided may be administered to an animal to inhibit bacterial growth.

The present invention provides compositions, methods, and kits based on a novel two-enzyme system. This system uses a combination of an appendage dependent endoxylanase and xylobiohydrolase activity to produce xylobiose and xylan-derived oligosaccharides using lignocellulosic biomass material, an enriched xylan fraction thereof, or an extracted, purified xylan material as a starting material.

The present invention relates to polypeptides having xylanase activity and polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides. The invention also relates to nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the polynucleotides as well as methods of producing and using the polypeptides. The invention also relates to compositions comprising the polypeptides of the invention and the use of the polypeptides of the invention to release xylose and in animal feed.