The present invention provides a cell carrier containing a nanofiber composed of water-insoluble polysaccharides, preferably chitin or chitosan nanofiber; a carrier capable of being a common carrier in various operations such as i) suspension culture, ii) differentiation induction, iii) transportation and preservation under non-freezing conditions, iv) transplantation, v) recovery of bioactive substance from culture supernatant and the like of adherent cells; and continuous performance of plural operations selected from i) suspension culture, ii) differentiation induction, iii) transportation and preservation under non-freezing conditions, iv) transplantation, and v) recovery of bioactive substance from culture supernatant of adherent cells by using the carrier.

Recombinant DNA techniques are used to produce oleaginous recombinant cells that produce triglyceride oils having desired fatty acid profiles and regiospecific or stereospecific profiles. Genes manipulated include those encoding stearoyl-ACP desaturase, delta 12 fatty acid desaturase, acyl-ACP thioesterase, ketoacyl-ACP synthase, and lysophosphatidic acid acyltransferase. The oil produced can have enhanced oxidative or thermal stability, or can be useful as a frying oil, shortening, roll-in shortening, tempering fat, cocoa butter replacement, as a lubricant, or as a feedstock for various chemical processes. The fatty acid profile can be enriched in midchain profiles or the oil can be enriched in triglycerides of the saturated-unsaturated-saturated type.

A fungal strain Beauveria species bearing accession number MTCC 5184 is disclosed. The process for the preparation of an enzyme mix including at least one enzyme selected from, but not limited to protease, carbohydrase, and lipase from the disclosed Beauveria species and uses of the enzyme mix in various areas also disclosed.

There is provided a method of treating hay for preventing and/or reducing heat damage in high moisture hay and as well to preserve the same, the method including adding to hay a hay preservative including a hay preserving and heat reducing effective amount of at least one enzyme having a chitinase activity, either alone or in combination with a hay preserving and heat reducing effective amount of a yeast of the genus Pichia or a bacteria of the genus Pediococcus. There is also provided a method of treating hay for preventing and/or reducing heat damage in high moisture hay and as well to preserve the same, the method including adding to hay a hay preservative including a hay preserving and heat reducing effective amount of yeast of the genus Pichia.

Disclosed are double stranded RNA molecules that are toxic to coleopteran insects. In particular, interfering RNA molecules capable of interfering with pest target genes and that are toxic to the target pest are provided. Further, methods of making and using the interfering RNA, for example in transgenic plants or as the active ingredient in a composition, to confer protection from insect damage are disclosed.

The invention provides enzyme granules, comprising an enzyme and one or more spore(s).

Disclosed are double stranded RNA molecules that are toxic to coleopteran insects. In particular, interfering RNA molecules capable of interfering with pest target genes and that are toxic to the target pest are provided. Further, methods of making and using the interfering RNA, for example in transgenic plants or as the active ingredient in a composition, to confer protection from insect damage are disclosed.

Signal sequences useful for targeting proteins and peptides to the surface of endospores produced by Paenibacillus family members and methods of using the same are provided. The display of heterologous molecules, such as peptides, polypeptides and other recombinant constructs, on the spore surface of Paenibacillus family members, using particular N-terminal targeting sequences and derivatives of the same, are also provided.

The present invention discloses a recombinant, modified extracellular chitinase having an amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO.4 or SEQ ID NO.5. The recombinant, modified chitinase is derived by inserting two-point mutations at positions 661 and 2158 in the native chitinase gene of Brevibacillus laterosporus LAK 1210 which results in amino acid substitution of tyrosine (Y) residue with histidine (H) at positions 221 and 720. The modified chitinase exhibits both exochitinase and endochitinase activity. The recombinant, modified enzyme is thermoactive with a temperature optimum of 55-60 C. and high thermostability (Tm of 66.7 C.), functions in a broad pH range (pH 3.0-11.0) having a pH optimum of 9.0 and also exhibits improved solubility and enhanced efficacy for control of insects and phytopathogenic fungi. The invention further provides improved methods for large scale production of recombinant modified chitinase and rapid, cost-effective purification method by chitin-adsorption affinity chromatography using powdered crustacean shells.

A composition and process for improving the growth-promoting effectiveness of chitin-based fertilizers involves contacting the chitin-based material with a bacteria that secretes chitinase.